Ostrovsky's play "Thunderstorm" was written in 1859. The idea of ​​the work came to the writer in the middle of summer, and on October 9, 1859, the work was already completed. This is not a classic, but a realistic play. The conflict is a clash of the "dark kingdom" with the need for a new life. The work caused a great resonance not only in the theatrical, but also in the literary environment. The prototype of the main character was the theater actress Lyubov Kositskaya, who later played the role of Katerina.

The plot of the play is an episode from the life of the Kabanov family, namely, the meeting and subsequent betrayal of his wife with a young man who arrived in the city. This event becomes fatal not only for Katerina herself, but for the whole family. For a better understanding of the conflict and storylines, you can read the chapter-by-chapter summary of The Storm below.

main characters

Katerina- a young girl, the wife of Tikhon Kabanov. Modest, pure, correct. She keenly feels the injustice of the world around her.

Boris- a young man, "decently educated", came to his uncle, Savl Prokofievich Wild. In love with Catherine.

Boar(Marfa Ignatievna Kabanova) - a rich merchant's wife, widow. An imperious and despotic woman, subjugates people to her will.

Tikhon Kabanov- the son of Kabanikha and the husband of Katerina. He acts as his mother pleases, has no opinion.

Other characters

barbarian- Daughter of Kabanikhi. A self-willed girl who is not afraid of her mother.

Curly- Beloved of Barbara.

Dikoy Savel Prokofievich- a merchant, an important person in the city. Rude and uneducated person.

Kuligin- a tradesman obsessed with the ideas of progress.

Lady- half crazy.

Feklusha- a stranger.

Glasha- servant of the Kabanovs.

Action 1

Kudryash and Kuligin talk about the beauty of nature, but their opinions are different. For Curly, landscapes are nothing, but they delight Kuligin. From afar, the men see Boris and Diky, who is actively waving his arms. They begin to gossip about Savla Prokofievich. Dikoy approaches them. He is unhappy with the appearance in the city of his nephew, Boris, and does not want to talk to him. From the conversation between Boris and Savl Prokofievich, it becomes clear that apart from Diky, Boris and his sister have no one else left from their relatives.

In order to receive an inheritance after the death of his grandmother, Boris is forced to establish good relations with his uncle, but he does not want to give back the money that Boris's grandmother bequeathed to her grandson.

Boris, Kudryash and Kuligin discuss the difficult character of Dikoy. Boris admits that it is difficult for him to be in the city of Kalinovo, because he does not know the local customs. Kuligin believes that it is impossible to earn money here by honest labor. But if Kuligin had money, the man would spend it for the benefit of mankind by collecting a Perpeta mobile. Feklusha appears, praising the merchants and life in general, saying: "we live in the promised land ...".

Boris is sorry for Kuligin, he understands that the inventor's dreams of creating mechanisms useful for society will forever remain only dreams. Boris himself does not want to ruin his youth in this outback: "driven, beaten, and even foolishly decided to fall in love ..." with the one with whom he could not even talk. This girl turns out to be Katerina Kabanova.

On stage Kabanova, Kabanov, Katerina and Varvara.

Kabanov speaks with his mother. This dialogue is shown as a typical conversation in this family. Tikhon is tired of his mother's moralizing, but he still fawns over her. Kabanikha asks to recognize his son that his wife has become more important than his mother, as if Tikhon will soon completely cease to respect his mother. Katerina, present at the same time, denies the words of Marfa Ignatievna. Kabanova, with a vengeance, begins to slander herself so that those around her will convince her otherwise. Kabanova calls herself a hindrance to married life, but there is no sincerity in her words. In a moment, she takes control of the situation, accusing her son of being too soft: “Look at you! Will your wife be afraid of you after this?

This phrase shows not only her imperious nature, but also her attitude towards her daughter-in-law and family life in general.

Kabanov admits that he has no will of his own. Marfa Ignatyevna leaves. Tikhon complains about life, blaming his despotic mother for everything. Varvara, his sister, replies that Tikhon is responsible for his own life. After these words, Kabanov leaves for a drink with Wild.

Katerina and Barbara talk heart to heart. “Sometimes it seems to me that I am a bird” - this is how Katya characterizes herself. She completely withered in this society. This is especially evident against the background of her life before marriage. Katerina spent a lot of time with her mother, helped her, walked: “I lived, didn’t grieve about anything, like a bird in the wild.” Katerina feels the approach of death; confesses that she no longer loves her husband. Varvara is concerned about Katya's condition, and in order to improve her mood, Varvara decides to arrange a meeting with another person for Katya.

The Lady appears on the stage, she points to the Volga: “This is where beauty leads. Into the whirlpool." Her words will turn out to be prophetic, although no one in the city believes her predictions. Katerina was frightened by the words spoken by the old woman, but Varvara was skeptical about them, since the Lady sees death in everything.

Kabanov is back. At that time, married women could not walk alone, so Katya had to wait for him to go home.

Action 2

Varvara sees the reason for Katerina's suffering in the fact that Katya's heart "hasn't left yet", because the girl was married off early. Katerina feels sorry for Tikhon, but she has no other feelings for him. Varvara noticed this a long time ago, but she asks to hide the truth, because lies are the basis of the existence of the Kabanov family. Katerina is not used to living dishonestly, so she says that she will leave Kabanov if she can no longer be with him.

