“Each character is interesting and significant in its own way. The playwright managed to show all the types that can live in the depicted “dark kingdom”: tyrants, dreamer heroes, powerless deceivers, determined heroines, and infantile drunkards. From this point of view, it is interesting to learn about the characterization of Varvara from the play “The Thunderstorm”.
Varvara Kabanova is the sister of Tikhon Kabanov and the daughter of Marfa Ignatievna. From the first pages it becomes clear how different the brother and sister are. We can say that they are almost opposite: the lively Varvara and the uninitiative Tikhon. But neither one nor the other is satisfied with the rules and laws by which they have to live. Tikhon finds solace in drinking, Varvara adapts differently. Surprisingly, Varvara in the play “The Thunderstorm” is the only character who has adapted. He adapted, and did not resign himself, like Kuligin.
Varvara learned to lie, to be a hypocrite, she learned to be resourceful and, in a sense, to ignore. Her character is much stronger than Tikhon’s, but Varvara does not need an open protest against patriarchal foundations.
She has no need to throw herself into the river to show the desperate depth of the bottom to which people have sunk themselves. Varvara loves life too much to risk it like that. She is practical, and that is precisely what makes her attractive. How bravely the girl copes with her mother’s prohibitions to limit her space! Quietly, without hysterics or lengthy thoughts, Varvara simply changes the lock so that she can easily go to meetings with the help of her key. At the same time, as they say, both the wolves are fed and the sheep are safe.
In addition, in the Kabanov family, only Varvara supports Katerina, listens to her, and gives advice. The girl likes Katya, she is sincerely sorry that such a pure and strong Katerina got a weak-willed, drinking husband. Varvara is trying to make Katya’s existence a little easier in Kabanikha’s house. Unfortunately, the only way to achieve this is to lie. “And I was not a liar, but I learned when it became necessary.” Varvara, although in a whisper, still gives caustic comments about Kabanikha’s hysterics. She is smart and insightful enough to understand the incorrectness and unsuitability of existing laws. Varvare notices changes in Katya’s mood, confidently saying that she is yearning for some man. Varvara looks at things realistically. This is proven by one of the first dialogues with Katerina: in response to the remark that Katya dreams of walking and riding along the Volga with someone, Varvara accurately remarks: “but not with her husband.”
The girl helps arrange a date between Katerina and Boris, although neither of them asked her to do so. She sees how both are tormented by unexpressed feelings, and decides to help, absolutely selflessly. She worries about the lovers, meets with Boris, informing him about Katya’s condition.
Although the author does not give a complete description of Varvara, the image of heroin clearly emerges in the readers’ imagination.
The girl is somewhat similar to a cat who walks on her own, but allows others to think that they have some kind of power over her. If he wants, he walks with Vanya Kudryash, if he wants, he walks with someone else. She enjoys freedom as much as possible. Varvara likes to live, sing songs, run away from her mother, and be happy. The attitude “do what you want, the main thing is that no one finds out anything” is implemented in “The Thunderstorm” in the image of Varvara. The girl happily walks with Kudryash, so she does not at all condemn Katerina’s behavior. Varvara is trying in every possible way to dissuade Katya from admitting to treason. In this, the girl’s behavior is similar to Boris’s behavior. He also doesn’t want anyone to find out about his secret meetings with Katya. But Boris wants this for his own sake, and Varvara wants it for Katerina’s sake.
At the end of the play, the reader learns that Varvara runs away from her mother’s house with Kudryash. Tikhon reports this: “Mama sharpened and sharpened Varvara; but she couldn’t stand it, and that’s what she was like - she just took it and left.” “They say she ran away with Kudryash and Vanka, and they won’t find him anywhere either. This, Kuligin, I must say straight out, is from my mother; That’s why she began to tyrannize her and lock her up. “Don’t lock it, he says, it will get worse!” That’s how it happened.”
