All school essays on literature. "Depiction of the merchants in the plays of A
In my opinion, A. N. Ostrovsky’s play “The Thunderstorm” is of particular interest to readers, since it describes not only an interpersonal conflict, but also gives a fairly complete description of the Russian merchants of the mid-19th century.
In order to understand the life of the society described in the work, it is necessary, of course, to analyze the characters of some characters.
Marfa Ignatievna Kabanova is a representative of the older generation, more patriarchal and respectful of tradition. Marfa Ignatievna is a rich merchant's wife, a widow, who after the death of her husband took all power in the house into her own hands. And not only in the house, but also in the city, no one dares to argue with her.
From the outside, she seems like a “fist woman,” an insensitive and domineering woman who knows the value of everything and everyone. She does not give free rein to either Tikhon, her son, or, especially, her daughter-in-law Katerina. He does not shy away from Dikiy, one of the most severe merchants in the city. “The formidable warrior” Kalinova becomes literally silken next to Kabanikha, the only person who correctly evaluates him: “Well, don’t let your throat loose! Find me cheaper! And I am dear to you! Go on your way, where you were going... you’ve been fighting with women all your life.”
However, is Kabanova as simple as it seems at first glance? In fact, her image is much deeper. The severity towards Tikhon shows love for his son, a desire to help him get back on his feet in this difficult life; in constant nagging towards Katerina, jealousy towards her daughter-in-law and annoyance at having taken her son away are manifested; There is also nothing unnatural in a constantly bad mood - the foundations of her world are crumbling around Marfa Ignatievna, it seems to her that the end of the world is not far off. “What will happen, how the old people will die, how the light will remain, I don’t even know.”
As for the truly negative qualities of Marfa Ignatievna - hypocrisy (including ostentatious piety) and ignorance, they are not her personal character traits, they are, in fact, just part of the general atmosphere of the “dark kingdom”. Kuligin characterizes the foundations of this society as follows: “They are at enmity with each other; they scribble malicious slander against their neighbors... They undermine each other’s trade, and not so much out of self-interest as out of envy.”
Together with Kabanikha, Dikoy also belongs to the older generation of the Kalinovsky merchants, but he is not central character: without participating in the conflict, Dikoy expands the idea of patriarchal world. Savel Prokofievich is a completely empty person, with nothing to do, constantly looking for a quarrel with the first person he meets in order to smash him to smithereens. A wild person is a tyrant who acts without being guided by reason. A few phrases are enough to understand the essence of his character: “I want to think about you this way, and I think so. For others, you are an honest person, but I think that you are a robber, that’s all... So you know that you are a worm. If I want, I will have mercy, if I want, I will crush.” And this man is “ significant person in the city". Such Wild and Kabanikhs represent the basis of the Russian merchant class. What can be said about the city of Kalinov, where Marfa Ignatievna and Dikiye enjoy influence and respect?
The younger generation represented in “The Thunderstorm” is also a very important part of society. The passivity of young people, their weak character and inability to do anything bold and new is surprising.
Tikhon and Varvara are characters with a transitional type of character. They, on the one hand, do not agree with the existing order of things and do not want to follow the rules established in ancient times, but, on the other hand, they do not dare to protest against them in any tangible way, and all their disagreement results in adaptation to life V " dark kingdom" Boris can also be included here. Well educated, he could have supported Katerina’s protest and won independence from Dikiy, but Boris was absolutely divorced from real life and had difficulty realizing his actions, ultimately destroying both himself and Katerina. Boris Grigorievich is simply pathetic. He says to himself: “I’m walking around completely dead... Driven, beaten...”. He has no self-respect, no self-esteem.
There are several opinions about the character of Katerina. I believe that she cannot be called a strong personality. But she differs from the rest of the Kalinovites in that she does not want to adjust and adapt. Katerina's death is a way out for main character seemed the most correct. This is not a protest or a challenge at all. And what kind of protest can we talk about when a person is not able to understand his own feelings?
The entire merchant world of Kalinov appeared before us. What happens in it? What are the general laws of his behavior?
