The play "The Thunderstorm", which by genre intended as a comedy, was written by A. N. Ostrovsky in 1859. At first, the work did not imply a tragic outcome, but in the process of writing, in addition to the conflict of an individual, a socially accusatory orientation clearly emerged. As Ostrovsky wrote the play “The Thunderstorm,” we bring to your attention a brief summary of the actions.
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“The Thunderstorm” is a play in five acts, according to the author’s definition, a drama, but with a genre originality:
The place where the main actions of the play unfold was not chosen by Ostrovsky by chance. Kalinov city- This is a collective image of the Volga cities and villages, the beauty of which the playwright was fascinated by.
But the splendor of endless expanses of water and the discreet beauty of nature cannot overshadow the cruelty, indifference, hypocrisy, ignorance and tyranny that reign behind the facades of elegant houses.
The work, as it is now customary to say, “ based on real events" In the wealthy Moscow merchant family of the Klykovs, the daughter-in-law committed suicide by throwing herself into the Volga, unable to withstand the reproaches and oppression from her mother-in-law, not finding protection from her husband and suffering from secret love to another man.
It is precisely this tragedy of actions that is main storyline works. However, if Ostrovsky had only limited himself to the ups and downs in the life of a young woman, the essay would not have had such a resounding success and would not have caused such a resonance in society. Here is outlined and exposed conflict between old traditions and new trends, ignorance and progress, love of freedom and savagery of the bourgeois world.
The author wrote a story about dramatic events in the form of a play for stage performance. And any script begins with a description of the characters.
Of no small importance in the play is such a figurative concept as a thunderstorm - harbinger of a cleansing storm for some and God's warning for others.
Important! It should be remembered that the play was written by Ostrovsky in the pre-reform years (1861). The spirit of uplift and expectation of dramatic changes reigned, and it was at this time that the playwright writes about the awakening of the individual, in which Dobrolyubov would later see “something refreshing and encouraging.”
For a more detailed look at the intricacies storylines each action of Ostrovsky's play "The Thunderstorm", their brief content is presented below.
Volga Bank, public garden in the foreground. Kuligin is delighted with the views. Kudryash and a friend are strolling leisurely nearby. Diky’s swearing is muffled, which surprises no one - this is common occurrence. This time he scolds his nephew Boris. Kudryash sympathizes with the unenviable fate of Dikiy’s relative, who is forced to endure the oppression of his uncle, a tyrant. He himself is one of the few who can repel the rude man: “He is the word, and I am ten; he’ll spit and let it go.”
The abusive speech is heard more and more clearly - Savel Prokofievich and his nephew are approaching those present. Having taken his breath away, having shouted, Dikoy leaves. Boris explains the reason for his forced humility: he and his sister after the death of their parents were left orphans. The grandmother in Kalinov wrote off an inheritance to her grandchildren upon reaching adulthood, and they will get it on condition of respectful and respectful attitude towards uncle. Kuligin assures that this is a utopia: No one will appease the wild one. Boris sadly agrees: and so he works for his uncle for nothing, but there is no use. He feels wild and stuffy in Kalinov - this is not the kind of upbringing and education that their parents gave to their sister and Boris, who previously lived in the capital.
Feklusha and a townswoman enter. Bogomolka praises the beauty of the city, extolling the decorum and virtues of the merchant class, noting the Kabanov family. After the women leave, Kuligin remembers the glorified Kabanikha with an unkind word for her bigotry and domestic tyranny. He shares with Boris his thoughts on the invention of the “perpetum mobile”. Behind perpetual motion machine give a lot of money that can be used for the benefit of society. But there is no money for parts - it’s such a vicious circle. Boris, left alone, sympathizes with Kuligin, but, remembering his ill-fated fate, also leaves the garden.
Kabanikha appears with her family: son Tikhon with his wife Katerina and Varvara Kabanova. The merchant's wife harasses her son with accusations in his excessive love for his wife and disrespectful attitude towards his mother. The words are intended for Tikhon, but are clearly directed against his daughter-in-law. Tikhon makes excuses in every possible way, his wife tries to support him, which causes a storm of indignation from the mother-in-law and a new wave of accusations against Tikhon, they say, he cannot keep his wife strict, and he is not far from his lover.
After his mother leaves, Tikhon attacks Katerina, accusing her of reproaches Mother. Not wanting to listen to his wife’s objections, he goes to Dikiy to pour vodka over the troubles.
An offended woman complains to her sister-in-law about difficult life with mother-in-law, remembers how well, cleanly and freely she lived with her mother: “in the summer I go to the spring, wash myself, bring some water and that’s it, water all the flowers in the house.”
There was sheer splendor - gold embroidery, church prayers, stories of wanderers.
It's not the same in my husband's house. Katya admits to Varvara that she is visited by bad, sinful thoughts, which she cannot drive away with any prayers. A in her heart there are thoughts about one person.
Then an abnormal lady appears who showers the girls with curses, promising them hellish torment for their sinful beauty. Thunderclaps are heard, a thunderstorm is approaching, and the girls quickly run away.
