Tikhon and Boris comparative characteristics in the play Thunderstorm Ostrovsky composition. Boris and Tikhon: comparative characteristics of these heroes The role of Tikhon and Boris in Katerina's tragedy

Boris and Tikhon are one of the central characters in A. Ostrovsky's drama "Thunderstorm"....

Boris, like Tikhon, is connected with the “dark kingdom.” He is the nephew of Wild, a young man came to his uncle to receive the inheritance left from his grandmother. Boris is forced to submit to all the whims of his relative, like Tikhon.

Unlike Kabanov, Diky's nephew is well educated. Before coming to Kalinov, the hero lived in Moscow, the orders of the provincial city are alien to him: “I don’t know the customs here,” just like Katerina. The young woman was united with Boris by the fact that initially the heroes lived in different conditions. “Was I like that! ... just like a bird in the wild, ”Katerina once says to Varvara about her past life. This similarity between the main character and Boris, as well as the unbearable life in the Kabanovs' house, led to the emergence of a young woman's feelings for Diky's nephew. Boris also loves Katerina, but nevertheless, when their connection is revealed, he "rushes around" and "cries". The hero is a cowardly person, he does not find the strength in himself to take his beloved woman with him to Siberia. “I can’t, Katya ...” - he says about her. Thus, Boris and Tikhon, on the one hand, are united by love for Katerina. On the other hand, the fact that both young men found themselves under the yoke of the "dark kingdom", which they could not resist. The main difference between the two heroes is that Tikhon does not know life without his mother's despotism, her tyranny, unlike Boris, who consciously subordinates himself to the Wild, hoping to get at least a tiny share of the inheritance.

Updated: 2017-09-06

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The comedy "Thunderstorm" is one of the most famous works of the Russian playwright A. N. Ostrovsky. The idea, the characters of the work can be explored forever. The images of the characters in "Thunderstorm" are quite remarkable.

Problems of the play "Thunderstorm"

All characters can be divided into 2 groups: representatives of the older and younger generations. The elder represents the Boar and Wild. They are representatives of the patriarchal world, where selfishness and poverty rule. Other characters suffer from the tyranny of the Boar and the Wild. First of all, these are Varvara, Katerina, Boris and Tikhon. Comparative characteristics of the characters show that all the heroes resigned themselves to their fate, and only Katerina is not able to go against her conscience and her desires.

The entire work "Thunderstorm" is dedicated to the history of the main character Katerina. She is one of the participants. Katerina has to choose between two men, and these men are Boris and Tikhon. These characters will help to understand in detail the behavior of the characters in the play.

The fate of Boris

Before analyzing the character of Boris, you need to familiarize yourself with his history.

Boris is not Kalinov. He gets there at the behest of his parents. Boris was supposed to get the inheritance, which for the time being is in charge of Dikoy. For good behavior and obedience, Dikoy is obliged to give the inheritance to Boris, but readers understand that because of the greed of Dikoy, this will never happen. Therefore, Boris has to stay in Kalinovo and live there according to the rules established by Diky and Kabanikha.

The fate of Tikhon

Among all the characters, he singles out two heroes, two men - these are Boris and Tikhon. Comparative characteristics of these heroes can say a lot.

Tikhon depends on Kabanikhi - his mother. He has to obey her in everything. The boar does not hesitate to get into the personal life of his son, dictating how he should treat his wife. His daughter-in-law, Katerina Kabanikha, is literally slaughtered from the world. Katerina Kabanikha constantly finds fault.

Once Tikhon is forced to leave for another city for a few days. The reader clearly sees how glad he is of the opportunity to be alone and show his independence.

Common between Boris and Tikhon

So, we have two characters - this is Boris and Tikhon. A comparative description of these heroes is impossible without an analysis of their lifestyle. So, both characters live with tyrants, both heroes are forced to obey someone else's will. Both characters lack independence. Both heroes love Katerina.

At the end of the play, both suffer greatly after Katerina's death. Tikhon is left alone with his mother, and orders Boris Dika to leave Kalinov. Of course, after the incident with Katerina, he definitely will not see the inheritance.

Boris and Tikhon: differences

There are more differences between Boris and Tikhon than they have in common. So, Boris and Tikhon are a comparative characteristic. The table below will help organize the knowledge about these heroes.

Such are Boris and Tikhon. The comparative characteristics of the characters given in the table above are quite short and capacious. It is worth noting that readers mostly sympathize with Boris than Tikhon.

The main idea of ​​the play "Thunderstorm"

The characterization of Boris and Tikhon suggests that the two men loved Katerina. However, neither one nor the other could save her. Katerina threw herself off a cliff into the river, no one stopped her. It was Boris and Tikhon, whose comparative characteristics were given above, who were supposed to save her, who were supposed to rebel against the power of Kalinov's petty tyrants. However, they did not succeed, and the lifeless body of Katerina was carried out of the river.

Kalinov is a town that lives by its own rules. Dobrolyubov called Katerina "a ray of light in a dark kingdom", and this is true. Katerina could not change her fate, but perhaps she is the whole city. Her death is the first catastrophe that violated the patriarchal way of the family. Kabanikha and Dikoy feel that the youth is getting out of their power, which means that changes are coming.

Thus, A. Ostrovsky was able to show not just a family tragedy. Before us is the tragedy of an entire city perishing in the despotism of the Wild and Boar. Kalinov is not a fictional city, but there are a lot of such "Kalinovs" throughout Russia.

Two male images help us understand Katerina's character. The meek, unrequited Tikhon, Katerina's husband, who loves her, but is unable to protect her, and Boris, Diky's nephew, who came to Moscow from Moscow.

