With the advent of A. N. Ostrovsky, much has changed in Russian literature, and the main changes have occurred in drama: the writer discovered a new conflict in Russian life, a new environment - the merchant class, which brought its heroes and a new meaning to the plays, therefore, fundamentally new titles for the works. These changes are clearly visible in A. N. Ostrovsky’s play “The Thunderstorm”.
Why did the author name his drama this way? After all, we are not talking about a natural phenomenon at all.
This question can be answered by examining the play itself and the conflict in it. The main character of “The Thunderstorm,” Katerina, lives in the city of Kalinov, on the banks of the Volga, where a patriarchal way of life reigns, where tyrant merchants rule everything: Dikoy, Kabanikha and the like. The inhabitants of Kalinov live in a special state of the world - crisis, catastrophic. The foundation that supports is crumbling old order, and with it an established way of life.
The first action introduces us to the pre-storm atmosphere of life. Outwardly everything is still calm, but the crisis is still ahead. The carelessness of people only increases the tension that reigns in nature and life. A thunderstorm is heading towards Kalinov...
At the beginning of the play, we meet some of the inhabitants of Kalinov and the main character, who lives in the Kabanikha family and suffers from oppression, “captivity” of the patriarchal world, from humiliation and pressure from the mother of the family - the merchant’s wife. The thunderstorm is coming not only to the city, Katerina’s soul also feels its approach. The heroine is in confusion, realizing that she loves not her husband, but another person, Boris, and is tormented: her duty to her husband makes her suffer and torn in her choice. She realizes that she will commit a sin if she goes to meet Boris, and the punishment for this sin will come sooner or later. But Katerina decides to go on a date with her lover, walks for ten days without thinking about anything, and comes to her senses due to the unexpected arrival of her husband. She begins to repent of what she has done, she is overcome by the fear of future punishment and pangs of conscience. The heroine feels the approach of a thunderstorm and something terrible: “How... not to be afraid! Everyone should be afraid. It’s not scary that it will kill you, but that death will suddenly find you... with all your sins, with all your evil thoughts... A thunderstorm is sent to us as punishment, so that we feel...”
The situation in the play is heating up due to Katerina’s experiences, due to the feeling of something inevitable. The clouds are getting thicker and thunder is already heard. The heroine cannot withstand the stress and suffering, she can no longer live in a lie and in the midst of a natural disaster (thunderstorm) publicly confesses everything to Kabanikha and her husband. The indignation of others is like a thunderstorm.
Katerina cannot live any longer, she is disgusted with her husband, the world, and her family. She is superfluous here because no one understands her, there is no place for love in this society. Boris is afraid to break free and take his beloved away from the “dark kingdom,” since he himself is under his power. Katerina decides to commit suicide: for her, a grave is better than at home.
Thus, society (Kalinovtsy), with its “pious” and “righteous” judgment, condemns the heroine to death, because she violated the usual foundations. Residents of Kalinov do not want to notice the approaching collapse of the patriarchal world, its disintegration. It is doomed to destruction, since the real goals and values that formed its basis have sunk into the past.
A. N. Ostrovsky noticed in time the doom of the patriarchal world and decided to show it to the reader in his play. He depicted the gradual destruction of old, familiar foundations as a thunderstorm, slowly approaching and flaring up in full force. She destroys everything in her path. A thunderstorm represents changes in life and society, which is why the title of the work is ambiguous and symbolic. The word “thunderstorm” is key to the play.
“The Thunderstorm” is one of the brightest works of A. N. Ostrovsky. It was written in 1859, during a time of fundamental changes taking place in Russian society. And it is no coincidence that Ostrovsky chose exactly this 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 musty atmosphere of his parents’ house, to escape from the power of his mother Kabanikha, to feel free, so to speak, “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 sent to us as punishment,” says Dikaya Kuligina. And this fear of retribution is inherent in everyone to the characters of 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 this 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 in society 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, not coming 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. Did Boris really love Katerina? Most likely no. 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 flesh and blood of the Kalinovsky world; he was taken prisoner by this city.
Ostrovsky in his work was able to show the changes that took place in Russian society in the middle and 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, more likely, everything will remain in its place.
