The comedy "The Thunderstorm" is one of the most famous works of the Russian playwright A. N. Ostrovsky. The idea and characters of the work can be explored forever. The images of the characters in "The Thunderstorm" are quite remarkable.
Problems of the play "The Thunderstorm"
All characters can be divided into 2 groups: representatives of the older and younger generations. The eldest represents Kabanikh and Dikoy. They are representatives of the patriarchal world, where selfishness and poverty rule. Other characters suffer from the tyranny of Kabanikha and Wild. These are primarily Varvara, Katerina, Boris and Tikhon. A comparative description of the characters shows that all the heroes have resigned themselves to their fate, and only Katerina is not able to go against her conscience and her desires.
The entire work "The Thunderstorm" is dedicated to the story of the main character Katerina. She is one of the participants. Katerina has to choose between two men, and these men are Boris and Tikhon. These characters will help you understand in detail the behavior of the characters in the play.
Boris's fate
Before analyzing the character of Boris, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with his history.
Boris is not Kalinova. He gets there by the will of his parents. Boris was supposed to get the inheritance, which for the time being was managed by Dikoy. For good behavior and obedience, Dikoy is obliged to give the inheritance to Boris, but readers understand that due to Dikoy’s greed this will never happen. Therefore, Boris has to stay in Kalinov and live there according to the rules established by Dikiy and Kabanikha.
Tikhon's fate
Among all the characters, two heroes stand out, two men - Boris and Tikhon. The comparative characteristics of these heroes can say a lot.
Tikhon depends on Kabanikha - his mother. He has to obey her in everything. Kabanikha does not hesitate to get involved in the personal life of her son, dictating how he should treat his wife. Kabanikha literally takes his daughter-in-law out of the world. Kabanikha constantly finds fault with Katerina.
One day Tikhon is forced to leave for another city for several days. The reader clearly sees how glad he is for the opportunity to be alone and show his independence.
What Boris and Tikhon have in common
So, we have two characters - Boris and Tikhon. A comparative description of these heroes is impossible without an analysis of their lifestyle. So, both characters live with tyrants, both heroes are forced to obey the will of others. Both heroes lack independence. Both heroes love Katerina.
At the end of the play, both suffer greatly after the death of Katerina. Tikhon is left alone with his mother, and orders Boris Dika to leave Kalinov. Of course, he definitely won’t see an inheritance after the incident with Katerina.
Boris and Tikhon: differences
There are more differences between Boris and Tikhon than they have in common. So, Boris and Tikhon are a comparative description. The table below will help systematize knowledge about these heroes.
| Boris | Tikhon | |
| Relation to Katerina | Boris is ready for anything. He risks his reputation, the reputation of Katerina - a married woman. His love is passionate, open and emotional. | Tikhon loves Katerina, but the reader sometimes questions this: if he loves her, why doesn’t he protect her from Kabanikha’s attacks? Why doesn't he feel her suffering? |
| Relationships with other characters in the play | Boris acts under the cover of Varvara. Night Kalinov is the time when all young people go out into the streets with songs and romantic moods. | Tikhon is treated well, but little is said about his relationships with other characters. The only thing that is notable is his relationship with his mother. He loves her to some extent and tries to respect her, but on the other hand he feels that she is wrong. |
Such are Boris and Tikhon. The comparative characteristics of the characters given in the table above are quite brief and succinct. It is worth noting that mostly readers sympathize with Boris rather than Tikhon.
The main idea of the play "The Thunderstorm"
The characterization of Boris and Tikhon suggests that the two men loved Katerina. However, neither one nor the other could save her. Katerina threw herself off a cliff into the river, no one stopped her. It was Boris and Tikhon, whose comparative characteristics were given above, who should have saved her, who should have rebelled against the power of the Kalinovsky tyrants. However, they failed, and Katerina’s lifeless body was taken out of the river.
Kalinov is a town that lives by its own rules. Dobrolyubov called Katerina “a ray of light in a dark kingdom,” and this is true. Katerina could not change her fate, but perhaps she could change the whole city. Her death is the first catastrophe that disrupted the patriarchal structure of the family. Kabanikha and Dikoy feel that young people are leaving their power, which means changes are coming.
