Image of merchant's life and customs in the drama. Ostrovsky "Thunderstorm"

The image of merchant life and customs in the drama of A.N. Ostrovsky "Thunderstorm"

The image of merchant life and customs in the drama of A.N. Ostrovsky "Thunderstorm"

The play "Thunderstorm", written by Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky in 1859, is the only one from the cycle "Nights on the Volga" conceived by the writer. The main theme of the drama is the conflict in a merchant family, first of all, the despotic attitude of the older generation (Kabanikha, Dikiy) towards the younger generation subordinate to him. Thus, the drama "Thunderstorm" is based on a description of the life, customs, customs of a merchant family.

The owners of life in the city of Kalinov - rich merchants - defend their views on family norms and rules. The conservative morals that reign in the Kabanov family and are common for a family living in a small provincial town, prescribe a “good wife”, “having seen off her husband”, howl, lying on the porch; husband regularly beat his wife, and both of them unquestioningly obey the will of the elders in the house. The model that Marfa Kabanova chose for herself is an old Russian family, which is characterized by the complete lack of rights of the younger generation, and especially women. No wonder "all the faces, except Boris, are dressed in Russian." By the fact that the appearance of the inhabitants of Kalinovo is far from the appearance of modern (of course, for that time) people, Ostrovsky emphasizes the reluctance of provincial Russian residents and, above all, the merchant class to move forward on their own, or at least not interfere with the younger, more energetic generation to do so.

Ostrovsky, describing merchant life and customs, draws attention not only to the shortcomings of relationships in one or two separate families. We have the opportunity to notice that most of the inhabitants of Kalinov can boast of practically no education. Suffice it to recall the arguments of the townspeople about the "Lithuanian ruin" at the painted walls of the gallery. The situation in the Kabanov family, the relationship between Katerina and her mother-in-law does not cause any reaction from society. This suggests that such situations are common, typical for this circle, it is not for nothing that the story of the conflict in the Kabanov family was taken by the writer from life.

Another important aspect of the life of the merchants, described by Ostrovsky, is everyday life. This is a calm, measured existence, poor in events. The news about life in the capital or distant countries is brought to the inhabitants of Kalinov by “feklushes”, even darker, ignorant wanderers who are distrustful of everything new and unusual, like the Kabanikha, who will not get into the car, “even though you sprinkle it with gold.”

But time takes its toll, and the older generation is forced to reluctantly give way to the younger ones. And even the cruel old Kabanova feels this, and the wanderer Feklusha agrees with her: “The last times, mother Marfa Ignatievna, the last, by all signs the last.”

Thus, Ostrovsky in his play describes the crisis of the provincial merchants, the impossibility of their continued existence while maintaining their old ideology.

Bibliography

For the preparation of this work, materials from the site http://www.ostrovskiy.org.ru/ were used.

The image of merchant life and customs in the drama of A.N. Ostrovsky's "Thunderstorm" The play "Thunderstorm", written by Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky in 1859, is one

More works

Themes of compositions for the drama by A.N. Ostrovsky “Thunderstorm”

1. 
   The theme of Russia in the drama of A.N. Ostrovsky “Thunderstorm”.
2. 
   Morals and way of life of the Russian merchants in the drama of A.N. Ostrovsky “Thunderstorm”.
3. 
   The depiction of a merchant family in A.N. Ostrovsky's drama "Thunderstorm".
4. 
   The city of Kalinov and its inhabitants in the drama of A.N. Ostrovsky “Thunderstorm”.
5. 
   The theme of "Hot Heart" in the drama "Thunderstorm" by A.N. Ostrovsky.
6. 
   Moral problems in A.N. Ostrovsky's drama "Thunderstorm".
7. 
   Female images in the drama of A.N. Ostrovsky “Thunderstorm”.
8. 
   Strength and weakness of Katerina Kabanova.
9. 
   Katerina and Barbara in A.N. Ostrovsky's drama "Thunderstorm".