Act 2 begins in the Kabanovs' house. Feklusha and Glasha settled down in the room. The wanderer, watching the maid at work, tells her what is happening in this world. And at least her story replete with lies and ignorance Glasha listens carefully and with interest to Feklushi’s stories; for her this is the only source of information.
Katerina and Varvara appear. They help outfit Tikhon for a week-long business trip to another city. Feklusha has already left, Varvara sends the maid with her things to the horses. Katerina recalls an old childhood story when she ran to the river out of resentment for something, sailed away in a boat and then was found ten miles away. This indicates the decisiveness of her character- despite the girl’s meekness, she tolerates insults for the time being. Varvara asks Katerina who the person is for whom her heart aches. This is Boris Grigorievich - nephew of Savel Prokofievich. Varya assures Katerina that the man also has feelings for the young woman, and after her husband leaves he must arrange a meeting for lovers. The woman gets scared and resolutely refuses this proposal.
Kabanikha and her son come in. She continues to give instructions to Tikhon on how to behave in the city, what instructions to give to his wife in her absence: listen to your mother-in-law and don’t contradict her about anything, don’t sit around like a lady without work, don’t exchange glances with young guys. Tikhon, embarrassed, pronounces these instructions after his mother. They are then left alone. Katerina, as if anticipating trouble, asks Tikhon not to leave her alone or to take her with him to the city. But Tikhon, exhausted by his mother’s nagging, is glad to break free, at least for a short while.
Farewell scene. Katerina hugs her husband, which displeases her mother-in-law, saying that she doesn’t know how to say goodbye properly.
Then Kabanikha rants for a long time about the fact that after the departure of the old people - the last zealots of antiquity, it is not known how the white light will remain.
Left alone, Katya, instead of calming down, comes to complete confusion and thoughts. No matter how much she loaded herself with work, her heart was not in the right place.
Here Varvara pushes her to meet Boris. Having replaced the key to the garden gate, Varya hands it to Katerina. She tries to resist these actions, but then gives up.
Kabanova and Feklusha on a bench in front of the merchant's house. They grumble about the vanity of life in big cities, enjoy the peace and tranquility in their own town. Appears Wild, he's drunk. According to his habit, having become inflamed, he begins be rude to Kabanikha, but she quickly puts him down. Dikoy makes the excuse that the workers upset him in the morning, demanding payment, and to him it’s like a sharp knife in his heart. Having cooled down in conversation with Kabanikha, he leaves.
Boris hasn't seen Katerina for a long time and saddened by this circumstance. Kuligin stands nearby, thinking about the plight of the poor, who have no time for the beauty of nature - they are in need, but in work, and the rich have fenced themselves off with high fences with dogs, and are thinking about how to rob orphans and poor relatives. Kudryash and Varvara approach. They hug and kiss. The girl notifies Boris about the upcoming meeting with Katerina and determines the place in the ravine.
At night, having arrived at the meeting place, Boris meets Kudryash playing the guitar and asks him to give him a seat, but Kudryash resists, arguing that he has long “warmed up” this place for meetings with his girlfriend.
Then Boris admits that he has a date with a married lady here. Curly guesses who we're talking about and warns Boris, because married women are enslaved.
Varvara arrives and takes Kudryash away. The lovers are left alone.
Katerina tells Boris about ruined honor, about God's punishment, but then they both surrender to the power of feelings. Ten days of the husband's absence are spent in unity with the beloved.
Partially destroyed gallery, its walls are painted with paintings Last Judgment. Here people are hiding from the rain that has begun. Kuligin begs Savel Prokofevich to make donations for the installation of a tower clock in the garden and a lightning conductor. Dikoy swears, calling him names Kuligin is an atheist, for a thunderstorm is God’s punishment and no amount of iron can be saved from it.
After Tikhon returns home, Katerina is in complete confusion. Varvara tries to reason with her and teaches her not to show any pretense. She herself has long become skilled in tricks and deceptions. Having not achieved what she wanted, Varya reports to Boris about Katya’s condition.
Thunderclaps are heard. The Kabanov family emerges in full force. Tikhon, noticing strange condition wives, jokingly asks her to repent of her sins. Noticing how pale Katerina has turned, the sister cuts off her brother’s joke. Boris approaches them. Katya is on the verge of fainting. Varya gives a signal to the young man to leave.
Then the Lady appeared and began to frighten the pullets for their secret sins, and Katerina could not stand it - in a frenzy admits to having a secret relationship with another man throughout all ten days. The scene of the main character's repentance is the climax of the play.
Again the Volga embankment, the city garden. It's getting dark. Tikhon approaches Kuligin, who is sitting on the bench. He crushed by Katerina's confession and sends her wishes for a cruel death, then begins to feel sorry for her.
The boar's wife grinds her daughter-in-law at home like rust, but Katya wordless and unresponsive wanders around the house like a shadow. Everything is wrong in the Kabanov family, even Varya ran away with Kudryash from home.
But Tikhon hopes for a favorable outcome- after all, the lover, at the behest of his uncle, is exiled to Siberia for three whole years. Glasha comes and says that Katerina is missing.