Thus, A. Ostrovsky was able to show not just a family tragedy. Before us is the tragedy of an entire city perishing under the despotism of the Wild and Kabanikha. Kalinov is not a fictional city, but there are a lot of such “Kalinovs” throughout Russia.
How are Boris and Tikhon similar? Expand your position.
Read the text fragment below and complete tasks B1-B7; C1-C2.
Boris (without seeing Katerina). My God! It's her voice! Where is she? (Looks around.)
Katerina (runs up to him and falls on his neck). I finally saw you! (Cries on his chest.)
Silence.
Boris. Well, we cried together, God brought us.
Katerina. Have you forgotten me?
Boris. How to forget that you!
Katerina. Oh, no, not that, not that! Are you angry at me?
Boris. Why should I be angry?
Katerina, Well, forgive me! I didn’t want to do you harm; Yes, I was not free in myself. I couldn’t remember what I said, what I did.
Boris. That's enough! what you!
Katerina. Well, how are you? How are you now?
Boris. I'm going.
Katerina. Where are you going?
vBoris. Far away, Katya, to Siberia.
Katerina. Take me with you from here!
Boris. I can't, Katya. I’m not going of my own free will: my uncle sends me, and the horses are ready; I just asked my uncle for a minute, I wanted to at least say goodbye to the place where we met.
Katerina. Go with God! Don't worry about me. At first it will only be boring for you, poor thing, and then you will forget.
Boris. What is there to talk about me! I am a free bird. How are you? What about mother-in-law?
Katerina. Tormenting me, locking me up. She tells everyone and her husband: “Don’t trust her, she’s cunning.” Everyone follows me around all day and laughs right in my eyes. Everyone reproaches you at every word.
Boris. What about your husband?
Katerina. He is sometimes affectionate, sometimes angry, and drinks everything. Yes, he was hateful to me, hateful, his caress is worse to me than beatings.
Boris. Is it hard for you, Katya?
Katerina. It’s so hard, so hard that it’s easier to die!
Boris. Who knew that we should suffer so much for our love with you! It would be better for me to run then!
Katerina. Unfortunately, I saw you. I saw little joy, but grief, what grief! And there’s still so much more to come! Well, what to think about what will happen! Now I’ve seen you, they won’t take that away from me; and I don’t need anything else. All I needed was to see you. Now it has become much easier for me; It was as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. And I kept thinking that you were angry with me, cursing me...
Boris. What are you, what are you!
Katerina. No, that’s not what I’m saying; That's not what I wanted to say! I missed you, that's what, well, I saw you...
Boris. They wouldn't find us here!
Katerina. Wait, wait! I wanted to tell you something... I forgot!
Something needed to be said! Everything is confused in my head, I don’t remember anything.
Boris. Time for me, Katya!
Katerina. Wait, wait!
Boris. Well, what did you want to say?
Katerina. I'll tell you now. (Thinking.) Yes! You will go on your way, don’t let a single beggar pass by, give it to everyone and order them to pray for my sinful soul.
Boris. Oh, if only these people knew what it’s like for me to say goodbye to you! My God! May God grant that someday they may feel as sweet as I do now. Goodbye Katya! (Hugs and wants to leave.) You are the villains! Monsters! Oh, if only there was strength!
A. N. Ostrovsky “Thunderstorm”
Indicate the literary genre to which the work belongs.
Explanation.
This work belongs to the genre of literature called drama. Let's give a definition.
Drama is a literary (dramatic), stage and cinematic genre. It became especially widespread in the literature of the 18th-21st centuries, gradually displacing another genre of drama - tragedy, contrasting it with predominantly everyday plots and a style closer to everyday reality.
Answer: drama.
Answer: drama
What action of Katerina will immediately follow the events depicted?
Explanation.
The events depicted will be immediately followed by Katerina's suicide.
Answer: suicide.
Answer: suicide
Establish a correspondence between the three characters appearing (mentioned) in this fragment and their inherent personality traits.
| A | B | IN |
Explanation.