Wild and Kabanovs are ignorant, but by no means stupid. Their practical mind is strong, and they realize that they are on the edge of an abyss, and this edge is crumbling faster and faster under them. In the depths of their souls it is clear to them that this is the end, but they hope (and the premonition of death increases their strength tenfold) that, having dealt with several hostile people who are dangerous to them, they will stop the ground disappearing from under their feet. The merchants' former occupation - trade (it is mentioned only in passing in the play) - is forgotten. they go to fight inside this closed little world, in other words, panic has begun. And this is no longer just an alarming sign, it is a harbinger of the death of the entire “dark kingdom”.
But “panic” is a word suitable to describe the state of only the older generation. Young people do not even suspect how much their lifestyle shocks their parents. On the contrary, the elders seem to them to be the indestructible, eternal foundation of their life. They do not need new ideas; they are afraid of everything unknown.
Thus, we see that based on the work of A. N. Ostrovsky “The Thunderstorm” we can conduct a deep analysis of the merchant society of that time, see the contradictions that tore it apart, understand the tragedy of individual people and an entire generation, thanks to which we can better understand the life of the entire Russian society that time.
In my opinion, A. N. Ostrovsky’s play “The Thunderstorm” is of particular interest to readers, since it describes not only an interpersonal conflict, but also gives a fairly complete description of the Russian merchants of the mid-19th century.
In order to understand the life of the society described in the work, it is necessary, of course, to analyze the characters of some of the characters.
Marfa Ignatievna Kabanova is a representative of the older generation, more patriarchal and respectful of tradition. Marfa Ignatievna is a rich merchant's wife, a widow, who after the death of her husband took all power in the house into her own hands. And not only in the house, but also in the city, no one dares to argue with her.
From the outside, she seems like a “fist woman,” an insensitive and domineering woman who knows the value of everything and everyone. She does not give free rein to either Tikhon, her son, or, especially, her daughter-in-law Katerina. He does not shy away from Dikiy, one of the most severe merchants in the city. “The formidable warrior” Kalinova becomes literally silken next to Kabanikha, the only person who correctly evaluates him: “Well, don’t let your throat loose! Find me cheaper! And I am dear to you! Go on your way, where you were going... you’ve been fighting with women all your life.”
However, is Kabanova as simple as it seems at first glance? In fact, her image is much deeper. The severity towards Tikhon shows love for his son, a desire to help him get back on his feet in this difficult life; in constant nagging towards Katerina, jealousy towards her daughter-in-law and annoyance at having taken her son away are manifested; There is also nothing unnatural in a constantly bad mood - the foundations of her world are crumbling around Marfa Ignatievna, it seems to her that the end of the world is not far off. “What will happen, how the old people will die, how the light will remain, I don’t even know.”
As for the truly negative qualities of Marfa Ignatievna - hypocrisy (including ostentatious piety) and ignorance, they are not her personal character traits, they are, in fact, just part of the general atmosphere of the “dark kingdom”. Kuligin characterizes the foundations of this society as follows: “They are at enmity with each other; they scribble malicious slander against their neighbors... They undermine each other’s trade, and not so much out of self-interest as out of envy.”
Along with Kabanikha, Dikoy also belongs to the older generation of the Kalinov merchants, but he is not the central character: without participating in the conflict, Dikoy expands the idea of the patriarchal world. Savel Prokofievich is a completely empty person, with nothing to do, constantly looking for a quarrel with the first person he meets in order to smash him to smithereens. A wild person is a tyrant who acts without being guided by reason. A few phrases are enough to understand the essence of his character: “I want to think about you this way, and I think so. For others, you are an honest person, but I think that you are a robber, that’s all... So you know that you are a worm. If I want, I will have mercy, if I want, I will crush.” And this person is “a significant person in the city.” Such Wild and Kabanikhs represent the basis of the Russian merchant class. What can be said about the city of Kalinov, where Marfa Ignatievna and Dikiye enjoy influence and respect?
The younger generation represented in “The Thunderstorm” is also a very important part of society. The passivity of young people, their weak character and inability to do anything bold and new is surprising.
Tikhon and Varvara are characters with a transitional type of character. They, on the one hand, do not agree with the existing order of things and do not want to follow the rules established in ancient times, but, on the other hand, they do not dare to protest against them in any tangible way, and all their disagreement results in adaptation to life in the “dark kingdom”. Boris can also be included here. Well educated, he could have supported Katerina’s protest and won independence from Dikiy, but Boris was absolutely divorced from real life and had difficulty realizing his actions, ultimately destroying both himself and Katerina. Boris Grigorievich is simply pathetic. He says to himself: “I’m walking around completely dead... Driven, beaten...”. He has no self-respect, no self-esteem.