Katerina is alone, quietly wandering, talking to herself. She is already decided to give up my life, even though it is a great sin. One thing holds her back - the desire to see her beloved one last time and receive forgiveness from him for bringing misfortune upon him. Boris comes to the call of his beloved. He is affectionate with her, says that he does not hold a grudge against her, but fate separates them, and he has no right to take someone else’s wife with him. Katerina cries and asks Boris to give alms to the poor on the way to commemorate her soul. She goes to the shore herself.
Kuligin, Kabanikha and Tikhon are watching the search for the missing Katerina. People with lanterns search the shore. Tikhon is confused by terrible assumptions, The boar accuses her daughter-in-law in a desire to attract attention. Voices are heard from the coast: “The woman threw herself into the water!” Tikhon tries to run there, but his mother won’t let him, promising to curse him. They bring a drowned woman. Katerina beautiful even after death. Kabanov blames his mother for his wife’s death.
Ostrovsky A N - Thunderstorm summary
Thunderstorm. A.N. Ostrovsky (brief analysis)
After the first production of the play on the stage of the Maly Theater the audience was delighted, the press was full of laudatory notes, the plot of the drama amazed the sophisticated public. Famous critics did not fail to reflect the work in their reviews. So the critic Apollon Grigoriev, writing a letter to I.S. Turgenev, described the plot of the drama as “ denunciation of the tyranny of our lives, and this is the significance of the author, his merit as an artist, this is the power of his action on the masses.”
The play takes place in the city of Kalinov near the Volga. The inhabitants of this city are uneducated philistines, rigid in the rules of house-building and unwilling to change anything.
The main character Katerina was of a delicate nature; it was hard for her to live with her mother-in-law, a woman of a tough disposition who kept the whole family strict, and her son, Tikhon, a weak-willed man who loved to drink. Katerina falls in love with the visiting nephew of the merchant Wild Boris, an educated man whose character suits her. During her husband's departure, she secretly meets with Boris, but, unable to withstand remorse, confesses everything to her family.
Katerina is not allowed to leave the house, her every move is monitored, and Boris is sent to distant relatives. Katerina, having said goodbye to Boris, realizing that there is no ray of hope left in her future life, rushes into the Volga.
This play shows readers that it is difficult to live in a society where no one strives to understand another person, they do not want to accept anything new, and they do not take into account the individual. But you need to have a lot of mental strength to continue to fight, to believe in better life that you can always find a ray of light.
The city watches as the stingy and evil merchant Dikoy scolds his own nephew Boris. When he leaves, the nephew admits to his friend Kuligin that he endures all the abuse only because of the inheritance. Although people claim that he will not receive an inheritance. Borya and his sister will inherit wealth if they obey their uncle in everything. Alone with himself, Boris dreams of a girl who is legally married - Katerina Kabanova.
At the same time, Kabanikha with her daughter, son Tikhon and daughter-in-law Katerina are on a walk. Kabanikha complains that the son no longer loves his mother as much as he did before the wedding. Tikhon tries to calm his mother down, but she still gets offended and leaves.
Before leaving, Varvara sends her brother to have a drink at Dikiy’s. The daughter-in-law and Kabanova remain, and Katerina says that she is in love with another man, and that her husband Tikhon is not nice to her. Katerina worries that she is sinning, and Varvara consoles her and promises to arrange a date.
Tikhon says goodbye to his wife and leaves for the city for two weeks on business. The mother advises her son to show his wife how to live in his absence. The wife asks him to take her with him, but Tikhon is still against it.
Sister Tikhon, wanting to help the lovers, steals the door key from her mother and gives it to Katerina so that she can see Boris. The bride is horrified by such events, but cannot help but take advantage of the opportunity. Katerina is ashamed to lie to her husband, but she really wants to see her lover.
Merchant Dikoy goes to talk to Kabanikha in order to remove the stone from his soul. The stingy merchant admits that he is greedy in giving people money for work.
At this time, Boris comes to Kabanikha’s house, but on Varvara’s advice he goes to the ravine, where he finds his Katerina. She hugs and says words of love, then they retire. Varvara and Kudryash are left alone. The friends make another appointment for the next day.
Ten days later, Tikhon’s sister, meeting Boris, tells him that her brother returned earlier. At this time, Tikhon and his mother are walking along Kalinov. It's starting to rain. Having met Boris, the girl begins to cry bitterly. People say that a thunderstorm will begin soon. Someone claims that a thunderstorm will either destroy something or kill someone. Katerina thinks and then says out loud that the thunderstorm will destroy her. A passing young lady calls her a sinner. Kabanova confesses to her husband and his mother right on the street that she dated another man for ten nights.
Tikhon told Kuligin the news that the merchant was sending his nephew out of the city for several years, Varvara and her lover had fled, and Katerina had confessed to treason. A friend gives Tikhon advice to forgive his wife. Tikhon cannot forgive Katerina, since his mother will not approve of his decisions, and he cannot disobey her. After arriving home, the maids tell him that his wife has disappeared. Tikhon sets off after her.
Walking around the city, the girl met her lover, who told her that he was leaving for Siberia on the instructions of his uncle. She says that her husband is disgusting to her and asks to take her to Siberia. They part forever. A grief-stricken girl begins to dream about death. He approaches the cliff and throws himself into the river, screaming about Boris.
