Storyline “Mr. Jourdain and his teachers. Analysis of the play "The tradesman in the nobility"

The main character of the comedy is Mr. Jourdain. He is rich, but his family confuses him, he is disgusted by his origin. Jourdain has a great desire to enter the circle of high society. His opinion about the fact that money decides everything can be called erroneous. Jourdain is confident that the funds will solve the issue of love, titles, knowledge and other issues. The main character is illiterate and uneducated. Therefore, people only pretend that he is smart and educated, in fact, they only need his money. Jourdain is very naive and is deceived by almost all people. He is flattered and complimented, and against this background, both teachers and tailors deceive him.

The character looks very funny, especially in situations where his desire to turn into an aristocrat is manifested. The author of the comedy makes it clear that the protagonist, with his desire, empties his soul of good inclinations. If you take, in general, then the main character is not a fool, he managed to use his father's money and also multiply it. Jourdain also has enough intelligence to understand that his teachers are deceiving him, they give him wrong truths. The truths given to him by teachers only fetter him and do not allow him to develop in the right direction. Jourdain often becomes an occasion for ridicule. Even his servants, at the sight of him, are not able to restrain themselves from laughing. The hero notices this, but it does not matter to him, because he has a goal that not only makes him a laughing stock, but also endangers others.

For his environment, which does not affect his future, in his opinion, success in high society, Jourdain becomes dangerous. His wife can fall under a hot hand, and Jourdain begins to insult and deceive her. Servants are also victims of mistreatment and humiliation. Even the daughter is only a stage that can help Jourdain achieve his goal. The happiness of his daughter is in great danger, but it does not matter, it is important to get the title of an aristocrat.

The author of the play, with all the kindness and responsiveness of Jourdain, nevertheless presents him as a rude, cynical and illiterate person. Of course, the hero causes laughter, but how can you despise him for it? The author mainly tried to ridicule the aristocrats. Whatever the hero is, he adheres to his line of life to the last, he does not change his judgments. As a result, we can say about Jourdain that he is too spoiled for a luxurious life and he is bored. He's doing something totally useless.

Essay about Jourdain

The main character of the creation "The tradesman to the nobility" is Mr. Jourdain. Jourdain is the richest man who carefully hides his origin. His poor background prevented him from entering secular society.

The hero believed that money rules everything and everything can be purchased with it, up to love and noble education. For his money, the hero hired a large number of teachers who began to teach him the behavior of aristocrats and certain sciences. During the training, the hero managed to expose the shortcomings and ignorance of people from high society. The hero did not have special knowledge and therefore he became a victim of deceivers. Jourdain was deceived by everyone from simple teachers to a tailor.

The desire to become a nobleman made Jourdain a real laughingstock. The author showed that thanks to vices, people can forget about their good inclinations. Hobbies have become the meaning of life for the hero. Jourdain had a special mind that helped him increase his father's fortune. He knew that the tailor was deceiving him, and yet he did not contradict him. Because the hero really wanted to become an aristocrat. Jourdain also knew that the teachers did not teach him anything. However, the desire to become a noble was stronger than his mind.

Everyone laughed at Jourdain. His wife tried to dissuade her husband from the plan. The tailor Dorant pretended to be a friend, although in his heart he hated him. The hero became a laughingstock even in front of his servants. The reason for the laughter was the ridiculous outfit of Jourdain. His desire to break into the ranks of the nobles becomes dangerous for the people around him. He began to deceive and constantly humiliate his wife. He also began to mistreat the servants. He even decided to sacrifice his daughter's happiness in order to become an aristocrat.

In the work, the author described Jourdain as a rude and uneducated person. At the same time, the hero was a naive, sincere and good-natured person. After studying certain sciences, the hero began to express himself in prose. Each of his discovery and action caused only laughter. In the play, the author laughed at the aristocrats and directed the edge of satire against them. Despite a strong desire to get into high society, Jourdain has always remained a sincere person, unlike Dorimen and Dorant, who have no conscience and honor. Jourdain is a kind and wealthy man who has found himself an unnecessary hobby.

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The Tradesman in the Nobility is not the only play in which Molière satirizes the nobility. This is one of the most striking comedies in which the author shows the satirical image of the bourgeois.

Depicting the overly trusting and kind merchant Jourdain, Molière condemns his vanity and desire to acquire noble manners by any means. Jourdain hires different teachers to teach him manners, dances and music, but he remains unlucky and arrogant.

