Thunderstorm Poem Ostrovsky summary of actions. A.N
The action of the play takes place in a fictional city on the Volga - Kalinov (). In the very first act, one can see a gloomy picture of customs and life in this place: the rich merchant Dikoi scolds his nephew Boris, who arrived from Moscow, the local intellectual Kuligin delivers his main monologue about cruel customs in the city (here on this topic). And, of course, the appearance of the wealthy widow of the merchant Kabanikhi, her son Tikhon and his wife Katerina takes place here.
Varvara - the daughter of Kabanikha - the main character Katerina (here she is) opens her soul. We immediately notice her dreaminess and sincerity thanks to the monologue "Why don't people fly like birds?". The girl also talks about life in her parents' house, and with the naked eye it is clear that Katerina suffers in marriage. She is not comfortable with a husband who does not object to her mother and an ignorant mother-in-law. The husband does not protect his wife from the attacks of his mother, but goes to rest in a tavern. In addition, in the process of talking with Varvara, Katerina reveals her secret to her and confesses her feelings for Boris, Diky's nephew from Moscow.
A well-constructed plot is interrupted by an old merchant's wife with threats (here is her). And now it's time for the first thunderstorm.
Act II
The second act of the play is opened by the worker Glasha and the wanderer Feklusha, who tells fables. In the meantime, Tikhon says goodbye to his mother and wife and leaves for a while, and Kabanikha does not waste time in vain - he only does what he teaches and reproaches. She makes her daughter-in-law cry and wail in public to prove that she loves her husband. Katerina reluctantly complies.
Penetrating to Katerina, Varvara (her characteristic) gives her the key to the gate so that she can meet with Boris at night. However, Katerina doubts the necessity and correctness of this undertaking. We must not forget that the heroine is very God-fearing, and marriage is not an empty phrase for her, so it is not so easy for her to agree to such meetings.
Act III
If at the beginning of the play Kuligin (his characterization) nevertheless talked about the beauty of nature, then closer to the key moment the patriarchal merchants of the city come to the fore, and in a conversation with Boris Kuligin utters his second monologue “That's what, sir, we have a little town!” . There he denounces the old-timers of the city and their vices: tyranny, greed and malevolence (their collective image).
Boris tells Kudryash about Katerina and her "angelic smile", and notes that when she prays, "it seems to glow from her face."
And Varvara had already invited Boris on a date with Katerina, and by the end of the third act of the drama, the meeting of the heroes had already taken place.
Action IV
Ten days have passed. Kuligin tells Dikoy about his desire to make a clock and a lightning rod for the city, but Dikoy is only indignant at his suggestion. He believes that lightning and thunderstorms are the consequences of the fact that Elijah the Prophet rides across the sky in a chariot. Kuligin objects that this is electricity.
Tikhon returns, and Katerina finds no place for herself because of her betrayal. Varvara even decides to tell Boris about Katerina's experiences. Simultaneously with the culmination of the drama in Kalinov, a thunderstorm comes again.
And on the boulevard, Katerina still can’t stand it and admits Tikhon to treason, and she does it in the presence of Kabanikha, who, unlike her son, is not capable of forgiveness.
Action V
Toward the end of the play, Tikhon opens up to readers. He frankly feels sorry for his wife, he even admits to Kuligin that he loves her very much and is killed looking at her. But it is too difficult for him to resist his mother.
Katerina comes to Boris, but on the orders of his uncle, he leaves far to Siberia. The girl asks Boris to take her with him, but he refuses her, fearing the wrath of his uncle. So, Katerina finds herself in complete despair: she does not know where to go, because there is no way home. So she comes to the decision that she will be better off in the grave.
An active search for Katerina begins, and the news is announced that “The woman threw herself into the water!”. The reader understands that Katerina could not stand such a state, and really preferred death. Tikhon was sitting next to his dead wife and, as if not believing what was happening, had already managed to rebuff his mother, claiming that it was she who killed her. It is amazing that Tikhon even envied Katerina, not understanding why he "remained to live in the world and suffer?"
Interesting? Save it on your wall!The events take place in the first half of the 19th century, in a fictional the town of Kalinov. The first act is in a public garden on the high bank of the Volga. Local self-taught mechanic Kuligin talks with young people - Kudryash, the clerk of the rich merchant Diky, and the tradesman Shapkin - about the rude antics and tyranny of the Wild. Then Boris, Diky's nephew, appears, who, in response to Kuligin's questions, says that his parents lived in Moscow, gave him an education at the Commercial Academy, and both died during the epidemic. He came to Dikoy, leaving his sister with his mother's relatives, in order to receive part of the grandmother's inheritance, which Dikoy must give him according to the will, if Boris is respectful to him. Everyone assures him: under such conditions, Dikoy will never give him money. Boris complains to Kuligin that he can’t get used to life in the house of the Wild, Kuligin talks about Kalinov and ends his speech with the words: “Cruel morals, sir, in our city, cruel!”.
Kalinovtsy disperse. Together with another woman, the wanderer Feklusha appears, praising the city for "blah-a-lepie", and the Kabanovs' house for their special generosity to wanderers. "Boars?" - Boris asks again: "The hypocrite, sir, clothes the poor, but completely seized the household," explains Kuligin. Kabanova comes out, accompanied by her daughter Varvara and son Tikhon with his wife Katerina. She grumbles at them, but finally leaves, allowing the children to walk along the boulevard. Varvara releases Tikhon secretly from his mother to drink at a party and, left alone with Katerina, talks with her about domestic relations, about Tikhon. Katerina talks about a happy childhood in her parents' house, about her fervent prayers, about what she experiences in the temple, imagining angels in a sunbeam falling from the dome, dreams of spreading her arms and flying, and finally admits that "something is wrong" with her something". Varvara guesses that Katerina has fallen in love with someone, and promises to arrange a meeting upon Tikhon's departure. This proposal horrifies Katerina. A crazy lady appears, threatening that "beauty leads to the very pool," and prophesies hellish torments. Katerina is terribly frightened, and then " thunderstorm comes in," she hurries Varvara home to the icons to pray.
The second action taking place in the house Kabanov, begins with Feklusha's conversation with the maid Glasha. The wanderer asks about the household affairs of the Kabanovs and conveys fabulous stories about distant countries, where people with dog heads "for infidelity", etc. Katerina and Varvara, who have appeared, collecting Tikhon on the road, continue the conversation about Katerina's hobby, Varvara calls the name of Boris, reports a bow from him and persuades Katerina to sleep with her in the gazebo in the garden after Tikhon's departure. Kabanikha and Tikhon come out, the mother tells her son to strictly punish his wife, how to live without him, Katerina is humiliated by these formal orders. But, left alone with her husband, she begs him to take her on a trip, after his refusal she tries to give him terrible oaths of allegiance, but Tikhon does not want to listen to them either: "You never know what comes to mind ..." The returned Kabanikha orders Katerina to bow husband's feet. Tikhon leaves. Varvara, leaving for a walk, informs Katerina that they will spend the night in the garden, and gives her the key to the gate. Katerina does not want to take it, then, after hesitating, she hides it in her pocket.
