The unenviable fate of young girls who married not out of love, but out of duty, is reflected in the image of Katerina from Ostrovsky’s play. At that time in Russia, society did not accept divorce, and unfortunate women, forced to obey the norm, quietly suffered from a bitter fate.
It is not for nothing that the author describes in detail through Katerina’s memories her childhood - happy and carefree. In her married life, the exact opposite of the happiness she dreamed of awaited her. The author compares it with a ray of immaculate, pure light in the dark kingdom of despotism, lack of will and vices. Knowing that for a Christian, suicide is the most serious mortal sin, she still gave up, throwing herself off the Volga cliff.
Action 1
The action takes place in a public garden near the banks of the Volga. Sitting on a bench, Kuligin enjoys the beauty of the river. Kudryash and Shapkin are walking slowly. Dikiy's scolding can be heard from afar; he scolds his nephew. Those present begin to discuss the family. Kudryash acts as a defender of the destitute Boris, believing that he suffers, like other people who have submitted to fate, from a despot-uncle. Shapkin responds to this that it was not in vain that Dikoy wanted to send Kudryash to serve. To which Kudryash says that Dikoy is afraid of him and knows that his head cannot be taken cheaply. Kudryash complains that Dikiy has no marriageable daughters.
Then Boris and his uncle approach those present. Dikoy continues to scold his nephew. Then Dikoy leaves, and Boris explains the family situation. He and his sister were left orphans while they were still training. Parents died of cholera. The orphans lived in Moscow until their grandmother died in the city of Kalinov (where the action takes place). She bequeathed an inheritance to her grandchildren, but they will be able to receive it after coming of age from their uncle (Wild), on the condition that they will honor him.
Kuligin reasons that Boris and his sister are unlikely to receive an inheritance, because Dikoy can consider any word as disrespectful. Boris completely obeys his uncle, works for him without salary, but is of little use. The nephew, like the whole family, is afraid of the Wild One. He shouts at everyone, but no one can answer him. It happened once that Dikiy was cursed by a hussar when they collided at a crossing. He could not answer the serviceman, which is why he became very angry and then took his anger out on his family for a long time.
Boris continues to complain about his difficult life. Feklusha approaches with a lady who praises the Kabanovs’ house. They say that supposedly nice and pious people live there. They leave, and now Kuligin expresses his opinion about Kabanikha. He says that she completely ate her family. Then Kuligin says that it would be nice to invent a perpetual motion machine. He is a young developer who doesn't have money to make models. Everyone leaves, and Boris is left alone. He thinks about Kuligin and calls him a good person. Then, remembering his fate, he sadly says that he will have to spend his entire youth in this wilderness.
Kabanikha appears with her family: Katerina, Varvara and Tikhon. Kabanikha nags her son that his wife has become dearer to him than his mother. Tikhon argues with her, Katerina intervenes in the conversation, but Kabanikha does not allow her to say a word. Then he again attacks his son that he cannot keep his wife strict, hinting that he is so close to a lover.
Kabanikha leaves, and Tikhon accuses Katerina of motherly reproaches. Upset, he goes to Dikiy for a drink. Katerina stays with Varvara and remembers how freely she lived with her parents. She was not particularly forced to do chores, she only carried water, watered flowers, and prayed in church. She saw beautiful, vivid dreams. What now? She is overcome by the feeling that she is standing on the edge of an abyss. She has a presentiment of trouble, and her thoughts are sinful.
Varvara promises that once Tikhon leaves, she will come up with something. Suddenly a crazy lady appears, accompanied by two lackeys, she loudly shouts that beauty can lead to the abyss, and scares the girls of fiery hell. Katerina is scared, and Varvara tries to calm her down. A thunderstorm begins and the women run away.
Act 2
Kabanov's house. In the room, Feklusha and Glasha are having a conversation about human sins. Feklusha argues that it is impossible to live without sin. At this time, Katerina tells Varvara the story of her childhood resentment. Someone offended her and she ran to the river, got into a boat, and then she was found ten miles away. Then she admits that she is in love with Boris. Varvara convinces her that he also likes her, but they have nowhere to meet. But then Katerina gets scared of herself and assures that she won’t exchange her Tikhon, and says that when she gets completely fed up with life in this house, she will either throw herself out the window or drown herself in the river. Varvara again calms her down and says that as soon as Tikhon leaves, she will think of something.
Kabanikha and her son come in. Tikhon is getting ready to set off, and his mother continues her instructions so that he instructs his wife on how she should live while her husband is away. Tikhon repeats her words. Kabanikha and Varvara leave, and, left alone with her husband, Katerina asks him not to leave her or to take her with him. Tikhon resists and says that he wants to be alone. Then she throws herself on her knees in front of him and asks him to take an oath from her, but he does not listen to her and picks her up from the floor.
The women see Tikhon off. Kabanikha forces Katerina to say goodbye to her husband as expected, bowing at her feet. Katerina ignores her. Left alone, Kabanikha is indignant that old people are no longer revered. Katerina enters, and the mother-in-law again begins to reproach her daughter-in-law for not saying goodbye to her husband as expected. To which Katerina says that she doesn’t want to make people laugh, and doesn’t know how.
Alone, Katerina regrets that she does not have children. Then she regrets that she did not die as a child. Then she would certainly become a butterfly. Then she prepares herself to wait for her husband’s return. Varvara comes in and persuades Katerina to ask to take a nap in the garden. There the gate is locked, Kabanikha has the key, but Varvara replaced it and gives it to Katerina. She doesn't want to take the key, but then she does. Katerina is confused - she is afraid, but she also really wants to see Boris. He puts the key in his pocket.
