Ostrovsky wrote a wonderful play “The Thunderstorm”. There are a lot of bright and diverse characters in it. The reader can find something different in each character of the work.
Tikhon has no opinion and is completely dependent on his oppressive mother. Kabanikha controls every step of her son and constantly interferes in his family life. He doesn't dare contradict his mother. When Kabanikha drives Tikhon to hysterics, he always takes his anger out on Katerina. But the girl is not to blame for anything; she herself very often gets it from her mother-in-law. Realizing his helplessness and worthlessness, Tikhon begins to drink. He loves Katerina, but he is not able to protect her from her mother’s attacks. He is a very weak-willed person. He did not dare to express to Kabanikha his dissatisfaction with her behavior towards Katerina. Only after the death of his wife did he first express his opinion to his mother. Katerina did not love Tikhon, she felt very sorry for him.
Boris did not come to the city of his own free will. He has an uncle in Kalinov who promised to leave the guy a good inheritance. The guy was well educated and knew how to speak beautifully. Boris immediately did not like this city and the foundations that reign in it. He wanted to leave this dark place, but he stayed because of his sister.
Boris didn't like Katerina, he took advantage of her. Boris was selfish. He, like Tikhon, could not protect Katerina from attacks on her by representatives of the “dark kingdom,” although he most likely did not want to do this. When Boris was about to leave, he refused to take Katerina, who loved him very much, with him. With this act, he broke the girl’s heart and pushed her to commit suicide.
Comparative characteristics of Tikhon and Boris
The famous play “The Thunderstorm” by A.N. Ostrovsky is simply filled with significant characters. Basically, all the characters in the play can be attributed to the eternal problem and classifier Fathers and Sons, since it clearly reflects the generations of the older and younger generations.
One of these bright and colorful characters are Tikhon and Boris, who belong to the younger generation. You can compare characters with each other endlessly, and this is possible both between the older and younger generations, and between peers.
- Essay: Characterization of Tikhon in the play “The Thunderstorm” (+ table with quotes)
Comparing these two young people, it would seem that in terms of similarity of character they are the same. They, like most of the young people in the play, have come to terms with the reigning way of life of the city of Kalinov established by Kabanikha and Dikiy, people of the older generation. Only Katerina did not come to terms with this.
Although Boris is not a native resident of the city, he fully supports it within himself, although he boasts of his courage in front of his uncle. But still he resigns himself to his will, since he is dependent on him, and must receive the Wild One’s inheritance. But will it be so, because he is cruel and greedy.
Boris is simply forced, having listened to his parents, to live next to the greedy tyrant and obey him.
And if Boris is subject to the Dikiy, then Tikhon remains in the power of his mother Kabanikha. Here blood ties even more force one to follow the lead of one’s own mother. And you can’t contradict her. In addition, she pushes his wife around. What Tikhon is capable of is simply running away from home for a while, supposedly on business.
Tikhon and Boris are united by their common life as tyrants, and not of their own free will. They both have nothing of their own and completely dance to someone else’s tune. Both of them lack independence, a sense of security, both for themselves and for those around them.
Boris, who came from the city, is accustomed to free thinking, he is educated, but even here his wings were clipped under such pressure and pressure.
After the tragedy with Katerina, they are both left broke, since both were in love with her. And without her, that outlet in “this dark kingdom,” they turned out to be nothing at all.
But still there are differences between them.
Boris is more sympathetic to the readers. Because he is more relaxed than Tikhon. He is ready for many things, he just needed a little push. He is ready to risk both his and Katerina’s reputation for the sake of love. He is passionate and ardent, very emotional and open.
- A brief retelling of the play “The Thunderstorm” by action: summary by chapter
Tikhon, apart from himself and his inner emotions, and they are already meager, sees nothing and does not know how to love passionately like Boris. He didn't receive love as a child and doesn't know it. He can be happy when he is far from home. And love for Katerina raises doubts.