The next action takes place on a bench at the gate of the boar's house. Feklusha and Boar talking about " last times", Feklusha says that "for our sins" "time began to come to belittlement", talks about railway("they began to harness the fiery serpent"), about the bustle of Moscow life as a devilish obsession. Both are waiting for even worse times. Dikoy appears with complaints about his family, Kabanikha reproaches him for his erratic behavior, he tries to be rude to her, but she quickly stops this and takes him to the house to drink and eat. While Dikoy is eating, Boris, sent by Dikoy's family, comes to find out where the head of the family is. Having fulfilled the assignment, he exclaims with anguish about Katerina: “If only with one eye to look at her!” The returned Varvara tells him to come at night to the gate in the ravine behind the boar garden.
The second scene represents a nightly festivity of young people, Varvara comes out on a date with Kudryash and tells Boris to wait - "wait for something." There is a meeting between Katerina and Boris. After hesitation, thoughts about sin, Katerina is unable to resist the awakened love. "What pity me - no one is to blame - she went for it herself. Don't be sorry, ruin me! Let everyone know, let everyone see what I'm doing (hugs Boris). If I'm not afraid of sin for you, will I be afraid of human court ?".
The entire fourth act, which takes place on the streets of Kalinov - on the gallery of a dilapidated building with the remains of a fresco representing fiery Gehenna, and on the boulevard - takes place against the backdrop of a gathering and finally bursting thunderstorm. It starts to rain, and Dikoy and Kuligin enter the gallery, who begins to persuade Dikoy to give money to install a sundial on the boulevard. In response, Dikoy scolds him in every possible way and even threatens to declare him a robber. Having endured the scolding, Kuligin begins to ask for money for a lightning rod. Here, Dikoy confidently declares that it is a sin to defend against a thunderstorm sent as a punishment "with some kind of poles and horns, God forgive me." The stage is empty, then Varvara and Boris meet in the gallery. She reports the return of Tikhon, Katerina's tears, Kabanikh's suspicions, and expresses her fear that Katerina will confess to her husband in treason. Boris begs to dissuade Katerina from confessing and disappears. The rest of the Kabanovs enter. Katerina waits with horror that she, who has not repented of her sin, will be killed by lightning, a crazy lady appears, threatening hellish flames, Katerina can no longer strengthen herself and publicly admits to her husband and mother-in-law that she "walked" with Boris. The boar gloatingly declares: "What, son! Where will the will lead; [...] So I waited!"
The last action is again on the high bank of the Volga. Tikhon complains to Kuligin about his family grief, about what his mother says about Katerina: "She must be buried alive in the ground so that she will be executed!" "But I love her, I'm sorry to touch her with my finger." Kuligin advises to forgive Katerina, but Tikhon explains that this is impossible under Kabanikh. He speaks not without pity about Boris, whom his uncle sends to Kyakhta. The maid Glasha enters and reports that Katerina has disappeared from the house. Tikhon is afraid that "she wouldn't kill herself out of boredom!", and together with Glasha and Kuligin leaves to look for his wife.
Katerina appears, she complains about her desperate situation in the house, and most importantly, about her terrible longing for Boris. Her monologue ends with a passionate incantation: "My joy! My life, my soul, I love you! Respond!" Boris enters. She asks him to take her to Siberia with him, but she understands that Boris's refusal is caused by a really complete impossibility to leave with her. She blesses him on his way, complains about the oppressive life in the house, about disgust for her husband. After saying goodbye to Boris forever, Katerina begins to dream alone of death, of a grave with flowers and birds that "fly up a tree, sing, have children." "To live again?" she exclaims in horror. Approaching the cliff, she says goodbye to the departed Boris: "My friend! My joy! Farewell!" and leaves.
The scene is filled with alarmed people, in the crowd and Tikhon with his mother. Offstage, a cry is heard: "The woman threw herself into the water!" Tikhon tries to run to her, but his mother does not let him in with the words: "I'll curse you if you go!" Tikhon falls to his knees. After some time, Kuligin brings in Katerina's body. "Here's your Katerina. Do with her what you want! Her body is here, take it; and the soul is now not yours; it is now before a judge who is more merciful than you!"
Rushing to Katerina, Tikhon accuses his mother: "Mommy, you ruined her!" and, ignoring the menacing cries of the Kabanikh, falls on the corpse of his wife. "It's good for you, Katya! But why did I stay in the world and suffer!" - with these words of Tikhon the play ends.
THE MEANING OF THE TITLE OF THE WORK
The title of the play contains the word thunderstorm - a natural phenomenon which often inspires fear in people. From the very beginning of the play, a thunderstorm becomes a harbinger of some kind of misfortune that should happen in the calm city of Kalinovo. The first time a thunderstorm rumbles in the first act after the words of a half-mad lady who prophesied a tragic fate for Katerina. In the fourth act, the townspeople hear thunder again. Katerina also hears him, who, after meeting with Boris, cannot suppress the pangs of conscience in herself. The storm is coming, it's starting to rain.
In the peals of thunder, Katerina sees God's wrath. She is afraid to stand before God with sin in her soul. In the same action of the play, Katerina confesses everything to her husband. Thunderstorm characters perceive differently. For Katerina, this is a symbol of retribution for sins and a symbol of mental suffering. For the Wild, this is God's punishment. For Kuligin, a thunderstorm is a natural phenomenon, from which you can protect yourself with a lightning rod. The storm personifies the storm in Katerina's soul. Fear keeps order in the city of Kalinov.
[hide]
COMPOSITION
The play consists of five acts and begins with a scene in which Kuligin, Kudryash, Dikoy and Boris meet on the banks of the Volga. This is a kind of exposition, from which the reader learns about the place and time of the action, understands the future conflict of the work. The events unfold in a provincial town on the Volga in a bourgeois environment, and the plot of the action lies in the fact that Boris is in love with a married woman. The climax of the play is the scene of Katerina's confession to her husband. It is backed up not only by the emotional intensity associated with the experiences of the main character, but also by a thunderstorm that breaks out, the image of which symbolizes the suffering of Katerina. The climax of events is unusual in that it does not occur at the very end of the play, the climax and denouement are separated by a whole action.
The denouement of the play is the death of the main character, who, due to her proud disposition and sincerity of nature, did not find another way out. conflict situation in which it appeared. The action of the play ends where it began, on the banks of the Volga. Thus, Ostrovsky uses the technique of ring composition. Nevertheless, the author departs from the classical canons of the construction of a dramatic work.
Ostrovsky introduces romantic descriptions of nature, contrasting them with the cruel customs of the city of Kalinov. With the help of this, he “expands” the framework of the work, emphasizing the social and everyday nature of the play. Ostrovsky breaks the classic rule of three unity characteristic of drama. The action of the play spans several days, and the events take place on the streets of the city of Kalinov, and in the gazebo in the garden, and in the Kabanikh's house, and on the banks of the Volga. There are two love lines in the play: Katerina - Boris (main) and Varvara - Kudryash (secondary).
