One of the main characters of the play by the famous Russian playwright A. N. Ostrovsky is the nephew of the merchant Dikiy - Boris. “The Thunderstorm” is a famous play and tragedy, which embodied in its plot all the originality and unbending spirit of the people of that time, and made an invaluable contribution to the history of literature, contributing to the understanding of the life of that era.
Story line
The plot is built on feelings and emotions, on relationships in the family and outside it. In those distant times, the people of a small town lived like one big family, the tragedy of one person affected everyone and was discussed by everyone. This happened with Tikhon’s family. The reason was his wife’s betrayal - a situation in which Boris’s characteristics were most clearly demonstrated. “The Thunderstorm” is a play whose main meaning lies in the tragic consequences of betrayal, but betrayal in the name of love. How will this event affect each family member, how will the true essence of the human soul manifest itself and be revealed? Eg, main character Boris, whose moral principles and inner world were at odds with the current situation, decided to abandon his loved one, stop communicating with Katerina, thereby wounding her to the very heart. Did you act like a coward or... a hero? What exactly is Boris's characteristic? A thunderstorm is a natural phenomenon that can reveal and convey the feelings, emotions and torment of all the main characters. Experiences and doubts, the correctness of actions and the correctness of choice in the face of fear and death...
Characteristics of the hero: Boris. “Thunderstorm” is a great tragedy of a small human soul
Already from the first scene of the play, it is clear that Boris, who came from Moscow, stands out from the crowd with his noble behavior, respectful attitude and good manners. He himself says that he was “trained in literacy and languages,” studied diligently and strived for the best. After the death of his parents, who tragically died from the cholera epidemic raging at that time, he had to come to his only relative - his uncle - to receive his inheritance. According to the terms of the will, he will receive it only if he is respectful to the merchant Dikiy. Well-mannered and meek, courteous and cultured - these are the characteristics of Boris. “The Thunderstorm” is a work that reveals the inner world of such people in the best possible way. He was ready to harbor resentment and the understanding that he would not receive an inheritance, while continuing to play the role of a loving nephew, remaining to live in this town and putting up with his rude and impudent uncle, not wishing him harm and treating him with understanding. This characterizes him as a person with a big and bright soul, open and kind, but at the same time he becomes more and more depressed and gloomy, his feelings are written on his face.
Fateful decision
You can't fool fate - this one folk wisdom characterizes the behavior and actions of the main characters. Boris fell in love with Katerina, a woman with whom, as he himself said, he was not destined to even talk, because his love was already married. This circumstance greatly influenced the main character, he admitted that he was crushed and killed by the mere thought of impossible intimacy with a loved one, but “the ways of the Lord are inscrutable,” and fate brought two loving hearts together, giving a spark of hope to both, because Katerina answers the young man reciprocity. At this moment, Boris’s entire characterization changed radically. Thunderstorm is an allegory that the author used in this play. It displays and conveys the emotions of all the main characters, their torment and doubts, and the impending tragedy. Katerina's husband had to leave the city. And after her husband leaves, she completely surrenders to emotions.
This happened because Katerina never loved Tikhon and was offended by his entire family for humiliation. She cannot resist the surging feelings and cheats on her husband with Boris, who also could not control himself and threw himself “into the pool headlong,” indulging in sin with a married woman. This moment may characterize him as a frivolous person, but this is far from the case. After Tikhon’s return, he refused to communicate with Katerina in the hope that her husband would forgive her, and did not destroy the family, thereby causing irreparable injury to his beloved. It was much harder for him at that moment, but he agreed to hide his feelings for the sake of the woman’s happiness. In order not to discredit her name, he asked not to confess, but she decided otherwise... We can say that Boris’s characterization (“The Thunderstorm”) manifested itself in cowardice and repentance, but this is the other side of the coin.
Quote from Boris. "Thunderstorm" - a tragedy of feelings
The most famous quote with which Boris described himself: “Harried, downtrodden, and then he foolishly decided to fall in love.” From the very beginning he did not like the bourgeois life in a small town, he was bored; having left big city and not finding support here, he began to feel sad, and the very first phrase shows his moral state: “I understand that all this is ours, Russian, native, but still I won’t get used to it.” Such a life was alien to him, he did not want to put up with it, at the same time, pride and selfishness manifested themselves more and more often. He pushed his beloved away, did not communicate or talk to her, and his cowardice led to tragedy - Katerina committed suicide. This is the best characteristic of Boris. “The Thunderstorm” is a play that shows what indifference and playing with the feelings of another person, indecision and cowardice, untimely decisions and the bitterness of resentment can lead to.
