We all went through Fonvizin at school, he is the author of the play "Undergrowth". As a rule, this is where our knowledge of the writer ends. In the school curriculum, not so much attention is paid to his work and life. However, this does not mean that there is nothing to tell about Fonvizin. The great Russian writer lived an interesting life.
We bring to your attention a list of the 10 most interesting facts from the life of Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin: a brief biography of the writer and the main events of life.
10. The descendant of the knights
Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin was born in 1745 in the Russian Empire. His ancestors were knights of the Livonia (Livonian) clan. Livonia is the German name for Estonia; earlier this place was located on the territory of modern Estonia and Latvia. Thus, the writer Fonvizin is a descendant of the Baltic knights.
Von Vizinyh was taken into service in Russia under Ivan the Terrible. His ancestor, in whose honor the great playwright will be called, was awarded for valiant service during the Time of Troubles. Thus, the family of the great Russian writer successfully assimilated. Pushkin later called Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin "the most Russian of all Russians».
9. The best student of the Faculty of Philosophy
Fonvizin did not follow the example of warlike ancestors. The young Denis was educated at home - from four years old the boy studied reading and writing. In 1755, when his father was no longer able to hire teachers to ten-year-old Fonvizin, he gave his son to the Kremlin University Gymnasium. According to the founders, here the young men were supposed to get basic knowledge for entering a university or starting a career. Denis received a gold medal and material for writing the future play "Undergrowth."
In 1759, the young man stayed in Moscow and went to the Faculty of Philosophy. He studied for only two years, however he and his brother were sent to St. Petersburg as the best students of the faculty. This trip gave the writer a lot - there he made friends with Lomonosov and Sumarokov.
By the way, at the university the writer acquired a addiction to alcohol, which he could not get rid of all his life later.
8. Favorite Writer - Russo
Acquaintance with the French enlightenment could not but affect the life of society. Writers are sensitive people, and therefore are especially susceptible to the influence of new ideas and trends. And Fonvizin was no exception.
Denis Ivanovich's favorite writer was Jean-Jacques Rousseau - French philosopher of the Enlightenment.
7. Took part in the liberation of the peasants
The playwright wanted the reforms to free peasants from work.. One of the largest works of Russian journalism by Fonvizin is considered to be “The Discourse on Indispensable State Laws” (late 1782 - early 1783). This material was written specifically for Pavel Petrovich - the future Russian ruler. Here the author shared his arguments about serfdom. In his opinion, serfdom should not be destroyed, but introduced “within the limits of moderation”.
Fonvizin was afraid of the emergence of a new Pugachev region, so he proposed to make concessions in order to avoid upheaval. Therefore, the main requirement arises - the introduction of "fundamental laws", which apply to the ruler. The playwright saw the situation in the country as an arbitrariness that seized all areas of government.
6. Was familiar with Benjamin Franklin
In August 1778 in Paris, met with Benjamin Franklin. Franklin met with writer Fonvizin in Paris. And this meeting made a mutually favorable impression. In general, Fonvizin repeatedly mentioned Franklin and, in particular, in August 1778 announced his meeting with him. By the way some literary critics believe that Franklin served as a prototype of Starodum in the play "Undergrowth".
5. Worked despite paralysis
In 1784, upon returning from Italy, the playwright had the first of five strokes. For a long time, the writer was paralyzed and could not get out of bed. As his friend told, Fonvizin could not even say hello to him, and the writer's right hand was completely taken away. Then the writer went for treatment in Carlsbad. After this trip, he felt better, he continued to work.
And even despite a serious illness, Fonvizin continued to study literature until the end of his days.. He lived hard and active, continued to be friends with writers and publish articles in magazines.
4. Married his client
Fonvizin was referred to as a ladies man, but in fact his personal life was not so successful. Once a writer fell in love with a married woman. As Denis Ivanovich himself said, he carried this love through his whole life.
However, the writer still had a wife. Fonvizin worked in court, once he, at the direction of Count N.I. Panin defended the interests of the young widow of Ekaterina Rogovikova, daughter of a wealthy merchant. After the death of her husband, Catherine received a huge fortune. In 1774 they were married - the bride of Fonvizin at that time was 27 years old. Her wealth was enough to provide the writer. The couple did not have children.
Three years after the wedding, the wife fell ill, and the couple went to France to improve the health of Catherine. For Fonvizin, this was the first trip abroad, which greatly influenced his state and literary activities. There, the writer studied science, culture, and French literature.
3. Catherine II banned his works
Denis Ivanovich was a direct and sarcastic person, which is why he made enemies for himself. Once at a meeting, he openly asked why decent people had disappeared from the service and why unscrupulous people appeared. Bold remarks and works of the playwright, criticizing the authorities, led to the fact that Fonvizin fell into disfavor of the empress.
The writer, being paralyzed, was preparing to print the satirical journal Friend of Honest People, or Starodum. However Empress Catherine II did not allow the publication of the work. In addition, she forbade the publication of his complete works.. Fonvizin, knowing that he was short-lived, handed over the manuscripts to his friend Pyotr Bogdanovich, so that he would publish them in the future.
2. He was talented in everything
Denis Fonvizin was remembered by contemporaries as always a neat and very competent person. He looked unsurpassed: always in a clean and ironed shirt, beautiful shoes.
«Talented person is talented in everything"- this phrase perfectly describes the writer. Fonvizin was very fond of the theater - since he first visited it as a teenager. This love prompted the author to translate and compose plays. True, they didn’t always want to stage them - for example, the work “Undergrowth” turned out to be so scandalous that the Moscow Theater was afraid to show it on stage. But St. Petersburg was bolder.
The writer possessed the gift of wit, he very subtly noticed the shortcomings of society and cruelly ridiculed them in his works, which made his enemies.
1. Initially bore the name von Wiesen
The ancestors of the outstanding playwright were named von Wiesen (von Wiesen). The particle “background” is translated from German as “from” and indicates the origin of a person, his race. Wiesen in translation means "Ray." Fusion spelling and the ending "-in" are typical for Russia, so Fonvizin is a Russian adaptation of a foreign surname.