Ostrovsky can rightfully be called a great Russian playwright. In his works, he for the first time showed the life and way of life of the merchant class. In the play “The Thunderstorm,” the writer characterized the state of provincial society in Russia on the eve of reforms. The playwright examines such issues as the position of women in the family, the modernity of “Domostroy”, the awakening in a person of a sense of personality and self-worth, the relationship between the “old”, oppressive, and the “young”, voiceless.
The main idea of “The Thunderstorm” is that a strong, gifted and courageous person with natural aspirations and desires cannot live happily in a society dominated by “ cruel morals”, where “Domostroy” reigns, where everything is based on fear, deception and submission.
The name “Thunderstorm” can be viewed from several perspectives. A thunderstorm is a natural phenomenon, and nature plays an important role in the composition of the play. So, it complements the action, emphasizes the main idea, the essence of what is happening. For example, wonderful night landscape corresponds to the date between Katerina and Boris. The vastness of the Volga emphasizes Katerina’s dreams of freedom; a picture of cruel nature is revealed when describing the suicide of the main character. Then nature contributes to the development of action, pushes events, as it were, stimulates the development and resolution of the conflict. Thus, in the thunderstorm scene, the elements prompt Katerina to publicly repent.
So, the title “The Thunderstorm” emphasizes the main idea of the play: a sense of self-worth awakening in people; the desire for freedom and independence begins to threaten the existence of the old order.
The world of Kabanikha and Wild is coming to an end, because a “ray of light” has appeared in the “dark kingdom” - Katerina - a woman who cannot put up with the oppressive atmosphere reigning in the family and the city. Her protest was expressed in her love for Boris, in her unauthorized death. Katerina preferred death to existence in a world where she was “sick of everything.” She is the first lightning of the storm that will soon break out in society. Clouds have been gathering over the “old” world for a long time. Domostroy has lost its original meaning. Kabanikha and Dikoy use his ideas only to justify their tyranny and tyranny. They were unable to convey to their children true faith in the inviolability of their rules of life. Young people live according to the laws of their fathers as long as they can achieve a compromise through deception. When oppression becomes unbearable, when deception only partially saves, then protest begins to awaken in a person, it develops and is capable of breaking out at any moment.
Katerina's suicide awakened the man in Tikhon. He saw that there is always a way out of this situation, and he, the most weak-willed of all the characters described by Ostrovsky, who unquestioningly obeyed his mother all his life, blames her for the death of his wife in public. If Tikhon is already able to declare his protest, then the “dark kingdom” really does not have long to exist.
The thunderstorm is also a symbol of renewal. In nature, after a thunderstorm, the air is fresh and clean. In society, after the storm that began with Katerina’s protest, there will also be a renewal: the oppressive and subjugating orders will probably be replaced by a society of freedom and independence.
But a thunderstorm occurs not only in nature, but also in Katerina’s soul. She committed a sin and repents of it. Two feelings are fighting in her: fear of Kabanikha and fear that “death will suddenly find you as you are, with all your sins...” In the end, religiosity and fear of retribution for sin prevail, and Katerina publicly confesses in the sin committed. None of the residents of Kalinov can understand her: these people, like Katerina, do not have a rich spiritual world and high moral values; they do not feel remorse, because their morality is that everything is “sewn and covered.” However, recognition does not bring relief to Katerina. As long as she believes in Boris's love, she is able to live. But, realizing that Boris is no better than Tikhon, that she is still alone in this world, where she is “sick of everything,” she finds no other way out but to throw herself into the Volga. Katerina broke religious law for the sake of freedom. The thunderstorm ends with renewal in her soul. The young woman was completely freed from the shackles of the Kalinov world and religion.
Thus, the thunderstorm occurring in the soul of the main character turns into a thunderstorm in society itself, and the whole action takes place against the backdrop of the elements.
Using the image of a thunderstorm, Ostrovsky showed that a society that has become obsolete, based on deception, and the old order, depriving a person of the opportunity to manifest the most high feelings, are doomed to destruction. This is as natural as the purification of nature through a thunderstorm. Thus, Ostrovsky expressed the hope that renewal in society would come as soon as possible.