Kabanov urgently needs to leave for two weeks. The carriage is ready, things are packed, it remains only to say goodbye to relatives. Tikhon orders Katerina to obey her mother, repeating the phrases after Kabanikha: “tell her not to be rude to her mother-in-law ... to honor her mother-in-law like her own mother, ... so that she doesn’t sit idly by, ... so that she doesn’t look at young guys!” This scene was humiliating for both Tikhon and his wife. Words about other men confuse Katya. She asks her husband to stay or take her with him. Kabanov refuses his wife and he is embarrassed for his mother's phrase about other men and Katerina. The girl foresees the impending disaster.

Tikhon, saying goodbye, bows to his mother at the feet, fulfilling her will. The boar does not like that Katerina said goodbye to her husband with hugs, because the man in the family is the main one, and she has become on a par with him. The girl has to bow at Tikhon's feet.

Marfa Ignatievna says that the current generation does not know the rules at all. The boar is unhappy that Katerina does not cry after her husband leaves. It's good when there are elders in the house: they can teach. She hopes not to live to see the time when all the old people will die: “I don’t know what the world will stand on ...”

Katya is left alone. She likes silence, but at the same time it scares her. Silence for Katerina becomes not rest, but boredom. Katya regrets that she does not have children, because she could be a good mother. Katerina again thinks about flying and freedom. The girl imagines how her life could have turned out: “I will start some work according to the promise; I will go to the Gostiny Dvor, buy canvas, and I will sew linen, and then I will distribute it to the poor. They will pray to God for me." Varvara leaves for a walk, reporting that she has changed the lock on the gate in the garden. With the help of this little trick, Varvara wants to arrange a meeting with Boris for Katerina. Katerina blames Kabanikha for her misfortunes, but nevertheless does not want to succumb to the "sinful temptation" and secretly meet with Boris. She does not want to be led by her feelings and violate the sacred bonds of marriage.

Boris himself also does not want to go against the rules of morality, he is not sure that Katya has similar feelings for him, but still wants to see the girl again.

Action 3

Feklusha and Glasha are talking about moral principles. They are glad that Kabanikha's house is the last "paradise" on earth, because the rest of the city's residents have a real "sodom". They also talk about Moscow. From the point of view of provincials, Moscow is too fussy a city. Everything and everyone there is as if in a fog, that's why they walk tired, and there is sadness in their faces.

A drunk Dikoy enters. He asks Marfa Ignatievna to talk to him in order to ease his soul. He is unhappy with the fact that everyone constantly asks him for money. Especially Wild is annoyed by his nephew. At this time, Boris passes near the Kabanovs' house, he is looking for his uncle. Boris regrets that, being so close to Katerina, he cannot see her. Kuligin invites Boris for a walk. Young people are talking about the poor and the rich. From Kuligin's point of view, the rich close themselves in their homes so that others do not see their violence against relatives.

They see Varvara kissing Curly. She also informs Boris about the place and time of the upcoming meeting with Katya.

At night, in a ravine under the garden of the Kabanovs, Kudryash sings a song about a Cossack. Boris tells him about his feelings for a married girl, Ekaterina Kabanova. Varvara and Kudryash leave for the banks of the Volga, leaving Boris to wait for Katya.

Katerina is frightened by what is happening, the girl drives Boris away, but he calms her down. Katerina is terribly nervous, admits that she does not have her own will, because “now she has the will ...” of Boris. In a fit of feelings, she hugs the young man: “If I was not afraid of sin for you, will I be afraid of human court?” Young people confess their love to each other.

The hour of parting is near, as the Boar may soon wake up. The lovers agree to meet the next day. Kabanov unexpectedly returns.

Action 4

(events unfold 10 days after the third act)

Residents of the city walk along the gallery overlooking the Volga. It looks like a storm is coming. On the walls of the destroyed gallery, one can discern the outlines of a picture of fiery hell, an image of the battle near Lithuania. Kuligin and Dikoy are talking in raised tones. Kuligin enthusiastically talks about a good deed for everyone, asks Savl Prokofievich to help him. Wild refuses quite rudely: “so know that you are a worm. If I want - I will have mercy, if I want - I will crush. He does not understand the value of Kuligin's invention, namely the lightning rod, with which it will be possible to obtain electricity.
Everyone leaves, the stage is empty. Thunder is heard again.

Katerina increasingly has a premonition that she will soon die. Kabanov, noticing the strange behavior of his wife, asks her to repent of all sins, but Varvara quickly ends this conversation. Boris comes out of the crowd, greets Tikhon. Katerina turns even paler. The boar may suspect something, so Varvara gives a signal to Boris to leave.

Kuligin urges not to be afraid of the elements, because it is not she who kills, but grace. Nevertheless, residents continue to discuss the impending storm, which "will not pass in vain." Katya tells her husband that a thunderstorm will kill her today. Neither Varvara nor Tikhon understand Katerina's inner torment. Varvara advises to calm down and pray, and Tikhon suggests going home.

The lady appears, turns to Katya with the words: “Where are you hiding, stupid? You can't leave God! … into the whirlpool is better with beauty! Hurry!” In a frenzy, Katerina confesses her sin to both her husband and mother-in-law. All those ten days when her husband was not at home, Katya secretly met with Boris.

Action 5

Kabanov and Kuligin discuss Katerina's confession. Tikhon again shifts part of the blame to Kabanikha, who wants to bury Katya alive. Kabanov could forgive his wife, but he is afraid of his mother's wrath. The Kabanov family completely crumbled: even Varvara ran away with Kudryash.

Glasha reports Katerina missing. Everyone goes in search of the girl.

