Next to Famusov in the comedy stands Skalozub - “And the golden bag aspires to be a general.” Colonel Skalozub is a typical representative of the Arakcheevo army environment. There is nothing caricatured in his appearance: historically he is completely truthful. Like Famusov, Colonel Skalozub is guided in his life by “philosophy” and the ideal of the “past century,” only in an even more rude and frank form. He sees the purpose of his service not in protecting the fatherland from enemy encroachment, but in achieving wealth and nobility, which, in his opinion, are more accessible to a military man. Chatsky characterizes him as follows:

Khripun, strangled, bassoon, Constellation of maneuvers and mazurkas!

According to Sophia, Skalozub only talks about “fronts and rows.” The source of Skalozub’s “military wisdom” is the Prussian-Pavlovian school in the Russian army, so hated by the free-thinking officers of that time, brought up on the precepts of Suvorov and Kutuzov. In one of the early editions of the comedy, in a conversation with Repetilov, Skalozub directly states:

I am the school of Friedrich, in the team are the grenadiers, Feldwebel are my Voltaires.

Skalozub began to make his career from the moment when the heroes of 1812 began to be replaced by stupid martinets, slavishly loyal to the autocracy, led by Arakcheev. Then “at every step there were clawed teeth, not only in the army, but also in the guard, for whom it was incomprehensible that it was possible to turn a Russian man into a fit soldier without breaking several cartloads of sticks on his back,” notes the Decembrist Yakushkin. It was people like Skalozub, less than a year after the end of “Woe from Wit,” who shot the Decembrists from cannons on Senate Square in St. Petersburg. His image was of great political importance for exposing the military-serfdom reaction of that time.

It is characteristic that Griboedov contrasts Skalozub with his cousin, a representative of a different environment in the Russian army, with that freedom-loving part of the officers from which many Decembrist military officers emerged. After the end of the war of 1812-1814. Skalozub’s cousin, having resigned, went to the village “to read books.” The Decembrist P. Kakhovsky testifies to the veracity of this image. “Our young people, with all their meager means, are engaged more than anywhere else,” he writes, “many of them have retired and in their secluded rural houses they study and organize the prosperity and education of farmers, entrusted by fate to their care... How many you will meet now seventeen-year-old young people about whom we can safely say that they read old books." The resignation of many leading officers who distinguished themselves in the wars of 1812-1814 was also associated with the strengthening of the Arakcheev regime in the army - the persecution of all free-thinking, the imposition of stupid military drill and servile subordination. This is precisely how the Decembrist V. Raevsky explains his resignation in 1817: “The influence of Arakcheev has already become noticeable. The service became difficult and insulting. What was required was not noble service, but servile subordination. Many officers have retired." This was one of the forms of protest against the reaction. And it was not for nothing that the Famusovs looked very askance at the non-employee young nobles

Comedy "Woe from Wit", written by A.S. Griboyedov in 1824, exposes the morals of the nobles of the early 19th century. The play presents a situation when, after the War of 1812, at a turning point for Russia, people with progressive views on the structure of society began to appear in the noble society. The main theme of the work is the struggle of the “past century” with the “present century”, the old with the new. The camp of the “past century” is represented in the play by many people of different types. Skalozub’s characterization in the comedy “Woe from Wit” is of great importance for understanding the problems of the work.

This hero is highly respected among Famus society. From the first pages of the book we learn that Famusov considers him the most desirable contender for the hand of his daughter Sophia. In the play "Woe from Wit" Skalozub fully corresponds to the ideals of Moscow noble society: "And a golden bag, and aims to become a general." Sophia, as a sensible girl, does not want to marry Skalozub at all. She considers him very stupid: “He will never utter a smart word - I don’t care what’s for him, what’s in the water.”

If Chatsky is not suitable for the role of Sophia’s husband, because he “does not serve, that is, he does not find any benefit in it,” then Skalozub is a colonel. High rank is the main thing that is valued in Moscow. The image of this hero is a satire on the Russian army of the Arakcheev period, when any free-thinking was persecuted and thoughtless submission was required. In this regard, many young nobles resigned. Stupid military drill reigned in the army at that time. That is why in Famus society they are so wary of Chatsky, who “would be happy to serve,” but does not want to “serve,” because this indicates his dissent. Skalozub is “with stars and ranks,” which means everything is fine with him. In Famus society, he is forgiven even for rudeness, which is not forgiven for Chatsky.

As a typical representative of the “past century,” Skalozub serves the purpose of enriching himself, gaining respectable weight in society, and not in order to take care of the safety of his homeland. In the comedy “Woe from Wit,” Skalozub’s army rank is very attractive to Famusov’s Moscow. In this regard, Chatsky gives an apt description of Skalozub: “A constellation of maneuvers and mazurkas.”

The path to high ranks and awards for people like Skalozub does not matter. Most often, promotions among the nobility of that time were achieved through connections. Skalozub’s character helps him skillfully use these connections: “... To get ranks, there are many channels... I just wish I could become a general.”