The whole city is looking for a girl. Someone shouted that a woman had thrown herself off a cliff. Tikhon’s mother does not allow him to save his wife and threatens to curse him. Kuligin pulls out the body with the words that he is giving away the body, but the girl’s soul is no longer with them. Tikhon kneels in front of the body, sees his lifeless wife and blames his mother, Kabanikha, for what happened. He complains to his wife that she left him to suffer in this world.
Kuligin, Shapkin and Kudryash are walking. During the conversation, they see the merchant Dikoy scolding his nephew. They begin to discuss Diky’s tough temperament, that he likes to scold people. Kudryash boasts that he is not afraid of the merchant and, if there were more young guys, he would teach him a lesson. Shapkin and Kuligin doubt it. At this time, their uncle and nephew approach them.
Savel Prokofievich scolds Boris for being idle. The young man replies that he has nothing to do on the holiday. Dikoy leaves in an irritated mood.
Kuligin asks Boris why he tolerates this attitude and won’t leave. Boris says that his grandmother left him and his sister a will that his uncle should pay them the portion bequeathed to them. But on the condition that they will be respectful to him. Kuligin believes that the brother and sister will not receive anything. The young man replies that he tolerates such treatment not for himself, but for his sister. Dikoy treats him harshly, like everyone else.
At this time the people are coming from Vespers. Shapkin and Kudryash leave. Kuligin talks about the philistinism as a rude, poor society, that a person like Boris will never get used to it. At this time, the wanderer Feklusha passes by and wishes bounty for the Kabanovs’ house. Kuligin says that Kabanova only helps such wanderers, but she completely eats her family. The man, dreaming of a perpetu mobile, leaves.
Boris's monologue about his difficult situation: hard life with his uncle and love for married woman, with whom he cannot even talk, but only watch as she leaves the church with her family.
Kabanova tells her son what to do and complains that Tikhon prefers his wife than his mother. Tikhon tries to dissuade her, but the woman continues to say something else. Katerina tries to protect her husband, but her mother-in-law is rude to her. The young woman doesn’t understand why she doesn’t love her, and Tikhon tries to convince his mother that he loves them both. Kabanova says that he can only be a nurse, that his wife has neither respect nor fear for him. And if this doesn’t apply to her husband, then even more so to her, and therefore there will be no order in the house. Having gotten excited, Kabanova leaves.
Kabanov attacks his wife because of her, he gets it from his mother. Varvara, his sister, stands up for Katerina. Tikhon goes to Dikiy’s for a drink.
Varvara feels sorry for Katerina. She talks about her childhood, that everyone loved her, spoiled her, and that most of all she liked going to church and singing prayers. Katerina shares with Varya the thought of imminent death. The girl tries to calm her down, but Katerina admits to her that she is a sinner because she fell in love with someone else. Varvara wants to help her.
An old lady approaches the girls and prophesies to them that beauty will lead them to the very pool of the Volga. After that she leaves.
Katerina was very frightened by the old woman’s prediction. Varvara says that this is all nonsense. A thunderstorm is brewing. Katerina admits that she is afraid not so much of a thunderstorm as of death, which could suddenly find her with all her sins. The girls see Kabanov and rush to the house.
Glasha, the Kabanovs' maid, is packing her owner's things for the trip. Feklusha enters and tells her about distant countries ruled by different saltans. After talking with Glasha, she leaves.
Varvara and Katerina enter, Glasha takes her things and leaves. Varvara asks Katerina for the name of the man she loves. The girl admits to her that it is Boris. Varvara invites her to see Boris secretly, Katerina refuses. She wants to stay away from these meetings as long as she can, and if she gets tired of everything at home, she will run away anywhere, even throw herself into the Volga. Varya invites her to sleep in the gazebo. Katerina doubts and waits for Tikhon.
Enter Kabanov and Kabanova. Kabanova tells her son to give his wife orders and, upon returning, ask how she carried them out. Tikhon, embarrassed, gives orders to Katerina. Kabanova, calling her daughter with her, leaves, leaving Tikhon and Katerina.
Katerina asks Tikhon to take her with him. Tikhon refuses, saying that he wants to take a break from her and his mother. The woman asks her to promise that she will not talk to any man. Kabanov says that this is of no use, but Katerina persists. At this time, Kabanova’s voice is heard.
Relatives see Tikhon off. Kabanova makes sure that everything is done as expected. Kabanov leaves.
Kabanova, left alone, talks about young people’s ignorance of customs and practices. The decline of antiquity is taking place, the young people don’t know how to do anything, and it’s a shame to look at them. Kabanova is glad that she won’t see anything left of the order.
Katerina and Varvara enter. Kabanova shames Katerina for not howling on the porch after her husband left. Katerina replies that this is of no use and she doesn’t know how. Varvara goes for a walk, followed by Kabanova.
Monologue of Katerina. The woman thinks about how to pass the time until her husband arrives and decides to take up sewing and give it to the poor so that they will pray for her and pass the time until Kabanov returns.
Varvara, getting ready for a walk, gives Katerina the key to the gate and promises to tell Boris to come there in the evening. Katerina gets scared and asks the girl not to do this. Varya says that she will need him too, and goes for a walk.