Katerina is alone on stage. She thinks that she has ruined both herself and Boris. Katya sees no reason to live on, asks for forgiveness and calls her lover. Boris came to the call of the girl, he is gentle and affectionate with her. But Boris needs to leave for Siberia, and he cannot take Katya with him. The girl asks him to give alms to those in need and to pray for her soul, assuring her that she did not intend anything bad. After saying goodbye to Boris, Katerina throws herself into the river.

People are screaming that some girl threw herself off the shore into the water. Kabanov realizes that it was his wife, so he wants to jump after her. The boar stops his son. Kuligin brings Katerina's body. She is as beautiful as she was in life, only a small drop of blood appeared on her temple. "Here's your Katherine. Do what you want with her! 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!”

The play ends with the words of Tikhon: “Good for you, Katya! And for some reason I stayed to live in the world and suffer!

Conclusion

The work "Thunderstorm" by A. N. Ostrovsky can be called one of the main plays among the entire creative path of the writer. Social and everyday topics, of course, were close to the viewer of that time, as they are close today. However, against the background of all these details, it is not just a drama that unfolds, but a real tragedy, ending with the death of the main character. The plot, at first glance, is uncomplicated, but only Katerina's feelings for Boris, the novel "Thunderstorm" is not limited. In parallel, you can trace several storylines, and, accordingly, several conflicts that are implemented at the level of minor characters. This feature of the play is fully consistent with the realistic principles of generalization.

From the retelling of "Thunderstorm" one can easily draw a conclusion about the nature of the conflict and content, however, for a more detailed understanding of the text, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the full version of the work.

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Retelling rating

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The play "Thunderstorm", which by genre conceived as a comedy, was written by A. N. Ostrovsky in 1859. The work at first did not imply a tragic denouement, but in the process of writing, in addition to the conflict of an individual, a socially accusatory orientation was clearly manifested. As Ostrovsky wrote the play "Thunderstorm", we bring to your attention a summary of the actions.

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Characteristics of the work

1. What literary genre (story or short story) does the work "Thunderstorm" belong to?
2. How many actions are in the play "Thunderstorm"?
3. Briefly: what formed the basis of the plot of the drama "Thunderstorm"?

"Thunderstorm" is a play in five acts, according to the definition of the author - a drama, but with a genre originality:

• it's a tragedy, since the conflict situation leads to tragic consequences;
• present comic elements(ignorant reasoning of the characters in the play);
• the drama of events is enhanced by the everyday routine of what is happening.

The place where the main actions of the play unfold was not chosen by Ostrovsky by chance. City of Kalinov- this is a collective image of the Volga cities and villages, the beauty of which was fascinated by the playwright.

But the magnificence of endless expanses of water, the discreet charm 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 harassment from her mother-in-law, not finding protection from her husband and suffering from secret love to another man.

It is this tragedy of action 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 work would not have had such a resounding success and would not have caused such a resonance in society. Here outlined and denounced conflict between old traditions and new trends, ignorance and progress, freedom-loving and savagery of the petty-bourgeois world.

Getting to know the characters

The author wrote a story about dramatic events in the form of a play for stage performance. And any scenario begins with a description of the characters.

main characters

• Katerina is a young woman of pleasant appearance, God-fearing and meek disposition, with a quivering soul and pure thoughts. Daughter-in-law in the family of merchants Kabanovs.
• Boris, an educated young man who was brought up in a different environment, came to the maintenance and work of his uncle. Suffering from the surrounding reality. Secretly in love with Katerina.
• Kabanikha (Marfa Ignatievna Kabanova) is a wealthy widowed merchant's wife. Powerful and despotic woman, sanctimoniously covering up her tyranny by honoring her elders.
• Tikhon Kabanov - Katerina's husband and Kabanikh's son - soft-bodied, weak-willed person completely subservient to the will of the mother.

Characters

• Varvara is the sister of Tikhon, the daughter of Kabanikhi. The girl is “on her own mind”, living on the principle of “if only everything was sewn and covered”. However, good to Katherine.
• Curly - Varvara's boyfriend.
• Wild Savel Prokofievich is an influential merchant in the city. Main character traits rudeness, rudeness and bad manners especially to subordinates.
• Kuligin is a local craftsman who dreams of bringing progressive ideas to the city.
• Feklusha is a stranger dark and uneducated.
• The lady is a crazy old woman who sends curses to women.
• Glasha - servant at the Kabanovs.

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 - year). The spirit of upsurge reigned, the expectation of cardinal changes, and it was at this time that the playwright wrote about the awakening of the personality, in which Dobrolyubov would later see "something refreshing and encouraging."

For a more detailed acquaintance with the intricacies of the storylines of each action of Ostrovsky's play "Thunderstorm", their summary is presented below.

Action 1

Volga bank, public garden in the foreground. Kuligin is delighted with the opening views. Curly is slowly walking nearby with a friend. The swearing of the Wild is muffled, which does not surprise anyone - this is commonplace. This time he scolds his nephew Boris. Curly sympathizes with the unenviable fate of his relative Diky, who is forced to endure the oppression of his uncle, a tyrant. He himself is one of the few who can repulse the rude man: “He is the word, and I am ten; spit, let it go."