There are several opinions about the character of Katerina. I believe that she cannot be called a strong personality. But she differs from the rest of the Kalinovites in that she does not want to adjust and adapt. Katerina's death is the solution that seemed most correct for the main character. This is not a protest or a challenge at all. And what kind of protest can we talk about when a person is not able to understand his own feelings?
The entire merchant world of Kalinov appeared before us. What happens in it? What are the general laws of his behavior?
Wild and Kabanovs are ignorant, but by no means stupid. Their practical mind is strong, and they realize that they are on the edge of an abyss, and this edge is crumbling faster and faster under them. In the depths of their souls it is clear to them that this is the end, but they hope (and the premonition of death increases their strength tenfold) that, having dealt with several hostile people who are dangerous to them, they will stop the ground disappearing from under their feet. The merchants' former occupation - trade (it is mentioned only in passing in the play) - is forgotten. they go to fight inside this closed little world, in other words, panic has begun. And this is no longer just an alarming sign, it is a harbinger of the death of the entire “dark kingdom”.
But “panic” is a word suitable to describe the state of only the older generation. Young people do not even suspect how much their lifestyle shocks their parents. On the contrary, the elders seem to them to be the indestructible, eternal foundation of their life. They do not need new ideas; they are afraid of everything unknown.
Thus, we see that based on the work of A. N. Ostrovsky “The Thunderstorm” we can conduct a deep analysis of the merchant society of that time, see the contradictions that tore it apart, understand the tragedy of individual people and an entire generation, thanks to which we can better understand the life of the entire Russian society that time.
A.N. Ostrovsky is not just a master of drama. This is a very sensitive writer who loves his land, his people, his history. His plays attract attention with their amazing moral purity and genuine humanity.
The characters of this playwright are people of their era. Merchants, their wives and children, matchmakers, clerks, clerks, servants, nobles, teachers, actors, robbers, holy fools took to the theater stage with Ostrovsky’s works. And each character has his own character, speaks his own language, carries the features of his era and his social circle.
“The Thunderstorm” was written in 1859, during the period of the rise of the social movement, when the need for political and economic change was felt by everyone. The playwright very accurately and vividly reproduced the atmosphere of the patriarchal merchant class, which emanates mossy, narrow-mindedness, savagery, which does not know the desire for knowledge, interest in discoveries in the field of science, in socio-political and economic problems.
The only enlightened person in the play, Kuligin, looks like an eccentric in the eyes of the townspeople. His selfless desire to do good does not meet with support from the townspeople. But he does not oppose Kalinov’s world; he humbly endures not only ridicule, but also rudeness and insult.
It seems as if Kalinov is fenced off from the whole world by a high fence and lives some kind of special, closed life. This is a typical picture of Russian provincialism. The playwright focused on the most important things, showing the wretchedness and savagery of the morals of Russian patriarchal life.
Why is there no place for something new and fresh here? Because this whole life is based on familiar, outdated laws that seem completely ridiculous to us. This is standing still. Stagnation. Its consequences are terrible and unpredictable. People either become dumber or adapt. And, which is rare, they try to protest. Stagnation is always possible when it is supported by people in power. These in Kalinov are Dikoy and Kabanikha.
It is no coincidence that in the list of characters only three are fully named: Savel Prokofievich Dikoy, a merchant, a significant person in the city; Marfa Ignatievna Kabanova, rich merchant's wife, widow; Tikhon Ivanovich Kabanov, her son. They are honorary citizens of their city. These are three different characters, but they are all generated by the “dark kingdom”. Dikoy is depicted in only three scenes, but a complete image appears before us, a type of tyrant.
Ostrovsky not only introduced the word “tyrant” into literature, but also investigated why such a phenomenon arises and on what basis. And this soil is unlimited power and the absence of true culture. Dikoy swaggers in front of his nephew, in front of his family, but retreats in front of those who are able to fight back. Rude and unceremonious, he can no longer be different. Even his speech distinguishes him from other characters.
