Ostrovsky wrote the play “The Thunderstorm” in 1859 at a time when a change in social foundations was imminent in Russia, on the eve of the peasant reform. Therefore, the play was perceived as an expression of the spontaneous revolutionary sentiments of the masses. It was not for nothing that Ostrovsky gave his play the name “The Thunderstorm”. A thunderstorm occurs not only as a natural phenomenon, the action unfolds to the sounds of thunder, but also as an internal phenomenon - the characters are characterized through their attitude to the thunderstorm. For each hero, a thunderstorm is a special symbol, for some it is a harbinger of a storm, for others it is purification, the beginning of a new life, for others it is a “voice from above” that predicts some important events or warns against any actions.

In Katerina’s soul there is, to no one, an invisible thunderstorm, a thunderstorm for her is heavenly punishment, “the hand of the Lord,” which should punish her for betraying her husband: “It’s not so scary that it will kill you, but that your death will suddenly overtake Him with all evil thoughts." Katerina is afraid and waits for a thunderstorm. She loves Boris, but this depresses her. She believes that she will burn in “fiery hell” for her sinful feelings.

For mechanic Kuligin, a thunderstorm is a crude manifestation of natural forces, consonant with human ignorance, which must be fought. Kuligin believes that by introducing mechanization and enlightenment into life, one can achieve power over “thunder,” which carries the meaning of rudeness, cruelty and immorality: “I decay with my body in dust, I command thunder with my mind.” Kuligin dreams of building a lightning rod to rid people of the fear of thunderstorms.

For Tikhon, a thunderstorm is anger, oppression on the part of his mother. He is afraid of her, but as a son he must obey her. Leaving home on business, Tikhon says: “How can I know that there won’t be any thunderstorms over me for two weeks, I don’t have these shackles on my legs.”

Dikoy believes that it is impossible and sinful to resist lightning. For him, a thunderstorm means submission. Despite his wild and evil disposition, he obediently obeys Kabanikha.

Boris fears human thunderstorms more than natural ones. That's why he leaves, abandons Katerina alone and not with people's rumors. "It's scarier here!" - says Boris, running away from the place of prayer of the entire city.

The thunderstorm in Ostrovsky's play symbolizes both ignorance and anger, heavenly punishment and retribution, and purification, insight, and the beginning of a new life. This is evidenced by a conversation between two townspeople of Kalinov; changes began to occur in the residents’ worldview, and their assessment of everything that was happening began to change. Perhaps people will have a desire to overcome their fear of thunderstorms, to get rid of the oppression of anger and ignorance that reigns in the city. After terrible rumbles of thunder and lightning strikes, the sun will shine above our heads again.

N.A. Dobrolyubov in the article “A Ray of Light in dark kingdom“he interpreted the image of Katerina as “a spontaneous protest brought to the end,” and suicide as a force of freedom-loving character: “such liberation is bitter; But what can you do when there is no other option?

I believe that Ostrovsky's play "The Thunderstorm" was timely and contributed to the fight against the oppressors.

The meaning of the title of A. N. Ostrovsky’s play “The Thunderstorm”