With this act, the girl expressed her protest and unwillingness to put up with Marfa Ignatievna’s manipulations and cruelty. As soon as the girl stopped putting up with the situation in the house, she ran away. Varvara is her own boss, despite her age, she seems experienced and knowing life. She understands people better, herself, and her desires are quite understandable. Running away with Kudryash is by no means an impulsive decision, which was conceived only in order to show how bad Kabanikha is. This is not a jump into the Volga, but the beginning of a new stage in Varvara’s life. You can make a lot of guesses about how her fate will develop further: whether she will be with Kudryash or leave him, whether she will end up in Moscow or somewhere else, but at the same time there is a strong feeling that everything will be fine with Varvara, because she can find a way out of any situation. And if the situation does not suit her, the girl will change it.
It is impossible to imagine that Varvara could later become like her mother. Yes, the girl lies and gives the impression of being decent and obedient, but Varvara values freedom too much to drive herself into the framework of hypocrisy and tyranny. In addition, she sees what unjustified cruelty and a pathological desire to control everything can lead to.
The image and characteristics of Varvara from the play “The Thunderstorm” by Ostrovsky |
The common noun “dark kingdom” first appeared in Nikolai Dobrolyubov’s review article on the play “The Thunderstorm” by Alexander Ostrovsky. The playwright, being a Russian man in spirit, presented in his work a deep and vivid description of the problems of Russian society at the end of the 18th century. His work became a worthy continuation of the traditions of the Russian national theater, laid down by Gogol, Griboyedov, Fonvizin.
The types of characters in Ostrovsky's drama are recognizable and loved by the people, they have become household names: both the main positive one - Katerina Kabanova, and the negative ones, feeding on their self-interest and hatred of people in the “dark kingdom” - the merchant Marfa Ignatievna Kabanova and the merchant Savely Prokopich Dikiy.
Brief description of Varvara
However, the brilliant playwright decorated his work with a whole gallery of characteristic secondary images. They also participate in the action and shape the plot. This article is dedicated to one of them. The characterization of Varvara from the play “The Thunderstorm” is presented by Ostrovsky quite fully and richly. She is 18 years old. Her last name is Kabanova, she is the daughter of the widowed merchant Marfa Ignatievna. She has an older married brother, Tikhon. She is smart and has a good understanding of people. Has his own ideas about the surrounding reality. Like his brother, he does not fall under anyone's influence. He doesn’t go into conflict in vain (it’s more expensive for himself). Prefers to hide his thoughts and actions. At the same time, she is decisive and achieves her plans. This article is dedicated to this character.
Prudence is the defining trait
After reading the above lines, you may get the impression that we're talking about about a positive character. However, the characterization of Varvara from the play “The Thunderstorm” determines the main direction of her personality not at all as spirituality or as a desire for beauty, for the new. The essence of Varvara Kabanova is calculation.
She, having calculated the situation when it is beneficial for her, can do both a good and a bad deed. The only criterion is her common sense, which allows for the commission of meanness out of self-interest.
Varvara is a morally crippled person
The characterization of Varvara from the play “The Thunderstorm” gives us reason to argue that the “dark kingdom” left an indelible, pernicious mark on her personality. This young girl already has a strong lackey essence inside her. The type of adaptation has completely formed. If necessary, she will remain silent and pretend that she agrees with the one who is stronger. At the same time, her position will be with her. These are the unwritten rules by which the majority of the population of Kalinov lives. Her life principle is to create as she pleases, hiding it.
The autobiographical characterization of Varvara from the play “The Thunderstorm” is not optimistic: she herself believes that the world around her has forever destroyed her purity and honesty. She learned to lie always and in everything. He considers the correct line of behavior to be “so that everything is sewn and covered.” The young girl no longer harbors hopes for romance in life, for finding love... She simply lives for her own pleasure. Secretly meets with Kudryash, the clerk of the merchant Dikiy ("What a desire to dry out!..").
At the same time, she knows that he also does not have special feelings for her.
On my own mind
Classics often give ambiguous characterizations of the hero. Varvara (“The Thunderstorm”, Ostrovsky A.N.) acts as a neutral type: neither positive nor negative. She, unlike the suffering Katerina, understands that in the world of the “dark kingdom” around her, no one shows mercy to each other. Therefore, it is wise not to take any rules or regulations seriously. The girl completely assimilated to her mother’s endless teachings, simply turning a deaf ear to them.
