Versions of creation of the work
At the time of the start of work on the drama “The Thunderstorm,” Ostrovsky was already an iconic figure in the country’s literary and theatrical society. He made a huge contribution to the development of theatrical production and wrote several plays that were popular.
There are 3 versions of the creation of this work . The first is connected with the author’s journey along the Volga as part of a large expedition. Alexander Nikolaevich studied the traditions and customs of local peoples, recording all the information in his diary. Based on this version, it is the residents of such Volga region towns as Tambov, Tver, Ostashkovo who are the prototypes of the heroes of the famous work.
The second version is based on the fact that Ostrovsky was inspired by a story from real life. Kostroma girl Alexandra Klykova had a fate similar to the main character of the play. She, like Katerina, did not find happiness in marriage, and eventually decided to take her own life.
The third version of the creation of the legendary drama looks the most plausible. It is based on the biography of the writer and the tragedy of his personal life. The fact is that Ostrovsky was seriously infatuated with the famous actress Lyubov Pavlovna Kositskaya. Both Alexander Nikolaevich and his beloved were not free. Even after the death of her husband, Lyubov Kositskaya continued to reject Ostrovsky's feelings. Critics are sure that it is the actress who is the prototype of the main character. By the way, it was Kositskaya who first played the role of Katerina and this work brought her great fame.
In 1859, Alexander Nikolaevich finished work on the work and sent “The Thunderstorm” to the capital for censorship inspection. The drama resonated among readers. There were many reasons for this:
- The old social and family orders were fading away, and “The Thunderstorm” demonstrated the non-trivial relationship between husband and wife, the behavior of a woman uncharacteristic for that time.
- The topic of suicide was extremely rarely discussed in Russian literature of the 19th century due to the religiosity of society.
- The internal conflict of Katerina described by Ostrovsky does not allow her action to be attributed unambiguously to sin or virtue.
The works of famous literary critics were devoted to the analysis of Ostrovsky's work. For example, Dobrolyubov wrote an article “A Ray of Light in a Dark Kingdom”, Pisarev presented “Motives of Russian Drama”. The plot of the play still inspires artists, poets, musicians, theater and film directors.
Different points of view
The denouement of the play is the suicide of the main character. The topic of suicide has always been treated ambiguously. The death of heroes in works is not such a rare occurrence in world literature. Suicide has always been considered as something unnatural to human nature, a sin and an unworthy act. Ostrovsky first presented suicide as a protest against the established order, a meaningful choice of the heroine. This could not but give rise to many discussions.
Suicide as a manifestation of strength
Before discussing the controversial act described by Ostrovsky, we should remember why Katerina committed suicide. The main character had several motives at once.
The first reason for committing a crime against herself was Katerina’s difficult relationship with her family.
According to the tradition of the 19th century, the girl was married off early to the merchant's son Tikhon Kabanov . This union was characterized by neither love nor mutual respect. Every day the girl was attacked and mocked by her mother-in-law Marfa Kabanova. Due to her Christian upbringing and meek disposition, Katerina could not resist an adult woman, and Tikhon did not dare to contradict his mother.
The second motive for suicide is Katerina's feelings for Boris . The girl falls in love with the hero and, due to her inexperience and gullibility, endows the man with noble qualities unusual for him. She considers Boris to be a brave, well-mannered, highly moral and devoted person. However, the man’s feelings turn out to be not as strong as Katerina expects. At the most crucial moment, Boris leaves and betrays the girl, leaving her alone surrounded by evil, immoral people. The perfect betrayal turns out to be a heavy burden on Katerina’s soul.
The main motive for suicide, according to critics, is the unstable mental state of the main character. Christian values instilled from childhood do not correspond to the reality around her. She sees how the people of a small town use their values and God's laws to commit terrible acts.
Literary critic Dobrolyubov views Katerina’s death as the act of a strong personality. "A ray of light in a dark kingdom." With this quote he characterizes his attitude towards the action of the main character.
Katerina could no longer tolerate the weakness of her unloved husband, the bullying of her mother-in-law, the betrayal of her loved one and the depravity of the people around her. At the same time, she had no opportunity to change anything. The meek character and upbringing of the heroine did not allow this. According to Dobrolyubov, the only way out of this situation was suicide. Katerina prefers death to life in a vicious society. This, according to many critics, reveals the strength of character of the main character.
Suicide as a weakness
The opposite point of view is taken by the critic Pisarev in his work “Motives of Russian Drama”. He regards suicide as a weak, weak-willed act that absolutely does not solve the problem.
In order to make sure of this, it is worth considering what the reaction of others to Katerina’s action is. For most people around her, the death of a girl is a terrible and even unusual event. Tikhon, despite his grief, will not change his behavior, Marfa Kabanova will not regret his attitude towards the girl, Boris will also barely be touched by this story.
According to Pisarev, Katerina decides to commit suicide not because the situation is hopeless, but because of the inability to make difficult decisions. He describes the girl's character as:
- weak;
- weak-willed;
- irresponsible.
The critic perceives even betrayal not as a mistake, but as a vice . After all, the woman did not immediately decide to repent to her husband. The fear of punishment comes to Katerina only after the third date with Boris. The main character's falling in love also seems very strange to the critic. Pisarev condemns her frivolity.