These lines reflect different perceptions of a seemingly similar situation. If Barbara easily pretends, adapts, deceives and hides her adventures, and then generally runs away from home, then Katerina cannot bear the pangs of conscience, and death becomes for her deliverance from unbearable suffering. In addition, there are many minor characters in the play, which help the author to more vividly and fully convey the cruel customs of the merchant's "dark kingdom".
[hide]
CONFLICT
The main conflict of the play is outlined at its very beginning. It is associated with the cruel customs of the city of Kalinov and the image of the main character, who cannot exist in an atmosphere of inertia, ruthlessness and obscurantism. This is a conflict of the soul, which does not tolerate bondage and rudeness, and the surrounding society in which the main character is forced to live. Katerina is not able to adapt to the lifestyle of the Kabanov family, where, in order to survive, one must lie, pretend, flatter, hide one's feelings and thoughts.
At first glance, it seems that only Kabanikha opposes Katerina, poisons her life, finds fault and reproaches everything. Indeed, Kabanikha is the head of the family. Everyone in the house listens to her. She manages not only affairs, but also the personal life of the household. Kabanikha, like Katerina, has strong character and will. She can't help but command respect. After all, this woman protects the way of life, which she considers the best, but which after a while will be irretrievably lost. If it were not for the Kabanikh, Katerina would have lived much more freely, because her husband is not cruel and harmless.
The conflict is also brewing in the soul of the main character, who is tormented by remorse. Inside her, love for Boris and a sense of duty towards her husband cannot coexist. This conflict becomes destructive and becomes fatal for Katerina. However, the conflict of the play is not private, but public. The boar personifies the entire merchant class, along with Wild, the crazy lady and other adherents of the provincial way of life. The play raises the problem of an internally free and sincere person who faced the inert environment of the merchants of those times.
This is a clash of personality with the way of life of the whole social group. The disputes between Wild and Kuligin are also a reflection of the social conflict. On the one hand, a narrow-minded, but rich and influential merchant-tyrant appears, and on the other, an intelligent, talented, but poor tradesman. And none of Kuligin's arguments can affect Diky. The Thunderstorm is not a classic tragedy, but a social drama. Unadapted, sensitive and kind person will not be able to survive in a world dominated by people like Dikoi and Boar.
[hide]
KATERINA
Katerina is the wife of Tikhon, the daughter-in-law of Kabanikhi, the main character of the work. She is opposed to other characters in the play. Katerina is young and attractive. Sincerely trying to adapt to the way of life that fell to her lot. She tries to respect her mother-in-law, who reproaches her endlessly. Her speech is full of dignity, the girl is well brought up. Katerina has a poetic soul, which is burdened by everyday life and strives for freedom. Her famous monologue "Why don't people fly like birds?" reveals inner world the main character. She strives for harmony in the soul, for peace and freedom.
Katerina's character was formed in the atmosphere of peace and tranquility of her father's house, where there was no rudeness and abuse. Katerina is devout, she sincerely believes in God, loves to go to church because she feels the need for it, and not because it is customary. Katerina is alien to pretense and flattery. In the church, Katerina's soul found peace and beauty. She loved to listen to the lives of the saints, to pray, to talk with wanderers.
In her faith, Katerina is unusually sincere. Katerina is opposed by Varvara Kabanova, another female character in the play. The position of Barbara is similar to that of Katerina. They are approximately the same in age and social status. Both live in Kabanova's house under her strict supervision, in an atmosphere of constant prohibitions, nit-picking and strict control. Only Varvara, unlike Katerina, perfectly managed to adapt to the surrounding conditions. In order to see Kudryash, Varvara stole the key to the gate from her mother and invited Katerina to spend the night in the gazebo so as not to arouse suspicion.
A love affair with Curly is devoid of a deep feeling. For Varvara, this is just a way to pass the time and not languish from boredom in her mother's house. Having deceived her husband, Katerina experiences pangs of conscience, first of all, in front of herself. Her soul cannot live in a lie. She is not afraid of God's punishment, like Wild or Boar, she herself cannot live with sin in her soul. Suicide, which is also considered a sin, scares Katerina less than being forced to return to her mother-in-law's house. The inability to live with a bad conscience in an atmosphere of lies and cruelty forces the heroine to rush into the Volga.
[hide]
BOAR
Kabanikha - Marfa Ignatievna Kabanova, a rich merchant's wife who keeps her whole family in fear. She has a strong and domineering personality. The boar is grumpy, rude, cruel, selfish. At the same time, she constantly hides behind piety and faith in God. Kabanikha follows the old patriarchal traditions, regulating the life of her adult children. She believes that the husband should teach and instruct his wife, even has the right to beat her, and the wife should lament and cry, showing love for her husband. Kuligin says about her: "The hypocrite ... She clothes the poor, but completely ate the household." Even the son only dreams of how to leave home and escape from the power of his mother. The life of Kabanikh's daughter-in-law makes her especially unbearable. Fear is what family life should be based on.
The boar teaches her son how he should treat his wife: “Why be afraid! Why be afraid! .. You will not be afraid, and even more so me. What kind of order will this be in the house? According to Kabanikha, her adult children are not able to "live by their own will", and she, instructing them, does them good deeds. The scene of Tikhon's departure is indicative, when his mother gives him instructions.
She is not interested in her son's upcoming business trip, but she wants to demonstrate her own importance in the house. The boar tells Tikhon to teach his wife: “Tell me not to be rude to your mother-in-law ... So that you don’t sit idly by like a lady! .. So that she doesn’t stare at the windows! .. So that I don’t look at young guys without you!” Tikhon resignedly repeats the words of his mother, not understanding why he should teach his wife and what she is to blame for. It seems that Kabanikha does not miss a single opportunity to show who is the boss in the house. She seems to be afraid that her time will soon come to an end.
After all, young people - a daughter and a son - openly or secretly try to live their own way. The age of the Boar and the Wild is passing. At the end of the work, Kabanikha hears the already undisguised protest of his son when he blames his mother for the death of his wife. She threatens Tikhon, who no longer hears her. Kabanikha is a symbol of the Russian patriarchal merchant class, who profess traditional spiritual values, but in this they have reached the point of rudeness and cruelty.
[hide]
TIKHON AND BORIS
Tikhon Ivanych Kabanov is the son of Kabanikhi. He is in complete submission to his own mother, who humiliates him in every possible way. Tikhon does not dare to openly say a single word across, although he internally disagrees with his mother and is tired of her dictates. In public, he is the very humility and obsequiousness. By nature, he is kind, gentle and accommodating. He does not want to be rude to his wife. He needs his wife to love him, and not be afraid (although his mother makes him bully his wife). He does not want to be cruel and ruthless, he does not want to beat his wife, which is considered normal in merchant families.
