Characteristic literary hero Paratov Sergei Sergeevich - “a brilliant gentleman, one of the ship owners, over 30 years old.” P. is a chic playmaker, spectacular and handsome man, who at the end of the play turns out to be an ordinary dowry seeker for rich merchants.
P.'s features, which delight Larisa, are actually deception. Behind the external shine of the hero lies the absence of real emotions and clarity of feelings. P. is a mirage created by the imagination of Larisa and Karandyshev. He is an empty place in the most different relationships, and Knurov and Vozhevatov, the real masters of life, understand this well. P. easily combines a lordly breadth of nature (he recklessly wastes money, etc.) and tough calculation. But this hero knows how to present any of his actions as spectacular and mysterious. This gives P. the opportunity to present even outright baseness (revenge on Karandyshev, bullying Robinson, deceiving Larisa) as something noble. Beneath P.’s noble mask lies his ability, for the sake of his own whim and satisfaction of his ambitions, to trample on someone else’s self-esteem and even someone else’s life. P.'s role in the play is sharply negative. His appearance brings chaos and destruction to Larisa’s fragile world. He ruins the life of a girl in love with him, as well as the life of Karandyshev, who killed his fiancée out of jealousy.
(No ratings yet)
Other writings:
- The drama “Dowry” was written by A. N. Ostrovsky in 1879, when the results of the 1861 reform had already become clear. The “dark kingdom” has changed - trade and industry began to develop faster, the former savagery and ignorance familiar to us from “The Thunderstorm” no longer exists. In a new position Read More......
- A. N. Ostrovsky’s play “Dowry” draws new era, which occurred in Russia in the second half of the 19th century. Patriarchal relations are being replaced by capitalism with its cult of money, profit, and commodity-money philosophy. The main character of the play, Larisa Ogudalova, is forced to exist in this world. Read More......
- The work of A. N. Ostrovsky belongs to the peaks of Russian classical and world drama. One of the pearls is his play “Dowry”. At the center of the play is the fate of its heroine, Larisa Dmitrievna Ogudalova. Larisa took over everything: beauty, intelligence, noble manners. “Yes, sir, she has talents Read More......
- The Russian playwright A. N. Ostrovsky is the author of many works, including the drama in four acts, The Dowry. Its heroes are Kharita Ogudalova - a widow, her daughter Larisa, businessman Knurov, representative of the trading company Vozhevatov, poor official Karandyshev, master Paratov. Action Read More......
- The action of A. N. Ostrovsky’s drama “Dowry” takes place in the 70s of the 19th century. big city Bryakhimov, on the Volga. The writer shows how the tragedy of a young girl living according to the laws of a “warm heart” plays out in the noble-merchant environment. Larisa Ogudalova is beautiful, talented, she is surrounded by many Read More ......
- Larisa Characteristics of a literary hero Larisa Dmitrievna Ogudalova is the main character of the play. She is young and beautiful, but poor, so they do not give her a dowry. The position of a homeless woman is humiliating, and L., an intelligent and proud girl, especially feels this. L. loves Paratov. But he loves Read More......
- Karandyshev Characteristics of the literary hero Karandyshev Yuliy Kapitonich is “a young man, a poor official.” K. has a painful sense of self-esteem. Self-love is his most main feature. Larisa for K. is not so much a beloved girl as a beautiful thing, an opportunity to defeat Paratov. Read More......
- A narrow circle of provincial nobles and businessmen. (The city of Bryakhimov, which absorbed the features of many cities located on the Volga. An image of the bourgeois environment - heartless, vulgar, selfish. Social theme- in the title of the play. Money destroys all romantic illusions.) Paratov. (Behind the noble appearance there is a calculating Read More......
A.N. Ostrovsky created an amazing gallery of Russian characters. The main characters were representatives of the merchant class - from the "Domostroevsky" tyrants to real businessmen. The playwright’s female characters were no less bright and expressive. Some of them resembled the heroines of I.S. Turgenev: they were just as brave and decisive, had warm hearts and never gave up their feelings. Below is an analysis of Ostrovsky's "Dowry", where the main character is a bright personality, different from the people who surrounded her.
