Katerina: characterization of the heroine of the novel by A. Ostrovsky

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

According to one version, A. Ostrovsky wrote "Thunderstorm" at a time when he was in love with one of the actresses of the Maly Theater. Her name was Lyubov Kositskaya, the writer dedicated his work to her. However, his feeling turned out to be unrequited, and the girl gave her heart to another person, because of whom she became a beggar and died suddenly. The actress who played the role of Katerina practically played herself, predetermining her real fate on stage. For her, Katerina is a characteristic of her own inner world, her own suffering and experiences. The production was liked not only by the general public, but also by the emperor himself.

Katerina: characteristics of the society of the XIX century

In "Thunderstorm" Ostrovsky shows all the drama, all the tragedy of women's life in Russia. In the 19th century, the female half of the population was limited in rights, all younggirls, getting married, had to unquestioningly obey a man and follow the rules of family life. Most of the marriages were arranged, so the spouses were deprived of love and understanding, but did not even dare to think about divorce. Due to the high position in society and material well-being, parents could marry their daughter even to an elderly person. So was the fate of Katerina, who became the wife of a we althy merchant Tikhon Kabanov. A comparative description of Katerina with other characters of Russian classical literature makes the reader understand the exclusivity and uniqueness of this heroine. When reading "Thunderstorm" it is necessary to pay attention to the peculiarities of the historical period and the restructuring of the established centuries-old ways of life in society. Against this background, the resilience of Katerina's character is even more striking and inspires true respect.

Childhood and youth

The girl's personality was largely influenced by her childhood. Her young years were happy and carefree: she enjoyed life, was free in her actions, enjoyed freedom and basked in the warmth and care of loved ones. Katerina, whose characterization from the first pages of the novel seems almost ideal to the reader, attended church from an early age, was very moral and pious, kept God's precepts, during the services she seemed to go into "another world", her face became spiritualized and sublime. Frantic faith in many ways became the prerequisite for Katerina's personal catastrophe, because it was in the church that she met her beloved Boris. A girl in her parents' houseI learned to be honest, open, I learned to experience love, I grew up kind and affectionate.

Katerina's married life and the tyranny of Kabanikh

In the Kabanikh family, where an atmosphere of despotism and aggression reigned, Katerina's meek disposition underwent numerous changes. Being subject to attacks and insults from her mother-in-law, who introduced a "dictatorship regime" in the house, Katerina felt her dependence on relatives, but she was absolutely deprived of her husband's support, she felt oppressed and unhappy. But by nature, full of light, kindness and cheerfulness, Katerina could not patiently exist in this chaos, in this world overflowing with evil and cruelty. She began to openly oppose the despotism of Kabanikhi.

Katerina: characterization of the heroine at the climax of the play

The girl did a strong deed by falling in love with another person when Tikhon was away. She herself perceives this as a terrible crime, reproaches herself and suffers, religious canons and conscience do not allow the girl to relate to treason easily and dispassionately. The realization of sin forced Katerina to make a public repentance and confess her act. The climax of the play was marked by a thunderstorm in nature and in society, which condemned the girl unanimously and ruthlessly. The heroine herself perceives the cataclysm as God's punishment, runs for support and protection to her husband and lover. But Tikhon was frightened by the evil and merciless nature of his mother, while Boris turned out to be too weak to save the unfortunate from shame. Disappointed in her loved ones, Katerina, out of desperation, decides on the only acceptable way out for her - suicide. By killing herself, the girl becomes free from the oppression of her mother-in-law, while her spirit remains free and rebellious.

Katerina's role in Russian literature

The image of Katerina, as well as her death, is "a ray of light in the dark kingdom", she destroys the kingdom of Kabanikhi. All members of the Kabanova family rebel against her. Katerina is a real protest against the traditional ways of Russian society, which is on the verge of collapse and destruction.