This famous play of Fonvizin was written by him in 1782. The heroes of the comedy were people of different social layers of the XVIII century: nobles, serfs, government officials and self-styled fashion teachers. Before revealing the full theme of "The Biography of Starodum", let us dwell a little on the inhabitants of the Prostakovs' house, because it all started with them.
Simple
So, the main characters: a minor - sixteen-year-old Mitrofanushka - and his mother, Mrs. Prostakova, who is the main negative character in this work. She is cruel and willful and wants to marry her mediocre son Mitrofan, who is absolutely indifferent to everything. He does not like his mother, he only pretends to be because of her strong and imperious character.
Prostakova, having learned that her husband’s niece, Sophia (a very decent and educated girl), became the heiress of the tremendous fortune that her precious uncle Starodum bequeaths to her, decided to marry her at all costs to her lazy Mitrofanushka. However, Starodum’s relatives buried him long ago, and now from that very moment his name comes to the fore. In the house of the Prostakovs, everyone is starting to go crazy because of Sophia’s inheritance, because 10 thousand is not a trifle at that time. Who is Starodum and where did he come from?
Starodum biography
In his play, Fonvizin introduced Starodum as one of the noblest and most positive characters. He became his soul mate. Indeed, in the work “The Undergrowth”, a lot of political, social, pedagogical and moral issues are touched.
The writer deliberately leaves the question open whether Starodum was a landowner, but it becomes known that he did not take root at the royal court and then went to Siberia. According to the hero’s own words, they get money there without changing their conscience, they do not vilely extort money and rob the fatherland, earning it from a land that does not know hypocrisy and will be more justified than people, and honestly pays honestly and generously for honest work.
"Trading nobility"
Fonvizin in the entrepreneurship of Starodum reflects the real process of the economic life of the Russian nobility, which attracted his special attention after the writer translated the French treatise entitled "Trading nobility opposed to the military nobility."
The biography of Starodum says that he was enriched in gold mines, his goal was to ensure a prosperous future for his only and beloved niece - Sofyushka. Starodum’s thoughts are wise and valuable, he tells her that he has acquired a condition that can allow her to marry even a poor, but most importantly, worthy person. He does not connect the welfare of his niece with the possession of serfs.
And this is no coincidence: Fonvizin wrote the play just at the time when Russia was trying to learn from the peasant war of 1773-1775. and thought about its reasons, which almost led the feudal nobility to destruction and destruction. But, suppressing popular indignation, the state nobles of Catherine II further strengthened and expanded the privileges of the ruling class. The poor people in the face of the law looked even more powerless and helpless. In the play "Undergrowth", these political issues have become very acute and topical.
Freethinker, revolutionary and reformer
The biography of Starodum, which he himself tells his interlocutors, in particular Pravdin and Milon, includes information that he is 60 years old. His last name says that he follows the principles of the old era - the era of Peter I. Starodum recalled the words of his father, who always told him that you need to have a heart and soul, and then you will be a person at all times.
In this satirical play, Starodum appears only towards the end of the first act. Together with Pravdin and Milon, he saves Sophia from the bullying of Prostakova and gives an assessment of the education of the ignorant and stupid Mitrofan.
The characteristic of Starodum suggests that in his heart he is a great reformer and revolutionary. He is fed up with state injustice, where truth and honest service have long since depreciated, communications, opportunism and servility decide everything. Starodum’s upbringing didn’t allow him to calmly look at how some of his close friends were cunning and impudent to get their way. That is why he left the service, because he could no longer watch how the wrong people went up the career ladder, and the smartest and most worthy remained behind the doors.
Aphorisms of Starodum
Thanks to his honest heart, education and moral education, he proclaims the principles of government, where all laws of government will be reasonable and fair.
It is also interesting that Starodum's aphorisms are admirable, because he says very correct things, for example, that without a soul the most enlightened clever girl becomes a miserable creature. He never tires of repeating that the education of a real nobleman is a matter of the state. And this should include the education of the heart and mind. At the same time, he puts the education of the heart in the first place.
The characteristic of Starodum testifies to the fact that he is straightforward, innocent and penetrating. He sees through the whole rotten family of Prostakovs through his eyes and says everything he thinks about them in his eyes.
Premiere performance
In the play "Undergrowth", Fonvizin conveyed his personal idea of "honest people" and observations about what they should be in their living personification. And therefore, the image of Starodum is not accidental here. The production of Undergrowth, for obvious reasons, was delayed for some time. Overnight, “evil” arrows rained down, with the help of which those who saw themselves in the play in an unflattering manner wanted to prevent its exit. And, apparently, Fonvizin himself had to resort to influential patrons to eliminate all obstacles.
In 1782, September 24, the premiere of the performance still took place on the stage of the St. Petersburg Free Russian Theater. The director was the author of the work. And, curiously, not a single syllable had to be changed in the play, so the success was deafening.
One of those who saw the premiere said that some comic scenes caused a passing laugh, but serious secular audiences listened to serious scenes with great thirst and attention, who at that time loved hints and remarks about the secular weakness and wildness of some customs of that time. The play, thanks to the lively dialogue, humor, aphorisms, interesting quotes and educational character, helped some to see Prostakovs in themselves, who later expelled false teachers such as Vralman and Tsyfirkin from their homes.
Conclusion
The play "Undergrowth" became the only one firmly established among all in Russian drama of the 18th century. In the era of classicism, she condemned the traditional aristocratic education, the "savagery" and "malevolence" of the provincial nobility. All characters are clearly divided into positive and negative, as their last names hint at: Starodum, Pravdin, Prostakov, Skotinins, etc.