Katerina, left alone, talks about what a hopeless, difficult life she has. Holding the key in her hand, she thinks about throwing it away, but hearing some footsteps, she hides it in her pocket. Katerina decides that so be it and wants to see Boris.
Feklusha and Kabanova are sitting on the bench, talking. Feklusha talks about Moscow, how noisy it has become, all the people are in a hurry, they don’t respect ancient customs. Kabanova agrees with her that the old days are gradually leaving. Dikoy approaches them.
Dikoy begins to talk rudely to Kabanova. Kabanova wants to leave, but he stops her and asks her to talk to him. Dikoy says that he is drunk and only Kabanova can make him talk. The merchant complains that his nature is to offend people and be angry with them. Kabanova says that he does this on purpose so that no one will approach him. At this time Glasha says that the snacks are ready, and they go into the house. The maid notices Dikiy's nephew.
Boris asks Glasha if they have an uncle. Kuligin approaches Boris and invites him for a walk. While walking, Kuligin tells the young man about the inhabitants of the city, about their rudeness, lack of education, cruel disposition, that only young boys and girls walk around the city. While walking, they see Kudryash and Varvara kissing. Approaching the gate, Varvara calls Boris.
Kuligin leaves, and Boris approaches Varya. She asks him to come to the ravine behind the Boar Garden in the evening.
Curly with a guitar approaches the ravine and, while waiting for Varya, sings a song. Boris arrives.
Boris asks Kudryash to leave, Kudryash thinks that Boris wants to take Varya away from him. Boris admits that he is in love with Katerina. Kudryash tells him that if not Varya, then only Katerina could have called him here. Boris is happy. Varvara comes out of the gate.
Varvara and Kudryash leave, Katerina comes out to Boris. He confesses his love to her, the young woman is ashamed of what she is doing and says that it is sinful. Boris tries to calm her down. Katerina confesses to him that she feels the same way.
Boris and Katerina go for a walk, Varvara and Kudryash arrive. The young man praises the girl for how cleverly she came up with the gate. Kudryash plays the guitar, Varya asks what time it is. Having learned that it is time, they call Boris and Katerina.
Katerina and Boris arrive. The couples say goodbye, Kudryash starts singing.
A thunderstorm is brewing. Passers-by walk and talk about what was previously painted on the arches. Dikoy and Kuligin enter.
Kuligin tries to persuade Dikoy to set the clock on the boulevard, but Dikoy brushes him off. Kuligin, seeing that a thunderstorm is starting, suggests installing lightning rods. Dikoy swears at him, he continues to prove the usefulness of lightning rods and says that a thunderstorm is electricity. Dikoy becomes even more angry with him for these words. Kuligin leaves, and after some time Dikoy leaves.
Varvara is waiting for Boris to tell him that Kabanov arrived earlier than expected. Katerina experiences severe mental anguish. Varvara is afraid that she might tell everything to her husband. Boris hides when he sees the Kabanovs.
Passers-by say there will be a thunderstorm. Katerina fearfully clings to Varvara. Kabanikha suspects the woman, Boris passes by. Varvara, seeing Katerina’s condition, makes a sign to him that he needs to leave. Kuligin comes out and addresses people with a speech that there is nothing to be afraid of a thunderstorm, because it is simple a natural phenomenon. Calling Boris with him, he leaves.
One of the passers-by says that the thunderstorm will kill someone. Katerina says that it is hers and asks to pray for her. Seeing the lady, she hides screaming.
The lady notices her and says that all the sins are due to the beauty of a woman, that it is better for her to throw herself into the pool. Katerina can’t stand it and confesses everything to her mother-in-law and husband. Hearing a clap of thunder, he falls unconscious.
Kuligin is sitting on a bench, Kabanov approaches him. Tikhon says that after Katerina’s confession, she is not allowed to live, Kabanova is watching her every step. Varvara ran away with Kudryash. Kabanov feels sorry for his wife, but he cannot go against his mother’s will. Kuligin asks about Boris, Tikhon says that he is being sent to distant relatives. Glasha comes running and says that Katerina has gone somewhere. Kabanov and Kuligin run to look for her.
Katerina goes alone, hoping to see Boris. A young woman worries about her lover. Due to severe mental suffering, Katerina does not want to live, she wants to say goodbye to Boris and calls him. Boris comes to her call.
Boris tells Katerina that he really wanted to say goodbye to her. She understands that Boris is not angry with her and she feels better. Boris hurries the woman because he needs to go. They say goodbye.
Katerina understands that she has become disgusted with her life: the people who surround her, her house, her walls. Realizing that she could be returned home, Katerina makes a decision. Having said goodbye to Boris, she rushes into the Volga.
The Kabanovs and Kuligin come to the place where they last saw Katerina. People say she was alive. Kabanova grumbles at her son, saying that he is worrying in vain. At this time, someone shouts that a woman has jumped into the water. Kuligin runs away.
Kabanov wants to run to the water, but Kabanikha stops him, answering that when they get it, then he will look. Kabanov asks if she is alive. People answer no. Kuligin and several people carry Katerina's body.