Teachers are also not so far from Jourdain: they quarrel over trifles, unable to decide which of the sciences is the most important.

Ordinary people are smarter than educated people: the tailor's assistants openly fish Jourdain for money, the maid Nicole is not afraid to openly laugh at her master.

Jourdain is the protagonist of the play, he suddenly tries to turn from a tradesman into a nobleman. He believes that having money is enough for this, the only thing he had aspirations in life was to be a nobleman. He really wanted to be surrounded by nobles, for this he made considerable sacrifices: he wore shoes in which the leg was almost doubled, he could barely pull silk stockings over himself, dressing ridiculously and tastelessly. His desire to get the title just clouded his eyes. Jourdain has money, but no elementary education, no manners, he is hopelessly stupid. Jourdain, in his old age, decided to study philosophy (it was a great "discovery" for him that he speaks prose), began to study music, dancing and fencing. He thinks that with some knowledge and money, it is possible to take a place among the nobles. He is surrounded by servants and teachers who demand high wages for their work, but do not think to do it. The "noble" sciences somehow do not fit in Jourdain's head. The wife asks to stop wasteful spending, but the tradesman does not want to hear anything. The maid Nicole also wants to reason with her master, while it is clear that the poor uneducated girl is much smarter than her master. Jourdain even takes the comic dedication to "mamamushi" seriously. Jourdain's desire to gain intelligence is certainly worthy of respect. But he is ridiculous in his confidence to do it in a few days.

The desire to "be noble" at all costs affects Jourdain's mental attitude, and also determines the nature of his sensory perceptions. The protagonist readily accepts any absurdity as the truth, and an obvious one at that, if only it reinforces his "movement" to the high society. Jourdain simply melts from the flattering recognition of supposedly noble affiliation.

Moliere in his work laughs at the boundless stupidity of Jourdain. By the example of this tradesman, he shows how narrow-minded and uncouth even a person with money can be, who thinks that you can buy a mind. The great playwright does not laugh at a specific person, but ridicules vanity and the desire to imitate in every possible way any external signs of the upper class, while not changing internally. The main thing is contained not in the title and not in the costume, but honor, dignity, intelligence and education cannot be bought.

Realizing what exactly Molière makes fun of in the work "The Bourgeois Man in the Nobility", pay attention to other writings:

More often than not, during the study of comedy, this storyline is not given adequate attention. Nevertheless, as it turns out, it is she who becomes very important for creating a comprehensive characterization of the protagonist, as well as for characterizing the time of the action of a comedy, for understanding the aesthetic originality of classicism, etc. We should also not forget that - in terms of composition. Therefore, it is their characterization of the "master of life" that prepares the perception of this character by readers and viewers. Moliere gives us a brilliant example of creating the image of the hero of a dramatic work using the "hero about hero" technique. The reasons why the comedy begins with teachers talking is also an important feature of the protagonist's characterization. Trying to instantly acquire refined nobility, confident that in this case it is big money that solves all possible problems.

M. Jourdain begins an extremely raging "training". Teachers of music, dance, fencing, philosophy - these are the specialists who have to "teach" him. At first glance, one may even get the impression that such a “universal” approach to one’s own “education”, to one’s own “upbringing” is capable of ensuring that Mr. Jourdain achieves the results he needs, but this is not so, since the rather unusual attitude of the age-old and teachers to learning.

At the beginning of the comedy, we learn that the teachers themselves are well aware that in fact they cannot teach M. Jourdain anything. And not because they can not, that they are professionally bankrupt, not because they are conscious charlatans. On the contrary, each of them in his own way - some more, some less - are delighted with their activities. Each of the teachers in their own way cares about the results of learning, honestly strives to teach something to Mr. Jourdain, at the same time well aware that this "scientist" will never teach. This will never happen. Therefore, Jourdain himself needs not knowledge, not beautiful manners, not the ability to move elegantly (dancing and fencing), not the ability to correctly express his thoughts (philosophy). A wealthy student needs something completely different: he tries to ensure that what he proclaims beautiful, smart, noble, is recognized by teachers as such, what is beautiful, smart, noble!

When Monsieur Jourdain tells a teacher of philosophy that "no morality will hold me back," it is not about any particular case, but about the attitude of this rich man to life in general. Mr. Jourdain has long been accustomed to the fact that big money allows him not to pay attention to the desire of other people who have neither money nor noble birth, so during the “training” he behaves not like a student, but like such a “buyer” , which has the opportunity to acquire everything, and therefore is capricious.