History of creation
The analysis of Ostrovsky's "Dowry" should begin with the history of its writing. In the 1870s, Alexander Nikolaevich was an honorary judge in one district. Participation in trials and familiarity with various cases gave him new opportunity searching for topics for your works.
Researchers of his life and work suggest that the plot for this play was taken from his judicial practice. It was a case that caused a lot of noise in the county - murder local resident his young wife. Ostrovsky began writing the play in 1874, but work progressed slowly. And only in 1878 the play was completed.
Characters and their brief descriptions
The next point in the analysis of Ostrovsky's "Dowry" is a small description of the characters in the play.
Larisa Ogudalova is the main character. A beautiful and impressionable noblewoman. Despite her sensitive nature, she is a proud girl. Its main drawback is poverty. Therefore, her mother tries to find her a rich groom. Larisa is in love with Paratov, but he leaves her. Then, out of despair, she decides to marry Karandyshev.
Sergei Paratov is a nobleman who is over 30 years old. An unprincipled, cold and calculating person. Everything is measured in money. He is going to marry a rich girl, but does not tell Larisa about it.
Yuliy Kapitonich Karandyshev is a minor official who has little money. Vain, his main goal is to win the respect of others and impress them. Larisa is jealous of Paratov.
Vasily Vozhevatov is a young rich merchant. I have known the main character since childhood. A cunning person without any moral principles.
Moky Parmenych Knurov is an elderly merchant, the richest man in the city. He likes young Ogudalova, but he is a married man. Therefore, Knurov wants her to become his kept woman. Selfish, only his own interests are important to him.
Kharita Ignatievna Ogudalova is Larisa’s mother, a widow. Cunningly, she tries to give her daughter away in marriage so that they don’t need anything. Therefore, he believes that any means are suitable for this.
Robinson is an actor, mediocrity, drunkard. Paratov's friend.
One of the points of analysis of Ostrovsky's "Dowry" is brief description plot of the play. The action takes place in the Volga region town of Bryakhimov. In the first act, the reader learns from a conversation between Knurov and Vozhevatov that Sergei Paratov, a rich gentleman who loves to appear spectacularly in society, is returning to the city.
He left Bryakhimov so quickly that he did not say goodbye to Larisa Ogudalova, who was in love with him. She was in despair over his departure. Knurov and Vozhevatov say that she is beautiful, smart and performs romances incomparably. Only her suitors avoid her because she is without a dowry.
Realizing this, her mother constantly keeps the doors of the house open, in the hope that a rich groom will woo Larisa. The girl decides to marry a minor official, Yuri Kapitonich Karandyshev. During the walk, the merchants inform them about Paratov's arrival. Karandyshev invites them to a dinner party in honor of his bride. Yuliy Kapitonich creates a scandal for his bride because of Paratov.
Meanwhile, Paratov himself, in a conversation with the merchants, says that he was going to marry the daughter of the owner of the gold mines. And Larisa is no longer interested in him, but the news about her marriage makes him think.
Larisa quarrels with her fiancé because she wants to go to the village with him as soon as possible. Karandyshev, despite the lack of funds, is going to give a dinner party. Ogudalova has an explanation with Paratov. He accuses her of cheating and asks if she loves him. The girl agrees.
Paratov decided to humiliate Larisa’s fiance in front of the guests. He gets him drunk at dinner, and then persuades the girl to go on a boat trip with him. After spending the night with her, he tells her that he has a fiancee. The girl understands that she is disgraced. She agrees to become Knurov’s kept woman, who won her in a dispute with Vozhevatov. But Yuri Karandyshev shot Larisa out of jealousy. The girl thanks him and says that she is not offended by anyone.
