The image of Katerina in the play "The Thunderstorm"contrasts with the dark realities of Russia before the reform period. In the epicenter of the unfolding drama - the conflict between the heroine, seeking to defend their human rights, and the world in which all are ruled by strong, rich and powerful people.
Katerina as the embodiment of a pure, strong and bright folk soul
Already from the very first pages of the product imageKaterina in the play “The Thunderstorm” cannot but draw attention to herself and not make her imbued with sympathy. Honesty, the ability to feel deeply, the sincerity of nature and the penchant for poetry - these are the features that distinguish Katerina herself from the representatives of the “dark kingdom”. In the main character Ostrovsky tried to capture the beauty of the simple folk soul. The girl expresses her emotions and feelings plainly and does not use distorted words and expressions common in the merchant environment. It is not difficult to notice, Katerina’s speech itself is more like a melodious tune, she is replete with diminutive words and expressions: “sun”, “grass”, “rain”. The heroine shows an incredible sincerity, telling about her free life in the father's house, among the icons, calm prayers and flowers, where she lived “like a bird in the wild”.
The image of a bird - an exact display of the heroine
The image of Katerina in the play "The Thunderstorm"echoes the image of a bird, in folk poetry symbolizing freedom. Speaking with Barbara, she repeatedly refers to this analogy and claims that she is “a free bird that fell into an iron cage”. In captivity she is sad and lonely.
Life Katerina in the house Kabanovs. Love Katerina and Boris
In the house Kabanovyh Katerina, which is inherentdreaminess and romance, feels completely alien. The humiliating reproaches of the mother-in-law, accustomed to keeping all households at bay, the atmosphere of tyranny, lies and hypocrisy oppress the girl. However, Katerina herself, who is by nature a strong, solid person, knows that there is a limit to her patience: “I don’t want to live here, so I won’t, even if you cut me!” cause Katerina sharp rejection. The heroine opposes the "dark kingdom", his orders did not break her will to live, fortunately, did not make her become like other residents of the Kabanovs' house and start to play the hypocrite and lie at every turn.
По-новому раскрывается образ Катерины в пьесе "Thunderstorm" when a girl makes an attempt to escape from the "hateful" world. She does not know how and does not want to love as the inhabitants of the “dark kingdom” do; freedom, openness, and “honest” happiness are important to her. While Boris convinces her that their love will remain a secret, Katerina wants everyone to know about it, so that everyone can see. The girl cheats Tikhon, her husband, but the bright feeling that has awakened in her heart seems to her a mortal sin. And just at this moment the reader comes face to face with the tragedy of the female soul, its sufferings and torments. From this point on, Catherine’s conflict occurs, not only with the outside world, but also with herself. It is difficult for her to make a choice between love and duty, she tries to forbid herself to love and be happy. However, the struggle with their own feelings is beyond the power of fragile Catherine.
The way and laws prevailing in the surrounding girlworld, put pressure on her. She seeks to repent of her deed, to purify her soul. Seeing the “Last Judgment” on the wall in the church, Katerina does not stand up, falls to her knees and begins to repent of sin in public. However, even this does not bring the girl the desired relief. Other heroes of the drama "The Storm" by Ostrovsky are not capable of supporting her, even a loved one. At the request of Katerina to take her out of here, Boris refuses. This person is not a hero, he is simply unable to protect himself or his beloved.
Catherine's death - a ray of light that lit up the "dark kingdom"
Со всех сторон на Катерину обрушивается зло.Constant persecution by the mother-in-law, the throwing between duty and love — all this eventually leads the girl to a tragic finale. Having managed to learn happiness and love in her short life, she is simply unable to continue living in the house of the Kabanovs, where such concepts do not exist at all. She sees the only way out in suicide: the future terrifies Katerina, and the grave is perceived as a salvation from mental anguish. However, the image of Katerina in the drama “The Storm”, despite everything, remains strong - she did not choose a wretched existence in the “cage” and did not allow anyone to break her living soul.
Тем не менее смерть героини не была напрасной.The girl won a moral victory over the "dark kingdom", she was able to slightly dispel the darkness in the hearts of people, encourage them to action, open their eyes. The life of the heroine itself has become a “ray of light”, which flared in darkness and for a long time left its glow over the world of madness and darkness.