N. Ostrovsky is the largest playwright of the second half of the 19th century. “The Thunderstorm” is one of his brightest works. It was written in 1859, during the fundamental changes taking place in Russian society. He was one of the first to give a broad description of the merchants in Russia. Alexander Nikolaevich wrote his drama “The Thunderstorm” under the impression of travels along the Volga. And it is no coincidence that he chose this very name for his play.
The word “thunderstorm” has a huge meaning. A thunderstorm is not only a natural phenomenon, but it is also a symbol of changes in the “dark kingdom”, in the way of life that existed for several centuries in Russian life.
At the center of the play is the conflict between representatives of the “dark kingdom” and their victims. Against the backdrop of beautiful, calm nature, the unbearable life of people is depicted. And the main character - Katerina - cannot stand the oppression, the humiliation of her human dignity. This is also evidenced by changes in nature: the colors deepen, a thunderstorm approaches, the sky darkens. You can feel a thunderstorm approaching. All this is a harbinger of some terrible events.
The word “thunderstorm” is heard for the first time in the scene of farewell to Tikhon. He says: “...For two weeks there will be no thunderstorm over me.” Tikhon really wants to escape, at least for a short time, from the atmosphere of his parents’ house, to escape from the power of his mother Kabanikha, to feel free, “to take a break for the whole year.” By “thunderstorm” he means the mother’s oppression, her omnipotence, fear of her, as well as fear of retribution for sins committed. “A thunderstorm is being sent to us as punishment,” Dikoy says to Kuligin. And this fear of retribution is inherent in all the characters in the play, even Katerina. She is religious and considers her love for Boris a great sin, but she can’t help herself.
The only one who was not afraid of the thunderstorm was the self-taught mechanic Kuligin. He even tried to resist it natural phenomenon by building a lightning rod. Kuligin saw in a thunderstorm only a majestic and beautiful spectacle, a manifestation of the strength and power of nature, and not a danger to humans. He says to everyone: “Well, what are you afraid of, pray tell? Now every grass, every flower is rejoicing, but we are hiding, afraid, as if some misfortune is coming! Eh, people. I’m not afraid.”
So, in nature, the thunderstorm has already begun. What is happening in society? Not everything is calm there either - some changes are brewing. The thunderstorm in this case is an omen of the coming conflict and its resolution. Katerina is no longer able to live according to Domostroev’s rules, she wants freedom, but she no longer has the strength to fight with those around her. It is no coincidence, by the way, that a crazy lady appears on stage, which is accompanied by thunderclaps. She predicts the main character's imminent death.
Thus, the thunderstorm is the impetus for the outbreak of the conflict. Katerina was very frightened by the lady’s words and thunderclaps, taking them as a sign “from above.” She was a very emotional and religious person, so she simply could not live with sin in her soul - the sin of love for a stranger. Katerina threw herself into the abyss of the Volga, unable to withstand the terrible, difficult, forced existence that fettered the impulses of her hot heart, unable to come to terms with the hypocritical morality of the tyrants of the “dark kingdom.” These were the consequences the thunderstorm had for Katerina.
It should be noted that the thunderstorm is also a symbol of Katerina’s love for Boris, Dikiy’s nephew, because there is something elemental in their relationship, just like in a thunderstorm. Just like a thunderstorm, this love does not bring joy to either the heroine or her lover. Katerina - married woman, she has no right to cheat on her husband, because she took an oath of fidelity before God. But the marriage was completed, and no matter how hard the heroine tried, she could not fall in love with her legal husband, who was not able to either protect his wife from the attacks of her mother-in-law or understand her. But Katerina thirsted for love, and these impulses of her heart found a way out in her affection for Boris. He was the only inhabitant of the city of Kalinov who did not grow up in it. Boris was more educated than others; he studied in Moscow. He was the only one who understood Katerina, but could not help her, since he lacked determination. Obviously, this was not such a strong feeling for which one could sacrifice everything. This is also evidenced by the fact that he leaves Katerina completely alone in the city, advising her to submit to fate, foreseeing that she will die. Boris exchanged his love for Dikiy's inheritance, which he will never receive. Thus, Boris is also part of Kalinov’s world.
Ostrovsky in his work was able to show the changes that took place in Russian society in the second half of the 19th century. This is evidenced by the title of the play “The Thunderstorm”. But if in nature after a thunderstorm the air becomes cleaner, a discharge occurs, then in life after a “thunderstorm” it is unlikely that anything will change; most likely, everything will remain in place.

Where are you, thunderstorm - a symbol of freedom?

A. S. Pushkin

Play by A.N. Ostrovsky’s “The Thunderstorm” was written under the writer’s impression of a trip in 1856 along the Volga River. When the play was published and staged in the theater, contemporaries saw in it a call for renewal of life, for freedom, because it was published in 1860, when everyone was waiting for the abolition of serfdom.

At the center of the play is an acute conflict between the masters of life, representatives of the “dark kingdom,” and their victims. Against the backdrop of a beautiful landscape, Ostrovsky paints an unbearable life common people. Ostrovsky often correlates the state of nature with the state of soul of the heroes. At the beginning of the play, nature is quiet, calm and serene; this is how the life of the Kabanov merchant family seems to us. But gradually nature becomes different: clouds roll in, thunder is heard somewhere. A thunderstorm is approaching, but is it only in nature? No. A thunderstorm is also expected in society, in this kingdom of despotism. What is a thunderstorm in Ostrovsky?

This name has multiple meanings. Kabanikha’s son Tikhon is the first to speak about the thunderstorm: “There won’t be any thunderstorm over me for two weeks.” Tikhon is afraid and does not love his mother, he is also an unhappy person. The heroes perceive the thunderstorm as a punishment; they fear it and wait for it at the same time, because then it will become easier. “A thunderstorm is sent to us as punishment,” Dikoy teaches Kuligina. The power of this fear extends to many of the characters in the drama and does not even pass by Katerina.