Kuligin puts the woman’s body on the ground and, turning to the Kabanovs, says that her soul is now before a judge who is more merciful than them. Kabanov accuses his mother of being the one who ruined her. Kabanova promises to talk to her son at home. Tikhon throws himself on Katerina’s body and cries.
Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov’s poem “Airship” tells about a magical ghost ship that, every year, on the day of the death of the great commander and Emperor Napoleon, lands on the shores of the island
Main character - a little boy, the story is told from his perspective. A child plays in a nursery, the door of which opens as if by itself. The nanny says he opened the door
The play “The Thunderstorm” by the famous Russian writer of the 19th century Alexander Ostrovsky was written in 1859 on the wave of social upsurge on the eve of social reforms. She became one of best works author, opening the eyes of the whole world to the morals and moral values of the merchant class of that time. It was first published in the journal “Library for Reading” in 1860 and, due to the novelty of its subject matter (descriptions of the struggle of new progressive ideas and aspirations with old, conservative foundations), immediately after publication it caused a wide public response. It became a topic for writing large quantity critical articles of that time (“A ray of light in dark kingdom"Dobrolyubova, "Motives of Russian Drama" by Pisarev, critic Apollon Grigoriev).
Inspired by the beauty of the Volga region and its endless expanses during a trip with his family to Kostroma in 1848, Ostrovsky began writing the play in July 1859, three months later he finished it and sent it to the St. Petersburg censor.
Having worked for several years in the office of the Moscow Conscientious Court, he knew well what the merchants in Zamoskvorechye were like ( historic district capital, on the right bank of the Moscow River), having more than once encountered in the course of his service what was happening behind the high fences of the merchant choir, namely, cruelty, tyranny, ignorance and various superstitions, illegal transactions and scams, tears and suffering of others. The basis for the plot of the play was tragic fate daughters-in-law in the wealthy merchant family of the Klykovs, which happened in reality: a young woman rushed into the Volga and drowned, unable to withstand oppression from her domineering mother-in-law, tired of her husband’s spinelessness and secret passion for a postal employee. Many believed that it was the stories from the life of the Kostroma merchants that became the prototype for the plot of the play written by Ostrovsky.
In November 1859, the play was performed on the stage of the Maly Academic Theater in Moscow, and in December of the same year at the Alexandrinsky Drama Theater in St. Petersburg.
At the center of the events described in the play is the wealthy merchant family of the Kabanovs, living in the fictional Volga city of Kalinov, a kind of peculiar and closed little world, symbolizing the general structure of the entire patriarchal Russian state. The Kabanov family consists of a powerful and cruel tyrant woman, and essentially the head of the family, a wealthy merchant and widow Marfa Ignatievna, her son, Tikhon Ivanovich, weak-willed and spineless against the backdrop of the difficult disposition of his mother, daughter Varvara, who learned by deception and cunning to resist her mother’s despotism , as well as Katerina’s daughter-in-law. A young woman, who grew up in a family where she was loved and pitied, suffers in the house of her unloved husband from his lack of will and the claims of her mother-in-law, having essentially lost her will and becoming a victim of Kabanikha’s cruelty and tyranny, left to the mercy of fate by her rag husband.
Out of hopelessness and despair, Katerina seeks consolation in her love for Boris Dikiy, who also loves her, but is afraid to disobey his uncle, the rich merchant Savel Prokofich Dikiy, because the financial situation of him and his sister depends on him. He secretly meets with Katerina, but at the last moment he betrays her and runs away, then, at the direction of his uncle, he leaves for Siberia.
Katerina, having been brought up in obedience and submission to her husband, tormented by her own sin, confesses everything to her husband in the presence of his mother. She makes her daughter-in-law’s life completely unbearable, and Katerina, suffering from unhappy love, reproaches of conscience and cruel persecution of the tyrant and despot Kabanikha, decides to end her torment, the only way in which she sees salvation is suicide. She throws herself off a cliff into the Volga and dies tragically.
All the characters in the play are divided into two opposing camps, some (Kabanikha, her son and daughter, the merchant Dikoy and his nephew Boris, the maids Feklusha and Glasha) are representatives of the old, patriarchal way of life, others (Katerina, self-taught mechanic Kuligin) are representatives of the new, progressive.
A young woman, Katerina, the wife of Tikhon Kabanov, is the central character of the play. She was brought up in strict patriarchal rules, in accordance with the laws of the ancient Russian Domostroy: a wife must submit to her husband in everything, respect him, and fulfill all his demands. At first, Katerina tried with all her might to love her husband, to become a submissive and good wife for him, but due to his complete spinelessness and weakness of character, she can only feel pity for him.
Outwardly, she looks weak and silent, but in the depths of her soul there is enough willpower and perseverance to resist the tyranny of her mother-in-law, who is afraid that her daughter-in-law might change her son Tikhon and he will stop submitting to his mother’s will. Katerina is cramped and stuffy in the dark kingdom of life in Kalinov, she literally suffocates there and in her dreams she flies like a bird away from this terrible place for her.
Having fallen in love with a newcomer young man Boris, the nephew of a wealthy merchant and businessman, she creates in her head the image of an ideal lover and a real man, which is not at all true, breaks her heart and leads to a tragic ending.