When the mother tells Tikhon to instruct his wife on how she should behave in his absence, he does not understand what Katerina is to blame for, and even tries to defend her. Upon learning of his wife's infidelity, Tikhon was forced, by order of his mother, to punish her, which he himself later regretted, and therefore experienced pangs of conscience. Tikhon is weak in character. He cannot resist a strong-willed and power-hungry mother. However, at the end of the play, even Tikhon protests. He dares to blame Kabanikha in front of everyone for the death of his wife, without fear of consequences. Boris is the nephew of the merchant Diky.
He grew up in Moscow, apparently in a loving family, received a good education. Boris is the only one of the heroes who is dressed in a European dress. He speaks correctly and beautifully. From the work we learn why Boris was in a dependent position from his uncle. The lack of means of independent existence makes the hero endure rudeness and humiliation, although they cause him suffering.
Boris chooses a wait-and-see position, not trying to somehow change this situation. It turns out to be easier for him to wait for a possible inheritance, enduring the injustice and arbitrariness of his uncle. At first glance, Boris and Tikhon are opposed to each other. The main character falls in love with Boris. It seems to her that he is not like the other inhabitants of the city of Kalinov. However, Boris and Tikhon have much in common. They are weak in character, weak-willed and unable to protect Katerina.
The scene of farewell of Katerina and Boris before his departure to Siberia is indicative. He leaves Katerina in this city, knowing full well what her life will turn into. At the same time, he says that she is married, and he is free. Boris is unable to save Katerina.
[hide]
"DARK KINGDOM"
The city of Kalinov, where the action of the play "Thunderstorm" takes place, is located in picturesque place- on the banks of the Volga. At the beginning of the play, Kuligin admires the view of the river from the high bank. Kalinov is a provincial town in which life goes slowly, unhurriedly. Peace and boredom reign everywhere. However silence provincial town hides cruel and rude philistine mores. Rich tyrants rule the city, while the poor are powerless and invisible.
Kuligin himself, talented and clever man, acknowledges that the only way to survive in this city is to pretend and hide your thoughts under the mask of humility. He bitterly says: “Cruel morals, sir, in our city, cruel! In philistinism, sir, you will see nothing but rudeness and bare poverty. And we, sir, will never break out of this bark! Greed and deceit reign in Kalinov. An honest person can't get through here. And those who have money do whatever they want with poor people. Even in business relations, merchants do not disdain deceit. “They undermine each other’s trade, and not so much out of self-interest, but out of envy.” Wild - a merchant, the "owner" of the city of Kalinov. He is rich and prominent. His opinion is listened to, he is feared.
Wild feels his power, which is expressed in a sense of impunity (he does not hesitate to scold his nephew in front of the whole city, while Kabanikha hides his true face under the mask of piety). Shapkin respectfully and not without fear says about Dikoy: "... Savel Prokofich ... He will cut off a person for nothing." And Kudryash adds: “Shrill man!” Wild is merciless not only to strangers, but especially to relatives.
Boris, Dikiy’s nephew, is forced to endure his bullying in order to receive the inheritance legally due to him: “He will first break over us, scold us in every possible way, as his heart desires, but still end up giving nothing or so, some little ". Dikoy himself does not seem to understand why he treats people so rudely and cruelly. For no reason, he scolded the peasant who came for the money he had earned: “I sinned: I scolded, so scolded that it was impossible to demand better, I almost beat him. Here it is, what a heart.
Kuligin exclaims that outwardly the city of Kalinov and its inhabitants are quite positive. However, cruelty, arbitrariness, violence and drunkenness reign in families: “No, sir! And they don’t lock themselves up against thieves, but so that people don’t see how they eat their household and tyrannize their families ... And what, sir, behind these locks is the debauchery of dark and drunkenness! And everything is sewn and covered ... "Wild, together with Kabanikha, personify the old, patriarchal way of life, characteristic of the merchant class Russia XIX century. They are still strong and have power over those who are weaker and poorer, but they also feel that their time is running out.
Another life is breaking through, young, still timid and imperceptible. The new generation of residents of Kalinov is trying in different ways to resist the power of Dikoy and Boar. Kuligin, although he is afraid of Wild and tries to be inconspicuous, nevertheless sets out to him his progressive proposals, such as arranging a city clock or a lightning rod. Varvara and Kudryash are not at all afraid of either the Boar or the Wild. They try to live in their own way and break out from under the authority of the elders. Tikhon finds a way out in drunkenness as soon as he is out of the house. For Katerina, suicide becomes such a way out.
[hide]
LANGUAGE OF THE PLAY
"Thunderstorm" in many ways became an innovative work for its time. This can also be said about artistic means used by the author. Each hero is characterized by his own style, language, remarks. This is the language of the Russian people, mainly the merchants, alive and unadorned. Wild is ignorant, his speech is replete with vernacular (confused, palmed off) and swear words (fool, robber, worm, damned).
The boar, a hypocrite and a hypocrite, uses religious words in her speech (Lord, sin, sin), teaches households, using proverbs (another soul is dark, distant wires are extra tears) and colloquial vocabulary (to whine, nurse dismissed). Boris, an educated person, speaks correctly, he has a delivered speech. Tikhon constantly commemorates his mother, bowing before her will. Katerina is emotional, in her speech there are many exclamatory sentences (Ah! Ruined, ruined, ruined!) And poetic words (children, angel, cornflower in the wind).
Kuligin, an enlightened person, a scientist, uses scientific terms (thunder rods, electricity), is emotional at the same time, quotes both Derzhavin and works of folk art. Ostrovsky uses such a technique as speaking names and surnames. The meaning of the surname Wild is transparent, which indicates the unbridled disposition of the tyrant merchant. It was not for nothing that the merchant's wife Kabanova was nicknamed Kabanikha.
This nickname indicates the cruelty and ferocity of its owner. It sounds unpleasant and repulsive. The name Tikhon is consonant with the word quiet, which emphasizes the character of this character. He speaks quietly, and also rebels against his mother when he is out of the house. His sister's name is Varvara, which is translated from Greek means someone else's, the name speaks of the unbridledness and rebelliousness of her nature. And indeed, in the end, Varvara leaves home.
At the same time, we must not forget that they are both Kabanovs, that is, they are also characterized by features characteristic of the whole family. The surname Kuligin is consonant with the surname of the famous inventor Kulibin and with the name of the bird kulik. Kuligin, like a bird, is timid and quiet. The name of the protagonist characterizes her especially accurately. Katerina in Greek means pure. She is the only sincere and pure soul in the city of Kalinov.
[hide]
"GROZA" IN RUSSIAN CRITICISM
The play "Thunderstorm" became a work that caused fierce debate among critics of the 19th century. The most famous publicists of that time expressed critical remarks about Ostrovsky's drama: D. I. Pisarev in the article "Motives of Russian Drama", A. A. Grigoriev in the article "After the Thunderstorm" by Ostrovsky "and many others. The most famous article by N. A. Dobrolyubov “A Ray of Light in the Dark Kingdom”, written in 1860.