Boris Grigorievich is the antagonist of Tikhon in Ostrovsky’s novel “The Thunderstorm,” who fails to fully get used to this role.
There is no contrast, since both heroes equally demonstrate base character traits and thus alienate the reader and Katerina.
Characteristics of the hero
(Vladimir Alekseevich Safronov as Boris, play "The Thunderstorm", Maly Theater)
Boris Grigorievich received an excellent education for that time, graduating from the Commercial Academy. In anticipation of the possibility of entering into an inheritance, he returns to the city of Kalinov, where he does his best to please his uncle, Dikiy, a local tyrant.
Step by step, the character of the young man is revealed to us, while losing traces of external gloss. This is a person who is ready to do anything to achieve his goal, and if this does not require doing anything (showing inaction), then so much the better. Showing in public an excellent education and the ability to pronounce beautiful speeches, he no, no, but speaks like the predominant part of the merchant class - people of the simplest origin and sometimes without any education at all.
Boris is another example of Domostroy in its very unsightly form. He considers himself disadvantaged and offended, but at the same time he resolutely refuses to change his “oppressed” position. He is completely and completely satisfied with the fact that Dikaya makes all of his decisions for him, thereby taking responsibility for them. Only in words and in a strictly controlled society does he allow himself to speak out against this state of affairs.
A selfish man, Boris Grigorievich is very glad that there are two weeks of pleasant time ahead with the pretty Katerina. What will happen to the woman after is not at all interesting or caring to him. There is only one thing in the foreground - your own pleasure. What Katya is like as a person, what she breathes, what her soul strives for, has absolutely no meaning for the hero, is of no interest. Understanding it is extra work.
The similarities between Katerina's lover and husband can be traced in many ways. Two people were brought up by Kalinov’s house-building way of life, which leaves a lasting imprint on their way of thinking and action. Everyone is theoretically capable of a bright and selfless feeling, but they just don’t feel the slightest need for it, since they already have everything they need. For Katya’s sake, no one is ready to go against Domostroy. The irresponsibility of everyone becomes one of the steps towards the tragic ending of the play.
The image of the hero in the work
It may seem that the main negative character in the work is Kabanikha. However, she is only one of them, because her actions alone were not enough to break her daughter-in-law’s spirit. On the contrary, the further you go, the more you get the feeling that the merchant’s wife is afraid of a girl who has enough willpower to object, disagree, protest, and most importantly, try to get her husband out of the influence of her mother-in-law.
Boris's parents died during the cholera epidemic in Moscow. After themselves, they leave a will, the terms of which oblige the young man to obey his uncle, the Wild, in everything. Meanwhile, the merchant is not at all eager to benefit his nephew, because he has his own children. Over time, the heir realizes that he can hardly expect mercy from his uncle, but he cannot find enough firmness in himself to leave.
(Still from the film "The Thunderstorm", USSR, 1933)
What attracts Katerina to the hero? His external polish, noble manners, courteous address. She is unable to discern what is hiding behind them until the time comes for decisive action. But her hero is not capable of action. It is difficult to find a worse match for a religious and bright-hearted girl.
In the eyes of Ostrovsky, Boris is the most weak-willed person who does not like his life, but he will not change it unless force majeure circumstances force him to do so. But there are none. By refusing to take Katya away from Kalinov, he literally pushes her to death, although he does not bother to think about what awaits the woman he abandoned next. And even in each of his accusatory speeches, he comes to only one conclusion: only he himself is worthy of all sympathy, because his suffering is above all. He is not capable of loving and sacrificing himself.
Ostrovsky's play "The Thunderstorm" is known to everyone. Life in a small town goes on as usual. Everything changed with the arrival of Boris, who met and fell in love with a married woman. The image and characterization of Boris in the play “The Thunderstorm” is inextricably linked with love line. The relationship between Boris and Katerina played a big role in the tragedy that unfolded in the play. He was unable to protect his love, which led to the death of the girl, who was unable to cope with mental anguish and decided that the best way out in this situation would be suicide.
