Woe from Wit

6 hrs. 0 min.

Classics

Language Russian

Author Alexander Griboyedov

Narrator Evgeny Ternovsky

Description

The action takes place in the 1820s in Russia. To the old Moscow gentleman Pavel Afanasyevich Famusov, who runs affairs in a government post, is a convinced serf-owner and a fierce opponent of enlightenment, his former ward Alexander Chatsky unexpectedly returns. The young man has long been in love with the gentleman’s daughter Sofia and is very much looking forward to meeting her. Three years ago Chatsky—"weeping as he went"—left Sofia, first going to St. Petersburg, and then studying abroad. Returning from restless Europe, Alexander is full of enthusiasm for freedom of the individual, equality, and fraternity. He is very intelligent, and despite his youth, he has a wealth of life experience, understanding the situation in the country.
And in Moscow nothing has changed—"new homes, but old prejudices"; hypocrisy, serfdom, false patriotism, and ignorance still prosper. Chatsky understands that in this society there is no place for him, but love for Sofia keeps him there. Yet even here he will be disappointed…