What Are The Characters In The Minor By Fonvizin
The Minor In his most famous comedy, The Minor, Fonvizin mocks Russian nobility through the characters of Mr. and Mrs. Prostakov, their son, Mitrofan, who is the main character of the comedy, as well as through Mrs. Prostakov’s brother, Skotinin. Fonvizin manages to draw the readers’ attention at the very beginning of the comedy, for the division between the positive, i.e. wise and negative, i.e. ignorant characters, becomes visible at the mere glance of the characters’ names. More precisely, Fonvizin uses Prostakov, to refer to the simplicity, i.e. ignorance of that family, while Skotinin stands for a pig, someone who gets along with animals better than with human beings. On the contrary, Fonvizin represents the positive characters through
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Prostakov in the limelight by giving her the role of a dominant person who is in charge for everything and everyone in the house. She has the power over her husband’s life, which can be seen through the way she addresses him. The interesting fact is that he does not even complain, but obeys her orders. The same happens with her son, Mitrofan. He is the minor, i.e. the main character of the comedy, yet he does not come across like that, for the plot is more centered on his mother’s tyranny. Satirical is the fact that Mrs. Prostakov “teaches” Mitrofan everything he needs to know. At one point, she tells him: “Don’t study that foolish science. When you find money, don’t share it with anyone. Take it all yourself, Mitrofanushka.” (57) It is easily seen that she is the one who does not let The Minor become a man, as he should be. She degrades Mitrofan to the point where his only wish is expressed in one sentence: “I don’t want to study. I want to get married.” (56) Fonvizin satirizes the educational system through the three incompetent teachers, and suggests that Russia would be a better place if the education was not limited to the children of the noblemen. Moreover, Fonvizin satirizes Mrs. Prostakov’s tyranny in the end of the comedy, when her behavior is being condemned by all the other characters, which does not stop her from threatening the servants for their betrayal, saying that she has the right to beat them, since nobles have the right to do that,
Prostakov in the limelight by giving her the role of a dominant person who is in charge for everything and everyone in the house. She has the power over her husband’s life, which can be seen through the way she addresses him. The interesting fact is that he does not even complain, but obeys her orders. The same happens with her son, Mitrofan. He is the minor, i.e. the main character of the comedy, yet he does not come across like that, for the plot is more centered on his mother’s tyranny. Satirical is the fact that Mrs. Prostakov “teaches” Mitrofan everything he needs to know. At one point, she tells him: “Don’t study that foolish science. When you find money, don’t share it with anyone. Take it all yourself, Mitrofanushka.” (57) It is easily seen that she is the one who does not let The Minor become a man, as he should be. She degrades Mitrofan to the point where his only wish is expressed in one sentence: “I don’t want to study. I want to get married.” (56) Fonvizin satirizes the educational system through the three incompetent teachers, and suggests that Russia would be a better place if the education was not limited to the children of the noblemen. Moreover, Fonvizin satirizes Mrs. Prostakov’s tyranny in the end of the comedy, when her behavior is being condemned by all the other characters, which does not stop her from threatening the servants for their betrayal, saying that she has the right to beat them, since nobles have the right to do that,