The image of Katerina is the most bright image in Ostrovsky's play "The Thunderstorm". N.A. Dobrolyubov, analyzing in detail the image of Katerina, called her “a ray of light in a dark kingdom.” Katerina is very sincere, real, and freedom-loving. She believes in God, so she considers her love for Boris a sin. She sincerely thinks that she deserves punishment and must repent: “I didn’t know that you were so afraid of thunderstorms,” Varvara tells her. “How, girl, not to be afraid! - Katerina answers. - Everyone should be afraid. It’s not so scary that it will kill you, but that death will suddenly find you as you are, with all your sins.”

If in nature a thunderstorm has already begun, then in life it is only approaching. A thunderstorm is a symbol of liberation from the “dark kingdom” that has already begun. The reason and common sense of the inventor Kuligin is shaking the old foundations; Katerina protests, albeit unconsciously, but she does not want to put up with such living conditions and decides her own fate. She rushes into the Volga to preserve her right to freedom in life and in love. This is how she wins a moral victory over the “dark kingdom.” In all this lies the main meaning of a realistic symbol - the symbol of a thunderstorm.

However, it is not only positive. There is something elemental and natural in Katerina’s love for Boris, just like in a thunderstorm. Love should bring joy, but this is not the case for Katerina, because she is married.

The thunderstorm also manifests itself in the very character of the heroine - she is not subject to any conventions or restrictions. She herself says that as a child, when someone offended her, she ran away from home and sailed alone in a boat along the Volga. Dreamy, honest, sincere, kind Katerina takes the oppressive atmosphere of bourgeois society especially hard. Her act, just like the thunderstorm, disturbed the peace of the provincial town and brought freedom and renewal of life.

Contemporaries saw in the play a protest against the oppression of the individual under serfdom; for them it was important social implications. However, the meaning of the name is deeper. Ostrovsky protests against any insult to the individual, against the suppression of freedom.

The topical meaning of the drama is gone, but the play “The Thunderstorm” remains relevant today, because the image of Katerina undoubtedly evokes sympathy among readers and spectators.

What is the meaning of the play "The Thunderstorm" by the great Russian playwright A. Ostrovsky?

“Thunderstorm” is, without a doubt, the most decisive work Ostrovsky; the mutual relations of tyranny and voicelessness are brought to the most tragic consequences in it... There is even something refreshing and encouraging in “The Thunderstorm”.

N. A. Dobrolyubov

A.N. Ostrovsky after the appearance of his first major play received literary recognition. Ostrovsky's dramaturgy became a necessary element of the culture of his time; he retained the position of the best playwright of the era, the head of the Russian dramatic school, despite the fact that at the same time A.V. Sukhovo-Kobylin, M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin, A. F. Pisemsky, A. K Tolstoy and L. N. Tolstoy. The most popular critics viewed his works as a true and profound reflection of modern reality. Meanwhile, Ostrovsky, following his original creative way, often baffled both critics and readers.

Thus, the play “The Thunderstorm” came as a surprise to many. L.N. Tolstoy did not accept the play. The tragedy of this work forced critics to reconsider their views on Ostrovsky’s dramaturgy. Ap. Grigoriev noted that in “The Thunderstorm” there is a protest against the “existing”, which is terrible for its adherents. Dobrolyubov stated in his article “A Ray of Light in the Dark Kingdom.” that from the image of Katerina in “The Thunderstorm” “blows on us new life”.

Perhaps for the first time, scenes of family, “private” life, the arbitrariness and lawlessness that were hitherto hidden behind the thick doors of mansions and estates, were shown with such graphic power. And at the same time, this was not just an everyday sketch. The author showed the unenviable position of the Russian woman in merchant family. Immense power The tragedy was given special truthfulness and skill by the author, as D.I. Pisarev rightly noted: “The Thunderstorm” is a painting from life, which is why it breathes truth.”

The tragedy takes place in the city of Kalinov, which is located among the greenery of gardens on the steep bank of the Volga. “For fifty years I’ve been looking across the Volga every day and I can’t get enough of it. The view is extraordinary! Beauty! The soul rejoices,” Kuligin admires. It would seem that the life of the people of this city should be beautiful and joyful. However, the life and customs of the rich merchants created “a world of prison and deathly silence.” Savel Dikoy and Marfa Kabanova are the personification of cruelty and tyranny. The order in the merchant's house is based on the outdated religious dogmas of Domostroy. Dobrolyubov says about Kabanikha that she “gnaws at her victim... long and relentlessly.” She forces her daughter-in-law Katerina to bow at her husband’s feet when he leaves, scolds her for “not howling” in public when seeing off her husband.