The meaning of the title of A. N. Ostrovsky’s play “The Thunderstorm”
“The Thunderstorm” is one of the brightest works of A. N. Ostrovsky. It was written in 1859, during a time of fundamental changes taking place in Russian society. And it is no coincidence that Ostrovsky chose exactly this title 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: colors become thicker; a thunderstorm is approaching, the sky is darkening. 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 musty atmosphere of his parents’ house, to escape from the power of his mother Kabanikha, to feel free, so to speak, “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,” says Dikoy 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 this 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 in society 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 on 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 is a 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 her mother-in-law’s attacks 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. Did Boris really love Katerina? Most likely no. 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 flesh and blood of the Kalinovsky world, he was taken prisoner by this city.
Ostrovsky in his work was able to show the changes that took place in Russian society in the middle and 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.
The title of a work very often reflects either its essence or gives the reader at least a little understanding of what will be discussed. This does not apply to texts of the late XX and beginning of the XXI century, but this position can be fully applied to the texts of the era of realism. For example, F. Dostoevsky’s “Poor People” really talks about poor people, and “Childhood. Adolescence. Youth" by L. Tolstoy shows precisely these stages of a person’s life. The same can be said for plays. One of Ostrovsky’s dramas, which will be discussed, was written in 1859, during the acute social contradictions. The meaning of the title of the play “The Thunderstorm” is not limited to the characteristics of a natural phenomenon.
In order to most accurately answer the question of why Ostrovsky called the drama “The Thunderstorm,” we need to take a closer look at this image.
As you know, sentimentalists introduced the image of nature into literature, conveying the feelings and emotions of heroes using the landscape. Thunder and lightning in Ostrovsky's play perform the same functions. Initially, the author describes the pre-storm time. This concerns not only the weather (some characters notice that it may soon start to rain), but also the social situation. Before a thunderstorm it is usually very stuffy - the same is true in the city of Kalinov. People who don't like lies and hypocrisy find it impossible to breathe in such an environment. Money talk, drinking and judgment become concentrated to the point where disaster becomes inevitable. In order for this state of affairs to change, a push, a blow, a catalyst was needed, which in the text of the play is thunder and thunder.
The thunderstorm is one of the main characters in the fourth act, namely in the scene of a walk along the embankment. Kuligin draws attention to the gathering rain, admiring the power of nature. He thinks that a lightning rod would be useful to all residents of the city, but Dikoy does not share his ideas. In act No. 4, the author's remarks that a clap of thunder is heard are repeatedly repeated. These sounds become the auditory design of the climactic scene, increasing the semantic load and enhancing the severity of the unfolding tragedy. It is the thunderstorm that frightens Katerina, makes her nervous and weak. The girl, hearing the rumble of thunder, confesses to betraying her husband and Kabanikha, and with the next lightning strike she falls unconscious.
As already indicated earlier, the title of the play “The Thunderstorm” has several meanings. There is one more aspect that needs to be considered in more detail. The thunderstorm appears before the reader not only as a manifestation of the elements, but also as a separate character. The thunderstorm seems like a fate that hangs over all the heroes. It is no coincidence that Tikhon, before leaving, says that “there will be no thunderstorms over him for two weeks.” By the word “thunderstorm,” Kabanov means the entire unhealthy atmosphere that reigns in their family. This mainly concerns Marfa Ignatievna’s moral teachings, because for two whole weeks the mother will not interfere in her son’s life.
Kuligin, for example, is not afraid of thunderstorms. On the contrary, he calls on residents to come to their senses from causeless anxiety: “it’s not the thunderstorm that kills!
...kills grace! Perhaps Kuligin is the only character who does not have an internal feeling of a thunderstorm. There is no premonition of impending misfortune. Dikoy believes that “a thunderstorm is sent as punishment.” The merchant thinks that people should be afraid of thunderstorms, even though it scares the Wild One himself. Katerina considers the thunderstorm to be God's punishment. The girl is also afraid of her, but not as much as Dikoy. There is a significant difference between the concepts of “punishment” and “punishment”: punishment is rewarded only for sins, but you can punish just like that. Katerina considers herself a sinner because she betrayed her husband. In her soul, just like in nature, a thunderstorm begins. Doubts accumulate gradually, Katerina is torn between the desire to live her life and control her own destiny and stay in her familiar surroundings, trying to forget about her feelings for Boris. There can be no compromise between these contradictions.