The swearing is heard more and more clearly - Savel Prokofievich and his nephew are approaching those present. Taking his soul away, shouting, Dikoy leaves. Boris explains the reason for his forced humility: he and his sister after the death of their parents left orphans. Grandmother in Kalinovo wrote off the inheritance to her grandchildren upon reaching the age of majority, and they will get it on condition of respectful and respect for uncle. Kuligin assures, they say, this is a utopia: no one will appease the Wild. Boris despondently agrees: and so he works for his uncle for free, but there is no use. It is wild and stuffy for him in Kalinovo - not at all the same upbringing and education was given to his sister and Boris by their parents, who previously lived in the capital.

Feklusha enters with a townswoman. Bogomolka praises the beauties of the city, extolling the decency and virtues of the merchant class, noting the Kabanov family. After the departure of the women, Kuligin commemorates the glorified Kabanikha with an unkind word for her hypocrisy and domestic tyranny. He shares with Boris his thoughts on the invention of the "perpetum mobile". For a perpetual motion machine they give a lot of money that can be used for the benefit of society. But there are no funds for details - such a vicious circle. Boris, left alone, sympathizes with Kuligin, but, remembering his ill-fated lot, he also leaves the garden.

Kabanikha appears with his family: son Tikhon with his wife Katerina and Varvara Kabanova. Merchant harasses son with accusations in his excessive love for his wife and disrespect for his mother. The words are intended for Tikhon, but are clearly directed against the daughter-in-law. Tikhon justifies himself in every possible way, wife tries to support him, which causes a storm of indignation of the mother-in-law and a new wave of accusations against Tikhon, they say, he cannot keep his wife in strictness, and not far from his lover.

After the departure of his mother, Tikhon pounces on Katerina, accusing her of accusations Mother. Not wanting to listen to his wife's objections, he goes to Dikoy to pour vodka into his troubles.

Offended woman complains to her sister-in-law difficult life with mother-in-law, recalls how well, cleanly and freely she lived with her mother: “in the summer I go to the spring, wash myself, bring water and that’s all, water all the flowers in the house.”

There was a solid splendor - embroidery with gold, church prayers, stories of wanderers.

It's not the same in the husband's house. Katya admits to Varvara that bad, sinful thoughts visit her, which she cannot drive away with any prayers. BUT in her heart she has thoughts of one person.

Then an abnormal lady appears, who showers the girls with curses, promising them hellish torment for their sinful beauty. Thunder is heard, a thunderstorm is approaching, and the girls hastily run away.

Action 2

Act 2 begins in the Kabanovs' house. Feklusha and Glasha settled down in the room. The wanderer, watching the work of the maid, tells her what is happening in the world. And even though her story replete with lies and ignorance, Glasha listens attentively and with interest to the stories of Feklusha, for her this is the only source of information.

Katerina and Varvara appear. They help equip Tikhon for a week-long business trip to another city. Feklusha has already left, Varvara sends the maid with things to the horses. Katerina recalls an old childhood story, when she ran away to the river from resentment for something, sailed away in a boat and then found her ten miles away. This testifies to decisiveness of her character- despite the meekness of the girl, she endures insults for the time being. Varvara asks Katerina who is the person 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, she needs to arrange a meeting for lovers. The woman is frightened and resolutely denies this proposal.

Kabanikha and his son come in. She continues to instruct Tikhon how to behave in the city, what instructions to give to his wife in her absence: listen to the mother-in-law, do not argue with her in anything, do not sit like a lady without work, do not exchange glances with young guys. Tikhon, embarrassed, pronounces these instructions after his mother. Then they are left alone. Catherine, as if anticipating trouble, asks Tikhon not to leave her alone or take her to the city with him. But Tikhon, exhausted by his mother's chicanery, is glad to break free at least briefly, at least for a short while.

Farewell scene. Katerina hugs her husband, which causes dissatisfaction with her mother-in-law, they say, she doesn’t know how to say goodbye, as it should.

Then Kabanikha talks 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 stand.

Left alone, Katya, instead of calming down, comes to full confusion and thoughts. No matter how much she loaded herself with work, her heart was out of place.

Here Varvara pushes her to meet with Boris. Having changed the key to the garden gate, Varya hands it to Katerina. She tries to resist these actions, but then gives up.

Action 3

Kabanova and Feklusha on a bench in front of the merchant's house. They grumble at the vanity of life in big cities, rejoice at the silence and tranquility in their own town. Appears wild, he is drunk. According to his habit, inflamed, begins be rude Kabanikhe, but she quickly upsets him. Wild is justified by the fact that the workers upset him in the morning, demanding a calculation, and for him it is like a knife sharp in the heart. Having cooled down in a conversation with Kabanikha, he leaves.

Boris has not seen Katerina for a long time and saddened by this circumstance. Kuligin stands nearby, reflecting on the plight of the poor, who are not up to the beauties of nature - they are in need, but in work, and the rich are surrounded by high fences with dogs, and they are thinking how to rob orphans and poor relatives. Kudryash and Varvara approach. They hug and kiss. The girl informs Boris about the upcoming meeting with Katerina and determines a place in the hollow.

At night, having arrived at the place of rendezvous, Boris meets Kudryash playing the guitar and asks him to give way to him, but Kudryash resists, arguing that this place has long been “warmed up” for meetings with his girlfriend.

Then Boris confesses that he has an appointment with a married lady here. Curly guess what there is a speech and warns Boris, because married women are forced.

Varvara comes and takes Kudryash away. The lovers are alone.

Katerina tells Boris about the ruined honor, about God's punishment, but then they both surrender to the power of feelings. Ten days of absence of a husband are spent in unity with a loved one.