Act 3
Scene 1
On the street near the Kabanovs’ house stands Kabanikha and Feklusha, who reflects that life has become hectic. City noise, everyone is running somewhere, but in Moscow everyone is in a hurry. Kabanikha agrees that you need to live a measured life, and says that she would never go to Moscow.
Dikoy appears, having taken quite a bit of it to his chest, and starts a squabble with Kabanova. Then Dikoy cooled down and began to apologize, blaming the reason for his condition on the workers, who from the very morning began to demand wages from him. The wild one leaves.
Boris sits upset because he has not seen Katerina for a long time. Kuligin arrives and, admiring the beauty of nature, reflects that the poor have no time to walk and enjoy this beauty, but the rich sit behind fences, their house is guarded by dogs so that no one sees how they rob orphans and relatives. Varvara appears in the company of Kudryash. They kiss. Kudryash and Kuligin leave. Varvara is busy with a meeting between Boris and Katerina, appointing a place in the ravine.
Scene 2
Night. Behind the Kabanovs' garden in the ravine, Kudryash sings a song, playing the guitar. Boris arrives and they start arguing over a place for a date. Kudryash does not give in, and Boris admits that he is in love with a married woman. Curly, of course, guessed who she was.
Varvara appears and goes for a walk with Kudryash. Boris is left alone with Katerina. Katerina accuses Boris of ruined honor. She is afraid to move on with her life. Boris reassures her, inviting her not to think about the future, but to enjoy the togetherness. Katerina confesses her love for Boris.
Kudryash arrives with Varvara and asks how the lovers are doing. They talk about their confessions. Kudryash suggests continuing to use this gate for meetings. Boris and Katerina agree on their next date.
Act 4
A dilapidated gallery with paintings of the Last Judgment on the walls. It's raining, people are hiding in the gallery.
Kuligin talks to Dikiy, asking him to donate money to install a sundial in the center of the boulevard, and at the same time persuades him to install lightning rods. Dikoy refuses, shouts at Kuligin, superstitiously believing that a thunderstorm is God’s punishment for sins, he calls the developer an atheist. Kuligin leaves him and says that they will return to the conversation when he has a million in his pocket. The storm is ending.
Tikhon returns home. Katerina becomes not herself. Varvara reports to Boris about her condition. The storm is coming again.
Kuligin, Kabanikha, Tikhon and a frightened Katerina come out. She is afraid and it shows. She perceives the thunderstorm as God's punishment. She notices Boris and gets even more scared. People's words reach her that thunderstorms happen for a reason. Katerina is already sure that lightning should kill her and asks her to pray for her soul.
Kuligin tells people that a thunderstorm is not punishment, but grace for every living blade of grass. The crazy lady and her two lackeys appear again. Turning to Katerina, she shouts at her not to hide. There is no need to be afraid of God's punishment, but you need to pray that God will take away her beauty. Katerina already sees fiery hell, and she tells everyone about her affair on the side.
Action 5
It was dusk in the public garden on the banks of the Volga. Kuligin sits alone on a bench. Tikhon comes up to him and talks about his trip to Moscow, where he drank all the time, but didn’t even remember about home, complains that his wife cheated on him. She says that she needs to be buried alive in the ground, as her mother advises. But he feels sorry for her. Kuligin persuades him to forgive his wife. Tikhon is pleased that Dikoy sent Boris to Siberia for three whole years. His sister Varvara ran away from home with Kudryash. Glasha said that Katerina was nowhere to be found.
Katerina is alone and really wants to see Boris to say goodbye. She complains about her unhappy fate and about human judgment, which is worse than execution. Boris comes and says that his uncle sent him to Siberia. Katerina is ready to follow him and asks him to take her with him. She says that her drunkard husband disgusts her. Boris looks around all the time, afraid that they will be seen. In parting, Katerina asks to give alms to the beggars so that they pray for her. Boris leaves.
Katerina goes to the shore. At this time, Kuligin talks with Kabanikha, accusing her of instructing her son against her daughter-in-law. Here you can hear screams that a woman has thrown herself into the water. Kuligin and Tikhon rush to help, but Kabanikha stops her son, threatening to curse him. He will stay. Katerina fell to her death, people bring her body.
Ostrovsky made his heroine of the play “The Thunderstorm” a woman of high morals, spiritual, but so airy and dreamy that she was simply unable to survive in the environment prepared for her by fate. "Storm!" This fatal name is fraught with several meanings. It seems that everything is to blame for the thunderstorm that frightened the already guilty Katerina. She was very pious, but life with an indifferent husband and a tyrant mother-in-law forced her to rebel against the rules. She paid for this. But one might wonder if her fate would have ended this way if there had not been this thunderstorm. Considering Katerina’s natural inability to lie, the betrayal would still have been revealed. And if she had not given herself over to love, she would simply have gone crazy.
The husband, crushed by his mother’s authority, treated Katerina indifferently. She was anxiously looking for love. She initially felt that this would lead her to death, but could not resist her feelings - she had lived in captivity for too long. She was ready to run after Boris to Siberia. Not from great love, but from these hateful walls, where she could not breathe freely. But the lover turns out to be as weak in spirit as her unloved husband.
The result is tragic. Disappointed in life and in men, childless and unhappy Katerina is no longer kept on earth. Her last thoughts are about saving her soul.
