Ostrovsky's works: a list of the best. Ostrovsky's first work

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

"Columbus of Zamoskvorechye", the author of plays that turned Russian drama into "real" literature, is A. N. Ostrovsky, whose works from the middle of the 19th century became the main repertoire of the Maly Theater in Moscow. Everything that he wrote was done not for reading, but for staging on stage. The result of 40 years of creative activity are original (about 50), co-authored, revised and translated plays.

Sources of "inspiration"

All Ostrovsky's works are based on constant observations of the life of various classes, mainly merchants and the local nobility.

Childhood and youth of the playwright were spent in Zamoskvorechye - the old district of Moscow, which was mainly inhabited by bourgeois. Therefore, Ostrovsky was well acquainted with their way of life and the peculiarities of intra-family and social relations. By the middle of the 19th century, more and more so-called "dealers" appear here - they will enter intonew merchant class.

The work in the office of the Moscow conscientious court, where Alexander Nikolayevich entered in 1843, turned out to be very useful. 8 years of observation of numerous lawsuits and quarrels between merchants and relatives made it possible to accumulate valuable material, on the basis of which Ostrovsky's best works will be written.

In the work of the playwright, it is customary to distinguish 4 main periods. Each was marked by a special approach to depicting reality and the appearance of vivid plays.

1847-1851. First experiences

Essays written in the spirit of the "natural school" and in accordance with the traditions laid down by Gogol, brought the title of "Columbus of Zamoskvorechye" to the novice writer. But pretty soon they were replaced by plays that completely supplanted the epic genres.

Ostrovsky's first work is The Family Picture, first read by the author at the evening at S. Shevyrev's. However, fame brings "Bankrut", later renamed "Our people - let's settle!" The response to the play was immediate. Censorship immediately banned it (it was written in 1849, hit the stage only in 1861), and V. Odoevsky put it on a par with "The Undergrowth", "Woe from Wit" and "The Government Inspector". For several years, the work was read with success in circles and at literary evenings, providing the young author with universal recognition.

1852-1855. "Moskvitian" period

This is the time when Ostrovsky joined the "young editorial board" of the magazine, which preached the ideas of pochvenism and had an interest in the merchant class. Representativessocial class, not associated with serfdom and not cut off from the people, could become, according to A. Grigoriev, a new force capable of influencing the development of Russia. Only 3 works by Ostrovsky belong to this period, one of which is “Poverty is not a vice.”

The plot is based on the image of relations in the family of the merchant Tortsov. The imperious and despotic father, Gordey, plans to marry off his daughter, who is in love with a poor clerk, for the clever and rich Korshunov. This is a merchant of a new generation who will never miss his. Lyubim manages to convince his tyrant brother - he is prone to drunkenness, has not accumulated a fortune, but follows moral laws in everything. As a result, the matter is resolved successfully for Lyuba, and the playwright asserts the victory of Russian folk culture and traditions over European ones.

1856-1860. Rapprochement with Sovremennik

The works of this period: "Profitable place", "Hangover in someone else's feast" and, of course, "Thunderstorm" - were the result of a rethinking of the role of the patriarchal merchants in the life of the country. It no longer attracted the playwright, but more and more acquired the features of tyranny and desperately tried to resist everything new and democratic (the result of the influence of the raznochintsy from Sovremennik). This "dark kingdom" was most clearly shown in the playwright's only tragedy, The Thunderstorm. Young people also appear here, who do not want to put up with the house building laws.

Analyzing the works created in the 40-50s, A. Grigoriev called Ostrovsky A. N. a truly "folk poet", whichemphasized the scale of the paintings he depicted.

1861-1886. Mature creativity

During the 25 post-reform years of his activity, the playwright wrote vivid works, diverse in genre and subject matter. They can be combined into several groups.

1. Comedy about the life of the merchants: “The truth is good, but happiness is better”, “Not everything is Shrove Tuesday”.
2. Satire: "Wolves and Sheep", "Mad Money", "Forest", etc.
3. "Pictures of Moscow life" and "prices from the outback" about "little" people: "Hard days", "An old friend is better than two new ones", etc.
4. Chronicles on a historical theme: "Kozma Zakharyich Minin-Sukhoruk" and others.
5. Psychological drama: "Last Victim", "Dowry".

The play-tale "The Snow Maiden" stands apart.

The works of recent decades are acquiring tragic and philosophical and psychological features and are distinguished by artistic perfection and a realistic approach to the image.

Creator of the National Theater

Centuries pass, but the works of Ostrovsky Alexander Nikolayevich still collect full houses on the leading stages of the country, confirming the phrase of I. Goncharov: "… after you, we … can proudly say: we have our own Russian national theater." “Poor bride” and “Don’t get into your sleigh”, “Balzaminov’s marriage” and “Heart is not a stone”, “There was not a penny, but suddenly Altyn” and “Enough simplicity for every wise man” … This list is known to every theater-goer The titles of Ostrovsky's plays can be continued for a long time. Thanks toThe skill of the playwright brought a special world to life on stage, filled with problems that will always worry humanity.