Boris is a young man who came from the capital to claim his inheritance. He is related to the Wild.
Image and characteristics
Little is known about Boris's appearance. He dressed like a dandy in the latest fashion. Received a good education. Well-mannered It was no coincidence that I ended up in Kalinov. I came to collect my inheritance from my grandmother. Only my sister remained from the family. Parents died.
He received a good education while studying at the Commercial Academy.
“Our parents in Moscow raised us well, they spared nothing for us. I was sent to the Commercial Academy, my sister to a boarding school.”
Fashionable, stylish. This is not surprising, because in Moscow everyone dresses brand new. In comparison with the residents of Kalinovo, his appearance was strikingly different.
“All the faces, except Boris, are dressed in Russian.”
The purpose of coming to the city is one - to receive an inheritance. This is possible under the only condition that the guy treats the guy (Wild) with reverence and respect.
“My grandmother died and left a will so that my uncle would pay us the portion that was due when we came of age, only on the condition that we be respectful to him.”
Boris constantly suffers humiliation from his uncle. He always finds a reason to find fault and humiliate the guy. He has to endure and endure insults in silence, because there is too much at stake. He is no longer sure that he will be able to get at least a penny from the guy. It works and works, but to no avail.
“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 so, some little thing.”
Weak character. Boris's weakness of character is manifested more than once throughout the play. He knows this trait in himself, but cannot change it. He fawns over his uncle, fawns over him, tolerating his antics. In the case of Katerina, he did not have the fortitude to protect the woman he loved. Having turned her head, he abandons her in difficult times, running away from the city like a cowardly hare from the chase. If he had shown at least a little character, he would have taken her with him, thereby saving her life, but, alas.
Kind. By nature, Boris is a kind and sympathetic guy. Kuligin said about him:
“He’s a good man, sir...”
Indecisive. Performing actions is not about our Boris, we don’t have enough courage. When everyone knows about his love affair with Katerina, he panicked, preferring to “throw around and cry,” but not do anything. At the moment of saying goodbye to her, he relied on himself:
“Oh, if only these people knew how it feels for me to say goodbye to you! My God! May God grant that someday they may feel as sweet as I do now...You villains! Monsters! Oh, if only there was strength!
But the strength can't come from anywhere. Boris himself understands this very well.
It is easier for him to run away from problems than to tackle them. He saw that something was wrong with Katerina, but did not deign to ask what was bothering her and why she was alarmed. He added fuel to the fire by saying that he was leaving for a long time, his uncle ordered it, and to disobey him would mean losing hope of getting an inheritance. Boris is not used to being held responsible for his actions. Maybe he didn’t love Katerina, he just spent time with her, brightening up his leisure time. As soon as she started causing him problems, he chose to retreat.
Egoist. First of all, Boris always thought only about himself and his own benefit. The interests and problems of other people did not bother him much. He was unable to understand the depth of Katerina’s nature and appreciate the tragedy of her personality, which ultimately led to a sad ending. His cowardice brought Katerina to tragedy. If he had even thought about her, things might have been different.
"characters can be roughly divided into representatives" dark kingdom"and on his victims. The representatives include Dikoy and Kabanikha, but among the victims they name Katerina, Tikhon and Boris. However, is it possible to say with confidence that the last of those listed is really a victim of the “dark kingdom”? Let's try to understand this issue. The characterization of Boris in the play “The Thunderstorm” can fit in one sentence: a weak-willed young man who is ready to sacrifice his moral principles in order to get money. And indeed it is. But does that make him a victim?
Little has been said about the appearance of Boris from the play “The Thunderstorm”. This is a young man who came from Moscow. He is dressed differently than the residents of Kalinov, in a capital style, in a foreign style. Boris differs from the Kalinovites in his perception of the world, but he himself seems to be proud of it. Of course, the fact that Boris received an education adds a share of snobbery. But here, in Kalinov, no one is interested in this. His motives for coming to the city, actions in life situations and attitude towards others become much more important and revealing.
Boris Grigorievich, Dikiy’s nephew, did not come to the city because he missed his relative. Boris, like everyone else in the city, just needs money. Dikoy, being a stingy and greedy person, does not want to give away the inheritance that is due to his nephew. And Boris, realizing that you won’t get the money legally, decides to “establish relations” with his uncle so that he will be kinder and give the amount. But neither the nephew nor the Wild have any kindred feelings. Savl Prokofievich insults and scolds Boris, and he does not want to stay in Kalinov anymore, but steps over his principles for the sake of money.