In the play, the character of Katerina opposes not a specific person, her mother-in-law, but the entire patriarchal structure that existed at that time.
Marfa Ignatievna Kabanova (Kabanikha), like the tyrant merchant Dikoy, who tortures and insults his relatives, does not pay wages and deceives his workers, are prominent representatives of the old, bourgeois way of life. They are distinguished by stupidity and ignorance, unjustified cruelty, rudeness and rudeness, complete rejection of any progressive changes in the ossified patriarchal way of life.
(Tikhon, in the illustration near Kabanikha - Marfa Ignatievna)
Tikhon Kabanov is characterized throughout the play as a quiet and weak-willed person, under the complete influence of his oppressive mother. Distinguished by his gentle character, he makes no attempts to protect his wife from her mother’s attacks.
At the end of the play, he finally breaks down and the author shows his rebellion against tyranny and despotism; it is his phrase at the end of the play that leads readers to a certain conclusion about the depth and tragedy of the current situation.
(Fragment from a dramatic production)
The work begins with a description of the city on the Volga Kalinov, the image of which is a collective image of all Russian cities of that time. The landscape of the Volga expanses depicted in the play contrasts with the musty, dull and gloomy atmosphere of life in this city, which is emphasized by the dead isolation of the life of its inhabitants, their underdevelopment, dullness and wild lack of education. The author described the general state of city life as if before a thunderstorm, when the old, dilapidated way of life will be shaken, and new and progressive trends, like a gust of furious thunderstorm wind, will sweep away the outdated rules and prejudices that prevent people from living normally. The period of life of the residents of the city of Kalinov described in the play is precisely in a state when outwardly everything looks calm, but this is only the calm before the coming storm.
The genre of the play can be interpreted as a social drama, as well as a tragedy. The first is characterized by the use of a thorough description of living conditions, the maximum transfer of its “density,” as well as the alignment of characters. Readers' attention should be distributed among all participants in the production. The interpretation of the play as a tragedy presupposes its deeper meaning and thoroughness. If you see Katerina’s death as a consequence of her conflict with her mother-in-law, then she looks like a victim family conflict, and the entire unfolding action in the play itself seems small and insignificant for a real tragedy. But if we consider the death of the main character as a conflict of a new, progressive time with a fading, old era, then her act is best interpreted in the heroic key characteristic of a tragic narrative.
The talented playwright Alexander Ostrovsky, from a social and everyday drama about the life of the merchant class, gradually creates a real tragedy, in which, with the help of a love-domestic conflict, he showed the onset of an epochal turning point taking place in the consciousness of the people. Simple people They become aware of their awakening sense of self-worth, begin to have a new attitude towards the world around them, want to decide their own destinies and fearlessly express their will. This nascent desire comes into irreconcilable contradiction with the real patriarchal way of life. Katerina's fate acquires a social historical meaning, expressing the state of the people's consciousness at the turning point between two eras.
Alexander Ostrovsky, who noticed in time the doom of the decaying patriarchal foundations, wrote the play “The Thunderstorm” and opened the eyes of the entire Russian public to what was happening. He depicted the destruction of a familiar, outdated way of life, with the help of the ambiguous and figurative concept of a thunderstorm, which, gradually growing, will sweep away everything from its path and open the way to a new, better life.
Varvara, noticing Katerina's secret passion, promises to arrange a date for her with Boris when Tikhon leaves for a few days on a trip on merchant business. Katerina initially rejects this plan with horror. Before Tikhon leaves, she tearsly throws herself on his neck and asks him to take her with him. Tikhon refuses: he is going not so much on business as to get drunk without his mother’s supervision, and his wife will only interfere with this. Then Katerina gives her surprised husband a “terrible oath”: “under no circumstances should she speak or see anyone stranger” in his absence.
Kabanikha forces Tikhon to read a stern and humiliating lecture to Katerina before leaving: “Don’t stare out the windows without me, don’t look at the guys!” She reproaches Katerina for not immediately rushing to “howl” for her departed husband.
Katerina stands in despair from her mother-in-law’s undeserved nagging. Varvara comes and gives her the key stolen from her mother to the far gate of the garden, where they will spend the night together these days, away from Kabanikha. Through this gate, Varvara is going to arrange a date for Katerina with Boris. Katerina initially wants to throw the key, saying that it “burns her hands like coal” (see her monologue). But painfully remembering the cruelty of her mother-in-law and the coldness of her husband who did not want to take her with him, she still puts the key in her pocket...
Varvara, having seized a moment while strolling along the boulevard, secretly calls Boris Grigorievich and invites him to come tonight to the ravine behind the Kabanovs’ garden. At the appointed time, Boris appears there.
Varvara comes out of the far gate of the garden, going for a walk on the Volga with her lover, her boyfriend Kudryash. Then Katerina appears, trembling with excitement. Boris rushes to her and says that he loves her more life. Unable to contain her passion, Katerina throws herself on his neck...
The dates of both couples are repeated on the following nights.