Still from the film “The Thunderstorm” (1977)
First half of the 19th century The fictional Volga town of Kalinov. A public garden on the high bank of the Volga. A local self-taught mechanic, Kuligin, talks with young people - Kudryash, the clerk of the rich merchant Dikiy, and the tradesman Shapkin - about the rude antics and tyranny of Dikiy. Then Boris, Dikiy’s nephew, appears, who, in response to Kuligin’s questions, says that his parents lived in Moscow, educated him at the Commercial Academy and both died during the epidemic. He came to Dikoy, leaving his sister with his mother’s relatives, in order to receive part of his grandmother’s inheritance, which Dikoy must give to him according to the will, if Boris is respectful to him. Everyone assures him: under such conditions, Dikoy will never give him the money. Boris complains to Kuligin that he can’t get used to life in Dikiy’s house, Kuligin talks about Kalinov and ends his speech with the words: “Cruel morals, sir, in our city, cruel!”
The Kalinovites disperse. Together with another woman, the wanderer Feklusha appears, praising the city for its “blah-a-lepie”, and the Kabanovs’ house for its special generosity to wanderers. "Kabanovs?" - Boris asks: “A prude, sir, he gives money to the poor, but completely eats up his family,” explains Kuligin. Kabanova comes out, accompanied by her daughter Varvara and son Tikhon and his wife Katerina. She grumbles at them, but finally leaves, allowing the children to walk along the boulevard. Varvara lets Tikhon go out to drink in secret from his mother and, left alone with Katerina, talks with her about domestic relationships and about Tikhon. Katerina talks about her happy childhood in her parents’ house, about her fervent prayers, about what she experiences in the temple, imagining angels in a ray of sunshine falling from the dome, dreams of spreading her arms and flying, and finally admits that “something wrong” is happening to her. something". Varvara guesses that Katerina has fallen in love with someone and promises to arrange a date after Tikhon leaves. This proposal horrifies Katerina. A crazy lady appears, threatening that “beauty leads into the deep end,” and prophesies hellish torment. Katerina gets terribly scared, and then “a thunderstorm comes”, she hurries Varvara home to the icons to pray.
The second act, taking place in the Kabanovs' house, begins with a conversation between Feklushi and the maid Glasha. The wanderer asks about the Kabanovs’ household affairs and relays fabulous stories about distant countries, where people with dog heads “for infidelity,” etc. Katerina and Varvara appear, preparing Tikhon for the road, and continue the conversation about Katerina’s hobby; Varvara calls Boris’s name, relays He bows to him and persuades Katerina to sleep with her in the gazebo in the garden after Tikhon’s departure. Kabanikha and Tikhon come out, the mother tells her son to strictly tell his wife how to live without him, Katerina is humiliated by these formal orders. But, left alone with her husband, she begs him to take her on a trip, after his refusal she tries to give him terrible oaths of fidelity, but Tikhon does not want to listen to them: “You never know what comes to mind...” The returned Kabanikha orders Katerina to bow. at my husband's feet. Tikhon leaves. Varvara, leaving for a walk, tells Katerina that they will spend the night in the garden and gives her the key to the gate. Katerina doesn’t want to take it, then, after hesitating, she puts it in her pocket.
The next action takes place on a bench at the gate of the Kabanovsky house. Feklusha and Kabanikha are talking about the “last times”, Feklusha says that “for our sins” “the time has come for humiliation”, talks about railway(“they began to harness the fiery serpent”), about the bustle of Moscow life as a devilish obsession. Both are expecting even worse times. Dikoy appears with complaints about his family, Kabanikha reproaches him for his disorderly behavior, he tries to be rude to her, but she quickly stops this and takes him into the house for a drink and a snack. While Dikoy is treating himself, Boris, sent by Dikoy’s family, comes to find out where the head of the family is. Having completed the assignment, he exclaims with longing about Katerina: “If only I could take a look at her with one eye!” Varvara, who has returned, tells him to come at night to the gate in the ravine behind the Kabanovsky garden.
The second scene represents a night of youth, Varvara comes out on a date with Kudryash and tells Boris to wait - “you’ll wait for something.” There is a date between Katerina and Boris. After hesitation and thoughts of sin, Katerina is unable to resist awakened love. “Why feel sorry for me - it’s no one’s fault,” she herself went for it. Don't be sorry, destroy me! Let everyone know, let everyone see what I am doing (hugs Boris). If I wasn’t afraid of sin for you, will I be afraid of human judgment?”
The entire fourth action, taking place on the streets of Kalinov - in the gallery of a dilapidated building with the remains of a fresco representing fiery Gehenna, and on the boulevard - takes place against the backdrop of a gathering and finally breaking thunderstorm. It begins to rain, and Dikoy and Kuligin enter the gallery, who begins to persuade Dikoy to give money to install a sundial on the boulevard. In response, Dikoy scolds him in every possible way and even threatens to declare him a robber. Having endured the abuse, Kuligin begins to ask for money for a lightning rod. At this point, Dikoy confidently declares that it is a sin to defend against a thunderstorm sent as punishment “with poles and some kind of furrows, God forgive me.” The stage empties, then Varvara and Boris meet in the gallery. She reports on Tikhon's return, Katerina's tears, Kabanikha's suspicions and expresses fear that Katerina will confess to her husband that she has cheated on her. Boris begs to dissuade Katerina from confessing and disappears. The rest of the Kabanovs enter. Katerina waits with horror that she, who has not repented of her sin, will be killed by lightning, a crazy lady appears, threatening hellish flames, Katerina can no longer hold on and publicly admits to her husband and mother-in-law that she was “walking” with Boris. Kabanikha gloatingly declares: “What, son! Where the will leads; That’s what I’ve been waiting for!”