At the same time, the man well admits his own ignorance, since he completely frankly complains to the philosophy teacher: “Such anger takes me, I remember that my father and mother did not teach me different sciences from childhood.” Later, he will also say quite frankly to his wife: “I would gladly allow myself to be whipped here in front of everyone, even now, if only to know everything that is taught at school!” But he perceives this lack of education, first of all, as such a shortcoming that prevents him from feeling freely in the world of the gentry, from achieving what he wants. Therefore, he answers his wife: "I want to pick up my mind so as not to fall behind in a decent society." So, Mr. Jourdain does not value knowledge itself, culture, he only tries to uselessly copy external things that, in his opinion, can help him turn into a real nobleman.

At the same time, despite the alleged recognition of the importance of education, its attitude to knowledge is very, so to speak, practical. He is sincerely surprised at the things that are common to every enlightened person, at the same time common sense helps Jourdain avoid the final transformation into "walking fun" in relations with teachers.

Some of the teachers tell him flattery that robs him of common sense, predetermine him to fulfill demands that turn him into a laughing stock. But at the same time, the teachers themselves must renounce the beautiful taste, the professional performance of their duties, when Mr. Jourdain insists that everything always be just the way he wants it. The argument by which he can allegedly be persuaded to make it always simple, the teacher only needs to give a positive answer to his question: “Do noble gentlemen have such things?” Then Mr. Jourdain agrees to do it, but always insists that it is his point of view, his view, that is "aesthetically correct"!

When one of the teachers says: “We are here to fulfill all your desires,” he not only allows Mr. Jourdain to mock art, but he himself refuses the title of artist. He betrays his purpose, since real art is never attached to the tastes of the "public", it, on the contrary, forms these tastes, raises the cultural level of society. In essence, it is the artists themselves who, by their unconditional behavior, make the prosperous ignoramuses become trendsetters in the world of art, when instead of creators they become a kind of servants of these "masters of life."

This moment can be considered autobiographical, because the playwright himself knew well what it means to “serve” the interests of those who, as they say, “order the music” with the help of art. Here are two - opposite - points of view on art and the artist, which we meet in comedy: "... the praise of experienced people is the highest pleasure"; “He (Mr. Jourdain) has an understanding of art in his wallet, and his praise is gold pieces.” "The artist and power" (including the power of money!) - this is the problem that Molière raises in the comedy under study, various aspects of the relationship between the artist and power are considered in the process of understanding the attitude of Mr. Jourdain to teachers and teachers to Mr. Jourdain. Requiring to admit that this problem belongs to the "eternal" problems of art and artists, therefore this storyline makes it possible to find out not only the character of the protagonist, but its processing leads schoolchildren to universal human values ​​and problems.

Summing up the consideration of this storyline, we point out that the disclosure of Mr. Jourdain's attitude to teachers and teachers to the "gentry" should take place by attracting key fragments of the text of the comedy. In the most prepared classes, it is advisable to offer the student to prepare a message (research method) from the topic “Teachers and “masters” in the comedy of the Russian playwright Denis Fonvizin “Undergrowth”.

Storyline "Mr. Jourdain and his teachers"

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All events in the comedy take place over the course of one day in the house of Mr. Jourdain. The first two acts are an exposition of comedy: here we get acquainted with the character of M. Jourdain. He is shown surrounded by teachers, with the help of which he tries to prepare as best as possible for the reception of Dorimena. Teachers, like the tailor, "play" Mr. Jourdain: they teach him wisdom that costs nothing.

Active events unfold from the third act. The Marquise and the Count play mister Jourdain by assigning him a secondary seat at the banquet. Then he is played by the resourceful Cleont, who appears before Jourdain in the form of a Turkish nobleman and tricks him into agreeing to a wedding with Lucille.

The play is built according to a typical Molière scheme. While Monsieur Jourdain is blinded by his passion for the marquise and everything noble, Count Dorant consciously and purposefully heads towards the goal - to marry. In doing so, he ingeniously uses M. Jourdain's self-blindness.

The theme of the work is the crazyness of Mr. Jourdain on nobility; criticism of the aristocracy and exposure of the slavish crawling of the bourgeoisie before the ruling class.

Genre - comedy-ballet, classic comedy with elements of folk farce, ancient comedy and Renaissance comedies.