A-2: Wild - ignorance, rudeness, greed. Dikoy Savel Prokofich is a wealthy merchant, one of the most respected people in the city of Kalinov. D. is a typical tyrant. He feels his power over people and complete impunity, and therefore does what he wants.
B-4: Boris - educated, spineless, sensitive. Dikoy is characterized by increased aggressiveness, a desire to humiliate, offend, and insult the interlocutor. It is no coincidence that his speech consists of rude words and curses. Boris Grigorievich is Dikiy’s nephew. He is one of the weakest characters in the play. B. is a kind, well-educated person. He stands out sharply against the background of the merchant environment. But he is a weak person by nature. B. is forced to humiliate himself before his uncle, Dikiy, for the sake of hope for the inheritance that he will leave him. Although the hero himself knows that this will never happen, he nevertheless curries favor with the tyrant, tolerating his antics. B. is unable to protect either himself or his beloved Katerina.
V-3: Tikhon - weakness, dependence on mother, humility. Tikhon is a kindly but weak person; he rushes between fear of his mother and compassion for his wife. The hero loves Katerina, but not in the way Kabanikha demands - sternly, “like a man.” He does not want to prove his power to his wife, he needs warmth and affection.
Answer: 243.
Answer: 243
Establish a correspondence between the three characters appearing (mentioned) in this fragment and their future fate.
Write down the numbers in your answer, arranging them in the order corresponding to the letters:
| A | B | IN |
Explanation.
A-3: Dikoy sends his nephew out of Kalinov.
B-1: Boris is leaving for Siberia.
Q-4: Tikhon reproaches his mother.
Only over the body of his dead wife does Tikhon decide to rebel against his mother, publicly blaming her for the death of Katerina and it is with this publicity that he deals Kabanikha the most terrible blow.
Kuligin pulls Katerina out of the water.
Answer: 314.
Answer: 314
In response, write down the phrase that throughout the play was the poetic leitmotif of the image of Katerina, and the one uttered by Boris in this scene exposes his insincerity (a fragment from the words “Go with God!”).
Explanation.
The poetic leitmotif of Katerina’s image throughout the play was the phrase “free bird.”
Answer: free bird.
Answer: free bird
Katerina’s response to Boris’s remark (“Who knew that we should suffer so much with you for our love!..”) is a complete, detailed statement. What is this type of statement called in a dramatic work?
Explanation.
This type of statement in a dramatic work is called a monologue. Let's give a definition.
Monologue is the speech of a character, mainly in a dramatic work, excluded from the conversational communication of the characters and does not imply a direct response, unlike dialogue; speech addressed to listeners or to oneself.
Answer: monologue.
Answer: monologue
Boris's last words contain exclamations aimed at attracting the attention of listeners. What are these exclamations called?
Explanation.
Such exclamations are called rhetorical. Let's give a definition.
Rhetorical - a stylistic figure: an appeal that is conditional in nature. In it, the main role is played not by the text, but by the intonation of the address. Rhetorical appeal is often found in monologues. The main task of rhetorical appeal is the desire to express an attitude towards a particular person or object, characterize it, and enhance the expressiveness of speech. A rhetorical appeal never requires an answer and does not carry a question.
Bazarov, the hero of the novel by I.S., can also be called a rebel. Turgenev "Fathers and Sons". With his way of life, his views and beliefs, he shakes the world of noble liberals; under his onslaught, the well-being of the Kirsanovs has been shaken, their inconsistency has been debunked.
A rebel by nature, Pechorin challenged the “water society,” disturbing his calm and causing a flurry of indignation and hatred.
In general, Russian literature of the 19th century deeply and comprehensively showed the growing contradictions between the forces that wanted or demanded radical changes, and the forces that were trying in every possible way to preserve the previous order.
Explanation.