Image of Larisa Ogudalova
In the analysis of Ostrovsky's "Dowry", one should also consider the image main character. Larisa appeared before the reader as a beautiful, educated noblewoman, but without a dowry. And, finding herself in a society where the main criterion is money, she was faced with the fact that no one took her feelings seriously.
Possessing an ardent soul and a warm heart, she falls in love with the treacherous Paratov. But because of his feelings, he cannot see his real character. Larisa feels lonely - no one even tries to understand her, everyone uses her like a thing. But despite her delicate nature, the girl has a proud disposition. And just like all heroes, she is afraid of poverty. Therefore, she feels even more contempt for her fiancé.
In the analysis of Ostrovsky's "Dowry", it should be noted that Larisa does not have great fortitude. She does not decide to commit suicide or start living the way she wants. She accepts the fact that she is a thing and refuses to fight any further. Therefore, the groom’s shot brought her peace of mind; the girl was glad that all her suffering was over and she had found peace.
Image of Yuri Karandyshev
In the analysis of the play "Dowry" by Ostrovsky, one can also consider the image of the heroine's groom. Yuliy Kapitonich is shown to the reader as little man for whom it is important to earn the recognition of others. For him, a thing has value if rich people have it.
This is a proud person who lives for show and only causes contempt from others because of his pathetic attempts to be like them. Karandyshev, most likely, did not love Larisa: he understood that all men would envy him, because she was the dream of many. And he hoped to receive the public recognition he so desired after their wedding. Therefore, Yuliy Kapitonich could not come to terms with the fact that she left him.
Comparison with Katerina
A comparative analysis of Ostrovsky's "The Thunderstorm" and "Dowry" helps to find not only similarities, but also differences between the works. Both heroines are bright personalities, and their chosen ones are weak and weak-willed people. Katerina and Larisa have warm hearts and fall madly in love with men who correspond to their imaginary ideal.
Both heroines feel lonely in society, and internal conflict is heating up more and more. And here the differences appear. Larisa didn't have that inner strength, which Katerina had. Kabanova could not come to terms with life in a society where tyranny and despotism reigned. She rushed into the Volga. Larisa, realizing that she is a thing for everyone, cannot decide to take such a step. And the girl doesn’t even think about fighting - she simply decides to live now like everyone else. Perhaps this is why the viewer immediately liked the heroine Katerina Kabanova.
Stage productions
In the analysis of Ostrovsky's drama "Dowry", it can be noted that, contrary to expectations, the productions failed. The viewer found the story about a provincial girl who was deceived by a fan boring. Critics also did not like the acting: for them it was too melodramatic. And only in 1896 the play was staged again. And even then the audience was able to accept and appreciate it.
An analysis of Ostrovsky's work "Dowry" allows us to show what a serious psychological subtext the play has. How detailed the characters are. And, despite the sentimental scenes, the play belongs to the genre of realism. And her characters joined the gallery of Russian characters masterfully described by A.N. Ostrovsky.
A. N. Ostrovsky described quite accurately the picture of indifference and heartlessness of those times. Today we will look at the characteristics of the heroes. “Dowry” is a work that has entered the annals of world literature. So let's get started.
Karandyshev
In the play, Yuliy Kapitonich is a poor official who cannot boast of either a full wallet or self-respect. The main feature of the hero is pride, which, in principle, led to a tragic end. What are the characteristics of the heroes? “The Dowry” by A. N. Ostrovsky is a work that is a little simplified by the fact that the outstanding playwright endowed his characters with meaningful names. Let's consider this technique of the author using the example of the same Karandyshev.
Although he has the name of a great man (Julius Caesar), the surname comes from the word “karatysh”. The author shows us the discrepancy between his desires and real possibilities. Larisa is a way of self-affirmation for him, this is how he cherishes his pride. The Ogudalov family considers him a backup option, the only possible way out of the situation, although not a very successful one. Yuliy Kapitonich is greatly offended. His “beloved” is a way to defeat a stronger opponent, Paratov.
