The comedy "Thunderstorm" is one of the most famous works of the Russian playwright A. N. Ostrovsky. The idea, the characters of the work can be explored forever. The images of the characters "Thunderstorms" are very remarkable.
The problems of the play "Thunderstorm"
All characters of the drama "Thunderstorm" can be divided into 2 groups: representatives of the older and younger generations. The elder represents Boar and Wild. They are representatives of the patriarchal world, where selfishness and poverty rule. Other characters suffer from the tyranny of Kabanikhi and Wild. This is primarily Varvara, Katerina, Boris and Tikhon. The comparative characteristics of the characters show that all the characters resigned to their fate, and only Katerina is not able to go against conscience and her desires.
The entire work "Thunderstorm" is dedicated to the history 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.
The comparative characteristics of these characters will help to understand in detail the behavior of the characters in the play.
The fate of Boris
Before analyzing the character of Boris, you need to familiarize yourself with his story.
Boris is not a native of Kalinov. He gets there by the will of his parents. Boris should have inherited, for the time being, in charge of Wild. For good behavior and obedience, Wild is obliged to give the inheritance to Boris, however, readers understand that this will never happen due to the greed of the Wild. Therefore, Boris has to stay in Kalinov and live there according to the rules established by Dikim and Kabanikha.
The fate of Tikhon
Among all the characters A. Ostrovsky distinguishes two heroes, two men - these are Boris and Tikhon. The comparative characteristics of these heroes can say a lot.
Tikhon depends on Kabanikh - his mother. He has to obey her in everything. The boar is not shy to get into the personal life of his son, dictating how he should treat his wife. Kaberinha literally squeezes her daughter-in-law from the light. Katerina Kabanikha constantly finds fault.
Once Tikhon was forced to leave for another city for several days. The reader clearly sees how glad he is about the opportunity to be alone and to show his independence.
Common between Boris and Tikhon
So, we have two characters - this is Boris and Tikhon. A comparative characterization of these heroes is impossible without an analysis of their lifestyle. So, both characters live with tyrants, both heroes are forced to obey someone else's will. Both heroes lack independence. Both heroes love Katerina.
At the end of the play, both suffer greatly after the death of Katerina. Tikhon remains alone with his mother, and orders Boris Dikoy to leave Kalinov. Of course, he would definitely not see the inheritance after the incident with Katerina.
Boris and Tikhon: differences
The differences between Boris and Tikhon are more than common. So, Boris and Tikhon are a comparative characteristic. The table attached below will help to systematize the knowledge about these heroes.
| Boris | Tikhon |
| Attitude to Katerina | Boris is ready for anything. He risks his reputation, the reputation of Katerina - a married woman. His love is passionate, open and emotional. | Tikhon loves Katerina, but the reader sometimes questions this: if he loves her, why doesn’t he protect her from the attacks of Kabanikh? Why doesn't she feel her suffering? |
| Relations with other characters in the play | Boris acts under the guise of Barbara. Night Kalinov is a time when all young people go out with songs and romantic moods. | Tikhon is well treated, but little is said about his relationship with other characters. The only thing that is remarkable is his relationship with his mother. He loves her to some extent and tries to respect her, but on the other hand, he feels her wrong. |
These are Boris and Tikhon. The comparative characteristics of the characters given above in the table are quite brief and capacious. It is worth noting that mainly readers sympathize with Boris, rather than Tikhon.
The main idea of the play "Thunderstorm"
The characterization of Boris and Tikhon suggests that two men loved Katerina. However, neither one nor the other could save her. Katerina rushed off a cliff into the river; nobody stopped her. It was Boris and Tikhon, the comparative characteristics of which were given above, who had to save her, had to rebel against the power of Kalinov’s tyrants. However, they did not succeed, and Katerina’s lifeless body was carried out of the river.
Kalinov is a town that lives by its own rules. Dobrolyubov called Katerina "a ray of light in the dark kingdom," and this is indeed so. Katerina could not change her fate, but perhaps she will change the life of the whole city. Her death is the first catastrophe that disrupted the patriarchal way of life of the family. Kabanikha and Wild feel that young people are getting out of their power, which means that changes are coming.
Thus, A. Ostrovsky was able to show not just family tragedy. Before us is the tragedy of an entire city, perishing in the despotism of the Wild and the Boar. Kalinov is not a fictional city, but there are a lot of such Kalinovs throughout Russia.