The characterization of Katerina in the play The Storm is so ambiguous that it still causes controversial opinions and controversy among critics. Some call it "a bright ray in the dark kingdom," "decisive nature." Others, on the contrary, reproach the heroine for her weakness, inability to stand up for her own happiness. Who Katerina really is is definitely difficult to answer, and impossible. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the main character had them.
The desire to create a happy family
Ostrovsky’s play “Thunderstorm” tells about the opposition of light and darkness, good and evil, new and old. Katerina’s characterization allows the reader to understand how difficult it is for a girl brought up in a loving family, where warmth and mutual understanding has always reigned, to be in a house where everyone lives in fear. The protagonist wholeheartedly wanted to love her husband, create a happy family, give birth to children and live a long life, but, unfortunately, all her hopes went to dust.
Katerina’s mother-in-law kept the whole city in fear, what can I say about relatives who were afraid to take a step without her knowledge. The boar constantly humiliated and insulted the daughter-in-law, set her son against her. Tikhon treated his wife well, but could not protect her from the arbitrariness of his mother, to whom he unconditionally obeyed. The characterization of Katerina in the play “Thunderstorm” shows how much she hates to perform certain “rituals” in public, meaningless and no longer relevant.
Search for happiness
It is clear that the main character could not live long in such an environment that Kabanikha created, so the tragic ending was obvious from the beginning. Description of Katerina in the play “Thunderstorm” creates the image of a clean and bright girl, very kind and reverently related to religion. She cannot bear oppression, and when her husband leaves for a trip, he decides to find happiness on the side. Katerina has an affair with Boris Grigoryevich, but going to a date with him she already understands that she does not have long to live.
The time spent with her lover is the best in the life of the heroine, as if she falls on a holiday. The characterization of Katerina in the play “Thunderstorm” shows that Boris Grigorievich becomes a dream and an outlet for a woman, about whom she always dreamed. The heroine understood that she would never be forgiven for treason, and the mother-in-law would at least get rid of the world, and she herself could not live with such a grave sin.
Confession
The characterization of Katerina in the play “Thunderstorm” allows us to understand that the heroine cannot live in a lie, constantly deceive others. A woman admits to treason to her husband and mother-in-law "in front of all honest people." Kabanikh could not endure such a shame. If Katerina had not died, then she would have to live under eternal arrest, her mother-in-law would not give her a sigh of freedom.
It was not worth hoping that Boris would save his beloved and take him out of the city. This man chose the money, thereby throwing Katerina to death. Suicide does not justify a woman, but this step was taken from hopelessness. The heroine is a bright nature, she could not take root in the kingdom of darkness.