Action 4

Partially destroyed gallery, its walls are painted with pictures of the Last Judgment. Here people hide from the rain. Kuligin begs Savel Prokofevich to make donations for the installation of a tower clock in the garden and a lightning rod. Wild swears, calling names Kuligin an atheist, for a thunderstorm is the punishment of the Lord and no piece of iron can be saved from it.

After Tikhon returns home, Katerina is in complete disarray. Barbara tries to reason with her and teaches her not to show any kind. She herself has long become adept at tricks and deceptions. Having not achieved what she wanted, Varya reports to Boris about Katya's condition.

Thunder rumbles are heard. The Kabanov family comes out in full force. Tikhon, noticing wife's weird condition, jokingly asks her to repent of her sins. Noticing how pale Katerina is, the sister cuts off her brother's joke. Boris approaches them. Katya on the verge of fainting. Varya signals the young man to leave.

Then the Lady appeared and began to frighten the pullets for 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 repentance of the main character is the culmination of the play.

Action 5

Again the embankment of the Volga, the city garden. It's getting dark. Tikhon approaches Kuligin, who is sitting on a bench. He crushed by Katerina's confession and sends to her the wishes of a fierce death, then begins to feel sorry for her.

The boar sharpens 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 and Kudryash ran away from home.

But Tikhon hopes for a favorable outcome- after all, the lover, at the behest of his uncle, refers to three whole years in Siberia. Glasha comes and says that Katerina is missing.

Katerina is alone, quietly wandering, talking to herself. She is already decided to end my life though it is a great sin. One thing keeps her - the desire to finally see her beloved and receive forgiveness from him for bringing misfortune on 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 distribute alms to the poor on the way to remember her soul. She walks towards the shore.

Kuligin, Kabanikha and Tikhon watch the search for the missing Katerina. People with lanterns search the shore. Tikhon is confused by terrible assumptions, The boar blames the daughter-in-law wanting to draw attention to yourself. Voices are heard from the coast: “The woman threw herself into the water!” Tikhon tries to run there, but mother does not let him, promising to curse. They bring a drowner. Katerina beautiful after death. Kabanov blames his mother for the death of his wife.

Ostrovsky A N - Thunderstorm summary

Thunderstorm.A.N.Ostrovsky (brief analysis)

under the curtain

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 audience. Well-known 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 life, and this is the significance of the author, his merit as an artist, this is the strength of his influence on the masses.

The play "Thunderstorm" by the famous Russian writer of the XIX century Alexander Ostrovsky, was written in 1859 in the wake of a public upsurge on the eve of social reforms. It became one of the best works of the author, opening the eyes of the whole world to the mores and moral values ​​of the then merchant class. It was first published in the Library for Reading magazine 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 caused a wide public outcry. She became the subject for writing a large number of critical articles of that time (“Ray of Light in the Dark Kingdom” by Dobrolyubov, “Motives of Russian Drama” by Pisarev, criticism by Apollon Grigoriev).

History of writing

Inspired by the beauty of the Volga region and its vast expanses during a trip with his family to Kostroma in 1848, Ostrovsky began writing the play in July 1859, after three months he finished it and sent it to the court of St. Petersburg censorship.

Having worked for several years in the office of the Moscow Conscientious Court, he knew well what the merchants were like in Zamoskvorechye (the historical district of the capital, on the right bank of the Moscow River), more than once, on duty, faced with what was happening behind the high fences of the merchant choir , namely with cruelty, tyranny, ignorance and various superstitions, illegal transactions and scams, tears and suffering of others. The plot of the play was based on the tragic fate of a daughter-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 the harassment of her imperious mother-in-law, tired of her husband’s spinelessness and secret passion for the postal clerk. Many believed that it was 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.

Analysis of the work

Story line

At the center of the events described in the play is the wealthy merchant family of the Kabanovs, who live 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 domineering and cruel woman-tyrant, and in fact 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 heavy temper of his mother, the daughter of Varvara, who learned by deceit and cunning to resist the despotism of her mother , as well as daughter-in-law Katerina. 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, in fact, having lost her will and becoming a victim of the cruelty and tyranny of the Kabanikh, left to the mercy of fate by a rag-husband.

From hopelessness and despair, Katerina seeks solace in love for Boris Diky, who also loves her, but is afraid to disobey her uncle, the wealthy merchant Savel Prokofich Diky, because the financial situation of him and his sister depends on him. Secretly, he 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, being 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 the life of her daughter-in-law completely unbearable, and Katerina, suffering from unhappy love, reproaches of conscience and cruel persecution of the tyrant and despot Kabanikhi, 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.

Main characters

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 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 obey her husband in everything, respect him, fulfill all his requirements. 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 can change her son Tikhon and he will no longer obey the will of his mother. Katerina is cramped and stuffy in the dark realm of life in Kalinovo, she literally suffocates there and in her dreams she flies away like a bird away from this terrible place for her.

Boris

Having fallen in love with a visiting 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 completely untrue, breaks her heart and leads to a tragic ending.

In the play, Katerina's character is opposed not to a specific person, her mother-in-law, but to the entire existing patriarchal way of life at that time.

Boar

Marfa Ignatyevna Kabanova (Kabanikha), like the tyrant merchant Dikoi, who tortures and insults his relatives, does not pay wages and deceives his workers, are vivid representatives of the old, petty-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

(Tikhon, in the illustration near the Kabanikhi - Marfa Ignatievna)

Tikhon Kabanov throughout the play is characterized as a quiet and weak-willed person, who is under the complete influence of a despotic mother. Distinguished by his gentle nature, he makes no attempt to protect his wife from the attacks of his mother.