At the beginning of the article, Dobrolyubov talks about the ambiguous perception of Ostrovsky's work by other critics. The author himself notes that the playwright "possesses a deep understanding of Russian life and a great ability to depict sharply and vividly its most essential aspects." The play "Thunderstorm" is the best proof of these words. Central theme article becomes the image of Katerina, who, according to Dobrolyubov, is a "beam of light" in the realm of tyranny and ignorance. The character of Katerina is something new in the string of positive female images of Russian literature.
This is a "resolute, integral Russian character." It is the most cruel merchant environment depicted by Ostrovsky that caused the emergence of such a strong female character. Tyranny “has gone to the extreme, to the denial of all common sense; more than ever, it is hostile to the natural requirements of mankind and more fiercely than ever tries to stop their development, because in their triumph it sees the approach of its inevitable death.
Along with this, Dikoy and Boar are no longer so confident in themselves, they have lost their firmness in actions, have lost some of their strength and no longer cause general fear. Therefore, those heroes whose life has not yet become unbearable endure and do not want to fight. Katerina is deprived of any hope for the best.
However, having felt freedom, the soul of the heroine “strives for a new life, even if she had to die in this impulse. What is death to her? It doesn't matter - she does not consider life and the vegetative life that fell to her lot in the Kabanov family. This is how Dobrolyubov explains the finale of the play, when the heroine commits suicide. The critic notes the integrity and naturalness of Katerina's nature.
In her character there is no “external, alien, but everything comes out somehow from within him; every impression is processed in it and then fuses with it organically. Katerina is sensitive and poetic, with her, “as a direct, lively person, everything is done according to the inclination of nature, without a distinct consciousness ...”. Dobrolyubov sympathizes with Katerina, especially when he compares her life before marriage and existence in the Kabanikh family. Here "everything is gloomy, scary around her, everything breathes cold and some irresistible threat ...". Death becomes a release for Katerina. The critic sees the strength of her character in the fact that the heroine was able to decide on this terrible step. Boris cannot save Katerina. He is weak, the heroine fell in love with him "in the wilderness." Boris is similar to Tikhon, only he is "educated".
Such heroes are dependent on the "dark kingdom". Dobrolyubov notes that in the play "Thunderstorm" there is "a height to which our folk life in its development, but to which very few in our literature were able to rise, and no one knew how to hold on to it as well as Ostrovsky. The skill of the playwright consisted in the fact that he was able to "create such a person who serves as a representative of the great national idea."
[hide]
Act one
The events depicted take place in the summer in the city of Kalinov, which stands on the banks of the Volga. The self-taught watchmaker Kuligin and the clerk Vanya meet in the public garden.
Curly and tradesman Shapkin. Kuligin, a man with a poetic soul and a subtle sense of beauty, sits on a bench, admiring the beauty of the Volga.
The heroes see how, in the distance, the merchant Savel Prokofievich Dikoi scolds his nephew Boris. “He got Boris Grigoryevich as a sacrifice, so he rides on it.” Shapkin says that there is no one to appease Wild. To this Kudryash replies that he is not afraid of either the formidable merchant or his abuse.
Dikoy and Boris Grigoryevich, a young educated man, appear. Wild scolds Boris, accusing him of idleness and idleness. Then Wild leaves.
The rest of the characters ask Boris why he tolerates such treatment. It turns out that Boris is financially dependent on Wild. The fact is that, according to the will of Boris's grandmother and his sister, Dikoy is obliged to pay them an inheritance if they are respectful with him. Boris talks about his life.
Boris's family lived in Moscow. Parents raised their son and daughter well, they spared nothing for them. Boris was educated at the Commercial Academy, and his sister was in a boarding school. But the parents suddenly died of cholera, and the children were left orphans. Now, having no means of subsistence, Boris is forced to live with Wild and obey him in everything, hoping that he will someday fulfill his promise and give him part of the inheritance.
Dikoi wanted Boris's sister to live with him, but her mother's relatives would not let her go. Kuligin and Boris are left alone. Boris complains that he is not used to such a life: he is lonely, everything here is alien to him, he does not know the local customs, does not understand the way of life.
Boris exclaims in despair: “Everyone looks at me somehow wildly, as if I were superfluous here, as if I were disturbing them.” Kuligin replies that Boris will never be able to get used to the rough philistine mores of the local society. "Cruel morals" reign in the city, even merchants do business dishonestly among themselves, trying to deceive each other not so much for profit, but out of malice.
Kuligin, it turns out, writes poetry, but is afraid to bring them to the public: “They will eat them, they will swallow them alive.
AT privacy people are no better off. We are talking about the Kabanov family, where the old merchant's wife holds both affairs and all the household in her hands, while pretending to be pious and merciful.
Left alone, Boris regrets his ruined youth, that he fell in love with a married woman who comes with her husband and mother-in-law. Boris leaves.
Marfa Ignatievna Kabanova appears, a rich merchant's wife, a widow, nicknamed Kabanikha. With her son Tikhon Ivanovich, daughter-in-law Katerina and daughter Varvara.
The boar reproaches Tikhon for being out of obedience, he justifies himself. She teaches her son how to treat his wife, complains that Tikhon's wife has now become sweeter than her mother and old love she can't see from him.
Tikhon openly cannot object to Kabanikha, but in fact he is burdened by her moralizing. Kabanova leaves. Tikhon reproaches his wife, teaches how to answer her mother so that she is satisfied. But Katerina does not know how to pretend. Barbara protects her. Tikhon leaves. The girls stay. Tikhon's sister takes pity on Katerina. Katerina dreams of breaking out
out of this life, become free like a bird. With longing, she recalls her life before marriage.
In her father's house, Katerina was not captive, she lived the way she wanted, in peace and quiet. She got up early, went to the key, watered the flowers. Then she went to church with her mother. The heroine recalls: “Before my death, I loved to go to church! Precisely, it happened, I will enter paradise ... ".
In the house they always had pilgrims and wanderers who told where they were and what they saw. Then Katerina was happy. To Varvara’s words that they live in the same way in the Kabanikhs’ house, Katerina replies that here “everything seems to be from under captivity.”
Katerina suddenly says that she will die soon. She is overcome by bad forebodings: “... something bad is happening to me, some kind of miracle! This has never happened to me. There is something so extraordinary about me. It’s like I’m starting to live again, or ... I don’t know.” Katerina says that she has a sin in her soul - because she loves another and therefore suffers. Varvara does not understand why she is tormenting herself like this: “What a desire to dry up! Even if you die of longing, they will pity you! .. So what a bondage to torture yourself!”
When her husband leaves, Katerina will have the opportunity to meet her lover without interference. But the heroine is afraid that after meeting him she will no longer be able to return home. Varvara calmly replies that it will be seen later.
A lady passing by, a half-mad old woman of about seventy, threatens Katerina and Varvara, saying that beauty and youth lead to death; while she points towards the Volga. These words scare Katerina even more. She is overcome by unkind forebodings about her tragic fate.