Skalozub even received his order not for military merits, but on the occasion of military celebrations.

In the comedy “Woe from Wit,” the characterization of Skalozub would have been incomplete if the work had not contrasted this hero with other representatives of the military class - progressive-minded nobles who respect human personality. These were the people who retired during that period. Such is Skalozub’s cousin, who, despite the fact that “the rank followed him,” left military service and went to live in the village, where “he began to read books.” Refusing another rank is unthinkable for Skalozub. Skalozub speaks about his brother with disdain also because he is also an opponent of learning and education. It is from the lips of this hero at Famusov’s ball that information comes about the reform of barracks-type educational institutions: “They will only teach there in our way: once or twice; and the books will be preserved like this: for great occasions.”

Sergei Sergeevich Skalozub is a military man (colonel), a seasoned serviceman, who does not care about anything except military affairs and career advancement in the service (“And the golden bag, and aims to become a general”). He is completely undeveloped mentally, even, roughly speaking, dull (Sofia about Skalozub: “he hasn’t uttered a smart word in his life”). That is why he does not suit Sophia as a groom, despite how much her father craves it. Famusov treats Skalozub with reverence, as he considers him the best match for his daughter.

Skalozub can conduct a conversation exclusively about the service, so he mentions it everywhere (“I don’t know, sir, it’s my fault; we didn’t serve together”) or tries to reduce the conversation to this topic. He found himself in high society solely thanks to his rank and good earnings, since otherwise no one would have communicated with him. As you already understand, Skalozub is an opponent of all education and enlightenment, he considers this a completely unnecessary activity, does not want to learn himself and advises the same to others (“You can’t faint with learning”).

Updated: 2017-08-17

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As Skalozub

Colonel Sergei Sergeevich Skalozub- one of the characters in A. S. Griboedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit”.

It should be noted that he entered the service only in 1809, but at the same time he was not happy that he was “led behind the regiment for two years”; Moreover, he is already aiming to become a general: I have been serving since eight hundred and nine; // Yes, to get ranks, there are many channels; // I judge them as a true philosopher: // I just wish I could become a general. It is important that he received his order not for military merit - on the mentioned day, August 3 (15), there were no military operations, the parties sat down at the negotiating table. In honor of this event, many soldiers were given medals. Phrase Given to him with a bow, around my neck gives reason to assume that Skalozub’s brother received the Order of St. Vladimir IV with a bow, and he himself probably received the Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd degree, or the Order of St. Anna, II degree, “on the neck.”

He is boastful and advances in his career at the expense of his comrades: I am quite happy in my comrades, // Vacancies are just open; // Then the elders will turn off others, // Others, you see, are interrupted. Skalozub is straightforward in a military way, which, however, does not harm him in society. So, for example, when in the third act Princess Tugoukhovskaya complains to him that her nephew Fyodor, who studied at the Pedagogical Institute, officials don't want to know, the colonel with frank joy informs his interlocutors: I will make you happy: the general rumor is // That there is a project about lyceums, schools, gymnasiums; // There they will only teach in our own way: one, two; // And the books will be saved like this: for big occasions. Famusov is even more intolerant of freethinking: Sergey Sergeich, no! If only evil could be stopped: // Take all the books and burn them .

Plot

Skalozub is first mentioned in the first act, where the maid Liza hints to Sophia about him as a profitable match: For example, Colonel Skalozub: // And a golden bag, and aims to become a general. In this respect, in the eyes of Famusov, he compares favorably with Molchalin and Chatsky. And in the second act, Famusov very openly hints at his marriage after Skalozub receives the general ( And judge gloriously, God bless you // And the rank of general; and then // Why put it off further // Start talking about the general’s wife?), to which he straightforwardly responds with consent ( Marry? I don't mind at all) .

In contrast to Famusov, his sister-in-law Khlestova treats Skalozub very coldly and says about him to Sophia: Wow! I definitely got rid of the noose; // After all, your father is crazy: // He was given three fathoms of daring, - // He introduces us without asking, is it pleasant for us, isn’t it?

But Chatsky is also partly jealous of Sophia for Skalozub; So in Act III, after talking about Molchalin, he asks her: But Skalozub? here's a treat; // He stands for the army like a mountain, // And with the straightness of his figure, // With his face and voice, a hero..., to which she answers him: Not my novel Then the conversation is interrupted, and Chatsky remains "with its own mystery".

In Act IV, Skalozub accidentally meets his friend Repetilov. He calls him to another spree with Prince Gregory: And we ask with me, now without excuses: // Prince Gregory now has a ton of people, // You’ll see, there are forty of us, // Phew! what a lot of brains there are, brother! // They talk all night, they won’t get bored, // Firstly, they’ll give you enough champagne to drink, // And secondly, they’ll teach you such things, // Which, of course, you and I can’t invent., to which he responds with a sharp refusal: Spare me. You won’t faint me with your learning, // Call others, and if you want, // I will give Prince Gregory and you // A sergeant-major to Voltaire, // He will line you up in three ranks, // And make a sound, and he’ll instantly calm you down.. He clearly condemns such a riotous lifestyle, preferring military order. Skalozub uses flattery, servility, and voluptuousness to achieve higher ranks. He believes that it is important to be in the right place at the right time.