The last action is again on the high bank of the Volga. Tikhon complains to Kuligin about his family grief, about what his mother says about Katerina: “She must be buried alive in the ground so that she can be executed!” “And I love her, I’m sorry to lay a finger on her.” Kuligin advises to forgive Katerina, but Tikhon explains that under Kabanikha this is impossible. Not without pity, he also speaks about Boris, whom his uncle sends to Kyakhta. The maid Glasha enters and reports that Katerina has disappeared from the house. Tikhon is afraid that “out of melancholy she might kill herself!”, and together with Glasha and Kuligin he leaves to look for his wife.
Katerina appears, she complains about her desperate situation in the house, and most importantly, about her terrible longing for Boris. Her monologue ends with a passionate spell: “My joy! My life, my soul, I love you! Respond!” Boris enters. She asks him to take her with him to Siberia, but understands that Boris’s refusal is due to the truly complete impossibility of leaving with her. She blesses him on his journey, complains about the oppressive life in the house, about her disgust for her husband. Having said goodbye to Boris forever, Katerina begins to dream alone about death, about a grave with flowers and birds that “will fly to the tree, sing, and have children.” “Live again?” - she exclaims with horror. Approaching the cliff, she says goodbye to the departed Boris: “My friend! My joy! Goodbye!" and leaves.
The stage is filled with alarmed people, including Tikhon and his mother in the crowd. A cry is heard behind the stage: “The woman threw herself into the water!” Tikhon tries to run to her, but his mother does not let him in, saying: “I’ll curse you if you go!” Tikhon falls to his knees. After some time, Kuligin brings in Katerina’s body. “Here is your Katerina. Do what you want with her! Her body is here, take it; but the soul is now not yours; she is now before a judge who is more merciful than you!”
Rushing to Katerina, Tikhon accuses his mother: “Mama, you ruined her!” and, not paying attention to Kabanikha’s menacing shouts, falls on his wife’s corpse. “Good for you, Katya! Why did I stay in the world and suffer!” - with these words from Tikhon the play ends.
Retold
Article menu:
The drama “The Thunderstorm” by Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky, written by the author in 1859, is a very popular play that is played on many city theater stages. A distinctive feature of the work is that the heroes are clearly divided into oppressors and oppressed. The exploiters, depraved in their hearts, not only see nothing wrong with being rude to those who depend on them, but consider such behavior normal, even correct. However, to understand the essence of the play, you need to familiarize yourself with its summary.
The main characters of the play:
Savel Prokofievich Dikoy - an evil, greedy and very scandalous person, a merchant, ready to scold anyone who covets his goods.
Marfa Ignatievna Kabanova - a rich merchant's wife, a powerful and despotic woman who holds not only her son Tikhon, but also the entire family, under a tight rein.
Tikhon Kabanov – a weak-willed young man who lives according to his mother’s orders and has no opinion of his own. He just can’t decide who is more valuable – his mother, who must be obeyed unquestioningly, or his wife.
Katerina – The main character of the play, Tikhon's wife, suffers from the arbitrariness of her mother-in-law and from the actions of her husband, who dutifully obeys his mother. She is secretly in love with Dikiy’s nephew, Boris, but for the time being she is afraid to admit her feelings.
Boris- Dikiy’s nephew, under pressure from his tyrant uncle, who does not want to leave him his due inheritance and therefore finds fault with every little thing.
Varvara- Tikhon’s sister, a kind girl, still unmarried, sympathizes with Katerina and tries to protect her. Although circumstances sometimes force her to resort to cunning, Varya does not become bad. She, unlike her brother, is not afraid of her mother's anger.
Kuligin- a tradesman, a person who knows the Kabanov family well, a self-taught mechanic. He looks for a perpetuum mobile, tries to be useful to people, bringing new ideas to life. Unfortunately, his dreams were not destined to come true.
Vanya Kudryash- Dikiy’s clerk, with whom Varvara is in love. He is not afraid of the merchant, and, unlike others, he can tell the truth to his face. However, it is clear that the young man, just like his master, is accustomed to looking for profit in everything.
Act one: meeting the characters
The first appearance.
The tradesman Kuligin, sitting on a bench in a public garden, looks at the Volga and sings. “Here, my brother, for fifty years I’ve been looking across the Volga every day and I can’t see enough of everything,” he addresses the young man Vanya Kudryash. Suddenly they notice how the merchant Dikoy, for whom Ivan serves as a clerk, scolds his nephew Boris. Neither Vanya nor Kuligin are unhappy with the evil merchant, who finds fault with every little thing. The tradesman Shapkin joins the conversation, and now the conversation takes place between him and Kudryash, who boasts that he could, given the opportunity, pacify the Dikiy. Suddenly the angry merchant and Boris pass by them. Kuligin takes off his hat, and Kudryash and Shapkin prudently step aside.
The second phenomenon.
Dikoy shouts loudly at Boris, scolding him for his inaction. However, he shows complete indifference to his uncle’s words. The merchant leaves in anger, not wanting to see his nephew.
The third phenomenon
Kuligin is surprised that Boris still lives with Dikiy and tolerates his obnoxious character. The merchant's nephew replies that he is being held in nothing more than captivity and explains why this is happening. It turns out that his grandmother Anfisa Mikhailovna disliked his father because he married a noble woman. Therefore, Boris’s parents lived separately in Moscow, their son and daughter were not denied anything, but, unfortunately, they died of cholera. Grandmother Anfisa also died, leaving a will for her grandchildren. But they could only receive the inheritance if they were respectful to their uncle.
Boris understands that with his uncle’s picky character, neither he nor his sister will ever see an inheritance. After all, if their own people cannot please such a domestic tyrant, their nephew is even more so.
