The image of Kabanikha in the play "Storm". Characteristics and image of Kabanikhi in the play "The Storm" by Ostrovsky

The image of Kabanikha in the play "Storm" is one of the main negative ones that form the plot. Hence the depth of the image of his playwright Ostrovsky. The play itself shows how, in the depths of an obsolete but still powerful patriarchal society, champions of the "dark kingdom" in the very bud are strangled by the barely manifested sprouts of a new one. At the same time, the author of the work depicts two types that support the foundations of the Old Testament society, based on dogmas. This is the widowed wealthy merchant Marfa Ignatyevna Kabanova, as well as the wealthy merchant Savel Prokofich Dikoy. No wonder they call each other kumami.

Kabpich Kabanov as the ideologist of the "dark kingdom"

It should be recognized that the image of the Kabanikha in the play "Storm" in the gradation of negative images takes a more significant position than the character of the merchant Dikoy. Unlike his godfather, who oppresses the people in the most primitive ways (with the help of an abusive, almost painful, humiliation), Marfa Ignatyevna understands perfectly well what "old man" is and how it should be protected. Its influence on others is more subtle. After all, as the drama is being read, the reader sees not only scenes where she categorically teaches the domestic, but also the moments where she pretends to be "old and stupid". Moreover, the merchant Kabanov acts in the manipulation of his close apologists for double morality, hypocrisy. And in this sense the image of Kabanikha in the play "Storm" is really classic in Russian literature.

The desire of the merchant is to subjugate his neighbors

The playwright Ostrovsky succeeded in simultaneously profoundly and clearly for the reader to show how in the merchant Kabanova a showy, insincere religiosity coexists with an absolutely unchristian, immoral and mercenary desire to subordinate people to itself. Marfa Ignatyevna really breaks the will and the characters of her neighbors, their life aspirations, crushing real, genuine spirituality. She opposes the image of Katerina in Ostrovsky's play The Storm, her sister-in-law.

Different understanding of old Kabanikha and Katerina

To be precise, Katerina is also a representative of the patriarchal society. This idea was expressed by the actor and literary critic Pisarev in response to a well-known article by Nikolai Dobrolyubov "Ray of Light in the Dark Realm".

However, if her mother-in-law is "gloomy, dogmatic, subordinating people and killing their aspirations with meaningless" impossible "and teaching" how it should be, "Katerina, unlike her, has completely different views on" old times ".

There are also centuries-old traditions for her, but they are expressed quite differently: in love of others and care for them, in a childlike enthusiasm for the surrounding world, in the ability to see and perceive all the good around, in the instinctive rejection of gloomy dogmatism, in charity . "Old" for Katerina - colorful, romantic, poetic, joyful. Thus, Katerina and Kabaniha personalize the two opposite aspects of the Russian patriarchal serf society - dark and light.

Psychological pressure Kabanikhi on Katerina

The tragic image of Katerina in Ostrovsky's play "The Storm" invariably evokes the sympathy and sympathy of the reader. The girl finds herself in the Kabanovs family, having married Tikhon, the merchant's son. Before the appearance in the house of Katerina, her future mother-in-law completely imposed her will on all the household: her son and daughter Varvara. Moreover, if Tikhon is morally broken completely and is only able to follow the instructions of "Mama", then Varvara only pretends that she agrees, but she always acts in her own way. However, under the influence of the mother, her personality was also deformed - the girl became insincere, double-minded.

The image of Kabaniha in the play "Storm" is antagonistic to the image of Katerina throughout the play. Not for nothing does the reproach of the daughter-in-law sound, that her mother-in-law "eats away". Kabaniha constantly insults her with far-fetched suspicions. It exhausts the soul with senseless compulsions "to bow to my husband", "to cut at the nose". And the merchant appeals to the principles quite plausible: maintaining order in the family; Harmonious (as is customary in Russian tradition) relations between relatives; The foundations of the Christian faith. In fact, the influence of Marfa Ignatyevna on Katerina is reduced to coercion - to follow blindly to her orders. Kabanikha wants to turn her into another subject of her home "dark kingdom".