Speech characteristics
Playwright Alexander Ostrovsky created an interesting, characteristic image, not like an ordinary extra... Even the speech characterization of Varvara from the play “The Thunderstorm” is quite unique. Discussion of neighbors, brief assessments of events... Behind all this lies solid everyday common sense. Her sentences are short and reflect her cool, practical, down-to-earth mind.
Cursing everyone and everything to the crazy lady who frightened unfortunate Katerina to death, she reasonably replies: “On your head...” She has no illusions about her brother, despite the close relationship. In fact, brother and sister are completely alien people. In a conversation with Katerina, she gives a damning description of Tikhon, claiming that he has no future: as soon as he breaks free from his mother’s influence, he will drink.
At the same time, the poverty of Varvara’s inner world and the mundane interests are expressed in her speech. It is not filled with folk poetry. She cannot, like Katerina, exclaim: “Why don’t people fly like birds?”
The fatal role of Varvara in the life of Katerina
Having taken root and accustomed to the “dark kingdom,” Varvara sympathizes with her daughter-in-law Katerina, tormented by the merchant Kabanikha and unsupported by her husband, who is indifferent to everything and trampled morally by Tikhon. When the young woman Katerina exclaimed that she wanted to feel life and joy, the merchant’s daughter understood this in her own way.
As we have already mentioned, the characterization of the character (Barbara) in the drama “The Thunderstorm” is not distinguished by high moral principles. Having grown up in an atmosphere of hypocrisy and deceit, she considers it normal for her sister-in-law to cheat on her brother. She doesn't think it's a family shame.
In order to diversify Katerina's life, sympathizing with her, Varenka arranges a date for her with Boris, the nephew of the merchant Dikiy. At the same time, without even suspecting that betrayal will cause deep moral trauma to the young woman and expose her to the merciless blow of the “dark kingdom.”
Conclusion
The characterization of Varvara from Ostrovsky’s play “The Thunderstorm” enriches the gallery of classical female characters in Russian literature. The type of girl created by the playwright is typical of the merchant-philistine class of the late 18th - early 19th centuries. Illiterate, but smart. Sensible and calculating. Disdainful of social conventions. The sister-in-law who left home after the suicide in the company of her lover Kudryash. She knows how to lie and weave intrigues.
Who will emerge from her: a new Kabanikha or a woman who prefers a life free from oppression? Each reader of the drama “The Thunderstorm” will be able to imagine this in his own way...
In the play by A.N. Ostrovsky's "The Thunderstorm" Katerina can be classified as the first type, and Varvara as the second type. Katerina is a poetic person, she feels the beauty of nature. “I used to get up early in the morning, summer, so I would go to the spring, wash myself, bring some water with me and that’s it, water all the flowers in the house. I had many, many flowers,” says Katerina about her childhood. She is constantly drawn to beauty, her dreams are filled with miracles. Katerina often sees herself in the form of a bird, which emphasizes the romantic sublimity of her soul. But in the Kabanovs’ house they don’t understand her; she is constantly oppressed by the mistress.
Katerina dreams of children: “If only they were someone’s children!” Eco woe! I don’t have children: I would still sit with them and amuse them. I really like talking to children – they are angels.” Whichever loving mother and Katerina would have made a wife under different conditions.
Katerina’s sincere religiosity is very different from the religiosity of Kabanikha and Dikiy, for whom religion is a dark force that suppresses the will of a person. For Katerina, this is the poetic world of fairy-tale images: “...I loved going to church to death! Exactly, it happened that I would enter heaven, and I didn’t see anyone, and I didn’t remember the time, and I didn’t hear when the service was over,” she recalls.
Honest, sincere and principled, she is not capable of the falsehood and deception that other residents of Kalinov live by. Her life turns out to be unbearable. But Katerina is a very strong person, and therefore she is fighting against the “dark kingdom.”
Katerina cannot get used to the cruel world of wild animals and boars; she strives to defend the freedom of her personality. The image of Katerina is similar to the image that flows, as required by her natural property. According to Dobrolyubov, her behavior reveals a “decisive, integral Russian character,” which “will withstand itself, despite any obstacles, and when there is not enough strength, it dies, but will not betray itself.”
