The content and meaning of the title of the play "The Thunderstorm"

A.N. Ostrovsky is not just a writer-playwright. He is rightly considered the father of Russian drama. After all, before him in the literature of the 19th century, theatrical art developed very poorly. Ostrovsky's plays were fresh, fresh and interesting. It was thanks to this author that people again went to theaters. One of the most famous plays - "Thunderstorm".

History of creation

A.N. Ostrovsky was sent with a special mission to central Russia. Here the writer was able to see the provincial life in all its glory. Like any other writer, Ostrovsky first of all paid attention to the life and way of life of the Russian merchants, philistines, nobles of the province. He was looking for characters and stories. As a result of the journey, the play "Thunderstorm" was written. And a little later in a city on the Volga there was a similar case. Ostrovsky was able to anticipate events that took place in the future. Characteristic of the play "Thunderstorm" as an integral work shows that the author is not just a shrewd person, but also a talented writer-playwright.

The artistic originality of the drama

The play has a number of artistic features. It should be said that Ostrovsky was at the same time an innovator of drama, and he supported the tradition. To understand, you need to analyze the genre, the protagonists, the conflict and the meaning of the title of the play "Thunderstorm".

Genre

There are three dramatic genres: comedy, tragedy and drama. Of these, the most ancient is a tragedy, then a comedy follows, but the drama as a genre only appears in the 19th century. The founder of it in Russia was A.N. Ostrovsky. The play "Thunderstorm" fully corresponds to his canons. In the center of the image are ordinary people, not historical figures, not folk heroes. These are people with their own shortcomings and virtues, in the souls of which feelings, attachments, sympathies and antipathies develop. The situation is also ordinary. However, there is an acute conflict in life, most often unsolvable. Katerina (the main heroine of the drama) falls into such a life situation, from which there is no way out. The meaning of the title of the play "The Thunderstorm" of many-sided (this will be discussed below), one of the variants of interpretation is the inevitability of something, the predetermination and tragedy of the situation.

main characters

The main characters of the play: Kabanikh, her son Tikhon, Katerina (daughter-in-law Kabanova), Boris (her lover), Varvara (sister of Tikhon), Dikoy, Kuligin. There are other characters, each of which has its own meaning.

Kabanikha and Wild represent all the negative that there is in the city of Kalinove. It's insolence, anger, tyranny, a desire to lead everyone, greed. Tikhon Kabanov is an example of the mother's uncomplaining worship, he is characterless and stupid. Varvara is not like that. She understands that the mother is in many ways wrong. She also wants to get free from her pressure and does it her own way: she simply deceives her. But such a path is impossible for Katerina. She can not lie to her husband, treason for her is a big sin. Katerina on the background of others looks more thinking, feeling and alive. In the side there is only one hero - Kuligin. He acts as a hero-reasoner, that is, a character in whose mouth the author puts his attitude to the situation.

The meaning of the title of the play "Thunderstorm"

The symbolic name is one of the ways to express the ideological design of a work. In one word is a great value, it is multilayered.

Firstly, a thunderstorm happens twice in the city of Kalinov. Each of the characters reacts differently. Kuligin, for example, sees a physical phenomenon in a thunderstorm, so she does not cause much fear. Of course, the meaning of the title of the play "Thunderstorm" is not only that this phenomenon is present in the text. The symbol of thunderstorm is closely connected with the main character - Katerina. For the first time this phenomenon of nature finds the heroine on the street when she talks with Varvara. Katerina was very frightened, but not dying. Her horror is based on the fact that lightning can kill suddenly, and she suddenly appears before God with all her sins. But the gravest sin she has is one - falling in love with Boris. Education, conscience does not allow Caterina to give herself completely to this feeling. Going on a date, she begins to experience huge anguish. Recognition of the heroine also commits during a thunderstorm. Hearing a thunderclap, she can not stand it.

The meaning of the title of the play "The Thunderstorm" of Ostrovsky depends on the level of interpretation. At the formal level, this is the tie and culmination of the drama. But at a symbolic level, this is the fear of the punishment of the Lord, the reckoning.

We can say that the "thunderstorm" hung over all the inhabitants of the city. Purely externally, this attacks Kabanikhi and Wild, and at the existential level - it's a fear to answer for their sins. Perhaps, therefore, it causes horror not only for Katerina. Even the very word "thunderstorm" is pronounced in the text not only as the name of a natural phenomenon. Tikhon leaves home, rejoicing that he will no longer be bothered by his mother, that she will no longer order him. Katerina from this "thunderstorm" can not leave. She was cornered.

Image of Catherine

The heroine commits suicide, and because of this her image turns out to be very controversial. She is devout, afraid of the "gena of fire," but at the same time goes to such a grievous sin. Why? Apparently, moral suffering, moral torment is stronger than her thoughts about hell. Most likely, she just stopped thinking about suicide, as a sin, seeing in him the punishment for her sin (betrayal to her husband). Some of the critics see her as an exceptionally strong person who challenged society, the "dark realm" (Dobrolyubov). Others believe that voluntary death is not a challenge, but, on the contrary, a sign of weakness.

How to regard this act of the heroine, one can not say. The meaning of the title of the play "Groza" emphasizes that in the society that has developed in Kalinova, such cases are not surprising, because this is a stagnant city, backward, it is ruled by tyrants, such as Wild and Kabanikha. As a result of nature, sensitive (Katerina) suffer without feeling support from anyone.

Conclusions. Features and meaning of the title of the play "Thunderstorm" (briefly)

1. The drama became a vivid example of the life of provincial cities, revealing one of the main problems of Russia - tyranny.

2. The drama corresponds to the canons of the genre (there is a hero-reasoner, there are negative characters), but it is also innovative (it is symbolic).

3. "Thunderstorm", pronounced in the title of the play, is not just a composition element, it is a symbol of God's punishment, repentance. The meaning of the title of the play "The Thunderstorm" of Ostrovsky takes the play to a symbolic level.