By the way, such character qualities as humility, lack of will and inability to make difficult choices can be characterized not only by Katerina, but also by most of the nobility of the second half of the 19th century. It is easier for people of this type to die and prefer eternal suffering than to solve their problems, change their usual way of life, or go against public opinion.
According to Pisarev, this action of Katerina revealed a weakness of character that was inherent in most of the new generation of nobility.
Ostrovsky was for the first time able to raise the problem of choosing between life with false values and voluntary death. In the play “The Thunderstorm,” Katerina’s strength and weakness personifies the torment of choice in society at that time. Global changes began in the Russian nobility. Young people no longer wanted to live by the old rules and orders. Despite the fact that the famous drama described the social problems of the 19th century, this topic remains relevant today.
Katerina's suicide in Groza - strength or weakness? Composition
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On literature
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Katerina's suicide in Groza - strength or weakness
The play “The Thunderstorm” by Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky is deeply embedded in the hearts of readers. This play makes you think about the lives of the characters, their actions, analyze the actions of the main characters and answer the question that worries many readers: “Did Katerina do the right thing by committing suicide?” I would like to take a closer look at this question and give my answer to it.
Katerina is the main character of the play, who has a loving husband, lives in abundance and, it would seem, does not experience any problems in life. So why did she end up committing suicide and is this act worthy of contempt, or maybe, on the contrary, approval? In fact, there were several reasons for this suicide. The most important thing is betrayal on Katerina’s part. This heroine lives by feelings, listens only to her heart, it is this that tells her that betrayal on her part is a sin that cannot be forgiven.
This feeling presses on her from the inside, she becomes exhausted just at the thought of betrayal. As a result, she cannot stand these thoughts and decides to drown herself in the Volga. Also, the causes of Katerina’s death include a terrible relationship with her mother-in-law. Just remember what words the mother-in-law said to the main character, how she humiliated and forced her son to do the same. And when the mother-in-law found out about Katerina’s betrayal, she completely lost her temper and forced her son to beat his wife. This became very stressful for Katerina and she could not live in such conditions. But does Katerina deserve to be called strong after committing suicide?
I believe that this is all a manifestation of her weakness rather than her strength. Yes, these events fell on her fragile shoulders, yes, society began to despise her, her loved one abandoned her. But this girl could cope with these difficulties, survive them and start a new life from scratch. In the end, her husband forgave Katerina and realized why she decided to cheat. I think if she had not committed suicide, Tikhon would have stayed with her in any case and supported her in any situation. Who knows, maybe he would have contradicted his mother, who kept reproaching this character for everything.
Instead of solving problems and showing her strength, she decides to take the easiest path. Did her action change anything in the lives of the other main characters? More likely no than yes. Kabanikha (Katerina’s mother-in-law and Tikhon’s mother) still spoke unflatteringly about her after the death of the main character. There were also no changes in the life of Boris Grigorievich (Katerina’s lover). Although he talked about how much he loved Katerina, he did not lose heart over her at all. Tikhon remained a “mama’s boy” who can only envy his dead wife. Yes, she alleviated her suffering, but she showed herself to be a little girl, unable to cope with difficult situations.
Others: ← History of the creation of the drama Ostrovsky's Thunderstorm↑ According to literatureThe love story of the Master and Margarita →
Katerina's suicide in Groza - strength or weakness
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- Why did Katerina Kabanova die in the play The Thunderstorm?
A. N. Ostrovsky in the drama “The Thunderstorm” reveals the spiritual world of the main character from memories of a magical childhood, carefree youth, difficulties of marriage to the tragic ending. What was the reason to throw yourself into the Volga from a cliff? Was Katerina's death accidental or was it possible to avoid the fatal step? Finding an answer to the question: “Why did the main character die?” – reflection on the inconsistency and complexity of human nature.
Katerina differs from the inhabitants of Kalinov in her disposition. Endowed by nature with a unique character, her behavior is guided not by external circumstances, but by a sense of justice and a thirst for freedom. Katerina is a deeply sincere and poetic person.
The origins of character development lie in a girlhood steeped in poetry. For the heroine, the parental home is a heavenly place where care and the joy of prayer reigned. Growing flowers, doing handicrafts, visiting a temple - this whole atmosphere instilled impressionability in Katerina, a belief in the inevitable punishment for earthly sins in the afterlife. The heroine believes in God sincerely and deeply: she experiences rapturous enjoyment of the world. Brought up in a spiritual environment, Katerina breathes freedom, accepts democracy, and respects the human personality.
The family structure in the parental home was reflected in firmness in actions and strong-willed determination. The heroine's marriage is a sharp change in reality, a dramatic worldview. The “dark kingdom” of spiritual imprisonment with a harsh religious spirit is the Kabanovs’ house for Katerina.
The heroine’s life in a wretched environment “withered” under the pressure of Kabanikha. The heroine's salvation is a feeling of spiritual love for the delicate and modest Boris, who was distinguished by his education. It was akin to the fact that Boris consciously tolerates his uncle’s tyranny and submits himself to his whims. Critic N.A. Dobrolyubov claimed that Katerina fell in love with Boris “more in solitude.” If not for the circumstances that burdened the heroine, she would have soberly assessed the shortcomings of the weak-willed Boris.
“I’m standing over an abyss, and someone is pushing me there, but I have nothing to hold on to,” admits Katerina. The moral value of her ideas does not correspond to the world in which she exists. Tragic hopelessness pushed Katerina to death.