A completely different Varvara appears before us. She is not superstitious and is not afraid of thunderstorms. Varvara does not consider it obligatory to observe customs. She was able to adapt to the behavior of the people around her. She hopes that by getting married, she will be able to escape from this “dark kingdom.” Varvara despises her brother’s spinelessness and her mother’s heartlessness, but she does not understand and support Katerina in everything.
Varvara is a child of the “dark kingdom”. She does not at all agree with his laws, but she has to put up with it and adapt to the world around her. If she, like Katerina, had not lived her whole life in the “dark kingdom,” then perhaps Varvara could also rebel against him. But still she turned out to be much weaker than Katerina. That is why the external circumstances that developed around her broke her will and destroyed her inner world.
Thus, Ostrovsky, with the help of two images of Katerina and Varvara, was able to show the essence of different types people, compare their behavior, compare their behavior, attitude to life, identify their weaknesses.
The playwright contrasts her with a girl who is part of the provincial world and looks at life soberly. Her soul is devoid of something sublime, not as deep and complex as Katerina’s. This is Varvara Kabanova.
The two heroines of the play differ from each other, but they are united by the realism of the image, which gives both images special significance.
Compared to the residents of the city, Katerina stands out for her spiritual qualities. Her otherness is striking. Kudryash, in a conversation with Boris, easily recognizes the heroine by two or three phrases, when Dikiy’s nephew admires Katerina and highlights her characteristic features: “...she has an angelic smile on her face, but her face seems to glow.” Thus, through the assessment of those around us, we learn about the angel-like nature of young Kabanova, her kinship with the sky, which explains Katerina’s sensitivity to thunderstorms, her painful reaction to electrical discharges that seem to pass through her. Ostrovsky’s heroine thinks she is a bird, she dreams of landscapes, “as in images.” Tikhon's wife connects the high and distant worlds, like an angel being a mediator between heaven and earth.
Katerina’s story about her childhood reveals the infantile purity of her soul. The girl is innocent and angelic, like any child. As a child she was very close to God. This is evident both in her ability to see angels and in her dreams. But such closeness is akin to the mental state of a holy fool. Katerina does not know the world, she has not been touched by sin, there is no place for Christian achievement in her life. The mother’s house was a paradise for the girl, which made the heroine a carefree “angel”, alien to the cruel everyday life.
Katerina’s unusualness is also emphasized by the fact that she lives outside of time. Its existence is eternal and is not limited by any boundaries. The girl talks about the church: “...and I don’t see anyone, and I don’t remember the time, and I don’t hear when the service will end. Exactly how it all happened in one second.” Such a timeless existence is the ultimate dream of already married Katerina
: “...we’ll sit down to sew with Varvara and won’t see how time passes...” Tikhon’s sister doesn’t care about such subtleties. It is entirely connected with the sluggish current time of the city of Kalinov and the land.
This is emphasized even by the surname. The boar, one of the most down-to-earth animals, is the totem of Marfa Ignatievna’s family, and therefore Varvara’s. Childhood was unable to instill in the girl a particle of the light and warmth that Katerina radiates. Varvara was forced to be cunning and cunning. Her task is to find a way, without entering into open conflict with her mother, to disobey her.
Sister Tikhon notices the strangeness of Katerina; she feels sorry for the fading girl, but cannot explain her behavior and words. For Varvara, the life of a young wife as a child is not much different from life in Kabanikha’s house. “But it’s the same with us,” she says. Katerina physically feels the heaviness of the order in her new home, and with the relocation to which the main contradiction appears between the heroine and the city. Tikhon’s wife must subordinate her will to “Domostroy” and Kabanikha’s tyranny. But already in the first scene with Katerina’s participation, we see that she fails to do this. During Kabanikha’s “complaining,” the daughter-in-law refrains from responding as long as she can. Only extreme injustice forces Katerina to enter into a dialogue with “mama.” The very first phrases of the heroine make us understand that she is not at all like her weak-willed husband. “Yes, by the way, why are you offending me?” - she says to Kabanikha.
In this scene, the open and freedom-loving Katerina is clearly contrasted with all her new family: spineless Tikhon, jealous of her son Marfa Ignatievna, cunning Varvara, whose character is revealed here quite fully. All of Tikhon’s sister’s remarks are directed “to the side.”