The image of Boris in the play “The Thunderstorm” by Ostrovsky is associated with a love line. Boris falls in love with Katerina, at least that’s what he thinks. But with Tikhon’s arrival, several days of secret meetings with Katya pass, and here Boris’s real face, cowardly and petty, is revealed. Katerina was determined to confess her feelings to the whole family just to live honestly with Boris, but Boris thought differently. He was very afraid that Katya would talk about their walks, and tried to persuade the girl to remain silent. The young man lamented that everything was already over at that moment when Katerina had not yet said anything to her husband and mother-in-law. That is, he refused to take responsibility for the girl and for his feelings; it is easier for Boris to escape from the problem and regret what was lost. Unfortunately, neither he nor Tikhon were able and could never protect Katerina from the kingdom of lies and deceit. The last conversation between Boris and Katya is especially indicative in this regard. Boris understands that something is wrong with the girl, but does not ask about her condition. Instead, Boris makes the situation worse: he needs to go to Siberia for a long time, he doesn’t want to take Katya. With similar words, he makes it clear to the girl that in fact Boris did not actually experience any deep feelings.
While he felt good and easy, he was with Katya. As soon as the problems started, he left.
The given description of the image of Boris will be useful to 10th grade students when collecting material for an essay on the topic “Characterization of Boris in the play “The Thunderstorm” by Ostrovsky.”
Characteristics of Boris from the play “The Thunderstorm” by Ostrovsky, an essay on the topic of the image of the hero |
In Ostrovsky’s play “The Thunderstorm,” the characters can be divided into representatives of the “dark kingdom” and its victims. The representatives include Dikoy and Kabanikha, but among the victims they name Katerina, Tikhon and Boris. However, is it possible to say with confidence that the last of those listed is really a victim of the “dark kingdom”? Let's try to understand this issue. The characterization of Boris in the play “The Thunderstorm” can fit in one sentence: a weak-willed young man who is ready to sacrifice his moral principles in order to get money. And indeed it is. But does that make him a victim?
Little has been said about the appearance of Boris from the play “The Thunderstorm”. This is a young man who came from Moscow. He is dressed differently than the residents of Kalinov, in a capital style, in a foreign style. Boris differs from the Kalinovites in his perception of the world, but he himself seems to be proud of it. Of course, the fact that Boris received an education adds a share of snobbery. But here, in Kalinov, no one is interested in this. His motives for coming to the city, actions in life situations and attitude towards others become much more important and revealing.
Boris Grigorievich, Dikiy’s nephew, did not come to the city because he missed his relative. Boris, like everyone else in the city, just needs money. Dikoy, being a stingy and greedy person, does not want to give away the inheritance that is due to his nephew. And Boris, realizing that you won’t get the money legally, decides to “establish relations” with his uncle so that he will be kinder and give the amount. But neither the nephew nor the Wild have any kindred feelings. Savl Prokofievich insults and scolds Boris, and he does not want to stay in Kalinov anymore, but steps over his principles for the sake of money.
The image of Boris in the play “The Thunderstorm” by Ostrovsky is associated with a love line. Boris falls in love with Katerina, at least that’s what he thinks. But with Tikhon’s arrival, several days of secret meetings with Katya pass, and here Boris’s real face, cowardly and petty, is revealed. Katerina was determined to confess her feelings to the whole family just to live honestly with Boris, but Boris thought differently. He was very afraid that Katya would talk about their walks, and tried to persuade the girl to remain silent. The young man lamented that everything was already over at that moment when Katerina had not yet said anything to her husband and mother-in-law. That is, he refused to take responsibility for the girl and for his feelings; it is easier for Boris to escape from the problem and regret what was lost. Unfortunately, neither he nor Tikhon were able and could never protect Katerina from the kingdom of lies and deceit. The last conversation between Boris and Katya is especially indicative in this regard. Boris understands that something is wrong with the girl, but does not ask about her condition. Instead, Boris makes the situation worse: he needs to go to Siberia for a long time, he doesn’t want to take Katya. With similar words, he makes it clear to the girl that in fact Boris did not actually experience any deep feelings. While he felt good and easy, he was with Katya. As soon as the problems started, he left.