Mr Jourdain. In order to understand what Moliere makes fun of in his comedy, let's turn to the images of the work, and above all, to the image of Mr. Jourdain.

The protagonist Jourdain has everything a person could wish for: family, money, health. Behind his background, Jourdain is a bourgeois whose parents were merchants, but he is ashamed of his background and lifestyle.

The main character trait of Mr. Jourdain is his mania, passion for everything noble. He strives to get into high society, to become a noble nobleman. Of course, no one is forbidden to improve themselves. However, Mr. Jourdain chose the wrong path and an illusory goal, which can in no way be called worthy. He decided to become the lover of the Marquise Dorimena and, thanks to her, enter the aristocratic circles. The pinnacle of his aspirations is to be accepted by the king himself.

To have the appearance of a nobleman, he tries to do everything like aristocrats. Throwing things away, Jourdain hires teachers of dancing, fencing, music, and philosophy, who, laughing behind his back, teach everything that is generally accepted among aristocrats for a high salary. With their help, he tries to learn the skills, manners of the nobles, learns to dance, fencing. Dance lessons Jourdain needs in order to bow exquisitely to the marquise, fencing is good because ... "even a coward can kill his enemy, but he himself will always remain whole." Mister Jourdain learns music only because "the nobles also learn music." And the whole "philosophy" comes down to almost one thing: how best to write a note to one high-society lady.

Teachers know the real value of Mr. Jourdain. So, from their remarks, a nonentity person arises who “doesn’t understand anything,” but has money, although he has no taste.

Jourdain does not know the specifics of music at all, he does not understand dances. This is evidenced by his statement: “Will you show me your light joke? Well, that one... Or what do you think? Your prologue or dialogue with singing and dancing?”. He has no taste, because he cannot evaluate what he heard and saw: “Is that all? The order is chosen ... also the expressions are so clever ... And again shepherds?

His ignorance is revealed during a conversation with a philosopher. Jourdain is not familiar with any of the sciences, he is frightened by incomprehensible words and terms, he does not see the difference between poetry and prose.

And only in spelling he sees the meaning. Moliere depicts a comic situation with the pronunciation of sounds, using language as a means to create a comic.

The senseless desire to inherit the aristocrats is especially ridiculed by the playwright in the scenes of Jourdain's teaching the noble "sciences and arts". It is not the learning process itself that causes laughter - there is nothing funny in the fact that a person wants to get an education - but shameful crawling, lackey humiliation of Jourdain in front of court ranks and titles, ridiculous harassment to achieve an aristocratic position in society. Mr. Jourdain defines the content of his training as follows: "I want to gain intelligence so as not to graze the back in a decent society."

The defining feature of Jourdain's image is vanity (arrogance, arrogance). Dreaming of being like the nobles, Jourdain is ready to pay a lot for people to treat him like a noble born. This is clearly shown in the scene with the tailor (act II, reality 9). The comic is created by the use of titles by lackeys, by Jourdain's excessive "elevation" from "noble lord" to "your lordship".

But Jourdain has not yet completely lost his common sense. He's not stupid at all. So, Jourdain saw that the tailor stole the fabric from him (the scene with the tailor), he knows how to count money (the scene with Dorant).

Jourdain - simple, straightforward, trusting. M. Jourdain's blind credulity and his simplicity were best shown in the banquet scene (Act III, Rev. 18, І9; Act IV, Rev. 1). A person less blinded by his destructive passion and observant would have noticed long ago that the Marchioness had not even heard of him that day, and considers his presence at the table to be accidental.

The gullible Monsieur Jourdain consoles himself with the thought that the Count is praising him before the Marquise and giving her presents from him. And he borrows money because he infinitely trusts Dorant as a nobleman.

Consumed by mania for nobility, Jourdain arbitrarily forbids his daughter Lucille's marriage to her lover, Cleonte, on the grounds that he is "not a nobleman". But he agrees to marry his daughter even to a Turk, as long as he is a nobleman. Only the cheerful fiction of Covel, Cleont's servant, about the son of the Turkish sultan, who allegedly came to ask for the hand of Jourdain's daughter, helps Lucille and Cleont get married.

At the end of the comedy, Monsieur Jourdain is "cured" of his mania and returns to his wife. The experiment of transforming Mr. Jourdain into the nobility ends unsuccessfully, as his philistine nature takes over, in addition, the ideals of the aristocracy to which he wanted to belong are also dubious. Common sense wins.