Kabanikha is very rich, this can be judged by the fact that the interests of her affairs go far beyond Kalinov; on her instructions, Tikhon travels to Moscow. She is respected by Dikoy, for whom the main thing in life is money. But the merchant's wife understands that power also brings obedience to those around her. She seeks to kill any manifestation of resistance to her power in the home. The boar is hypocritical, she only hides behind virtue and piety, in the family she is an inhuman despot and tyrant. Tikhon does not contradict her in anything. Varvara learned to lie, hide and dodge.

The main character of the play, Katerina, is marked by a strong character; she is not used to humiliation and insults and therefore conflicts with her cruel old mother-in-law. In her mother’s house, Katerina lived freely and easily. In the Kabanov House she feels like a bird in a cage. She quickly realizes that she cannot live here for long.

Katerina married Tikhon without love. In Kabanikha’s house, everything trembles at the mere imperious cry of the merchant’s wife. Life in this house is difficult for young people. And then Katerina meets a completely different person and falls in love. For the first time in her life, she experiences deep personal feeling. One night she goes on a date with Boris. Whose side is the playwright on? He is on Katerina’s side, because a person’s natural aspirations cannot be destroyed. Life in the Kabanov family is unnatural. And Katerina does not accept the inclinations of those people with whom she ended up. Having heard Varvara’s offer to lie and pretend, Katerina replies: “I don’t know how to deceive, I can’t hide anything.”

Katerina's directness and sincerity evokes respect from both the author, the reader, and the viewer. She decides that she can no longer be a victim of a soulless mother-in-law, she cannot languish behind bars. She's free! But she saw a way out only in her death. And one could argue with this. Critics also disagreed about whether it was worth paying Katerina for freedom at the cost of her life. So, Pisarev, unlike Dobrolyubov, considers Katerina’s act senseless. He believes that after Katerina’s suicide everything will return to normal, life will go on as usual, and the “dark kingdom” is not worth such a sacrifice. Of course, Kabanikha brought Katerina to her death. As a result, her daughter Varvara runs away from home, and her son Tikhon regrets that he did not die with his wife.

It is interesting that one of the main, active images of this play is the image of the thunderstorm itself. Symbolically expressing the idea of ​​the work, this image directly participates in the action of the drama as a real natural phenomenon, enters into action at its decisive moments, and largely determines the actions of the heroine. This image is very meaningful; it illuminates almost all aspects of the drama.

So, already in the first act a thunderstorm broke out over the city of Kalinov. It broke out like a harbinger of tragedy. Katerina already said: “I’ll die soon,” she confessed to Varvara her sinful love. In her mind, the mad lady's prediction that the thunderstorm would not pass in vain, and the feeling of her own sin with a real thunderclap had already been combined. Katerina rushes home: “It’s still better, everything is calmer, I’m at home - to the images and pray to God!”

After this, the storm ceases for a short time. Only in Kabanikha’s grumbling are its echoes heard. There was no thunderstorm that night when Katerina felt free and happy for the first time after her marriage.

But the fourth, climactic act, begins with the words: “The rain is falling, as if a thunderstorm is not gathering?” And after that the thunderstorm motif never ceases.

The dialogue between Kuligin and Dikiy is interesting. Kuligin talks about lightning rods (“we have frequent thunderstorms”) and provokes Dikiy’s anger: “What other kind of electricity is there? Well, how come you are not a robber? A thunderstorm is sent to us as punishment, so that we can feel it, but you want to defend yourself, God forgive me, with poles and some horns. What are you, a Tatar or what?” And in response to the quotation from Derzhavin, which Kuligin cites in his defense: “I decay with my body in dust, I command thunder with my mind,” the merchant does not find anything to say at all, except: “And for these words, send you to the mayor, so he will will ask!”

Undoubtedly, in the play the image of a thunderstorm takes on special meaning: This is a refreshing, revolutionary start. However, the mind is condemned in the dark kingdom; it is faced with impenetrable ignorance, supported by stinginess. But still, the lightning that cut through the sky over the Volga touched the long-silent Tikhon and flashed over the destinies of Varvara and Kudryash. The thunderstorm shook everyone up thoroughly. Inhuman morals will sooner or later come to an end. The struggle between the new and the old has begun and continues. This is the meaning of the work of the great Russian playwright.

The drama “The Thunderstorm” by Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky was written during serious reform changes in Russia and was published in 1859. As in any literary work, the meaning of the title of the play “The Thunderstorm” contains the theme and idea of ​​the entire work. And therefore, it requires detailed consideration and analysis.

What is a play?

