Woe from Wit

Historical Context and Significance

Woe from Wit, a play by Alexander Griboyedov written in 1824, holds an important place in the history of Russian literature and culture as an outstanding example of Russian socio-cultural satire. The play sharply criticizes the social order of the Russian aristocracy of the early 19th century, exposing hypocrisy, ignorance, and corruption. A significant achievement of Griboyedov is the creation of vivid literary characters that have gained symbolic significance in Russian culture, such as Chatsky—a figure of a rational but misunderstood individual. The play had a significant influence on the development of Russian drama and literature as a whole, directly or indirectly inspiring many Russian writers and playwrights of the 19th and 20th centuries.