What do the characteristics of the heroes say? “Dowry” is a work that does not require special effort for understanding, since the author accurately and in detail describes his characters, their feelings and true being. The tragic end is another moment with which A. N. Ostrovsky ridicules Karandyshev’s nature. Since Yuliy Kapitonich cannot defeat his rival, he kills the subject of their dispute. The figure of this man is very pitiful and funny.
Paratov
This character continues our characterization of heroes. “The Dowry” is a work that cannot do without an analysis of the image of the main rival Yuli Kapitonich. We have already talked about distinctive feature A. N. Ostrovsky and about speaking names. So, Sergei Sergeich’s surname originates from the word “paraty”, which means “predator”. 
Note that his behavior in the play can also be characterized: “He has no heart, that’s why he’s so brave.” This is a quote that characterizes the hero as a heartless and cruel character. He is young and ambitious, a very prudent and greedy person: “And now, gentlemen, I have other matters and other calculations. I will marry a very rich girl and take gold mines as a dowry.”
Larisa
Who else can continue the characterization of the heroes? “The Dowry” is a work that cannot ignore the main character, who has become the subject of a dispute between two heartless and greedy people. She evokes a feeling of compassion, since she is truly passionate about Sergei Sergeich, who betrayed her for the sake of profit. Larisa Ogudalova is a homeless girl, a girl from a poor family, but she is an incredibly subtle and sensual person. 
When Paratov rejected her, she has one last hope - to marry Karandyshev, since she considers him a man with kind soul and a heart, incomprehensible to anyone, but incredibly kind. When Larisa realized that she was a toy in the wrong hands, she tried to kill herself, but she did not have the strength to do it. Only Karandyshev’s shot helps her get rid of her torment.
“Dowry”: characteristics of the heroes. Table
Let's try to systematize the analysis of the main characters of the drama using a table.
Characteristic |
|
Nobleman, 30 years old, a respected man, a lover of luxury, incredibly calculating, heartless, all his actions are related to profit. |
|
Karandyshev | A young, poor official, proud and envious. He always reproaches Larisa for the “gypsy camp” in her house. Sergei Sergeich's rival tries to imitate him in everything, even when talking about educated and respected people with Paratov, he puts them next to each other. |
A young girl of marriageable age from a poor family, without a dowry. She is going to marry Karandyshev because the situation is hopeless, so as not to live with her mother. A talented, beautiful and educated girl, but a doll in the hands of men. |
This is how we presented the characteristics of the main characters. In order to draw your own conclusions, we advise you to read this work.
The central idea of Ostrovsky's drama "Dowry" is a condemnation of the morality of a society where money, wealth and noble origin prevail over true human feelings. The images of the heroes described in the play clearly characterize the representatives of the merchant class of that time; the main characters of “Dowry” are people for whom sincere feelings a person lower in class has no value. Psychological work Ostrovsky has become an immortal classic of world literature.