Before we begin to answer the question of what is the meaning of the title of the play “The Thunderstorm,” it is necessary to define the genre of this work. So the play is literary work, intended for production on stage. Distinctive Features this will be:

• Building the entire plot on dialogues and monologues of the characters.
• Division into parts, called acts or actions, and scenes.
• Author's notes describing the setting and costumes of the characters. And also the actions of the heroes.

The originality of the drama "The Thunderstorm"

The meaning of the title of A. N. Ostrovsky’s play “The Thunderstorm” is directly related to genre originality works. The fact is that literary scholars still cannot agree on whether “The Thunderstorm” is a drama or a tragedy.

The tragedy of the play is associated with the image of Katerina, who is opposed to all other characters. The girl is sharply different from the people around her; she is a bright and dreamy person. Her conflict with the world is predetermined, merciless and dark - it is only capable of destroying and destroying.

The dramatic side of the play is manifested in social aspect- each hero has his own social position, which determines his actions and character. Thus, it is not possible to put an end to and attribute the play to one of the genres.

Conflict of the play

Before determining the meaning of the title of the play “The Thunderstorm,” it is necessary to understand the main conflict of this work.

Let's start with the fact that there is not one conflict in the drama, but several. And the first one that criticism has always paid attention to is social. From this point of view, Katerina appears as the embodiment of a people who are outraged and can no longer endure the tyranny and tyranny of those in power, of which Kabanikha is a representative. Another conflict, also associated with the confrontation between Kabanikha and Katerina, is the conflict of generations.

But the main and most important confrontation in the play is Katerina’s struggle with herself. Internal conflict is much deeper than external conflict and carries the deepest meaning. A girl struggles with forbidden love. Unable to be a hypocrite, she finds herself under attack from the public. And in the end she has no choice but to commit suicide.

Katerina's image

The meaning of the title of the play “The Thunderstorm” is directly related to the image main character. Katerina has become unusual female character for Ostrovsky. Compared to the writer’s previous heroines, she stands out for her subtle attitude and integrity of personality. She is a poetic and dreamy person with a bright soul and lofty aspirations. Description happy life for her it looks like this: embroidery, visiting temples and prayers, communicating with praying mantises and wonderful dreams about golden temples and wonderful gardens. By this, the writer emphasizes what is above material things for Katerina.

The image of the girl is closely intertwined with the image of the bird and the motif of flight. Katerina’s desire to fly away introduces the theme of imprisonment and bondage into the narrative. And along with them the theme of death, because the soul can free itself and take off only by losing its corporeal shell.

At Katerina's strong character, her sense of dignity is very great. It is very difficult for her to live under the same roof with Kabanikha. After all, reproaches, despotism and tyranny on the part of the mistress reign there, as well as stupidity, spinelessness and obedience of the rest of the inhabitants.

The melancholy that grips Katerina in Marfa Ignatievna’s house is mixed with the girl’s desire to know true love. The heroine cannot experience this feeling for Tikhon, since he is weak-willed, stupid, and spiritually poor. Katerina can only fall in love with a worthy, kind person who is different from those around her. And the girl seems to find this in Boris Grigorievich. It is from the moment that meetings with a young man begin that internal conflict heroines. She is torn between her feelings and her duty to her husband.

But Katerina is deceived; Boris is an ordinary person who is not able to dare to save the girl. Katerina, realizing that she cannot forgive herself and continue to live in the darkness surrounding her, decides to commit suicide. It is with this episode that the meaning of the title of Ostrovsky’s play “The Thunderstorm” is connected, which we will consider in more detail below.

The meaning of the play's title

There is a huge meaning hidden in the title of the drama. Tikhon utters this word for the first time when he says goodbye to his wife before leaving. The hero compares Kabanikha to an impending thunderstorm and is glad that he will get rid of her attacks at least for a while. short term. Thus, answering the question, what is symbolic meaning title of the play “The Thunderstorm,” we can say that this personifies can be caused by both the tyranny of others and higher powers. And it covers all the heroes of the work. Even Katerina is subject to him, as she fears the ultimate punishment for her betrayal of her husband. Even death does not frighten the girl as much as possible punishment for her sins.

The entire development of actions in the play is similar to the time before a thunderstorm, which will certainly end in a storm. It is in the fear that grows as the disaster approaches that the meaning of the title of the play “The Thunderstorm” lies. It is better to supplement the essay with descriptions of those scenes in the play where the characters most clearly show fear.

Conclusion

The work was received with great enthusiasm by critics and had many interpretations of the conflicts, main topic and the image of Katerina. The meaning of the title of the play “The Thunderstorm” also became a symbolic riddle. Essay provided school curriculum, once again confirms that interest in this controversial creation of Ostrovsky has not yet weakened.