“It’s hard for me here,” Boris complains to Kuligin. The interlocutor sympathizes with the young man and admits to him that he knows how to write poetry. However, he is afraid to admit this because no one in the city will understand him: he already gets punished for chatting.
Suddenly the wanderer Feklusha enters and begins to praise merchant morals. Kuligin calls her a hypocrite who helps the poor, but mocks her own family.
In general, Kuligin has a cherished dream: to find a perpetuum mobile in order to subsequently financially support the society. He tells Boris about this.
The fourth phenomenon
After Kuligin leaves, Boris is left alone and, jealous of his comrade, laments his own fate. Falling in love with a woman with whom this young man will never be able to even talk causes sadness in his soul. Suddenly he notices her walking with her mother-in-law and husband.
Fifth appearance
The action begins with the merchant's wife Kabanova's instructions to her son. Or rather, she orders him, not tolerating any objections. But the weak-willed Tikhon does not dare to disobey. Kabanova expresses that she is jealous of his daughter-in-law: her son began to love her less than before, his wife is sweeter than his own mother. Her words show hatred for Katerina. She convinces her son to be stricter with her so that the wife will be afraid of her husband. Kabanov tries to insert a word that he loves Katerina, but the mother is adamant in her opinion.
The sixth phenomenon.
When Kabanikha leaves, Tikhon, his sister Varya and Katerina are left alone, and a not very pleasant conversation takes place between them. Kabanov admits that he is absolutely powerless before his mother’s autocracy. The sister reproaches her brother for being weak-willed, but he wants to quickly drink and forget himself, distracted from reality.
Seventh Appearance
Now only Katerina and Varvara are talking. Katerina remembers her carefree past, when her mother dressed her like a doll and did not force her to do any work. Now everything has changed, and the woman feels impending disaster, as if she is hanging over an abyss, and there is nothing to hold on to. The poor young wife laments, admitting that she loves someone else. Varvara advises meeting the one to whom your heart is drawn. Katerina is afraid of this.
The eighth phenomenon
Another heroine of the play enters - a lady with two footmen - and begins to talk about beauty, which only leads into the pool, frightening with an unquenchable fire in which sinners will burn.
Appearance Ninth
Katerina admits to Varya that the lady frightened her with her prophetic words. Varvara objects that the half-crazy old woman herself is afraid of dying, which is why she talks about fire.
Tikhon’s sister is worried that a thunderstorm is approaching, but her brother is not yet there. Katerina admits that she is very scared because of such bad weather, because if she suddenly dies, she will appear before God with unrepentant sins. Finally, to the joy of both, Kabanov appears.
Act two: farewell to Tikhon. Tyranny of Kabanova.
The first appearance.
Glasha, a maid in the Kabanovs' house, is packing Tikhon's things, getting him ready for the trip. The wanderer Feklusha begins to talk about other countries where sultans rule - and everything is unjust. These are very strange speeches.
The second phenomenon.
Varya and Katerina are talking to each other again. Katya, when asked if she loves Tikhon, replies that she feels very sorry for him. But Varya realizes that the object of Katerina’s true love is another person and admits that she talked with him.
Conflicting feelings overwhelm Katerina. Either she laments that she will love her husband and will not exchange Tisha for anyone, then suddenly she threatens that she will leave and that no force can hold her back.
The third phenomenon.
Kabanova admonishes her son before the journey and forces him to tell his wife how to live while he is away. The cowardly Tikhon repeats after his mother everything that Katerina needs to do. This scene is humiliating for the girl.
The fourth phenomenon.
Katerina is left alone with Kabanov and tearfully begs him either not to leave or to take her with him. But Tikhon objects. He wants at least temporary freedom - both from his mother and from his wife - and speaks about it directly. Katya has a presentiment that without him there will be trouble.
Fifth appearance
Before the road, Kabanova orders Tikhon to bow at her feet. Katerina, in a fit of emotion, hugs her husband, but her mother-in-law sharply denounces her, accusing her of shamelessness. The daughter-in-law has to obey and also bow at her husband’s feet. Tikhon says goodbye to everyone in his household.
Appearance Six
Kabanova, left alone with herself, argues that young people do not adhere to any order, they cannot even say goodbye to each other normally. Without the control of their elders, everyone will laugh at them.
Seventh Appearance
Kabanova reproaches Katerina for not crying for her husband who left. The daughter-in-law objects: “There’s no point,” and says that she doesn’t want to make people laugh at all. Varvara leaves the yard.
The eighth phenomenon
Katerina, left alone, thinks that now the house will be quiet and boring. She regrets that children's voices are not heard here. Suddenly the girl figures out how to survive the two weeks until Tikhon arrives. She wants to sew and give the things she makes with her own hands to the poor.
Appearance Ninth
Varvara invites Katerina to secretly meet with Boris and gives her the keys to the backyard gate stolen from her mother. Tikhon’s wife is afraid, indignant: “What are you up to, sinner?” Varya leaves.
The tenth phenomenon
Katerina, having taken the key, hesitates and does not know what to do. Left alone, she fearfully debates whether she will do the right thing if she uses the key or whether it is better to throw it away. In emotional distress, she decides to see Boris after all.
Act three: Katerina meets Boris
Scene one
Kabanova and Feklusha are sitting on the bench. Talking to each other, they talk about the bustle of city life and the silence of country life and that hard times have come. Suddenly a drunken Dikoy enters the yard. He rudely addresses Kabanova, asking her to talk to him. In a conversation, Dikoy admits: he himself understands that he is greedy, scandalous and evil, however, he cannot help himself.
Glasha reports that she fulfilled the command and “a snack has been set.” Kabanova and Dikoy enter the house.
