Family “passports” of N. V. Gogol's comedy “Marriage”

Abstract

The article explores the meaning of the surnames in Gogol’s comedy “Marriage”. The origin of the names of the grooms Zhevakin (zhevat’ — chew) and Onuchkin is associated with the folk saying “Chew onuchka.” Regarding the surname Yaichnitsa (yaichnitsa — fried eggs), an episode of the play is drawn in, where the bride warns the groom with the words: “I hope you won’t be angry... At the table there will only be cabbage soup... and drochenoye.” Drochenoye or drachena is a dish very similar to “fried eggs”. According to Gogol’s entry regarding the characterization of the “portly” Yaichnitsa, he can be described as “a spoilt, fat child”. In addition, an article proposes an explanation of the situational synonymy contained in the play. The “road” surnames of two more characters in the play — Podkolesin (pod — under, koleso — wheel) and Kochkarev (kochka — hummock) — are associated with Gogol’s spiritual aspirations to show “paths and roads... for everyone” to the “lofty and beautiful” in the “dark and confused present”. The analysis of linguistic means allowed to reveal the individual features of Gogol’s poetics as a satirical writer and a denouncer of human “vulgarity”. The article pays close attention to the fact that expressive vocabulary plays an important role in creating the image of the exposed hero. A penetrating sharp word, various “abusive” and derogatory expressions, a popular nickname, a characteristic surname close to an “epigram” make up the artist’s arsenal not only for creating a comic effect. To an even greater extent, negatively colored evaluative means serve to educate contemporaries.