Varvara mimics the lady, calling her an old fool: “It's all nonsense. You really need to listen to what she is talking about. She prophesies to everyone. I have sinned all my life since I was young. Ask what they say about her!
That's why he's afraid to die. What she is afraid of, that scares others. Barbara does not understand Katerina's fears. Suddenly Katerina hears thunder. She is afraid of God’s wrath and what can appear before God with sin in her soul: “It’s not that scary that it will kill you, but that death will suddenly find you as you are, with all your sins, with all evil thoughts. I’m not afraid to die, but when I think that suddenly I will appear before God the way I am here with you, after this conversation, that’s what’s scary.
Katerina hurries home, not intending to wait for Tikhon. Varvara says that she cannot show herself at home without her husband. Finally Tikhon arrives, and everyone rushes home.
Action two
The action opens with a dialogue between the wanderer Feklusha and Glasha, a maid in the Kabanovs' house. Glasha collects the owner's things for the journey. Feklusha tells the girl unprecedented stories about overseas countries. Moreover, she herself has not been to these countries, but she has heard a lot. Her stories are like fiction. Glasha is surprised at what she hears and exclaims: “What other lands are there! There are no miracles in the world! And we're sitting here, we don't know anything."
Varvara and Katerina are gathering Tikhon for a trip. Varvara calls the name of Katerina's beloved. This is Boris. Varvara warns Katerina about caution and the need to pretend and hide her feelings. But pretense is alien to Katerina. She says she will love her husband. She is again overcome by gloomy forebodings.
Katerina talks about her character, that she is able to endure up to a certain point, but if she is greatly offended, she may leave home, that no forces will keep her. She recalls how, as a child, she sailed away on a boat, offended by her relatives, Varvara invites Katerina to spend the night in the gazebo, otherwise her mother alone will not let go.
And he adds that Tikhon only dreams of leaving in order to escape from the power of Kabanikha for a while. Marfa Ignatievna orders Tikhon to give instructions to his wife before leaving.
She dictates instructions, and the son repeats. He tells Katerina not to be rude to her mother, not to argue, to honor her as her own mother.
Alone, Tikhon asks his wife for forgiveness. Katerina begs her husband not to leave or take her with him. She anticipates trouble and wants Tikhon to demand some kind of oath from her. But he does not understand Katerina's condition. He wants only one thing - to leave his parental home as soon as possible and be free.
Tikhon leaves. Kabanikha reproaches Katerina that she does not love her husband and does not lament after his departure, as a good wife should do.
Left alone, Katerina thinks about death and regrets that she does not have children. She is going to do household chores before her husband arrives in order to distract from sad thoughts.
Varvara took out the key to the gate in the garden and gave it to Katerina. It seems to her that the key is burning her hands. Katerina is in thought: throw away the key or hide it. Finally, she decides to leave the key and see Boris.
Act Three
The boar and the wanderer Feklusha are sitting on a bench. Feklusha praises the city of Kalinov, saying that it is calm and good here, there is no fuss, everything is “decent”.
Wild appears. He says that his greatest pleasure is to scold someone. The boar and Dikoy go into the house.
Boris appears. He is looking for his uncle, but he is thinking how to see Katerina. Following Boris appears Kuligin. He says that in the city, behind the mask of well-being and peace, rudeness and drunkenness are hidden. They notice Varvara and Kudryash kissing. Boris approaches them. Varvara invites him to the gate to her garden.
At night, Kudryash and Boris meet at the gate. Boris confesses to him that he fell in love with a married woman. Curly says that if a woman is married, then you need to leave her, otherwise she will die, people's rumor will destroy her. Then he guesses that Boris's beloved is Katerina Kabanova. Curly tells Boris that, apparently, it was she who invited him on a date. Boris is happy.
Barbara appears. She takes Curly away, telling Boris to wait here. Boris is excited. Catherine arrives. Boris confesses his love to Katerina. She is very excited. First, she chases Boris, then it turns out that she loves him too. Boris is happy that Katerina's husband left for a long time and it will be possible to meet with her without interference. Katerina does not leave thoughts of death. She suffers because she considers herself a sinner.
Kudryash and Varvara appear. They rejoice at how well everything worked out with the gate and dates. The lovers say goodbye.
act four
Citizens walk along the shore overlooking the Volga. A storm is gathering. Dikoy and Kuligin appear. Kuligin asks the merchant to install a clock on the street so that everyone walking around can see what time it is. In addition, the clock will serve as a decoration of the city. Kuligin turned to Wild as an influential person who might want to do something for the benefit of the townspeople. In response, Wild only scolds the inventor.
Kuligin suggests installing lightning rods and tries to explain to the merchant what it is. Wild does not understand what is at stake, and speaks of a thunderstorm as a punishment from heaven. The conversation between him and the inventor did not lead to anything.
Varvara and Boris meet. Varvara reports that Tikhon returned ahead of time. Katerina herself is not herself, she cries, she is afraid to look her husband in the eye. The boar suspects something. Boris is scared. He is afraid that Katerina will tell her husband about everything, he asks Varvara to talk to Katerina.
A storm is coming. It starts to rain. Katerina, Kabanikha, Varvara and Tikhon walk along the boulevard. Katerina is very afraid of thunderstorms. Seeing Boris, she is completely frightened. Kuligin reassures her, trying to explain that the storm does not attack, but "grace" for nature. Boris leaves with the words: “It’s scarier here!”
People in the crowd say that the storm will kill someone. Catherine is in a panic. She claims that the storm will kill her. The crazy lady appears. Her words about beauty and sin become the last straw for Katerina: it seems to her that she is dying, she sees fiery hell ... Katerina falls on her knees in front of her husband and admits that ten
nights walked with Boris. Tikhon is trying to calm his wife, he does not want a scandal in public.
Barbara denies everything. There is a rumble of thunder. Katerina collapses. The boar gloats.
Act Five
Tikhon and Kuligin meet. When Kabanov went to Moscow, instead of doing business, he drank all ten days. Kuligin had already heard what happened in the Kabanov family. Tikhon says that he is sorry for his wife, and he beat her quite a bit, as his mother ordered. The boar said that Katerina should be buried alive in the ground.
But Tikhon is not cruel to his wife, he worries about her. Katerina, on the other hand, “weeps and melts like wax.” Kuligin says that it is time for Tikhon to stop doing as his mother orders. Kabanov replies that he cannot and does not want to live by his own mind: “No, they say, his own mind. And, therefore, live as a stranger. I’ll take the last one, what I have, I’ll drink it: let
mamma then with me, as with a fool, and nurses.
The boar and Varvara were told that she had run away with Kudryash, and no one knew where she was. Dikoy is going to send Boris to work for three years with a familiar merchant, away from Kalinov. Glasha appears. She says that Katerina has gone somewhere. Tikhon is worried, he believes that it is necessary to find her immediately. He is afraid that Katerina will do something to herself.