Another meaning of the name of the drama “The Thunderstorm” can be called a plot-forming factor. The thunderstorm becomes the impetus for the conflict to end. Both the internal contradiction of the main character and the conflict between representatives of “ dark kingdom"and educated people XIX century. Katerina was frightened by the words of the crazy Lady about beauty, which certainly leads to a whirlpool, but only after a clap of thunder did Katerina admit to treason.
The relationship between Boris and Katya can also be compared to a thunderstorm. There is a lot of decisive, passionate, spontaneous things in them. But, like a thunderstorm, this relationship would not last long.
So, what is the meaning of the title of the play “The Thunderstorm” by Ostrovsky? The thunderstorm appears as a natural phenomenon, framing the work with an auditory frame; as a separate image; as a symbol of fate and punishment; as a kind of generalized reflection of the social catastrophe that hangs over Russia XIX century.
The given versions of the title of Ostrovsky’s drama are intended to answer the popular question “why was the thunderstorm called a thunderstorm?” This information can help 10th grade students in revealing the relevant topic in the essay “The meaning of the title of the play “The Thunderstorm” by Ostrovsky.”
Work test
It was first staged in 1859. The writer wrote his work in the era of realism, when all phenomena and objects were endowed with symbolic meaning. The drama was no exception. Let's decide what the meaning and symbolism of the title of Ostrovsky's play is.
The meaning of the name of the drama Thunderstorm
When you read a playwright's play, you involuntarily highlight main character Katerina. But the writer does not name the work in honor of Katerina, he chooses symbolic name Thunderstorm, and for a reason.
In the play, a thunderstorm is presented as a natural phenomenon, where various events are accompanied by frequent bad weather, and the residents of Kalinov live in anticipation of the elements. But not only does the thunderstorm appear as a natural phenomenon, here it is also an active character. She became a challenge established procedures, where the writer denounces tyranny in everyday life and shows the protest that should have arisen.
The thunderstorm is also a characteristic of individual characters in the drama. This is how we see Kabanikha, whose character is like thunder. Everyone is afraid of her and does not dare to contradict her. She is also a representative of the old order.
A thunderstorm is also raging in the soul of Katerina, who protests against the established foundations and cannot come to terms with them. She begins to fight injustice and throws herself into the river, freeing her living soul, choosing death. So it turns out that the meaning of the drama’s title is much broader than showing people’s lives in anticipation of this natural phenomenon. The point is to show the changes and turning points that are caused by the rejection of rules, foundations, morals and the loss of morality.
Symbolism of the play Groz Ostrovsky
Getting acquainted with Ostrovsky's drama, we can notice the different symbolism that the writer uses in his work. First of all, it is a thunderstorm, which is both a symbol of God's punishment and punishment for sins, and a symbol of change and rebellion. It is also a symbol of the new, the future.
Katerina often remembers birds and dreams of becoming one of them. Here the birds symbolize freedom, independence, lightness, which the heroine dreamed of getting, freed from the swampy swamp of life.
The writer also symbolically uses the river in his work. She is like the border between two lives. On one side of Kalinov, where the old foundations and dark kingdom. On the other side - ideal life. It is different for everyone, but it is special, the kind in which everyone would like to be. At the same time, the Volga also becomes a symbol of death, although this sounds strange. After all, water in its essence is life. But on the other hand, by jumping into the river, Katerina found the very freedom that she had so dreamed of. She freed herself from the dark kingdom.
In 1859, on the stage of one of capital theaters the premiere took place. The audience saw a drama created by a young writer - Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky. This work is considered unique of its kind. Drama does not follow many of the rules of the genre.
"The Thunderstorm" was written in the era of realism. This means that the work is filled with symbols and images. Consequently, in our article you will learn about the meaning of the name and figurative symbolism of the drama “The Thunderstorm” by Ostrovsky.
First image of a thunderstorm
The image of a thunderstorm this work multifaceted. This natural phenomenon is both an idea and actor dramas. Why do you think Ostrovsky used the image of a thunderstorm? Let's think about this.
Please note that this natural phenomenon in the work appears to the reader in several forms. Firstly, the meaning of the name and figurative symbolism drama "The Thunderstorm" is that initially the reader sees a natural phenomenon. The city of Kalinov, described in the work, as well as its inhabitants live in anticipation and expectation of a thunderstorm. Everything that happens in the play lasts about two weeks. Every now and then on the streets of the town you can hear talk that a storm is approaching.