The very first appearance of this hero on stage reveals his nature. He takes advantage of the fact that his nephew Boris is financially dependent on him: “What the hell, he came here to beat me up! Parasite! Get lost. I told you once, I told you twice: “Don’t you dare appear towards me”; “You’re itching for everything!”; “Fail!” etc. Dikoy behaves differently with Kabanova, although he is also rude to her out of habit.
In the Wild there are features inherent in the people. Thus, he perceives natural phenomena in purely religious traditions. To Kuligin’s request to give money for the construction of a lightning rod, Dikoy proudly replies: “It’s all vanity.” Stinginess and unbridledness are, of course, not purely individual qualities of the Wild. These are typical features of patriarchal merchants. But it stood out from the people's environment. But, breaking away from folk culture, this part of the merchants has lost the best aspects of their national character.
Marfa Ignatievna Kabanova is perceived as a strong and powerful character. After the death of her husband, she took all power in the house into her own hands. And not only in the house, but also in the city, no one dares to argue with her. Kabanikha takes the house-building order seriously. She is sincerely upset by the decline in morality among young people, the disrespectful attitude towards the laws to which she herself obeyed unconditionally. The heroine stands up for a strong, lasting family, for order in the house, which, in her opinion, is possible only if all the rules prescribed by the house-building are observed. She cares more about the storm of her children - Tikhon and Varvara.
"The Thunderstorm" is a wonderful textbook for studying the merchant life of that time. This life is shown in the play from all sides - both from within the merchant circle itself, and through the relationships of people who are not members of it.
Another work in which Ostrovsky showed the life of the merchants was “The Forest.” This comedy was written in 1871, when the old way of life in post-reform Russia was being rebuilt in a new way. In his work, Ostrovsky reflected the state of Russian society at that time. The writer managed to cover quite wide circle social strata, brought together people who would previously have been impossible to imagine together: representatives of the district nobility, provincial actors, merchants, a poor pupil, a dropout high school student.
The comedy "The Forest" is closely connected with its time: the fates of the heroes fit into the great historical time. In a concentrated form, all changes in the life of society were reflected in the family. With the collapse of serfdom, patriarchal foundations in the life of society and family are destroyed. A person finds himself alone with himself. All this is happening against the backdrop of completely new economic relations.
In the first act we learn that the fate of the forest that Raisa Pavlovna Gurmyzhskaya sells decides the fate of many people. The huge estates of Gurmyzhskaya are melting, they are being bought up by yesterday’s “man,” the merchant Vosmibratov. The landowners realize that under Vosmibratov’s ax the forests surrounding their estates and symbolizing the inviolability of feudal relations are dying. They understand that Vosmibratov will not spare the forms of life familiar to the “noble nests”, and will not spare the beauty of the forests. In the play, Ostrovsky shows the clash of material interests of the landowners and the bourgeoisie.
It would seem that these two plays are separated by only twelve years, but how different are the characters and worldviews of the characters! If in “The Thunderstorm” the old merchants are trying with all their might to prevent the penetration of everything new into life, to preserve patriarchal traditions and pass them on to their children, then in the play “The Forest” the desire for something new and change has embraced almost everyone, even representatives of the older generation. At the same time, all the rules of decency and tact are forgotten. Well, these are signs of the times, and Ostrovsky reflected them as accurately as possible in his works.
Ostrovsky A. N.
An essay on a work on the topic: Russian merchants in A. N. Ostrovsky’s play “The Thunderstorm”
In my opinion, A. N. Ostrovsky’s play “The Thunderstorm” is of particular interest to readers, since it describes not only an interpersonal conflict, but also gives a fairly complete description of the Russian merchants of the mid-19th century.
In order to understand the life of the society described in the work, it is necessary, of course, to analyze the characters of some of the characters.
Marfa Ignatievna Kabanova is a representative of the older generation, more patriarchal and respectful of tradition. Marfa Ignatievna is a rich merchant's wife, a widow, who after the death of her husband took all power in the house into her own hands. And not only in the house, but also in the city, no one dares to argue with her.
From the outside, she seems like a “fist woman,” an insensitive and domineering woman who knows the value of everything and everyone. She does not give free rein to either Tikhon, her son, or, especially, her daughter-in-law Katerina. He does not shy away from Dikiy, one of the most severe merchants in the city. “The formidable warrior” Kalinova becomes literally silken next to Kabanikha, the only person who correctly evaluates him: “Well, don’t let your throat loose! Find me cheaper! And I am dear to you! Go on your way where you were going. You’ve been fighting with women all your life.”