Boris appears, looking for his uncle. Having learned that he is visiting Kabanova, he calms down. Having met Kuligin and talked with him a little, the young man sees Varvara, who calls him to her and with a mysterious look suggests that he later approach the ravine, which is located behind the Kabanovs’ garden.
Scene two
Approaching the ravine, Boris sees Kudryash and asks him to leave. Vanya does not agree, thinking that he is trying to take his bride away from him, but Boris secretly admits that he loves the married Katerina.
Varvara approaches Ivan and they leave together. Boris looks around, dreaming of seeing his beloved. Having lowered her gaze, Katerina approaches him, but is very afraid of sin, which will fall like a stone on her soul if a relationship begins between them. Finally, after some hesitation, the poor girl can’t stand it and throws herself on Boris’s neck. They talk for a long time, declaring their love for each other, and then decide to meet the next day.
Act Four: Confession of Sin
The first appearance.
In the city, near the Volga, couples are walking. A thunderstorm is coming. People talk to each other. On the walls of the destroyed gallery it is possible to discern the outlines of paintings of fiery Gehenna, as well as an image of the battle of Lithuania.
The second phenomenon.
Dikoy and Kuligin appear. The latter persuades the merchant to help him in one good cause for people: to give money for the installation of a lightning rod. Dikoy says offensive words to him, insulting an honest man who tries for others. Dikoy does not understand what “electricity” is and why people need it, and gets even angrier, especially after Kuligin dared to read Derzhavin’s poems.
The third phenomenon.
Suddenly Tikhon returns from a trip. Varvara is at a loss: what should they do with Katerina, because she has become not herself: she is afraid to raise her eyes to her husband. The poor girl is burned with guilt before her husband. The storm is getting closer and closer.
The fourth phenomenon
People try to hide from the thunderstorm. Katerina sobs on Varvara’s shoulder, feeling even more guilty before her husband, especially at the moment she sees Boris emerging from the crowd and approaching them. Varvara makes a sign to him, and he moves away.
Kuligin appeals to people, convincing them not to be afraid of thunderstorms, and calling this phenomenon grace.
Fifth appearance
People continue to talk about the consequences of the thunderstorm. Some people think she will kill someone. Katerina fearfully assumes: it will be her.
Appearance Six
The lady who came in frightened Katerina. She also prophesies her imminent death. The girl is afraid of hell as retribution for sins. Then she can’t stand it and admits to her family that she walked with Boris for ten days. Kabanova is furious. Tikhon is at a loss.
Act five: Katerina throws herself into the river
The first appearance.
Kabanov talks with Kuligin, telling him what is happening in their family, although everyone already knows this news. He is in a confusion of feelings: on the one hand, he is annoyed at Katerina for sinning against him, on the other, he feels sorry for his poor wife, who is being chewed out by her mother-in-law. Realizing that he is also not without sin, the weak-willed husband is ready to forgive Katya, but only mother... Tikhon admits that he lives in someone else’s mind, and simply does not know how to do otherwise.
Varvara cannot stand her mother’s reproaches and runs away from home. The whole family was divided, becoming enemies to each other.
Suddenly Glasha comes in and sadly says that Katerina has disappeared. Kabanov wants to look for her, fearing that his wife might commit suicide.
Second phenomenon
Katerina cries while looking for Boris. She feels incessant guilt - now in front of him. Not wanting to live with a stone in her soul, the girl wants to die. But before that, meet your loved one again. “My joy, my life, my soul, I love you! Respond!” - she calls.
The third phenomenon.
Katerina and Boris meet. The girl finds out that he is not angry with her. The beloved announces that he is leaving for Siberia. Katerina asks to go with him, but she can’t: Boris is traveling on an errand from his uncle.
Katerina is very sad, complaining to Boris that it is incredibly difficult for her to endure the reproaches of her mother-in-law, the ridicule of others, and even Tikhon’s affection.
I really don’t want to say goodbye to my beloved, but Boris, although he is tormented by a bad feeling that Katerina doesn’t have long to live, still needs to go.
The fourth phenomenon
Left alone, Katerina understands that she now doesn’t want to return to her family at all: everything is disgusting - both people and home walls. Better to die. In despair, folding her hands, the girl throws herself into the river.
Fifth appearance
Relatives are looking for Katerina, but she is nowhere to be found. Suddenly someone shouted: “The woman threw herself into the water!” Kuligin runs away with several other people.
The sixth phenomenon.
Kabanov tries to pull Katerina out of the river, but her mother strictly forbids him to do this. When Kuligin pulls the girl out, it’s already too late: Katerina is dead. But it looks like it’s alive: one small wound only on the temple.
Seventh Appearance
Kabanova forbids her son to mourn Katerina, but he dares to blame his mother for his wife’s death. For the first time in his life, Tikhon is determined and shouts: “You ruined her!” Kabanova threatens to have a stern talk with her son at home. Tikhon, in despair, throws himself on the dead body of his wife, saying: “Why did I stay to live and suffer.” But it's' too late. Alas.
Boris. If I were alone, it would be fine! I would give up everything and leave. I feel sorry for my sister. He was about to discharge her, but my mother’s relatives didn’t let her in, they wrote that she was sick. It’s scary to imagine what life would be like for her here.
Curly. Of course. They really understand the message!
Kuligin. How do you live with him, sir, in what position?
Boris. Yes, not at all. “Live,” he says, “with me, do what they tell you, and pay whatever you give.” That is, in a year he will give it up as he pleases.
