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

The image of Kabanikha in the play "Storm" is one of thethe main negative, which form the plot. Hence the depth of the image of his playwright Ostrovsky. The play itself shows how, in the bowels of an obsolete but still powerful patriarchal society, the champions of the "dark kingdom" are choking, in the very bud, 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. It's no wonder that they call each other kums.

Kabpich Kabanov as the ideologist of the "dark kingdom"

It should be recognized that the image of Kabanikhi in the play"Thunderstorm" in the gradation of negative images takes a more significant position than the character of the merchant Wild. 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, in the course of reading the drama, the reader sees not only scenes where she peremptorily 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 fellow 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 managed simultaneouslyIt is profound and understandable for the reader to show how the demonstrative, insincere religiosity with the absolutely unchristian, immoral and mercenary desire to coerce people into themselves is getting along in the merchant Kabanova. Marfa Ignatyevna really breaks the will and the characters of her neighbors, their vital aspirations, crushing real, genuine spirituality. She opposes the image of Katerina in Ostrovsky's play The Storm, her sister-in-law.

A different understanding of old times Kabanikhoy and Katerina

To be precise, Katerina is alsorepresentative 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"Old" gloomy, dogmatic, subordinating people and killing their aspirations meaningless "impossible" and teaching "how it should be," then Katerina, in contrast to her, has completely different views on "the old days".

For it there are also age-old traditions, howeverthey are expressed quite differently: in love of others and care for them, in a childlike enthusiasm for the world around them, 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 Kabanikh 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"Thunderstorm" invariably evokes sympathy and sympathy of the reader. The girl finds herself in the family of the Kabanovs, marrying 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 Kabanikha in the play "Groza" is antagonistic tothe 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."

Non-mercy is a common feature of the Kabaniha and the Wild

Characteristics of the image of Kabaniha in the play "Storm"Ostrovsky shows its common feature with the image of the merchant Wild, despite their obvious characteristic differences. This is a lack of compassion for people. Both of them relate to their neighbors and to fellow citizens not in a Christian way, consumerly.

True, Savel Prokofich does this openly, butMarfa 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 reverence is ..." Is not it a very convenient, practically "impenetrable" position?

Characteristics and image of Kabanikhi from the play "Storm"A. Ostrovsky combines hypocrisy and cruelty. After all, in fact, Kabaniha, regularly going to church and not begging beggars, turns out to be cruel and unable to forgive her repentant and confessed to betraying her husband Katerina. 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 the playOstrovsky "Thunderstorm", 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 Katerinapreviously had already stated that she would settle scores with her unhappy life. Marfa Ignatyevna, who was well aware of everything 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, Kabanikh thought of "breaking" her, absolutely, as she had already done with her son. As a result, the merchant's family collapses: Varvara's daughter accuses her of directly contributing to the tragedy and leaves the house. Tikhon falls into a binge ...

However, the hard-hearted Marfa Ignatievna does not repent andafter that. For her, the "dark realm," 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. But 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's wifeKabanov - 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 Kabanikhi'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 at the unrequited, humiliated Katerina with redoubled force.

Suicide of the daughter-in-law brings destructiveconsequences for the family of Marfa Ignatyevna. We are now witnessing a crisis in the obedient (before the appearance of Katerina) family of merchant women, who are disintegrating. 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 already at that time demanded a liberation decree abolishing serfdom, which allows raznochintsy to raise the role of education and social freedoms.