Other topics:← Katerina - a ray of light in a dark kingdom↑ OstrovskyWhy are Ostrovsky’s works called plays of life? →`
Problems of the play "The Thunderstorm"
All characters in the drama “The Thunderstorm” 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 in the love triangle. Katerina has to choose between two men, and these men are Boris and Tikhon. A comparative description of these characters will help to understand in detail the behavior of the characters in the play.
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Author: · Published 04/03/2020 · Updated 04/03/2020
(394 words) One of the most famous and tragic plays by playwright Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky is “The Thunderstorm”. This is a story about the small town of Kalinov, where cruelty and tyranny reign. Almost all the residents are under the yoke of either the merchant Dikiy or the merchant Kabanova, nicknamed “Kabanikha”. In the center of the story is Catherine, who has a husband, Tikhon, the son of Kabanikha. But she loves Boris, Dikiy’s nephew.
Thus, Tikhon and Boris are compared to each other throughout the play.
It would be wrong to write that they are opposed to each other, because they still have some common features. For example, both heroes are forced people, despite the fact that they are not peasants at all. They are not allowed to have their own opinion, will, they have no freedom, since they obey their tyrant relatives.
“...There’s nothing to break! I must do what my mother says...”, says Tikhon.
At the same time, Boris seems to have a good reason for this - his sister, whom he takes care of and cannot leave alone under the yoke of her uncle. In addition, Dikoy will probably leave Boris a large inheritance. Tikhon simply got used to obeying his mother, who did not give him freedom, even when the hero found his own family by marrying Katerina. But in essence, both Tikhon and Boris do not have sufficient fortitude to put an end to the willfulness and cruelty of the two despots.
Let us pay attention to the scene of the thunderstorm and Katerina’s repentance. In this episode, the reader understands that Tikhon really loves his wife and is ready to forgive her a lot, but he is too afraid of Kabanikha. As for Boris, he acts selfishly and cruelly, leaving Katerina alone and leaving her. He knows about her love for him, knows about her position in the family, but still leaves her. Moreover, at first he himself showed tender feelings for the girl and had to share with her the responsibility for her fall.
- The image and characterization of Boris in the play “The Thunderstorm” by Ostrovsky with quotes
Despite all the similarities and differences between Tikhon and Boris, at the end of the play none of them could save poor Katerina from death. But Tikhon is sincere, he loved the heroine, despite his lack of freedom and the oppression of his mother. Boris, in fact, was satisfied with his forced position, although in words he cursed the existing system. Both heroes unexpectedly reveal themselves to the reader. After all, at first Tikhon seems to be an insensitive puppet of Kabanikha, and Boris - “a young man, decently educated” and a noble man. Only towards the end of the play do we understand that in reality everything is different: Boris renounces his beloved for the sake of his inheritance, but Tikhon breaks the vicious circle and goes against his oppressive mother, having lost his wife.
| Similarities: | Differences: |
| Dependence on tyrants | The depth of feeling for Katerina: Boris leaves her, and Tikhon forgives the betrayal. |
| Weakness of character | Reason for dependence: Tikhon is too weak, and Boris is not free because of his sister |
| Dissatisfaction with life and hidden protest | Level of education: Boris studied in Moscow, and Tikhon knows nothing except merchant business |
| Sympathy for Katerina | Appearance: Boris is a dandy, but Tikhon doesn’t take care of himself |
| Cowardice | Behavior in public: Boris talks a lot and colorfully about his feelings, but Tikhon cannot express himself |
Author: Maria Serbina
- Essays
- On literature
- Ostrovsky
- Tikhon and Boris comparative characterization in the play The Thunderstorm
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.
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.
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 the love of Katerina, 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.
Other works: ← Characteristics and image of Kabanova Kabanikha in the play The Thunderstorm ↑ Ostrovsky Podkhalyuzin in the play Our People - We Will Be Numbered! →
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 will change the life of an entire 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.
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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:
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“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, who 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.