Tikhon and Boris are the male characters of “The Thunderstorm”, which help us better understand the essence of Katerina. Tikhon is her husband, and Boris is her lover. Tikhon and Boris are weak creatures, they are unable to either appreciate or love Katerina the way she deserves. Both are victims of the “dark kingdom” and experience oppression from its representatives: Boris is under the yoke of his uncle, and Tikhon suffers from his mother. With their power, tyrants: Dikoy and Kabanova suppress everything human in those around them. Tikhon, despite his wife’s requests to stay, runs away from his parents’ house in order to escape from his mother’s oppression at least for a while; at this moment he thinks only about himself, he doesn’t need Katerina. To be fair, it must be said that Tikhon sometimes still stands up for his wife in front of his mother, but this protest is so timid that it brings nothing but unnecessary irritation to Kabanikha. It is Tikhon who makes an attempt to challenge the patriarchal world in the face, accusing his mother of his wife’s death: “Mama, you ruined her!”
Boris is even weaker. In the above scene, he shows this weakness when, upon meeting his beloved, he is afraid even after exposure: “If only they wouldn’t find us here!” All he can do is submit to the will of the Wild One and finally exclaim: “Oh, if only there was strength!”
In the drama of Katerina, the main character of the play by A.N. Ostrovsky's "The Thunderstorm", an important role was played not only by her mother-in-law Marfa Ignatievna Kabanova, but also, of course, by the two heroes of this "love triangle" - Tikhon and Boris. Tikhon Kabanov is the heroine’s husband, a merchant’s son. He married Katerina because his mother demanded it, and he believes that he himself loves Katerina, but is this true? He himself is weak-willed and completely subordinate to his mother; he does not even dare to protect his wife from the attacks of her mother-in-law. All he can advise her is to ignore her mother’s reproaches. He himself does this all his life, agreeing with his mother and dreaming at the same time of running away to his neighbor Savel Prokofyevich and having a drink with him. Happiness for Tikhon is going to Moscow for two weeks on business. In this case, Katerina is no longer interested in him, and when she asks him to take her with him, he frankly admits: “Yes, as I now know that there will be no thunderstorm over me for two weeks, there are no shackles on my legs, so until my wife should I? Katerina feels sorry for her husband, but can she love him? Seeing neither understanding nor support from him, she involuntarily begins to dream of a different love, and her dreams turn to another hero, and Boris. Is he a hero? He is different from the residents of the city of Kalinov - he is educated, he studied at the Commercial Academy, he is the only one among the townspeople who wears a European suit. But these are all external differences, but in essence Boris is also weak-willed and dependent. He depends on his uncle, the merchant Diky, financially; he is bound by the terms of his late grandmother’s will, and not only because of himself, but also because of his sister. If he is not respectful to his uncle, she will remain without a dowry and, like him, will not receive an inheritance. But it seems that his words: “I would give up everything and leave” are just an excuse. Boris, after all, endures humiliation and abuse from Savel Prokofyevich, without even trying to object to him or defend his dignity. He has neither will nor strength of character. He fell in love with Katerina, seeing her several times in church, and his sublime feeling does not take into account the harsh realities of the local way of life. Fearing “to ruin his youth in this slum,” he does not listen to Kudryash, who immediately warns him that love for a married woman is “too boring”: “After all, that means you want to ruin her completely” - after all, for this in these parts Katerina “They will hammer it into the coffin.” Boris thinks only about himself, about his happiness, and all Katerina’s emotional experiences are alien to him, just like Tikhon. If it weren’t for her husband’s indifference (“...you’re still imposing...”), Katerina would not have taken the fatal step of agreeing to meet with Boris. But Boris also thinks only about himself, brushing aside Katerina’s torment about the terrible dream she committed: “Well, why think about it, fortunately we’re good now!” For him, meetings with Katerina are a secret affair that must be hidden: “No one will know about our love. Really, I won’t regret you!” He did not understand at all that Katerina absolutely does not know how to lie, following Varvara’s example, so her behavior when her husband arrived was a complete surprise to him. He regrets everything that happened: “Who knew that we should suffer so much with you for our love! It would be better for me to run then!” But he is powerless to change anything, he cannot take Katerina with him - “I am not going of my own free will.” Thinking about everything, he first of all feels sorry for himself, cursing the “villains” and “monsters”: “Oh, if only there was strength!”