Compositionally, the thunderstorm is also the climax! It is the powerful peals of thunder that force Katerina to admit to deception and treason. Attentive readers will notice that act 4 is accompanied by peals. One gets the impression that the writer was preparing the reader and viewer for the climax. But that's not all. Secondly, the meaning of the name and figurative symbolism of the drama “The Thunderstorm” has another core. Let's look at that too.
Second image of a thunderstorm
It turns out that each character in the work understands the thunderstorm differently, that is, in their own way:
- The inventor Kuligin is not afraid of it, since he does not see anything mystical in this natural phenomenon.
- Dikoy perceives the thunderstorm as a punishment; he considers it an occasion to remember the Almighty.
- Unhappy Catherine saw in the thunderstorm the symbolism of fate and fate. So, after the most terrible clap of thunder, the young lady admitted her feelings for Boris. She is afraid of thunderstorms because she considers them to be God's judgment. This concludes the search for the meaning of the title of the play “The Thunderstorm” by A.N. Ostrovsky does not end there. This natural phenomenon helps Katerina go to desperate step. Thanks to her, she admits to herself and becomes honest.
- Kabanov, her husband, sees a different meaning in the thunderstorm. The reader learns this at the very beginning of the play. He needs to leave for a while, thanks to this he will get rid of his mother’s excessive control, as well as her unbearable orders. He says that there will be no thunderstorm and no shackles over him. These words contain a comparison of a natural disaster with Kabanikha’s endless hysterics.
The author's interpretation of the meaning of the title and figurative symbolism of the drama "The Thunderstorm"
We have already said above that the image of a thunderstorm is symbolic, multifaceted, and also multi-valued. This suggests that the title of the play contains many meanings that complement and combine with each other. All this allows the reader to understand the problem comprehensively.
It is worth noting that the reader has great amount associations with the name. It is noteworthy that the author’s interpretation of the work does not limit the reader, so we do not know exactly how to decipher the image-symbol that interests us.
Nevertheless, the meaning of the title and the figurative symbolism of the drama “The Thunderstorm” is understood by the author as a natural phenomenon, the beginning of which the reader observes in the first act. And in the fourth, the thunderstorm impulsively gains strength.
The city lives in fear of the coming thunderstorm. Only Kuligin is not afraid of her. After all, he alone leads a righteous life - he earns his living by honest labor and so on. He does not understand the primitive fear of the townspeople.
One gets the impression that the image of a thunderstorm carries negative symbolism. However, it is not. The role of this natural phenomenon in the play is to stimulate and refresh social life and people. It's not in vain literary critic Dobrolyubov wrote that the city of Kalinov is a remote kingdom in which the spirit of vices and stagnation lives. Man has become a fool because he does not know and does not understand his own culture, which means he does not know how to be a Man.
A thunderstorm phenomenon is trying to destroy the trap and enter the city. But one such thunderstorm will not be enough, as will the death of Katerina. The death of the young lady led to the fact that for the first time the indecisive husband acts as his conscience tells him.
River image
As you may have guessed, the image of a thunderstorm in this work is pervasive. That is, he is embodied and appears before the reader in different guises. However, there is another equally important image in the drama, which also contains the figurative symbolism of the drama “The Thunderstorm”.
We move on to consider the image of the Volga River. Ostrovsky depicted it as a border that separates opposite worlds - the cruel kingdom of the city of Kalinov and the ideal world invented by each hero of the work. The lady repeated several times that the river attracts any beauty, since it is a whirlpool. The supposed symbol of freedom in Kabanikha’s mind turns out to be a symbol of death.
Conclusion
We looked at the work of Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky - “The Thunderstorm”. The drama was written in the era of realism, which means it is filled with many meanings and images.
We saw that the meaning of the name and figurative symbolism of the drama “The Thunderstorm” is relevant even today. The author's skill lies in the fact that he was able to depict the image of a thunderstorm in various phenomena. With the help of a natural phenomenon, he showed all sides of Russian society early XIX centuries, starting from wild morals and ending with the personal drama of each of the heroes.