Characteristics of the heroes “Dowry”
Main characters
Larisa Ogudalova |
A young girl, not without talent, she sings and dances well. The girl's trouble is that she is homeless. Her romantic soul dreams of true love. She understands her humiliating state as a poor bride. Meek and naive, she hopes for mutual love Paratova. In order to maintain her position in society, she will have to marry a petty official, whom she does not love, realizing the insignificance of his nature. |
Kharita Ignatievna |
Larisa's mother, an impoverished noblewoman. The goal of her life is to successfully marry her youngest daughter, who has no dowry. He does not have sufficient funds, but tries to keep up with the rich people of the city. Satisfied dinner parties and dinners, trying to show myself in their eyes as a wealthy woman. For her, human feelings are alien, the main thing is wealth, and a certain position among the nobility, to achieve this goal - all means are good. |
Sergei Sergeevich Paratov |
A very rich nobleman, a respected man in the city. I am used to living in luxury, denying myself nothing. A favorite of women, he loves to show off and be the center of attention. He takes advantage of Larisa's naivety and seduces her. He gradually squandered his fortune, now he is forced to marry for convenience, for which he found a rich bride with gold mines. He plays with people's feelings, openly mocks Karandyshev. |
Yuliy Karandyshev |
A petty official, envious and stupid. He does not have much wealth, he treats Larisa Ogudalova arrogantly, and considers himself superior to her. He wants to marry her for mercantile reasons, in this way he dreams of becoming equal to the rich people of the city. His petty and insignificant actions evoke contempt, he is pitiful and ridiculous. A selfish and narcissistic type, out of a sense of offended pride, kills Larisa. |
Minor characters
Vasily Vozhevatov |
Larisa's childhood friend. The merchant who achieved his goal high position and a huge fortune through his own labor. An immoral, hypocritical and cynical person. Treats Larisa like a toy that can be bought, sold, or played out. When Larisa was given by lot to someone else, I was glad that I was able to save money. |
Mokiy Knurov |
One of richest people cities. Pragmatic and honest man, used to calling things by their proper names. He directly invites Larisa to become his kept woman. Married, respected family man. The lower class has no value for him. He is sure that everything in life can be bought and sold, he loves luxury and pleasure. |
Arkady Schastlivtsev (Robinson) |
A former actor who has attached himself to Paratov, for whom he is also a toy. A drunken alcoholic, the desire to drink suppresses his sense of pride and self-esteem. |
In the play "Dowry", the heroes representing the so-called "cream of society" are actually vile and insignificant people who have no moral principles. The list contains characteristics of the heroes, describing the main features of their characters.
Work test
Larisa Ogudalova is the main character of A. N. Ostrovsky’s play “The Dowry”, the daughter of Kharita Ignatievna. This is a beautiful and smart girl with gorgeous personal qualities. She is modest, well-read, open, honest, not flattering, has a whole range of talents, and is capable of deep feelings. However, in the society that surrounds her, her sincerity and virtues are considered almost a vice. One of the newly minted young businessmen, Vozhevatov, notes that dowryless women like her should not be so straightforward. Larisa’s personal life is not going well, since the man she loved, Sergei Sergeich Paratov, drove away all her suitors, and he himself quickly left the city.
Kharita Ignatievna, in pursuit of suitors, began to invite other young people, forcing her daughter to smile through her tears and entertain the guests. Soon he showed up new groom, but he was arrested for embezzlement right at their home. Desperate, Larisa promised to marry the first one who proposed to her. Thus, she tried to avoid humiliation and rumors connecting her with Paratov. Then Karandyshev appeared in her life, a petty official who had long been in love with her. Over time, Larisa realized that neither Paratov nor Karandyshev truly loved her. Each of them is trying to please their pride and vanity. And other men visiting their house are not averse to taking advantage of the girl’s ambiguous position and making her a kept woman. Having never found sincere love and understanding, she prefers to die. Karandyshev's shot becomes her saving grace. He saves her from a cruel reality.
Other works on this topic:
- Karandyshev Karandyshev Yuliy Kapitonich is one of the main characters in the play “Dowry Girl,” a young and poor official, Larisa Dmitrievna’s fiancé. This is a modest young man with a claim to...
- Kharita Ogudalova Kharita Ignatievna Ogudalova is a cunning and agile widow, the mother of Larisa Dmitrievna. Thanks to her dexterity, their house is always full of guests, in particular grooms. Author...
- Paratov Paratov Sergei Sergeich is one of the main characters of the play “The Dowry”, a brilliant gentleman from a ship owner of about 30 years old, Larisa’s lover. This is a real reveler, a brave playmaker,...
- In the work of A. N. Ostrovsky “Dowry”, each hero is seduced by something, be it money, love or social status. As for Karandyshev, he is tempted by the fact that...
- Ostrovsky, Summary Homelessness Summary Basics characters: Kharita Ignatievna Ogudalova is a middle-aged widow. Larisa Dmitrievna is her daughter. Mokiy Parmenych Knurov –...