Tikhon also verbally pities Katerina: “... I love her, I’m sorry to lay a finger on her,” but he is unable to contradict his mother: he beat his wife, as she ordered, and condemns her, repeating his mother’s words: “It’s not enough to kill her for this.” " Most of all he feels sorry for himself: “I am now an unhappy man, brother!” And only after Katerina’s death did he dare to object to Marfa Ignatievna: “Mama, you ruined her, you, you...”
Both heroes, Boris and Tikhon, despite their external differences, could not become reliable protection and support for Katerina: both are selfish, weak-willed, and do not understand her anxious, restless soul. And both are to blame for its tragedy, having failed and not even wanting to prevent it.
The play "The Thunderstorm" is one of Ostrovsky's most famous works. The images shown in this drama are very vivid and sometimes contradictory. But, showing the contrast of the heroes, the author sometimes reflects their similarity and the reader often recognizes his own traits in Katerina, Varvara or Boris.
The play contains two male characters who are “bonded” in the dark kingdom. Tikhon and Boris are two completely opposite characters, but they are connected by Katerina. The reader can observe a love triangle. Tikhon is the husband of the main character, and Boris is just a passing hobby. Let's look at these characters separately to better understand their similarities and differences. We will also be able to understand Katerina’s motives: what does she feel for both heroes and why did the heroine cheat on her husband?
Tikhon, the heroine’s husband, has been under the influence of his tyrannical mother since early childhood; he is very dependent on her. Kabanikha subordinated her son to her will so much that she can influence him even after Tikhon has already created his own family. He cannot resist his mother and sometimes takes it out on Katerina, even though she is not to blame for anything. All this leads Tikhon to drunkenness. In fact, he loves and pities his wife, but cannot protect her, because he himself is a very weak-willed person and cannot tell Kabanikha to leave him and his wife alone. He decides to find the strength to tell his mother everything that is in his heart only after the death of his wife. Katerina doesn’t love her husband, she only regrets it, which is probably why she is looking for true love that matches her young dreams.
Boris Grigorievich ends up in Kalinov not of his own free will. He received a good education, but is forced to come to Kalinov for the sake of a large inheritance, obeying the will of his uncle. He doesn't like the city and its ways. He would gladly give up everything and go somewhere, so as not to depend on Diky and the inheritance that he would leave him. He remains in Kalinov and obeys local orders for the sake of his sister.
Why did Katerina, of all the men, fall in love with Boris? Probably because he was a new face in Kalinov and in her vision he appeared as a man completely different from her husband. At first, Boris is very affectionate with the girl, but realizing that Katerina loves him, he opens up and shows his cruel and selfish nature. Boris is not Prince Charming and could not protect the young girl from the oppression of the “dark kingdom”, just like her husband, and perhaps did not want to. He refuses to take her with him when he leaves, effectively dooming her to death.
The reader sees that Tikhon and Boris are similar in many ways. Even if they are capable of showing feelings of love and tenderness, none of them could resist the local order, the Domostroy system, they are not capable of committing a decisive, even desperate act for the sake of another person. All their actions and inactions lead to the death of Katerina - and there is no light left in the dark kingdom.
Option 2
In his work “The Thunderstorm,” A.N. Ostrovsky showed the tragedy of a small town suffering from the despotism of those in power. The tragedy that happened to Katerina did not change her life, but became the first step towards changes in society. Tikhon and Boris are the main characters, two men living in a patriarchal society. Both suffer from the patriarchal way of life, both love Katerina, but neither Bori nor Tikhon could save her life.
Tikhon grew up under severe pressure, in constant humiliation and infringement of his own interests. The tyrant father, who keeps everyone he can reach under strict control, and the mother, who acts as a benefactor among strangers and is not inferior to her father at home, greatly influences his son. She convinced Tikhon that he did not have his own mind, and he should live with someone else’s. That is, maternal. A young, married man is afraid to go against the will of his parents and makes excuses to his mother even if he does not feel guilty. Tikhon really wants to break free, he is raving about her and does not pay attention to Katerina’s problems. It can be argued that Tikhon loves his wife, he would forgive her for her betrayal, but he cannot openly go against his mother. This is a puppet who from time to time tries to break free, but is immediately put in his place.