Katerina alone. She thinks about Boris, worries that she has dishonored him. The heroine doesn't care about herself. She dreams of death as a deliverance from unbearable suffering, she is tormented by the fact that she has ruined her soul. Katerina dreams of seeing Boris at least once more.
Boris appears. Katerina rushes to him. The hero says that he is leaving very far. Katerina complains to him about her mother-in-law and her husband. In the Kabanovs' house, she became completely unbearable. Boris is worried that they would not be caught together. Katerina is glad that she was able to see her beloved again. She orders him on the way to give to all the beggars, so that they
prayed for her.
Boris is in a hurry to leave. Suddenly, he begins to fear that Katerina is planning to do something bad to herself. But she comforts him. Boris is tormented by the suffering of Katerina and his own, but he cannot do anything. “Oh, if only these people knew what it feels like to say goodbye to you! My God! Oh, if only there was strength!
Boris even has thoughts about the death of Katerina so that she no longer suffers: “Only one thing you need to ask God for her to die as soon as possible so that she does not suffer for a long time!” The heroes say goodbye. Boris, sobbing, leaves.
Katerina alone. She doesn't know what to do or where to go. “Yes, what is home, what is in the grave! that in the grave! It's better in the grave... There's a little grave under the tree... how nice! So quiet, so good! I feel better!”
Katerina does not want to live, people are disgusting to her. She dreams of death. She can't run away because she's going home. And then Katerina decides to rush into the Volga. Kabanikha, Tikhon and Kuligin appear. They are on the river bank. Tikhon is afraid for his wife. The boar reproaches him. Nobody saw Katherine.
Kuligin pulled the dead Katerina out of the water and brought her body: “Here is your Katerina. Do with her what you want! Her body is here, take it; and the soul is not yours now; she is now before a judge who is more merciful than you!” Tikhon rushes to his wife and reproaches his mother that she is to blame for the death of Katerina: “Mother, you ruined her! You, you, you…”
It seems that he is no longer afraid of Kabanikhi. The hero exclaims in despair: “It’s good for you, Katya! Why am I left to live in the world and suffer!”
5 / 5. 7
Admiring the river view and talking with the young clerk Kudryash and the tradesman Shapkin. In the distance, a local buoy, a merchant Savyol Dykoy, is shown. Waving his arms, he scolds his nephew, Boris Grigorievich, who is walking next to him. Shapkin and Kudryash exchange remarks that one rarely sees such a brawler as Dikoy: every now and then, as if breaking loose, he lashes out with abuse at acquaintances and strangers. Curly, a dashing and perky guy, says that it would be nice to catch Wild somewhere in an alley and scare him well.
A. N. Ostrovsky. Thunderstorm. Performance. Series 1
Ostrovsky "Thunderstorm", act 1, phenomenon 2 - briefly
Dikoy and Boris approach. Savel Prokofievich scolds his nephew as a "parasite" and "Jesuit". Boris's "guilt" is also revealed: he just caught his uncle's eye at the wrong time.
Ostrovsky "Thunderstorm", act 1, phenomenon 3 - briefly
Wild leaves in anger, and Boris Grigorievich approaches Kuligin, Kudryash and Shapkin. They sympathetically ask him: is it not hard to live with an uncle and listen to scolding every day? Boris says that he lives at the Wild involuntarily. Boris's father, brother of Savel Prokofievich, quarreled with his mother, a rich merchant's wife, because he married a noble woman. The mother in her will wrote off all her huge fortune to Savel - so that he would still pay some part to Boris and his sister when they reached the age of majority, but only on the condition that "they would be respectful to him." Boris now has to show "respect" to his uncle. The wild, petty tyrant and “warrior”, who daily fights with his domestic women and children, has already tortured Boris so much that he is ready to leave, giving up hope for an inheritance, but one must think about the fate of an indigent sister.
Kudryash and Shapkin leave. Kuligin, on the other hand, pronounces his famous monologue in front of Boris - “Cruel morals, sir, in our city”, vividly drawing in it the ignorance, greed and arbitrariness that prevail in Kalinov. A simple but rather educated man, Kuligin cherishes the dream of opening a “perpetual mobile” (perpetual motion machine), earning a million on it and turning this money for public benefit. But he doesn't even have the funds for a model.
Ostrovsky "Thunderstorm", act 1, phenomenon 4 - briefly
Kuligin also leaves. Boris, left alone, reflects on his sad fate, which has recently been complicated by a new misfortune: he fell in love with a married woman.
Ostrovsky "Thunderstorm", act 1, phenomenon 5 - briefly
Boris just notices the object of his passion. This young beauty Katerina, the wife of the merchant Tikhon Kabanov, who is now walking with her mother-in-law, her husband and his sister Varvara from the church. Tikhon's mother - Marfa Kabanova (Kabanikha) - in character resembles Savel the Wild. But unlike him, she does not so much scold her family furiously as she torments them with tedious moralizing, which she reads "under the guise of piety."
Now, on the way from the church, Kabanikha, right in the presence of Katerina, scolds her son for the fact that he began to love his wife more than his mother, and is ready to "exchange his mother for her." The weak-willed Tikhon barely objects to the parent: “why change? I love you both." Kabanova sternly tells him "not to pretend to be an orphan", scolds him for the fact that he rarely yells at Katerina and rarely threatens her. “It won’t be like that. One sin! So at least get your wife a lover!
Modest and meek Katerina is silent, listening to all this. Tikhon's sister, Varvara, looks at her mother with disgust and dislike.
Ostrovsky "Thunderstorm", act 1, phenomenon 6 - briefly
The boar goes home. The spineless Tikhon began to blame Katerina that “because of her, his mother scolds him,” but Varvara, outraged by this unfair reproach, tells him to shut up. Taking advantage of the absence of his mother, Tikhon runs away to Savel the Wild: to have a drink with this constant drinking companion.
Ostrovsky "Thunderstorm", act 1, phenomenon 7 - briefly
Varvara takes pity on Katerina. She, touched, utters a sad monologue in front of her. “Why don’t people fly like birds…” she asks. “I would run, raise my hands and fly.” Katerina recalls her childhood in her parents' house: “I withered with you, but was I like that!” She tells Varvara how her mother did not have a soul in her. They went to church with her, and the girl Katerina prayed there so fervently that all the people around looked at her. For her, the church was almost a paradise, during the service she almost saw angels in reality, and in the morning she went to pray in the garden, crying, on her knees - she herself did not know what. Katerina recalls her girlish dreams with pictures, as on icons. And suddenly he says: “I will die soon. I'm scared. It’s as if I’m standing over an abyss, and someone is pushing me there.”
Varvara says that she guessed a long time ago: Katerina does not love her husband, but another. Katerina with tears admits this as a terrible sin. Varvara reassures her and promises to arrange meetings with her lover for Katerina when Tikhon leaves the other day on merchant business. Katerina listens to these words with great fear.
Ostrovsky "Thunderstorm", act 1, phenomenon 8 - briefly
A crazy old lady appears, who walks around the city with two lackeys in three-cornered hats. "What, beauties? Are you waiting for the good fellows, gentlemen? Your beauty leads to a whirlpool! Everything in the fire will burn inextinguishable!” Leaves.