Essay plans
The city of Kalinov and its inhabitants in the drama by A.N. Ostrovsky “Thunderstorm”

1. 
   "Thunderstorm" - a work of the pre-reform era. The end of the 1850s - the beginning of the 1860s - the verge of different historical eras. The "pre-storm" state of Russian society is reflected in the fate of the inhabitants of the city of Kalinov.
2. 
   The city of Kalinov in the drama "Thunderstorm" is a collective image of a Russian patriarchal provincial town; generalized image of the city in Kuligin's monologues.
3. 
   The inhabitants of the city of Kalinov:

a) heroes who control the life of the city (representatives of the "dark kingdom". Tyrants, "wolves"): Wild; Boar; Feklusha is a character who does not affect the life of the inhabitants of the city, but is necessary to maintain the existing order;
b) heroes ready to adapt to city life: Varvara, Kudryash;
c) heroes suppressed by the life of the city, weak and weak-willed: Tikhon, Boris;
d) heroes seeking to change something in the life of the city. (Kuligin not only denounces Kalinov's morals, but also tries to transform the life of the city).
e) Is Katerina Kalinov's “beam of light in the dark realm” or a creature of darkness? The ambiguity of the assessment of this image. Estimates expressed by N. Dobrolyubov. Evaluation of Katerina's character by D. Pisarev.

1. 
   The tragedy of Katerina is a reflection of the pre-storm state of Russia. The destruction of the old moral foundations of the city.

Female images in the drama of A.N. Ostrovsky “Thunderstorm”

1. 
   Russia before the reform of 1861. Ostrovsky's depiction of the patriarchal world, which is on the verge of destruction.
2. 
   The special role of women in the patriarchal world.
3. 
   The leading role of female characters in the drama:

a) the role of Kabanikha and Katerina in the play's ideal conflict; life positions of the heroines;
b) ways to create the image of Kabanikhi; c) ways to create the image of Katerina;
d) comparison of the images of Kabanikhi and Feklusha; e) contrasting the images of Katerina and Barbara;
f) the role of episodic characters (Glasha and the half-mad lady), off-stage characters (Dikiy's wife, etc.) in the play. The special role of the image of a half-crazy lady in Katerina's drama.

1. 
   The variety of female images in the drama "Thunderstorm".

The depiction of a merchant family in A.N. Ostrovsky's drama "Thunderstorm"

1. 
   Ostrovsky's plays about the life of the merchants ("Our people - we will count!", "Poverty is not a vice", "Hot heart", etc.). Merchant life of Moscow and the Volga cities in Ostrovsky's plays.
2. 
   Merchant families, bred by the playwright in the drama "Thunderstorm".

1) The Wild Family (not represented in the play):

a) off-stage characters are Diky's wife and his daughters (we learn about family relations from the stories of Boris and Kudryash);

b) Dikoy and his nephew Boris; c) relations in the family determines the tyranny of the Wild;

2) The Kabanov family:

a) in this family, relations are based on the old house-building norms of life. But, not warmed by the warmth of a living feeling, by living faith, they take ugly forms in the Kabanov family;
b) the role of the Kabanikh as the eldest woman in the house, the guardian of patriarchal customs;
c) Kabanova's relationship with children (Tikhon and Varvara);
d) relationship with Katerina; e) the role of accustomers, wanderers in the house of Kabanova.

3) Contrasting the Kabanov family with Katerina's family. Members of the second family are off-stage characters. From Katerina's stories, we learn that relationships in her family were built on love and mutual understanding.

4) A generalized image of family relations in the city is given in Kuligin's monologues.

1. 
   Ostrovsky portrayed merchant families in both tragic ("Thunderstorm") and comic ("Hot Heart") colors. But in a critical period for the fate of Russia, the playwright saw a tragic character in the relationship in a merchant family.