The image of Skalozub in literature

No less remarkable is the fourth type: the stupid front-line soldier Skalozub, who understood service only in the ability to distinguish uniform differences, but for all that, retained some kind of special philosophical-liberal view of ranks, admitting openly that he considers them as necessary channels to to become a general, and then at least he won’t be able to grow grass; He doesn’t care about all other worries, and the circumstances of the time and century are not a puzzling science for him: he is sincerely confident that the whole world can be calmed down by giving him a sergeant major as Voltaire.

Napoleon married his soldiers in the same way that our landowners marry courtyard people - without really caring about love and inclinations. He wanted to bring the gunpowder nobility closer to the old nobility through marriages; he wanted to fool his Skalozubs with their wives. Accustomed to blind obedience, they married unquestioningly, but soon abandoned their wives, finding them too prim for barracks and bivouac parties.

Herzen wrote in Past and Thoughts that the English Club is least of all English. In it, the Sobakevichs shout against liberation and the Nozdryovs make noise for the natural and inalienable rights of the nobles...

Performers

• Bogolyubov, Nikolai Ivanovich
• Varlamov, Konstantin Alexandrovich - Alexandrinsky Theater, 1885
• S. A. Golovin - Maly Theater, 1915
• Grigoriev, Pyotr Ivanovich (the very first performer) - Alexandrinsky Theater, January 26, 1831
• Kiselevsky, Ivan Platonovich - Korsh Theater, 1886
• Ershov, Vladimir Lvovich - Moscow Art Theater, 1925
• Leonidov, Leonid Mironovich - Moscow Art Theater, 1906
• Malyutin, Yakov Osipovich - Alexandrinsky Theater, 1921
• Michurin, Gennady Mikhailovich - Alexandrinsky Theater, 1947
• Nemchinov, Ivan Ivanovich - Maly Theater
• Rybakov, Konstantin Nikolaevich - Maly Theater, 1887
• Sagal, Daniil Lvovich - Meyerhold Theater (GosTIM), 1928
• Chekaevsky. Alexander - Alexandrinsky Theater, 1941

Notes

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Synonyms:

See what “Skalozub” is in other dictionaries:

Skalozub... Spelling dictionary-reference book

Soldier, scoffer, merry fellow, joker, mocker Dictionary of Russian synonyms. Skalozub see martinet Dictionary of synonyms of the Russian language. Practical guide. M.: Russian language. Z. E. Alexandrova ... Dictionary of synonyms

A character in the comedy “Woe from Wit” (1824) by A. S. Griboyedov (1795 1829). Colonel Skalozub is an ignorant careerist martinet who dreams of instilling barracks morals in the entire public life of Russia. Russian analogue of the famous French expression (see... Dictionary of popular words and expressions

Skalozub, Skalozub, husband. (colloquial obsolete). Same as a sneer. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 … Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

The central character of A.S. Griboyedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit” (1824). If we look for classicist characters in the characters of the play, and through them also ancient prototypes, then S. corresponds to the “boastful warrior”, a popular mask of Roman comedies, embodied in... ... Literary heroes

SKALOTOOTH- Ivan Skalozub, choirmaster of the Vilna Metropolitan. XV century Arch. Sat. VI, 9. Skalozub, Zaporozhye hetman. OK. 1580. K. L. 4. Maksimko Skalozub, Don Cossack. 1683. Add. X, 435... Biographical Dictionary

Skalozub.

Colonel Skalozub is a type of careerist officer from the time of Arakcheev. Mentally, he is a narrow-minded person. “He hasn’t uttered a smart word in a long time,” Sophia notes. Lisa also agrees with this characterization of Skalozub: “Yes, sir, so to speak, he is eloquent, but not very cunning.” Among the officers of that era there were enlightened, highly educated people. Some of them were associated with the Decembrist movement.

Skalozub is not one of them. On the contrary, it is a faithful guardian of the autocratic-serf system, an enemy of enlightenment.

A serviceman who was brought up in the barracks, Skalozub speaks with particular eagerness about what is familiar to him, and then his speech is full of words such as edgings, shoulder straps, buttonholes, corps, division, distance, in line, sergeant major, etc. The tone of his speech is decisive, categorical: what a miserable rider! The distance is huge; sometimes his words sound like a command: There they will only teach in our way: one, two. He is polite to Famusov: I’m ashamed... Wherever you want... I don’t know, sir, I’m guilty. But in the presence of such persons as Chatsky or Repetilov, he is not shy and says in a rude, barracks-like manner: “Hasn’t our old man made a blunder?” “Shall I look at how it cracked, in the chest or in the side?”, “Spare me,” “You can’t faint with your learning.”

Skalozub’s speech perfectly characterizes this “constellation of maneuvers and mazurkas.”

Updated: 2011-05-07

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