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.

Features of compositional construction

(Fragment from a dramatic production)

The work begins with a description of the city on the Volga of Kalinov, whose image 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 urban life as if before a thunderstorm, when the old, decrepit way of life is shaken, and new and progressive trends, like a gust of furious thunderstorm wind, will carry away the obsolete rules and prejudices that prevent people from living normally. The period of life of the inhabitants of the city of Kalinov described in the play is just 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. The attention of readers should be distributed among all participants in the production. The interpretation of the play as a tragedy suggests its deeper meaning and solidity. If we see in the death of Katerina the consequence of her conflict with her mother-in-law, then she looks like a victim of a family conflict, and all the unfolding action in the play 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 a heroic way, characteristic of a tragic story.

The talented playwright Alexander Ostrovsky from a social drama about the life of the merchant class gradually creates a real tragedy in which, with the help of a love and domestic conflict, he showed the onset of an epoch-making turning point in the minds of the people. Ordinary people are aware of the awakening sense of their own dignity, they begin to relate to the world around them in a new way, they 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. The fate of Katerina acquires a social historical meaning, expressing the state of the people's consciousness at the turning point of two eras.

Alexander Ostrovsky, who noticed in time the doom of decaying patriarchal foundations, wrote the play "Thunderstorm" and opened the eyes of the entire Russian public to what was happening. He depicted the destruction of the usual, 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 for a new, better life.

The play saw the light in 1859. She left the author's pen very quickly. Thoughts to write such a work appeared in Alexander Ostrovsky around July of the same year, and in October it was already published. Written in the genre of a realistic play.

The conflict in it is the struggle of the "dark kingdom" with new trends.

In contact with

When the work was published, it was discussed and criticized a lot. The prototype of the main character was theater actress Lyubov Kositskaya. She later became the first Katerina on the stage of the theater. The event that caused the suffering of a young woman was the arrival of Boris in Kalinov and their love. The reader becomes an eyewitness to the events and feelings of the main character, which cost her her life.

The main action of the drama "Thunderstorm" by Alexander Ostrovsky takes place in the first half of the 19th century. The place of action is the city of Kalinov, invented by the author.

Acting characters in the play

Main:

• Katerina Kabanova- a young woman, the wife of Tikhon Kabanov. Quiet and humble. Pure and correct in thought. Very painfully experiencing the imperfection of the surrounding world;
• Boris- A young man with a good education. He came and lives with Uncle Savl Prokofievich Wild. Loves Ekaterina Kabanova;
• Kabanikha (Kabanova Marfa Ignatievna)- mother of Catherine's husband. Dowager wealthy woman of the merchant class. He oppresses his entire family in the person of his daughter, son and daughter-in-law, as well as servants. Do not mind subordinating others to yourself;
• Tikhon Kabanov- the son of Kabanikha and at the same time the husband of Katerina. There is no opinion, and therefore always obeys his domineering mother.

Other characters:

• Varvara - daughter of Kabanikhi. The girl is self-willed by nature, and her mother's threats are an empty phrase for her;
• Curly - the clerk of the rich merchant Wild. Beloved of Barbara;
• Savel Prokofievich Wild - merchant. A person who has great weight in solving many important issues in Kalinov. Rude and ill-mannered;
• Kuligin - tradesman who believes that progress will conquer all that is bad in life;
• Lady- the lady is out of her mind;
• Feklusha - a wanderer;
• Glasha - maid the Kabanikha family.

Main content

In order to learn about the conflict and the main storylines of the work, let's quickly read the play "Thunderstorm" by Ostrovsky, a summary of the actions.

First action

On the high bank of the Volga River in a public garden, a local self-taught mechanic Kuligin is talking with the clerk of Wild - Kudryash - and the tradesman Shapkin. Kuligin and Kudryash argue about how beautiful nature is. The mechanic is completely delighted with her beauty, for Curly it is nothing.

At this moment, the men notice the merchant Wild Savla Profievich with his nephew Boris. They are talking animatedly about something, the nephew is gesticulating frantically. Speech, meanwhile, comes about rude acts and tyranny of the Wild. The merchant approaches Kuligin and his company. He is very dissatisfied with Boris and his arrival in the city.

During the conversation, the reader understands that Boris and his sister have no one but their uncle. It also becomes clear that the grandmother of Boris and his sister, and therefore the birth mother of Savla the Wild, left her fortune to her grandson. At the same time, one of the conditions was the good relationship between the uncle and the grandson. The merchant does not want to hear about it.

Wild is removed. Boris, Kudryash and Kuligin continue to talk about the difficult temper of the merchant. A young man complains that he does not live very well in the city, because he does not know the local traditions. The mechanic said that many in the city earn by dishonest labor and claims that if he ever has money, he will collect perpetuum mobiles for the benefit of the people. Feklusha comes and praises all the merchants of the city as benefactors.

Boris feels sorry for the self-taught mechanic because he is unlikely to be able to fulfill his dream and invent something useful for society. It's not even about his talent, but about the financial issue. He is against staying here and spending his best years. She also scolds herself for the fact that “foolishly decided to fall in love ...” The object of desire is Ekaterina Kabanova.

Then Katerina, Tikhon, Kabanikha and Varvara enter the stage. Mother and son are talking. The reader observes how this family usually communicates with each other. Tikhon is tired of listening to his mother's constant instructions, but he still continues to listen to her servilely. The boar asks not to conceal sin and to tell her that Katerina has become more important to him than his own mother.