Curly. He has such an establishment. With us, no one dares say a word about salary, he’ll scold you for what it’s worth. “Why do you know,” he says, “what I have in mind? How can you know my soul? Or maybe I’ll be in such a mood that I’ll give you five thousand.” So talk to him! Only in his entire life he had never been in such a position.
Kuligin. What to do, sir! We must try to please somehow.
Boris. That's the thing, Kuligin, it's absolutely impossible. Even their own people can’t please him; and where am I supposed to be?
Curly. Who will please him if his whole life is based on swearing? And most of all because of the money; Not a single calculation is complete without swearing. Another is happy to give up his own, just to calm down. And the trouble is, someone will make him angry in the morning! He picks on everyone all day long.
Boris. Every morning my aunt begs everyone with tears: “Fathers, don’t make me angry! Darlings, don’t make me angry!”
Curly. There's nothing you can do to protect yourself! I got to the market, that's the end! He will scold all the men. Even if you ask at a loss, you still won’t leave without scolding. And then he went for the whole day.
Shapkin. One word: warrior!
Curly. What a warrior!
Boris. But the trouble is when he is offended by such a person whom he does not dare to curse; stay home here!
Curly. Fathers! What a laugh it was! Once on the Volga, during a transport, a hussar cursed him. He worked miracles!
Boris. And what a homey feeling it was! After that, everyone hid in attics and closets for two weeks.
Kuligin. What is this? No way, have the people moved on from Vespers?
Several faces pass at the back of the stage.
Curly. Let's go, Shapkin, on a revelry! Why stand here?
They bow and leave.
Boris. Eh, Kuligin, it’s painfully difficult for me here, without the habit. Everyone looks at me somehow wildly, as if I’m superfluous here, as if I’m disturbing them. I don't know the customs here. I understand that all this is Russian, native, but I still can’t get used to it.
Kuligin. And you will never get used to it, sir.
Boris. From what?
Kuligin. Cruel morals, sir, in our city, cruel! In philistinism, sir, you will see nothing but rudeness and naked poverty. And we, sir, will never escape this crust! Because honest work will never earn us more than our daily bread. And whoever has money, sir, tries to enslave the poor so that he can make even more money from his free labors. Do you know what your uncle, Savel Prokofich, answered to the mayor? The peasants came to the mayor to complain that he would not disrespect any of them. The mayor began to tell him: “Listen,” he said, “Savel Prokofich, pay the men well! Every day they come to me with complaints!” Your uncle patted the mayor on the shoulder and said: “Is it worth it, your honor, for us to talk about such trifles! I have a lot of people every year; You understand: I won’t pay them a penny extra per person, I make thousands out of this, and that’s good for me!” That's it, sir! And among themselves, sir, how they live! They undermine each other's trade, and not so much out of self-interest as out of envy. They are at enmity with each other; they get drunken clerks into their high mansions, such, sir, clerks that there is no human appearance on them, the human appearance is lost. And for small acts of kindness they scribble malicious slander against their neighbors on stamped sheets. And for them, sir, a trial and a case will begin, and there will be no end to the torment. They sue, sue here and go to the province, and there they are expected and splash their hands with joy. Soon the fairy tale is told, but not soon the deed is done; They lead them, they lead them, they drag them, they drag them, and they are also happy about this dragging, that’s all they need. “I’ll spend it,” he says, “and it won’t cost him a penny.” I wanted to depict all this in poetry...
Boris. Can you write poetry?
Kuligin. In the old-fashioned way, sir. I read a lot of Lomonosov, Derzhavin... Lomonosov was a sage, an explorer of nature... But he was also from ours, from a simple rank.
Boris. You would have written it. It would be interesting.
Kuligin. How is it possible, sir! They will eat you, swallow you alive. I already get enough, sir, for my chatter; I can’t, I like to spoil the conversation! I also wanted to tell you about family life, sir; yes some other time. And there is also something to listen to.
Feklusha and another woman enter.
Feklusha. Blah-alepie, honey, blah-alepie! Wonderful beauty! What can I say! You live in the promised land! And the merchants are all pious people, adorned with many virtues! Generosity and many donations! I’m so pleased, so, mother, completely satisfied! For our failure to leave them even more bounties, and especially to the Kabanovs’ house.
They leave.
Boris. Kabanovs?
Kuligin. Prude, sir! He gives money to the poor, but completely eats up his family.
Silence.
If only I could find a mobile phone, sir!
Boris. What would you do?
Kuligin. Why, sir! After all, the British give a million; I would use all the money for society, for support. Jobs must be given to the philistines. Otherwise, you have hands, but nothing to work with.
Boris Grigoryich, his nephew, is a young man, decently educated.
Marfa Ignatievna Kabanova (Kabanikha), wealthy merchant, widow.
Tikhon Ivanovich Kabanov, her son.
Katerina, his wife.
Varvara, Tikhon's sister.
Kuligin, a tradesman, a self-taught watchmaker, looking for a perpetuum mobile.
Vanya Kudryash, a young man, Dikov’s clerk.
Shapkin, tradesman.
Feklusha, wanderer.
Glasha, a girl in Kabanova's house.
A lady with two footmen, an old woman of 70 years old, half crazy.
City dwellers of both sexes.
The action takes place in the city of Kalinov, on the banks of the Volga, in the summer.
Ten days pass between the third and fourth acts.
Act one
A public garden on the high bank of the Volga, a rural view beyond the Volga. There are two benches and several bushes on the stage.
First appearance
Kuligin sits on a bench and looks across the river. Kudryash and Shapkin are walking.