The theme of “hot heart” in A.N. Ostrovsky’s drama “Thunderstorm”

1. 
   The theme of “hot heart” is a cross-cutting one in the dramaturgy of A.N. Ostrovsky (Lubim Tortsov, Snegurochka, Larisa and other characters have a “hot heart”).
2. 
   The concept of "hot heart" refers to the heroes of the living, acutely reacting to everything that happens around. Not only worthy (positive) heroes can have a warm heart.
3. 
   Heroes with a "hot heart" in "Thunderstorm":

a) Catherine. The heroine's story about her childhood, about her flight from home to the Volga, her passionate, reckless love for Boris, her death - all this testifies to a "hot heart";
b) Kuligin's “hot heart” opens in admiration for nature, poetry, in a passionate desire to transform life in the city, in a dream of a perpetual motion machine;
c) Varvara and Kudryash show their ardor in their own way. Varvara, out of her kindness and love, helps Katerina arrange a date with Boris, without thinking about the possible consequences. Curly is all tailored from passionate folk songs, Varvara's removal, the courage of behavior with Wild is a manifestation of his "hot heart";
d) Tikhon. His “hot heart” is under a bushel and manifests itself in the revelry into which he set off, leaving his home, in the last bitter words addressed to Kabanikha;
e) Dikoy also has a “hot heart”, his ability to repent (the episode with the peasant before whom he knelt on Holy Week) is evidence of this.

1. 
   Characters with a “hot heart” are opposed to people with “cold hearts”:

a) Boris - many of his remarks at the first meeting with Katerina are evidence of this, his unwillingness to see the approaching tragedy of Katerina, his behavior during the last meeting with Katerina, indifference to her fate speak of his callousness, coldness;
b) The boar is the “coldest” of all the characters in the drama, she is indifferent to children, to Katerina, even to her death. For her, only external observance of customs is important;
c) it is Kabanikha and Boris who play a fatal role in the fate of the main character, in her death.

1. 
   Almost all the characters in the play are characterized by strong sensations and feelings. The formidable atmosphere of the play (“a kind of excess of life is spilled in the sultry air”) is also manifested in the ardor of the characters.

The play "Thunderstorm" Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky wrote in 1859, it belongs to the cycle "On the Volga". The work was based on the depiction of merchant life, or rather the despotic attitude of the older generation towards the younger generation subordinate to them. Wealthy merchants are the masters of life in the city of Kalinov. They defend their views on family norms and rules. Conservative morals reign in the Kabanov family, which are common for a family from a small provincial town.

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According to these rules, the wife must, "having seen her husband off," lie on the porch and "howl." The husband must regularly beat his wife to be complaisant. And both of them must unquestioningly obey the elders in the house. Marfa Kabanova also chose this model of behavior in the family for herself. In her family, the younger generation is completely powerless, especially for women. This is an example of an old Russian family, which is emphasized by the clothes of the heroes - everyone is “dressed in Russian”, except for Boris. The appearance of the inhabitants of Kalinov is not similar to the appearance of contemporary people of that time. The author emphasizes the unwillingness of the inhabitants of the Russian provinces and, first of all, the representatives of the merchant class to go forward, not to put obstacles on this path for the younger generation.

When describing merchant life and customs, Ostrovsky draws the reader's attention to the shortcomings of relationships in the family. In addition, we notice that most of the inhabitants of Kalinov do not have any education. An example of this is the reasoning of the townspeople at the painted walls of the gallery about the “Lithuanian ruin”. The position of Katerina in the Kabanov family, her relationship with her mother-in-law does not cause any reaction from society. Such situations were common for that time, so the conflict in Ostrovsky's play is realistic.

Another important side of the life of the merchants, depicted by the author, is everyday life, which is a measured existence, devoid of events. The life of the capital is told by ignorant wanderers - "feklushi", who, like Kabanikhe, are inaccessible to everything new and unusual.

In his play, Ostrovsky depicts the crisis of the provincial merchant class, the lack of prospects for its further development while maintaining the same ideology.

Updated: 2013-05-09

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Depiction of merchant life and customs in the drama "Thunderstorm"

