Alexander Nikolaevich highlighted the most important and especially relevant at that time problem of human dignity. In the drama The Storm, arguments to consider it as such are very convincing. The author argues that his play is really important, if only because the issues raised in it continue to worry many years later and the current generation. People turn to drama, study and analyze it, and interest in it has not waned until now.
In the 50-60s of the 19th century, the following three topics attracted the special attention of writers and poets: the emergence of heterogeneous intelligentsia, serfdom, and the position of women in society and in the family. In addition, there was another topic - the tyranny of money, tyranny and old covenant authority among the merchants, under the oppression of which were all family members, especially women. A.N. Ostrovsky in his drama "The Storm" set the task of exposing the spiritual and economic tyranny in the so-called "dark kingdom".
Who can be considered the bearer of human dignity?
The problem of human dignity in the drama "The Storm" is the most important in this work. It should be noted that in the play there are very few characters that could be spoken of: "This is a worthy person." Most of the characters are either unconditionally negative heroes, or inexpressive, neutral. Wild and Boar - idols deprived of elementary human feelings; Boris and Tikhon are spineless, able only to obey creatures; Kudryash and Varvara are reckless people who are drawn to minute pleasures, incapable of serious feelings and thoughts. Only Kuligin, the eccentric inventor, and the main character Katerina are out of this row. The problem of human dignity in the drama "Thunderstorm" can be briefly described as a confrontation between these two heroes to society.
Inventor Kuligin
Kuligin is a rather attractive person who has considerable talents, a sharp mind, a poetic soul, and the desire to serve people unselfishly. He is honest and kind. It is no coincidence that Ostrovsky trusts him precisely in evaluating the backward, limited, smug Kalinov society, which does not recognize the rest of the world. However, although Kuligin evokes sympathy, he is still unable to fend for himself, so he calmly endures rudeness, endless ridicule and insults. This is an educated, enlightened person, but these best qualities in Kalinov are considered only whim. The inventor is scornfully called the alchemist. He longs for the common good, wants to establish a lightning rod, a clock in the city, but an inert society does not want to accept any innovations. The boar, which is the embodiment of the patriarchal world, will not take the train, even if the whole world has been using the railway for a long time. Wild will never understand that lightning is actually electricity. He doesn’t even know such a word. The problem of human dignity in the drama “Thunderstorm”, the epigraph of which can be Kuligin’s replica “Cruel morals, sir, in our city, cruel!”, Thanks to the introduction of this character receives a deeper coverage.
Kuligin, seeing all the vices of society, is silent. Only Katerina protests. Despite its weakness, it is still a strong nature. The plot of the play is the tragic conflict between the way of life and the real feeling of the main character. The problem of human dignity in the drama "The Storm" is revealed in the contrast between the "dark kingdom" and the "ray" - Katerina.
The Dark Kingdom and its victims
The inhabitants of Kalinov are divided into two groups. One of them is made up of representatives of the "dark kingdom", personifying power. This is Boar and Wild. To the other belong Kuligin, Katerina, Kudryash, Tikhon, Boris and Varvara. They are victims of the "dark kingdom", feeling its brutal power, but expressing protest against it in different ways. Through their actions or inaction, the problem of human dignity is revealed in the drama The Storm. Ostrovsky’s plan was to show from different sides the influence of the "dark kingdom" with its suffocating atmosphere.
Katerina's character
Katerina’s interests and character stand out from the environment in which she involuntarily found herself. The reason for the life drama lies precisely in its special, exceptional character.
This girl is a dreamy and poetic nature. She was raised by her mother, who spoiled her, loved her. The daily activities of the heroine in childhood included caring for flowers, attending church, embroidery, walking, tales of praying mantis and wanderers. Under the influence of this lifestyle, the girl’s inner world has developed. Sometimes she was immersed in waking dreams, dreamlike dreams. Katerina’s speech is emotional, imaginative. And this poetic-minded and impressionable girl after marriage gets into the house of Kabanova, in the atmosphere of annoying guardianship and hypocrisy. The atmosphere of this world is cold and soulless. Naturally, the conflict between the bright world of Katerina and the situation of this "dark kingdom" ends tragically.
Relations between Katerina and Tikhon
The situation is complicated by the fact that she married a man whom she could not love and did not know, although she did her best to become Tikhon's faithful and loving wife. The heroine’s attempts to get closer to her husband are smashed by his nearness, slavish humiliation and rudeness. Since childhood, he used to obey his mother in everything, is afraid to tell her the word across. Tikhon meekly endures the tyranny of Kabanikh, not daring to object and protest to her. His only desire is to escape at least for a short while from the care of this woman, to go out and drink. This weak-willed man, being one of the many victims of the "dark kingdom", not only could not help Katerina in any way, but simply humanly understand her, since the heroine’s inner world is too high, complicated and inaccessible to him. He could not foresee the drama brewing in his wife’s heart.
Katerina and Boris
Wild Nephew, Boris, is also a victim of a prudish, dark environment. In his intrinsic qualities, he is much higher than the "benefactors" surrounding him. The education he received in the capital at the commercial academy developed his cultural needs and views, so it is difficult for this character to survive among the Wild and Kabanovs. The problem of human dignity in the play "Thunderstorm" also faces this hero. However, he lacks the character to break free from their tyranny. He is the only one who managed to understand Katerina, but was unable to help her: he lacks the determination to fight for the girl’s love, so he advises her to put up with humility, to submit to fate and leaves her, foreseeing Katerina’s death. Failure to fight for happiness doomed Boris and Tikhon not to live, but to suffer. Only Katerina was able to challenge this tyranny. The problem of human dignity in the play of Ostrovsky's “Thunderstorm”, so this is also a problem of character. Only strong people can challenge the "dark kingdom." Only the main character belonged to them.
Opinion Dobrolyubova
The problem of human dignity in the drama "The Storm" was disclosed in an article by Dobrolyubov, who called Katerina "a ray of light in the dark kingdom." The death of a gifted young woman, of a strong, passionate nature, illuminated for a moment the sleeping "kingdom", like a ray of the sun against a background of gloomy dark clouds. Katerina Dobrolyubov considers suicide as a challenge not only to Dikim and Kabanov, but to the whole way of life in a gloomy, despotic feudal-feudal country.
Inevitable finale
It was an inevitable ending, despite the fact that the main character honored God. Katerina Kabanova was easier to leave this life than to endure reproaches of the mother-in-law, gossip and remorse. She pleaded guilty in public because she did not know how to lie. Suicide and public repentance should be regarded as acts that exalted her human dignity.
Katerina could be despised, humiliated, even beaten, but she never humiliated herself, did not commit unworthy, low deeds, they only went against the morality of this society. Although what morality can be so limited, stupid people? The problem of human dignity in the drama The Storm is the problem of the tragic choice between reconciling or challenging society. In this case, the protest threatens with grave consequences, up to the need to lose one’s life.