Marfa Ignatievna laments that he will soon not appreciate his mother at all. The daughter-in-law, listening to this conversation, denies the words of her husband's mother. The boar slanders even more so that the others will take pity on her. She claims that she interferes with the married life of Tikhon and Katerina. Her tirade breathes insincerity. A second later, the mother is already tearing up and thrashing about, calling Tikhon weak-willed.

Marfa Ignatievna believes that Katya is obliged to be obedient in everything to both her husband and mother-in-law. “Will the wife become afraid ...” - this is the main phrase that characterizes the meaning of family relations, according to the thought of this representative of the “closed kingdom” of petty tyrants. Tikhon agrees that he has a weak character. Marfa Ignatyevna leaves. Tikhon complains to his sister about his mother. Sister says that we are all responsible for our actions and our character. Kabanov goes to Dikoy for a drink.

Next, we hear a conversation between Barbara and Katerina. A young woman calls herself a "bird" ("I sometimes think I'm a bird"). Indeed, Katerina literally withers after she got married. Like a flower in a dark realm.

The main character is all in anticipation of something terrible, perhaps even death. She tells her sister-in-law that Tikhon is her unloved husband.

Varvara is very worried about Katerina's mood and in order to fix it, she does everything in her power - she arranges for Katerina to meet another person.

Then the reader sees the Lady again, and she utters prophetic words, pointing to the river: “This is where beauty leads. Into the whirlpool." Katerina believes this and she is very scared. Varvara does not believe the words of the Lady, because she believes that she sees death in everything.

Kabanov arrives. Katerina is waiting for her husband, since married women in the 19th century were forbidden to walk alone.

Second act

Varvara believes that Katerina is suffering because she has not yet loved. The woman was indeed given in marriage very young. She doesn't want to live a lie with a man she doesn't love. Varvara is convinced that her daughter-in-law should just be silent, and she feels sorry for her brother.

At this moment, Kabanov needs to leave for 2 weeks on business very urgently. Things are packed, the carriage is served, and here the reader observes another scene that humiliates not only the young married couple, but also their feelings. With a handout from Kabanikha, Tikhon told his wife not to look at young men. Katerina asked her husband not to leave her, to take her with him. She senses trouble. Kabanov refuses her.

Saying goodbye, Katerina hugged her husband, and Kabanikhe also did not like this, since she became, as it were, on a par with him. The wife must fall at her feet, as he is the head. Tikhon himself is forced to fall at his mother's feet. Kabanikha is sure that the younger generation has completely forgotten the customs of antiquity. The reason is that Katerina does not cry bitter tears after Tikhon's departure.

Katya is alone. She is sorry that she has neither a son nor a daughter. She could take care of them. Varya says that there is a new lock on the gate. She came up with this trick to arrange a date for Katerina and Boris.

Katerina realizes that Kabanikha is to blame for many of her misfortunes. She does not want to give in to temptation and secretly meet with Boris. The man himself is of the same opinion. He does not know what feelings Katerina has for him.

Third act

Feklusha and Glasha are having a conversation about morality. At the same time, they consider the Kabanov family to be the last stronghold of moral principles, when in Kalinovo there are “Sodom and Gomorrah” all around. They remember Moscow and say that it is a very restless and vain city, and that is why people go there dissatisfied and sad.

Comes fairly drunk Dikoy. He wants to talk with Kabanikhoy. He confesses to her that everyone often tries to beg money from him, and he is most annoyed with his nephew.

At that moment, Boris is walking past the Kabanovs' estate. He would like to look at Katerina, but is forced to deny himself this. Meets Kuligin. Together with him they take a walk. They start talking about poverty and wealth. The mechanic believes that the rich do not allow anyone into their homes because they mock families there.

On the way they meet Barbara. She kisses Curly and tells Boris where and when Katerina will be waiting for him.

Night. The ravine under the Kabanovs' garden. Curly is singing. Boris confesses to him and Varvara that he loves Katerina. Varya and Kudryash went to the bank of the river. Boris continues to wait. A young woman appears and is very frightened. Nervous. Hugs Boris. They tell each other about their love.

The meeting of lovers does not last long, as Kabanikha may notice the absence of her daughter-in-law. Suddenly Tikhon arrives.

Fourth act

Ten days have passed since the previous events. Thunder is heard on the stage. Kalinovtsy stroll along the alley overlooking the river. Scenes of fiery hell are painted on the wall. Dikoi and Kuligin are arguing animatedly. The mechanic asks the merchant for money for his new invention - a lightning rod. The mechanic tells Wild that he does not realize the importance of this discovery. The merchant rudely cuts off Kuligin and calls him a "worm".

Everyone leaves and the thunder is heard again.

Katerina's foreboding of death is becoming more and more distinct. Kabanov asks her to repent, as he is very worried about his wife's behavior. The conversation ends with the appearance of Barbara. Boris appears and greets Kabanov. Katya is paler than death. Varvara makes it clear to Boris that he should leave, since Marfa Ipatyeva can understand something.

Kuligin urges people not to be afraid of thunderstorms.

Katerina claims that today she will become her victim. The sister-in-law and the husband cannot understand her. Varvara asks her not to worry, and Kabanov tells her to go home.

The lady comes. He again speaks prophetic words to Katerina. She repents in a frenzy before her husband and mother-in-law. The reader learns that they met for ten days while Kabanov was gone.