She has her own opinion, but prefers not to interfere, not to enter into conflict. “Shut up and covered” is her basic principle, which Varvara will talk about later. This rule helps the girl survive. In the city of Kalinov, Katerina’s real life begins, not isolated from problems. As a result, Ostrovsky’s heroine comes to realize the inevitability of death. Death is the price to pay for life. That is why young Kabanova, following a logic that only she understands, so quickly moves from memories of childhood to death, and then to a new life: “I will die soon... something bad is happening to me, some kind of miracle!.. Exactly.” I’m starting to live again..."
Katerina understands too well the inextricable connection between life and death. The whirlpool turns out to be an inevitable reality for her. Katerina foresees her future, which is why she is frightened by the lady’s spells, in whose words she hears only confirmation of her own premonitions.
In the new house, Katerina’s unhindered connection with God is interrupted. The heroine speaks about her magical dreams: “And now sometimes I dream, but rarely, and not that much.” Young Kabanova subconsciously feels the need to restore what was lost. The means of returning to God is love for Boris, a sinful, according to traditional concepts, passion. Katerina completely surrenders to this feeling. This behavior of the heroine contains enormous strength, despite the fact that young Kabanova says: “I have no will.” Katerina herself decides to give her fate into the hands of her loved one, and this voluntary “slavery” has nothing to do with the lack of will and humiliation of other characters. But for Katerina herself, her act is a sin, so the heroine, realizing the inevitability of her own death, voluntarily chooses the abyss: “... I would keep walking... and would not look back.” Katerina has no other choice, she doesn’t want to live in such a way that everything is “tied up and covered up,” she can’t leave: Boris refuses to take Katerina with him because he lives “not of his own free will.” And are there any places where Katerina’s freedom-loving soul could be consoled?
If in the “righteous” land, where “beauty is poured out in nature,” a young woman does not find a place for herself, then what should she do there, where “Saltans rule the land” and “people with dog heads.” There is only one road left - into the pool. But at the same time, this is the road to the environment of light and air, the path to God. "To the grave... to the ground."
He can’t stand living with “mama” and Varvara. She runs with Curly. Only sister Tikhon protests only against the unpleasant, annoying grumbling. Her escape is not a departure better world, but getting rid of minor troubles. Thus, even somewhat similar actions of Varvara and Katerina even better reveal the contradictions between them. None of the heroines, of course, can evoke a sharp negative attitude in us, but none of them will become an ideal. One like Katerina can only be born; You cannot become a mediator. This calling determines the character of Tikhon’s young wife. The life of the down-to-earth Varvara, in my opinion, is too prosaic, her aspirations and worldview are too simple.
So my life position cannot coincide with the positions of Ostrovsky’s heroines. I can only admire God’s chosen Katerina.
Varvara is the daughter of Kabanikha and the sister of Tikhon. She is confident in herself, is not afraid of mystical omens, and knows what she wants from life. But at the same time, Varvara’s personality has some moral flaws, the cause of which is life in the Kabanov family. She does not at all like the cruel order of this provincial town, but Varvara does not find anything better than to come to terms with the established way of life.It is no coincidence that all of Varvara’s remarks are written under the remark “to the side.”
She's got enough a strong character, and she knows how to achieve her goal. But she always chooses the simplest and most convenient path, adapting to the behavior of the people around her. Therefore, its main principle is “Do what you want, as long as it’s safe and covered.” Perhaps, if she had grown up among kind, honest and fair people, then Varvara would have been able to decide on open confrontation. But deception has become so commonplace for Varvara that she is not embarrassed to admit that it is impossible to live any other way, and everything in their home is based on deception. “And I was not a liar, but I learned when it became necessary.” But if you cannot rebel against this world of lies, then you can only escape from it. Varvara dodged and cheated to the last.
Varvara. Storm. Quote description. Criticism
Place in the plot
Varvara Ivanovna Kabanova is the daughter of a wealthy merchant Kabanikha and the sister of Tikhon Kabanova. Varvara secretly meets with Vanya Kudryash, an employee of the merchant Dikiy.
