The article considers the sociopsychological type of literary hero embodied in such characters as Molchalin and Boris Drubetskoy. The purpose of the article is to establish signs indicating the genetic relationship of these two images. A comparative analysis revealed similarities and differences, characterized the behavioral strategies the heroes used to achieve their career goals. It is noted that the most detailed typological relationship of the two heroes was revealed by D.I. Pisarev. In his article «Old Nobility», the critic considered Drubetskoy as a «pathological» male type, «unsatisfactory» character, calling him «Molchalin of the high society». Pisarev considered the main difference between the heroes to be their social status, which predetermines the future success of Drubetskoy and the immutability of Molchalin's «menial role». Disagreeing with the opinion of the critic, the author of the article emphasizes that the heroes are equal both in the initial social marginality and in the possibilities of realizing their claims. A commonality of life guidelines of Drubetskoy and Molchalin is established: both of them methodically and prudently, serving not «business, but individuals», strive to build a career that would allow them to occupy a high position in the social hierarchy they recognize. The similarity of the goals determines the closeness of behavioral strategies: both heroes maintain a distance between themselves and other people, skillfully manipulate them, easily step over values and affections, and use the personal favour of influential people as a tool for career advancement. Both Molchalin and Drubetskoy are devoid of creativity: they can only fix and repeat, but not create. It is concluded that the typological commonality of heroes is explained by the fact that they are generated by one era; but if Griboedov was the first to determine the essential features of this type, then Tolstoy depicted it more deeply, showed its implementation in historical circumstances of crisis, taking into account the place that career officials took over time in the system of official Russia.
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