Ostrovsky not in vain gave the name to his work “The Thunderstorm”, because before people were afraid of the elements, associated it with the punishment of heaven. Thunder and lightning inspired superstitious fear and primitive horror. The writer told in his play about the inhabitants of a provincial town, which are conditionally divided into two groups: the "dark kingdom" - rich merchants exploiting the poor, and "victims" - those who suffer tyranny of tyrants. In more detail about the lives of people will tell the characteristics of the heroes. Thunderstorm reveals the true feelings of the characters in the play.
Wild Characteristic
Savel Prokofich Wild is a typical tyrant. This is a wealthy merchant with no government. He tortured his family, from his insults, the family scattered in the attics and closets. The merchant is rude to servants, it is impossible to please him, he will surely find something to cling to. You cannot beg for a salary from the Wild, since he is very greedy. Savel Prokofich an ignorant man, a supporter of the patriarchal system, does not want to know the modern world. The stupidity of the merchant is evidenced by his conversation with Kuligin, from which it becomes clear that Dikoy does not know
what a thunderstorm is. The characterization of the heroes of the "dark kingdom", unfortunately, does not end there.
Description of the Boar
Marfa Ignatievna Kabanova is the embodiment of a patriarchal way of life. A rich merchant, a widow, she constantly insists on observing all the traditions of her ancestors and she strictly follows them. Kabanikha drove everyone to despair - this is what the characterization of the heroes shows. Thunderstorm is a play revealing the mores of a patriarchal society. A woman gives alms to the poor, goes to church, but does not give life to both her children and her daughter-in-law. The heroine wanted to maintain her former way of life, so she kept her family in fear, taught her son, daughter, daughter-in-law.
Characteristics of Katerina
In the patriarchal world, one can preserve humanity, faith in goodness - this is also shown by the characteristic of heroes. Thunderstorm is a play in which there is a confrontation between the new and the old world, only here the characters of the work defend their point of view in different ways. Katerina happily recalls her childhood, because she grew up in love and understanding. She belongs to the patriarchal world and up to a certain point everything suited her, even the fact that the parents themselves decided her fate and gave her in marriage. But Katerina does not like the role of the humiliated daughter-in-law, she does not understand how one can constantly live in fear and bondage.
The main character of the play is gradually changing, a strong personality wakes up in her, able to make her choice, which is manifested in love for Boris. Katerina was killed by her entourage, the lack of hope pushed for suicide, because she could not live in Kabanikhi’s home prison.
The attitude of the children of Kabanikh to the patriarchal world
Barbara is a
strong personality who does not want to live according to the laws of the patriarchal world, but she is not going to openly oppose the will of her mother. She was crippled by the house of Kabanikhi, because it was here that the girl learned to lie, to cunning, to do what she wants, but carefully hide the traces of her misconduct. To show the ability of some people to adapt to different conditions, Ostrovsky wrote his play. Thunderstorm (the characterization of the heroes shows what a blow Barbara inflicted on her mother, having escaped from the house) led everyone to clean water, during a bad weather the inhabitants of the town showed their true guises.
Tikhon is a weak person, the embodiment of the completion of the patriarchal order. He loves his wife, but cannot find the strength to protect her from her mother’s tyranny. It was Kabanikha who pushed him to drunkenness, destroyed family happiness with his moralizing. Tikhon does not support the old order, but sees no reason to go against her mother, letting her words slip by her ears. Only after the death of his wife does the hero decide to revolt against Kabanikh, accusing her of Katerina’s death. Understanding the worldview of each character and his attitude to the patriarchal world allows characterization of heroes. Thunderstorm is a play with a tragic end, but a belief in a better future.