However, is Kabanova as simple as it seems at first glance? In fact, her image is much deeper. The severity towards Tikhon shows love for his son, a desire to help him get back on his feet in this difficult life; in constant nagging towards Katerina, jealousy towards her daughter-in-law and annoyance at having taken her son away are manifested; There is also nothing unnatural in a constantly bad mood - the foundations of her world are crumbling around Marfa Ignatievna, it seems to her that the end of the world is not far off. “What will happen, how the old people will die, how the light will remain, I don’t even know.”
As for the truly negative qualities of Marfa Ignatievna - hypocrisy (including ostentatious piety) and ignorance, they are not her personal character traits, they are, in fact, just part of the general atmosphere of the “dark kingdom”. Kuligin characterizes the foundations of this society as follows: “They are at enmity with each other; they scribble malicious slander against their neighbors. They undermine each other’s trade, and not so much out of self-interest as out of envy.”
Along with Kabanikha, Dikoy also belongs to the older generation of the Kalinov merchants, but he is not the central character: without participating in the conflict, Dikoy expands the idea of the patriarchal world. Savel Prokofievich is a completely empty person, with nothing to do, constantly looking for a quarrel with the first person he meets in order to smash him to smithereens. A wild person is a tyrant who acts without being guided by reason. A few phrases are enough to understand the essence of his character: “I want to think about you this way, and I think so. For others, you are an honest person, but I think that you are a robber, that’s all. So you know that you are a worm. If I want, I’ll have mercy, if I want, I’ll crush.” And this person is “a significant person in the city.” Such Wild and Kabanikhs represent the basis of the Russian merchant class. What can be said about the city of Kalinov, where Marfa Ignatievna and Dikiye enjoy influence and respect?
The younger generation represented in “The Thunderstorm” is also a very important part of society. The passivity of young people, their weak character and inability to do anything bold and new is surprising.
Tikhon and Varvara are characters with a transitional type of character. They, on the one hand, do not agree with the existing order of things and do not want to follow the rules established in ancient times, but, on the other hand, they do not dare to protest against them in any tangible way, and all their disagreement results in adaptation to life in the “dark kingdom”. Boris can also be included here. Well educated, he could have supported Katerina’s protest and won independence from Dikiy, but Boris was absolutely divorced from real life and had difficulty realizing his actions, ultimately destroying both himself and Katerina. Boris Grigorievich is simply pathetic. He says to himself: “I’m walking around completely dead. Driven, beaten.” He has no self-respect, no self-esteem.
There are several opinions about the character of Katerina. I believe that she cannot be called a strong personality. But she differs from the rest of the Kalinovites in that she does not want to adjust and adapt. Katerina's death is the solution that seemed most correct for the main character. This is not a protest or a challenge at all. And what kind of protest can we talk about when a person is not able to understand his own feelings?
The entire merchant world of Kalinov appeared before us. What happens in it? What are the general laws of his behavior?
Wild and Kabanovs are ignorant, but by no means stupid. Their practical mind is strong, and they realize that they are on the edge of an abyss, and this edge is crumbling faster and faster under them. In the depths of their souls it is clear to them that this is the end, but they hope (and the premonition of death increases their strength tenfold) that, having dealt with several hostile people who are dangerous to them, they will stop the ground disappearing from under their feet. The merchants' former occupation - trade (it is mentioned only in passing in the play) - is forgotten. they go to fight inside this closed little world, in other words, panic has begun. And this is no longer just an alarming sign, it is a harbinger of the death of the entire “dark kingdom”.
But “panic” is a word suitable to describe the state of only the older generation. Young people do not even suspect how much their lifestyle shocks their parents. On the contrary, the elders seem to them to be the indestructible, eternal foundation of their life. They do not need new ideas; they are afraid of everything unknown.
Thus, we see that based on the work of A. N. Ostrovsky “The Thunderstorm” we can conduct a deep analysis of the merchant society of that time, see the contradictions that tore it apart, understand the tragedy of individual people and an entire generation, thanks to which we can better understand the life of the entire Russian society that time.
http://vsekratko.ru/ostrovskiy/groza28