The lack of compassion is a common feature of the Kabaniha and the Wild

The characterization of the image of the Kabaniha in Ostrovsky's The Thunderstorm shows her general trait with the image of the merchant Wild, despite their obvious characteristic differences. This is a lack of compassion for people. Both of them treat their neighbors and fellow citizens not in a Christian way, but in a consumer way.

True, Savel Prokofich does this openly, and Marfa Ignatyevna resorts to mimicry, imitating Christian beliefs. In conversation with neighbors, she prefers tactics "the best defense - attack", accusing them of non-existent "sins". She does not even hear the opposite arguments from the children and the daughter-in-law. "I would have believed ... if I had not heard with my ears ... what veneration is ..." Is not it a very convenient, practically "impenetrable" position?

Characteristics and image of Kabanikhi from the play "Thunderstorm" by A. Ostrovsky combines hypocrisy and cruelty. After all, in fact, Kabanikha, who regularly goes to church and does not spare beggars for alms, turns out to be cruel and unable to forgive her repentant and confessed to betrayal to her husband Kateryna. Moreover, she instructs her son Tikhon, deprived of his own point of view, to beat her, which he does. They motivate this, again, with traditions.

Kabanikha contributed to the suicide of Katerina

It is the image of Katerina Kabanova in Ostrovsky's play "Groza", constantly criticized by his mother-in-law, deprived of all rights and intercession, adds tragedy to Ostrovsky's play. None of the readers have any doubts that her suicide is the result of the adverse impact of her mother-in-law, the constant humiliation of dignity, threats, and cruel treatment.

The situation is aggravated by the fact that Katerina has previously stated that she will settle scores with her unhappy life. Marfa Ignatyevna, who was well aware of all that was happening in the house, could not not know this. Was there any direct intention on the part of the mother-in-law to bring the daughter-in-law to suicide? Hardly. Rather, Kabanikha thought of "breaking her", quite as she had already done with her son. As a result, the merchant's family is collapsing: Varvara's daughter accuses her of directly contributing to the tragedy and leaves the house. Tikhon falls into a binge ...

However, the hard-hearted Martha Ignatiev does not repent after this. For her, the "dark kingdom", the manipulation of people is more important than the family, more important than morality. Such a conclusion can be drawn from the episode of the manifested khanate of Kabanikhi, even in this tragic situation. The Merchant bowed privately and thanked the people who had taken the body of the late Katerina from the Volga. However, then declares that she can not be forgiven. What can be more anti-Christian than not forgiving the deceased? This, perhaps, can only be made by a true apostate.

Instead of concluding

Negative characteristic character - merchant Kabanov - is revealed gradually in the course of action. Does he face the image of Katerina in Ostrovsky's play "The Storm" in full measure? Probably no. The girl has nothing to counteract the suffocating atmosphere around her, she only asks for understanding. She makes a mistake. The supposed liberation from the "dark kingdom" of the Kabanovs - the affair with Boris - is a mirage. Katerina repents. It would seem that the Kabanikha's morality won ... The merchant should not turn a girl into her ally. For this it is only necessary to show mercy. However, as they say, habit is second nature. Kabanikha, "offended", is already treading the unrequited, humiliated Katerina with redoubled force.

The suicide of the daughter-in-law has devastating consequences for the family of Marfa Ignatyevna. We are now seeing a crisis in the obedient (before the appearance of Katerina) of the merchant's family, which is breaking up. Kabanikha can no longer effectively protect "the old days". From the above, the conclusion suggests that at the turn of the 19th century the way of life of Russian society was changing steadily.

In fact, the society even then demanded a liberation decree abolishing serfdom, which allows raznochintsy to raise the role of education and social freedoms.