Boris was brought up in freer conditions. But life circumstances forced him to endure his uncle’s tyranny. Outwardly, Boris differs from Tikhon in his conversations and education. He boldly risks his reputation, is emotional, and also loves Katerina. But at the same time, Boris does nothing to save his beloved. Moreover, having achieved Katerina’s love, Boris begins to treat her cruelly. A distinctive character trait of Boris is selfishness. He was well aware of the consequences of his action, but was not even going to worry about how Katerina would have to live further. The young man is also not interested in Katerina’s inner world, does not want to listen to her or help her in any way. It can be argued that Boris shifts responsibility for what happened onto Katerina’s shoulders, and he leaves. Having an education and the opportunity to change his life, the young man easily goes with the flow, calling himself a victim. It is safe to say that over time he will become the same supporter of Domostroy as his uncle.
It is impossible to say with certainty who is more to blame for Katerina’s death - Tikhon or Boris. The first did not fight for his happiness, he indulged his mother’s whims. Even knowing that she is very wrong. The second protested only in words, and did nothing to change the situation for the better or prevent the tragedy. Both loved Katerina, both saw how she suffered, but were afraid to go against the social order, to sacrifice their comfort for the sake of their loved one. Thus, it can be argued that Tikhon and Boris differ only in appearance.
There are not many positive characters in Fonvizin's comedy Nedorosl, but they all carry a certain idea. This role is also played by Pravdin, a government official who settled with the Prostakovs in order to reveal their cruelty towards the peasants.
Kazbich is a robber, a horseman. He is not afraid of anything and, like any other Caucasian, takes care of his honor and dignity
Boris Dikoy and Tikhon Kabanov are two completely different characters. They are both very closely connected with the main character, Katerina, and form a love triangle with her. Tikhon is her husband, and Boris is a passing interest, an affair, the man with whom she cheated on Tikhon. Of course, this immediately puts them in completely different positions. You should talk about each character separately to identify their differences and few similarities.
Tikhon Kabanov is Katerina’s legal husband and Kabanikha’s son. He was brought up in strictness and was accustomed to obeying his mother in everything; is, so to speak, “under her thumb.” He does not know how to make any decisions on his own, he does not know how to live away from his mother, and therefore, having temporarily flown away from under his mother’s wing, he immediately goes on a rampage:
“I was very glad that I got out into freedom. And he drank all the way."
Tikhon seems to me like a rag, and not like a real man, because he lacks the most important thing - masculinity. Of course, Tikhon also has positive qualities - he knows how to forgive, and this is worth a lot. He forgave Katerina when she cheated on him, although, I believe, this is not an act that needs to be forgiven. In any case, this only speaks of Tikhon’s spirituality and sincerity. Tikhon is loyal and kind, but, unfortunately, I cannot call him a real man.
As for Boris, for me he is an even more ambiguous figure than Tikhon. He is the nephew of a wealthy merchant, spent his entire youth in Moscow and received a proper education, which was a huge rarity at that time. He had to move to the small town of Kalinov, in which the play takes place. I think if it weren’t for the complicity of Varvara and Kudryash, Boris would not have started running after Katerina, because she is a married woman, and Boris is a well-mannered person, and it is unlikely that he would have gone on a date with a busy lady. His feelings for Katerina, the tender words that he says to her - all this makes the image of Boris more lively and romantic, especially in comparison with the same Tikhon. Boris is a confident person - this makes him closer to the concept of a “real man”. There is one “but” - by the end of the play Boris reveals himself as a real scoundrel. His words to Katerina destroy the entire image of a romantic young man:
“We only need to ask God for her to die as soon as possible.”
Wishing a person death, even quickly, is not the best idea. Especially if you swore your love to this woman. So was he honest or did he just decide to quietly escape? Who knows.
To summarize, we can say that Boris shows himself to be a more active person in all areas of life than Tikhon - he is completely passive. But it’s only a stretch to call both of them real men; I see in each of them the traits of boys, unformed personalities. They both do not know how to solve problems, preferring to ignore them. Tikhon forgives Katerina’s betrayal, and Boris leaves her, not wanting to correct his own mistakes. Tikhon and Boris are completely polar, their characters are different, but both of them are definitely not real men.