The play "Thunderstorm", written by Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky in 1859, is the only one from the cycle "Nights on the Volga" conceived by the writer. The main theme of the drama is the conflict in a merchant family, primarily the despotic attitude of the older generation (Kabanikha, Dikoy) towards the younger generation subordinate to him. Thus, the drama "Thunderstorm" is based on a description of the life, customs, customs of a merchant family.
The owners of life in the city of Kalinov - rich merchants - defend their views on family norms and rules. The conservative morals that reign in the Kabanov family and are common for a family living in a small provincial town, prescribe a “good wife”, “having seen off her husband”, howl, lying on the porch; husband regularly beat his wife, and both of them unquestioningly obey the will of the elders in the house. The model that Marfa Kabanova chose for herself is an old Russian family, which is characterized by the complete lack of rights of the younger generation, and especially women. No wonder "all the faces, except Boris, are dressed in Russian." By the fact that the appearance of the inhabitants of Kalinovo is far from the appearance of modern (of course, for that time) people, Ostrovsky emphasizes the reluctance of provincial Russian residents and, above all, the merchant class to move forward on their own, or at least not interfere with the younger, more energetic generation to do so.
Ostrovsky, describing merchant life and customs, draws attention not only to the shortcomings of relationships in one or two separate families. We have the opportunity to notice that most of the inhabitants of Kalinov can boast of practically no education. Suffice it to recall the arguments of the townspeople about the "Lithuanian ruin" at the painted walls of the gallery. The situation in the Kabanov family, the relationship between Katerina and her mother-in-law does not cause any reaction from society. This suggests that such situations are common, typical for this circle, it is not for nothing that the story of the conflict in the Kabanov family was taken by the writer from life.
Another important aspect of the life of the merchants, described by Ostrovsky, is everyday life. This is a calm, measured existence, poor in events. The news about life in the capital or distant countries is brought to the inhabitants of Kalinov by “feklushes”, even darker, ignorant wanderers who are distrustful of everything new and unusual, like the Kabanikha, who will not get into the car, “even though you sprinkle it with gold.”
But time takes its toll, and the older generation is forced to reluctantly give way to the younger ones. And even the cruel old Kabanova feels this, and the wanderer Feklusha agrees with her: “The last times, mother Marfa Ignatievna, the last, by all signs the last.”
Thus, Ostrovsky in his play describes the crisis of the provincial merchants, the impossibility of their continued existence while maintaining their old ideology.

The play "Thunderstorm", written by Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky in 1859, is the only one from the cycle "Nights on the Volga" conceived by the writer. The main theme of the drama is the conflict in a merchant family, first of all, the despotic attitude of the older generation (Kabanikha, Dikiy) towards the younger generation subordinate to him. Thus, the drama "Thunderstorm" is based on a description of the life, customs, customs of a merchant family.
The owners of life in the city of Kalinov - rich merchants - defend their views on family norms and rules. The conservative morals that reign in the Kabanov family and are common for a family living in a small provincial town, prescribe a “good wife”, “having seen off her husband”, howl, lying on the porch; husband regularly beat his wife, and both of them unquestioningly obey the will of the elders in the house. The model that Marfa Kabanova chose for herself is an old Russian family, which is characterized by the complete lack of rights of the younger generation, and especially women. No wonder "all the faces, except Boris, are dressed in Russian." By the fact that the appearance of the inhabitants of Kalinovo is far from the appearance of modern (of course, for that time) people, Ostrovsky emphasizes the reluctance of provincial Russian residents and, above all, the merchant class to move forward on their own, or at least not interfere with the younger, more energetic generation to do so.
Ostrovsky, describing merchant life and customs, draws our attention not only to the shortcomings of relationships in one or two separate families. We have the opportunity to notice that most of the inhabitants of Kalinov can boast of practically no education. Suffice it to recall the arguments of the townspeople about the "Lithuanian ruin" at the painted walls of the gallery. The situation in the Kabanov family, the relationship between Katerina and her mother-in-law does not cause any reaction from society. This suggests that such situations are common, typical for this circle, it is not for nothing that the story of the conflict in the Kabanov family was taken by the writer from life.
Another important aspect of the life of the merchants, described by Ostrovsky, is everyday life. This is a calm, measured existence, poor in events. The news about life in the capital or distant countries is brought to the inhabitants of Kalinov by “feklushes”, even darker, ignorant wanderers who are distrustful of everything new and unusual, like the Kabanikha, who will not get into the car, “even though you sprinkle it with gold.”
But time takes its toll, and the older generation is forced to reluctantly give way to the younger ones. And even the cruel old Kabanova feels this, and the wanderer Feklusha agrees with her: “The last times, mother Marfa Ignatievna, the last, by all signs the last.”
Thus, Ostrovsky in his play describes the crisis of the provincial merchants, the impossibility of their continued existence while maintaining their old ideology.