Ostrovsky "Thunderstorm", act 1, phenomenon 9 - briefly
Katerina trembles after the mistress's prophecy, but Varvara reassures her: “Don't listen to her. She herself sinned all her life from a young age - now she is afraid to die from this.
A storm is gathering. Katerina looks at the sky with fear: “It’s not so terrible that the thunder will kill, but the fact that death will suddenly find you as you are, with all your sins and evil thoughts. And how will I appear before God after this conversation with you!
To go to the summary of the next action "Thunderstorms", use the button Forward below the text of the article.
The contribution of Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky to Russian drama can hardly be overestimated. Evidence of recognition of his services to the national theater was the scientific title of corresponding member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. His house hospitably opened its doors to Lev Nikolaevich Sergeevich Turgenev, Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, Pyotr Ivanovich Tchaikovsky. The drama Thunderstorm brought him national fame. The subject of this article is summary. "Thunderstorm" in action (and there are 5 of them in the drama) takes place in the fictitious Volga city of Kalinov.
Action 1. Characteristics of the city of Kalinov
The first action takes place in a garden laid out on the Volga bank. The self-taught engineer Kuligin is talking to the clerk of the merchant Savel Prokofich Wild - Vanya Kudryash. Later, Diky's educated nephew, Boris, joins their conversation. We hear from them a capacious and impartial description of the order in this county town. Here the tyranny of Dikoy flourishes, on the one hand, and the sanctimonious morality of the merchant Marfa Ignatyevna Kabanova (nicknamed Kabanikha), on the other. Wild apparently plans to appropriate part of the inheritance that belongs to Boris.
Rudeness and Jesuitism flourish in the city. It is preached by the most prosperous citizens. If Savel Prokofich brazenly, with shouting and swearing, robs his workers, constantly not paying them extra salaries, then Marfa Ignatievna treats her family (daughter-in-law Katerina, son Tikhon and daughter Varvara) more subtly - with constant reproaches and sermons. At the same time, Kabanikha can explain each of his attacks “according to concepts”: they say, this is how it is done, etc. Her morality is “impenetrable”. It is no coincidence that Thunderstorm begins with an assessment of the foundations of the city. A brief summary of the actions in the future is entirely based on this capacious description.
Action 2. In the house of Kabanikhi
We become witnesses of the action in the house of the merchant Kabanikhi. The wanderer Feklusha is talking with the courtyard girl Glasha. The holy fool praises the generosity of the Kabanovs and tries to interest the listeners with primitive inventions about the way of life in "distant countries". Ostrovsky's play "Thunderstorm" ironically depicts charlatanism. A summary of the chapters shows us the real culprit of the tragedy.
The merchant's daughter Varvara nonchalantly plays the role of a matchmaker. Her daughter-in-law Katerina liked Diky's nephew, Boris. Katerina Tikhon's husband is leaving on business. His sister, whose life beliefs are “everything is possible if the ends are in the water”, while gathering her brother on the road, at the same time incites his wife, Katerina, to betray. To do this, she came up with a cunning "combination" with the substitution of the mother's key from the gate.
Katerina, in her own way, tries to remain faithful to her husband. He asks Tikhon to take her with him. And when he refuses, she, as was customary among the people, tries to bind herself with an oath that she cannot step over. But the narrow-minded Tikhon interrupts her here too.
Step 3. Date
Date Katerina and Boris - main idea this episode of the drama, its summary. "Thunderstorm" in action takes place in different places of the provincial Kalinov. One can see the street in front of Kabanikhi's house. At first, the drunken Savel Prokofievich "grumbles" with the merchant's wife. True, "one field of berries" soon reconcile. Then they are replaced by the philosophizing Kuligin, then the kissing couple - Kudryash and Varvara. Excessively enterprising Varya appoints Boris on behalf of Katerina a meeting near the Kabanovs' garden in a ravine. And finally, the meeting itself takes place. Moreover, Kudryash with Varvara and Boris and Katerina appoint him in the same place. True, then the couples disperse.
Katerina ardently confesses her love to Boris. However, as you can see, that attitude towards love is mercantile, consumerist. He does not understand, and most likely cannot understand what a treasure is Katerina's soul. He did not pass the test of love, little man. Blinded by feeling, Katerina, of course, does not notice these nuances.
Action 4. Climax
Misdemeanor and retribution - such is the summary of many dramas. "Thunderstorm" in action brings us to its climax. It is pouring rain, and Kalinov is in the grip of a thunderstorm. At the beginning of the action, the tradesman Kuligin proves to the merchant Diky the necessity of arranging lightning rods in the city. But the cunning miser insults the self-taught engineer in a boorish way and turns the conversation to the fact that the thunderstorm is the punishment of the Lord. So, however, many people think. Katherine, who has committed adultery, trembles from lightning. She is not reassured by Kuligin's exhortations about the nature of electricity. What happens is what Varvara feared: frightened by the admonitions of a half-witted lady who appeared like a devil from a snuffbox, accompanied by lackeys, Katerina confesses her betrayal of her husband Tikhon. Is generosity to be expected from him? Hardly.
Act 5. Tragedy
“Can happiness be where humiliation and hypocrisy reign?” - we invisibly hear the rhetorical question of the playwright, reading the summary. "Thunderstorm" by actions carefully draws the images of the characters, giving them an exhaustive description. Drunk Tikhon talks with Kuligin. He tells how he drank soundly during a trip to Moscow, that he “beat” Katerina a little for treason. (That's what my mother ordered.) I'm glad that Uncle Savel Prokofich is sending Boris to Siberia. From his words, we learn that Varya fled to Kudryash from the tyranny of Marfa Ignatievna's mother.
At this time, Katerina is looking for a meeting with Boris. Seeing him, he persuades him to take her on a trip to Siberia. After the refusal, she humbly asks the young man to pray for her sinful soul. But even this does not penetrate the weak-willed young man. His last phase is deeply indicative: “Oh, if only there was strength!” This is the phrase of a complete moral bankrupt. Katerina does not want to return to the hateful house of Kabanikh, jumps into the Volga and drowns in it. Kuligin accuses Marfa Ignatievna and Tikhon of being unmerciful towards Katerina. Tikhon blames his mother, considering himself unhappy.
conclusions
Shocked by the power of the playwright's talent, the critic Dobrolyubov wrote a brilliant article about The Thunderstorm, "A Ray of Light in a Dark Realm." In it, he showed that unfulfilled dreams of happiness in marriage, as well as the pernicious situation in the Kabanovs' house, led Katerina to suicide. Moreover, this act, in the understanding of Dobrolyubov, acquired the features of a personality protest. Critic Pisarev did not agree with him, pointing out the underdevelopment of the mind, intuitiveness and heightened emotionality of Katerina, which led her to. However, the dispute between these two prominent critics can be judged by the words of the classic Goncharov that “ kind heart more valuable than a sophisticated mind.