Varvara is a smart and cunning girl. She, like all the other family members, endures the insults of her mother Kabanikha. But, unlike Katerina, Varvara does not lose heart, but adapts to a difficult life and learns to lie to her mother. Varvara is not tormented by her conscience because she, an unmarried girl, goes on secret dates at night. And although this may damage her reputation, Varvara does what she wants.
The cunning Varvara also helps Katerina arrange a date with her lover Boris. In the end, tired of scandals with her mother, Varvara runs away from home with her beloved Curly.
Quote characteristic
Position in society - daughter of the merchant Kabanikha. The mother “sharpenes”, offends Varvara, like all the other family members: “...Mama sharpened and sharpened Varvara; but she couldn’t stand it, and she was like that - she just took it and left...”
Deceitful. She pretends to respect Kabanikha’s mother, but privately condemns her behavior: “...Varvara (to herself). I won’t respect you, of course!..” “...Varvara (to myself). I found a place for instructions to read. .."
Age and appearance. Varvara is a young beauty: "...What, beauties?...Does your beauty make you happy?..."
Laconic: “...Well, I don’t like to talk a lot; and I don’t have time...”
Varvara is a "sinner". She meets Kudryash at night, which is considered indecent for an unmarried girl of her circle: “...Kudryash and Varvara show up. Kissing...” “...What are you up to, sinner! Is this possible!..” “...Why should I judge you! I have my own sins...” Varvara and Kudryash have been meeting for a long time behind Kabanikha’s back: “...Well, goodbye! (Yawns, then kisses him coldly, like a long-time acquaintance..) "
Family status. Varvara is not married, but she is a more “spoiled” girl than married Katerina: “...Speak! I’m worse than you...” (Varvara about herself)
Cunning. She’s not a liar, but she learned to deceive in order to survive in her family, where the evil and powerful Kabanikha is in charge: “...Our whole house rests on that. And I wasn’t a liar, but I learned it when it became necessary.... "... a gate, my mother locks it and hides the key. I took it away and put another one for her so that she wouldn’t notice... You don’t need it, I’ll need it; take it, it won’t bite you..." Varvara believes that you can do whatever you want, but quietly, “safely”: “...But in my opinion: do whatever you want, as long as it’s safe and secure...”
He regrets and loves Katerina, the unhappy wife of his brother Tikhon: Katerina. So, Varya, do you feel sorry for me? ....do you love me? (Kisses him firmly.) Varvara. Why shouldn’t I love you! Katerina considers Varvara a sweet girl and loves her “to death”: “...Well, thank you! You’re so sweet, I love you to death.” The cunning Varvara arranges a secret meeting between Katerina and Boris in a ravine: “...What is she does this do something? What is she coming up with? “...Do you know the ravine behind the Boar Garden?..” (Varvara to Boris)
The final. In the end, Varvara runs away from home with Kudryash - away from Kabanikha’s evil mother: “...They say that she ran away with Kudryash and Vanka, and they won’t find him anywhere either. Well, Kuligin, it must be said straight out that it was from her mother; that’s why she became tyrannize her and lock her up. “Don’t lock her up, she says, it will be worse!” That's how it happened..."
Criticism
"...Varvara and her beloved Kudryash. Both of them are spirited, brave and cheerful.
Varvara looks at life very simply: convinced that you can’t achieve anything with kindness among callous and harsh people, she resorts to deception, on which, according to her, the whole house rests; she protects Katerina, arranges a date for her with Boris, not at all suspecting what suffering awaits the poor woman from this. In contrast to Varvara, who says that you can do whatever you want as long as it’s hidden, Katerina, as an extremely truthful nature, is not able to resort to deception, which always prevails where life is based on fear, on oppression the weak become strong...
...The author created... a typical person, a girl who falls consciously and without a struggle, on whom the dull severity and absolute despotism of the family and social life among which she was born and grew up had the wrong effect, as one would expect, that is led her along the cheerful path of vice, with the only rule extracted from this upbringing: as long as everything was sewn and covered..." (S. Z. Burakovsky, book "A. N. Ostrovsky. Biographical information and analysis of his works for students" , 1904)