Kuligin (sings). “In the middle of a flat valley, at a smooth height...” (Stops singing.) Miracles, truly it must be said, miracles! Curly! Here, my brother, for fifty years I have been looking across the Volga every day and I still can’t get enough of it.
Curly. And what?
Kuligin. The view is extraordinary! Beauty! The soul rejoices.
Curly. Neshtu!
Kuligin. Delight! And you: “No way!” Have you looked closely, or don’t understand what beauty is spilled in nature.
Curly. Well, there’s nothing to talk about with you! You are an antique, a chemist!
Kuligin. Mechanic, self-taught mechanic.
Curly. It's all the same.
Silence.
Kuligin (pointing to the side). Look, brother Kudryash, who is waving his arms like that?
Curly. This? This is Dikoy scolding his nephew.
Kuligin. Found a place!
Curly. He belongs everywhere. He's afraid of someone! He got Boris Grigoryich as a sacrifice, so he rides it.
Shapkin. Look for another scolder like ours, Savel Prokofich! There's no way he'll cut someone off.
Curly. Shrill man!
Shapkin. Kabanikha is also good.
Curly. Well, at least that one is all under the guise of piety, but this one is like he’s broken loose!
Shapkin. There is no one to calm him down, so he fights!
Curly. We don’t have many guys like me, otherwise we would have taught him not to be naughty.
Shapkin. What would you do?
Curly. They would have given a good beating.
Shapkin. Like this?
Curly. Four or five of us in an alley somewhere would talk to him face to face, and he would turn into silk. But I wouldn’t even say a word to anyone about our science, I’d just walk around and look around.
Shapkin. No wonder he wanted to give you up as a soldier.
Curly. I wanted it, but I didn’t give it, so it’s all the same thing. He won’t give me up, he senses with his nose that I won’t sell my head cheap. He's the one who's scary to you, but I know how to talk to him.
Shapkin. Oh my!
Curly. What's here: oh! I am considered a rude person; Why is he holding me? Therefore, he needs me. Well, that means I’m not afraid of him, but let him be afraid of me.
Shapkin. It's as if he doesn't scold you?
Curly. How not to scold! He can't breathe without it. Yes, I don’t let it go either: he is the word, and I am ten; he will spit and go. No, I won’t slave to him.
Kuligin. Should we take him as an example? It's better to endure it.
Curly. Well, if you are smart, then teach him to be polite first, and then teach us too! It’s a pity that his daughters are teenagers, and none of them are older.
Shapkin. So what?
Curly. I would respect him. I'm too crazy about girls!
Dikoy and Boris pass. Kuligin takes off his hat.
Shapkin (Curly). Let's move to the side: he'll probably get attached again.
They are leaving.
Second phenomenon
The same, Dikoy and Boris.
Wild. What the hell are you, you came here to beat me up! Parasite! Get lost!
Boris. Holiday; what to do at home!
Wild. You will find a job as you want. I told you once, I told you twice: “Don’t you dare come across me”; you're itching for everything! Not enough space for you? Wherever you go, here you are! Ugh, damn you! Why are you standing there like a pillar! Are they telling you no?
Boris. I’m listening, what else should I do!
Wild (looking at Boris). Fail! I don’t even want to talk to you, the Jesuit. (Leaving.) I imposed myself! (Spits and leaves.)
The third phenomenon
Kuligin, Boris, Kudryash and Shapkin.
Kuligin. What is your business, sir, with him? We will never understand. You want to live with him and endure abuse.
Boris. What a hunt, Kuligin! Captivity.
Kuligin. But what kind of bondage, sir, let me ask you. If you can, sir, then tell us.
Boris. Why not say so? Did you know our grandmother, Anfisa Mikhailovna?
Kuligin. Well, how could you not know!
Boris. She didn’t like Father because he married a noble woman. It was on this occasion that the priest and mother lived in Moscow. My mother said that for three days she could not get along with her relatives, it seemed very strange to her.
Kuligin. Still not wild! What can I say! You need to have a big habit, sir.
Boris. Our parents raised us well in Moscow; they spared nothing for us. I was sent to the Commercial Academy, and my sister to a boarding school, and both suddenly died of cholera; My sister and I were left orphans. Then we hear that my grandmother died here and left a will so that my uncle would pay us the part that should be paid when we come of age, only with a condition.
Kuligin. With which one, sir?
Boris. If we are respectful to him.
Kuligin. This means, sir, that you will never see your inheritance.
Boris. No, that’s not enough, Kuligin! He will first break with us, scold us in every possible way, as his heart desires, but he will still end up not giving anything, or just some little thing. Moreover, he will say that he gave it out of mercy, and that this should not have been the case.
Curly. This is such an institution among our merchants. Again, even if you were respectful to him, who can stop him from saying that you are disrespectful?
Boris. Well, yes. Even now he sometimes says: “I have my own children, why would I give other people’s money? Through this I must offend my own people!”
Kuligin. So, sir, your business is bad.
Boris. If I were alone, it would be fine! I would give up everything and leave. I feel sorry for my sister. He was about to discharge her, but my mother’s relatives didn’t let her in, they wrote that she was sick. It’s scary to imagine what life would be like for her here.
Curly. Of course. Do they understand the appeal?
Kuligin. How do you live with him, sir, in what position?
Boris. Yes, not at all: “Live,” he says, “with me, do what they tell you, and pay whatever you give.” That is, in a year he will give it up as he pleases.
Curly. He has such an establishment. With us, no one dares say a word about salary, he’ll scold you for what it’s worth. “How do you know what’s on my mind,” he says? How can you know my soul? Or maybe I’ll be in such a mood that I’ll give you five thousand.” So talk to him! Only in his entire life he had never been in such a position.