Fifth act

Kabanov and Kuligin will talk about Katya's confession. Tikhon thinks that part of the blame lies with his mother, who hates her daughter-in-law. He was able to forget his wife's betrayal, but Kabanikh's reaction was an insurmountable obstacle for him. Kabanikhin's family disappears like a sandcastle. Her daughter fled from her with her lover.

Glasha said that Katerina was nowhere to be found. Everyone rushes to find her.

Katerina alone. In redemption, she calls her lover. He comes with bad news. He needs to leave for Siberia. He cannot take her with him. The woman loses all meaning of life and throws herself into the river.

People are screaming. The reader learns from them that an unknown woman threw herself into the water. Tikhon realizes that this is his wife and wants to follow her. Marfa Ignatievna is holding him back. Katerina's body is brought by Kuligin. She is as beautiful as when she was alive. There is only a drop of blood on the temple.

Kabanov says: “... for some reason I stayed to live in the world and suffer!” He understands that there is no longer a "beam of light" in the dark realm. After reading the play "Thunderstorm" - a summary of the chapters - we understand that Ostrovsky puts the whole meaning of the tragedy into the mouth of Tikhon Kabanov: how bad it is when the forces of the "dark kingdom" win.

It is not even necessary to fully read the "Thunderstorm" - a summary of the actions makes it clear to the reader how difficult it is for the "birds" in the "dark kingdom". Such as Katerina, Kuligin, Boris and other characters in the play. The events of the play unfold against the backdrop of ordinary everyday affairs, and end in tragedy - the death of Katerina, the main character of the work.

At first glance, a simple plot has several lines of development. And it does not end only with the uneasy love of the main character and Boris. The reader observes the conflicts of secondary characters:

• mechanic Kuligin and merchant Wild;
• Varenka Kabanova and the clerk Kudryash.

This is what makes the play special.

Year: 1859 Genre: drama, play

The action of the play takes place in the city of Kalinov near the Volga. The inhabitants of this city are uneducated philistines, stagnant in the order of house building and not wanting to change anything.

The main character, Katerina, was of a delicate mental disposition, it was hard for her to live with her mother-in-law, a woman of a tough temper, who kept the whole family in strictness, and her son, Tikhon, a weak-willed peasant who loved to drink. Katerina falls in love with the visiting nephew of the merchant Wild Boris, an educated man who suits her in character. During the departure of her husband, she secretly meets with Boris, but, unable to bear the remorse, confesses everything to her family.

Katerina is not allowed to leave the house, her every step is controlled, and Boris is sent to distant relatives. Katerina, having said goodbye to Boris, realizing that there was no ray of hope left in her later life, rushes into the Volga.

the main idea. This play shows readers that it is hard to live in a society where no one seeks to understand another person, does not want to accept anything new, and does not take into account the individual. But you need to have a lot of mental strength to continue to fight, to believe in a better life, that you can always find a ray of light.

Read retelling

Action 1

The city watches as the stingy and vicious trader Dikoy scolds his own nephew Boris. When he leaves, the nephew confesses to his friend Kuligin that he endures all the abuse only because of the inheritance. Although people say that he will not receive an inheritance. Borya and his sister will inherit wealth if they are obedient to their uncle in everything. Alone with himself, Boris dreams of a legally married girl - Katerina Kabanova.

At the same time, Kabanikha and her daughter, son Tikhon and daughter-in-law Katerina are on a walk. The boar complains that the son no longer loves his mother as much as he did before the wedding. Tikhon tries to reassure his mother, but she is still offended and leaves.

Action 2

Varvara sends her brother to drink at Dikoy's before leaving. 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 is worried 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 punish his wife how to live in his absence. The wife asks him to take her with him, but Tikhon is still against it.

Wanting to help the lovers, Tikhon's sister 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 she cannot help but take the opportunity. Katerina is ashamed to lie to her husband, but she really wants to see her lover.

Action 3

Merchant Wild goes to talk to Kabaniha in order to throw off the stone from the soul. The stingy merchant confesses that he is greedy to give money to the people for work.

At this time, Boris comes to the house of Kabanikh, but on the advice of Varvara, he goes to the ravine, where he finds his Katerina. She hugs and says words of love, after they retire. Varvara and Kudryash are left alone. Friends make another appointment for the next day.

Action 4

Ten days later, Tikhon's sister, having met Boris, tells him that her brother had 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 keep saying that a thunderstorm will begin soon. Someone claims that a thunderstorm will either destroy something or ruin someone. Katerina thinks and then says out loud that the storm will destroy her. A young lady passing by calls her a sinner. Kabanova, right on the street, confesses to her husband and his mother that she met another man for ten nights.

Action 5

Tikhon told Kuligin the news that the merchant was sending his nephew out of the city for several years, Varvara fled with her lover, and Katerina confessed to treason. A friend gives Tikhon advice to forgive his wife. Tikhon cannot forgive Katerina, since his mother will not approve of his decision, and he cannot disobey her. After arriving home, the maids tell him that his wife has disappeared. Tikhon starts after her.

Walking through the city, the girl met her lover, who tells her that he was leaving for Siberia on the instructions of his uncle. She tells that her husband is disgusting to her and asks to take her to Siberia. They are forever separated. The heartbroken girl begins to dream of death. He approaches the cliff and throws himself into the river, shouting about Boris.

The whole city is looking for a girl. Someone shouted that a woman had thrown herself off a cliff. The mother does not allow Tikhon to save his wife, threatening to curse him. Kuligin pulls out the body with the words that he gives the body, and 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. Complains to his wife that she left him tormented in this world.

Picture or drawing Thunderstorm

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