The holiday is coming soon. Residents of Kalinov go for a walk on the boulevard. Suddenly a strong thunderstorm begins to gather. In a covered gallery on the banks of the Volga, Varvara and Boris meet, as if sheltering from the rain. Varvara talks about the trouble at their home: Tikhon returned from a trip for several days ahead of schedule, and Katerina, seeing her husband, fell into terrible excitement. All last days She walks around the house not herself, starting to cry every now and then. Tikhon is amazed at his wife’s strange behavior, and Kabanikha looks at her with suspicion. Varvara is afraid that Katerina will fall at her husband’s feet and tell about her betrayal.
Kabanikha, Tikhon, Katerina and other people are just approaching the gallery to hide from the rain. People gossip that thunderstorms are God's punishment and lightning often kills sinners. Mechanic Kuligin tries in vain to explain to his superstitious fellow countrymen that thunderstorms have natural causes and Lomonosov wrote about this.
Exhausted by mental anguish, Katerina, seeing Boris among the people, suddenly says to her husband: “Tisha, I know who the thunderstorm will kill. Me. Then pray for me.” As luck would have it, a local crazy lady appears. Having a stormy youth behind her, she now wanders around the city with two lackeys and prophesies severe punishments from the Almighty to all beauties who “lead men into sin.” “The pool is better with your beauty! - the lady suddenly shouts to Katerina. “You will burn in unquenchable fire!”
Unable to withstand the terrible shock, Katerina kneels before her husband and mother-in-law and repents that “I walked with Boris Grigorievich for ten nights...”
The case with Katerina is making a lot of noise in Kalinov. The boar's wife "eats" her daughter-in-law at home and even advises "burying her alive in the ground." Katerina listens to these reproaches in silent anguish, walking like an unrequited shadow. Tikhon indulges in drunkenness. Boris's uncle Savel Dikoy is going to send him to Tyakhta, on the Chinese border. The compassionate Kuligin advises Tikhon to forgive Katerina. Tikhon himself is not against this, but his evil, stern mother resists forgiveness.
Suddenly news spreads that Katerina has disappeared from home. Relatives go to look for her. Ostrovsky paints a poignant picture of Katerina wandering down the street, half-oblivious, pronouncing a monologue about how she doesn’t want to live. She is consumed by a passionate desire to see Boris at least one last time - and she suddenly sees him.
Katerina rushes to Boris. He says that he is being sent to Siberia. “Take me with you too!” - Katerina begs, but the weak-willed Boris refuses, citing his uncle’s will. “Well, go with God! - says Katerina. - Don't worry about me. Okay, at least I said goodbye to you. Let me look at you one last time!”
The events of the play take place in, in the fictional town of Kalinov, which is located on the high Volga bank. In the center of events is the family of a local wealthy merchant and, concurrently, the legislator of local morality, Kabanikha. The action takes place in a public garden, on the banks of the Volga, where all the main characters of the play appear on stage. First, the local self-taught mechanic Kulibin discusses the inappropriate behavior of the merchant Dikiy, a rich man and a tyrant, with his young clerk Kudryash and the local man in the street Shapkin. They are joined by Boris, Dikiy’s own nephew, who tells what brought him from this wilderness and why he is forced to endure his uncle’s antics. Dikoy promised to give away the due part of his inheritance on the condition that Boris would be respectful to him. Kuligin claims that it is unlikely that Dikoy will agree to voluntarily give the money, and Boris complains that it is difficult for him to get used to the customs that reign both in his uncle’s house and in the city.
Next comes a wanderer who praises the city for its splendor and especially Kabanova’s house. When Boris asks about Kabanova’s family, Kuligin calls her a hypocrite who “gives gifts to the poor and eats their family.”
Kabanova appears, accompanied by her daughter Varvara, a rather lively girl who has learned to hide her feelings from her mother. Son Tikhon, not particularly evil, but completely under the influence of his domineering mother, who in her presence will not say a word against him. Along with him is his wife Katerina, a young, rather pleasant than beautiful, calm girl. She just can’t get used to the strict order in her mother-in-law’s family, where no one can express their opinion and, after her free childhood, the situation in her husband’s family resembles a prison.
While walking along the boulevard, Varvara was able to find out the secret of Katerina, who admits that she really liked Boris, that he is not like everyone else and she feels a kindred spirit in him. Varvara invites her to arrange a date, but Katerina is horrified by this proposal and refuses.
The tension of the situation is aggravated by the beginning of a thunderstorm and the city madman, who, at the sight of young girls, prophesies hellish torment for them, shouting that beauty leads to the pool. All this makes a depressing impression on Katerina, and she hurries home to pray and beg forgiveness for sinful thoughts.
Having accompanied her husband on a trip, offended by the humiliation expressed by her mother-in-law, Katerina agrees to meet Boris on a secret date.
The final action takes place in the garden, where townspeople are walking and ruins are visible with a surviving fresco depicting a fiery hyena and a thunderstorm is about to begin again.
Katerina is unable to get rid of the feeling of guilt for cheating. She publicly throws herself at his feet and confesses her sin, which causes Kabanikha’s anger, Tikhon’s horror and confusion, Varvara’s annoyance, Boris’s regret and the gloating of the townsfolk.
Unable to withstand the feeling of sinfulness for her offense and realizing that no one is going to help and support, Katerina throws herself off the steep Volga cliff. Here it isSummary of the play