Boris involuntarily came to Kalinov: “My parents raised us well in Moscow, they spared nothing for us. I was sent to the Commercial Academy, and my sister was sent to a boarding school, but both suddenly died of cholera; my sister and I were left orphans. Then we hear that my grandmother also died here and left a will so that my uncle would pay us the part that should be when we come of age, only with a condition. Boris is uncomfortable in the city, he cannot get used to the local order: “Oh, Kuligin, it hurts me here without a habit! Everyone looks at me somehow wildly, as if I were superfluous here, as if I were disturbing them. I don't know the customs. I understand that all this is our Russian, native, but still I can’t get used to it.

Both heroes are united by bondage, dependence: Tikhon - from his own mother, Boris - from Wild. Tikhon from childhood is in the power of a despotic mother, agrees with her in everything, does not dare to contradict. She suppressed his will so much that, even after marrying Katerina, Tikhon continues to live according to his mother's orders:

Kabanova: If you want to listen to your mother, then when you get there, do as I ordered you.

Kabanov: Yes, how can I, mother, disobey you!

N. A., considering the image of Tikhon, notices that he "in himself loved his wife and would be ready to do everything for her; but the oppression under which he grew up so disfigured him that he does not have a strong feeling ....

Tikhon doesn’t know how to please his mother (“... only I don’t know what kind of unfortunate person I was born into the world that I can’t please you with anything”), and even breaks down on the innocent Katerina (“You see, here I always get it for you from my mother! Such is my life!). And Kuligin was right when he spoke about the fact that behind the locked gates in families "debauchery of the dark and drunkenness! Tikhon drinks from hopelessness, trying to brighten up his life with this. He is waiting for a trip in order to escape from maternal tyranny at least for a while. Varvara understands well the true desires of her brother:

Varvara: They are sitting with their mother, shutting themselves up. She sharpens it now, like rusting iron.

Katerina: For what?

Barbara: No way, so, he teaches the mind. It will be two weeks on the road, a secret matter! Judge for yourself! Her heart is aching that he walks of his own free will. Now she is giving him orders, one more menacing than the other, and then she will lead him to the image, make him swear that he will do everything exactly as ordered.

Katerina: And in the wild, he seems to be bound.

Barbara: Yes, of course, connected! As soon as he leaves, he will drink. He is now listening, and he himself is thinking how to break out as soon as possible.

Tikhon cannot, and it simply does not occur to him, to contradict his mother, cannot protect Katerina from attacks, although he pities her. In the parting scene, we see how Tikhon is tormented, realizing that he offends his wife, giving orders under pressure from his mother:

Kabanova: Why are you standing there, don't you know the order? Tell your wife how to live without you.

Kabanov: Yes, tea, she knows herself.

Kabanova: Talk more! Well, well, order! I want to hear what you order her! And then you come and ask if everything is done right.

Kabanov: Listen to your mother, Katya!

Kabanova: Tell her not to be rude to her mother-in-law.

Kabanov: Don't be rude!

Kabanova: To honor the mother-in-law as her own mother!

Kabanov: Honor, Katya, mother, as your own mother!

Kabanova: So that she doesn’t sit idly by like a lady!

Kabanov: Do something without me! Etc.

Tikhon prefers non-resistance, adapting in his own way to domestic tyranny. He comforts Katerina, trying to make amends: “Take everything to heart, so you will soon fall into consumption. Why listen to her! She needs to say something! Well, let her say, and you pass by your ears ...

Boris is also in a dependent position, because the main condition for receiving an inheritance is to show respect for his uncle, Diky. He confesses that he would have abandoned everything and left. And I'm sorry sister.

Boris is a new face in the city, but also succumbs to Kalinov's cruel morals. How did he deserve Katerina's love? Perhaps Katerina pays attention to Boris because he is a visitor, not from the locals; or, as N. Dobrolyubov wrote, “she is attracted to Boris not only by the fact that she likes him, that he does not look like the others in appearance and speech ...; she is attracted to him by the need for love, which has not found a response in her husband, and the offended feeling of a wife and woman, and the mortal anguish of her monotonous life, and the desire for freedom, space, hot, unrestricted freedom.

Katerina claims that she loves her husband, replacing the concept of “love” with pity. According to Varvara, “if it’s a pity, you don’t love it. And no, you have to tell the truth!

I think that there is nothing to love Boris either. He knew that this forbidden, sinful relationship could have very serious consequences for him, and especially for Katerina. And Curly warns: “Just look, don’t make trouble for yourself, and don’t get her into trouble either! Suppose, even though her husband is a fool, but her mother-in-law is painfully fierce. But Boris does not even try to resist his feelings or reason with Katerina. But this is not the worst. Boris's behavior is striking after Katerina confessed to cheating on her mother-in-law and husband. Boris is also unable to protect Katerina. But she offers a way out of this situation - she asks to take her to Siberia, she is ready to go with her beloved even to the ends of the world. But Boris cowardly replies: “I can’t, Katya. I’m not going of my own free will: my uncle is sending, the horses are already ready .... Boris is not ready for an open rebellion, and this is exactly how the Kalinovites would regard an act that the hero did not dare to do. It turns out that the inheritance is still more precious to him. He is only ready to cry with Katerina over his and her unfortunate shares. And after all, he understands that he is leaving his beloved woman to die (“Only one thing you need to ask God for her to die as soon as possible, so that she does not suffer for a long time!”). One cannot but agree with the point of view of N. A. Dobrolyubov that "Boris is not a hero, he is far from being worth Katerina, she fell in love with him more in the absence of people ... He represents one of the circumstances that make the fatal end ... of the play necessary.

But Tikhon, on the contrary, turned out to be more humane, higher and stronger than Boris! Despite the fact that Katerina betrayed and disgraced him, he was capable of sympathy for her and for his rival: “He also rushes about; cries. Just now we pounced on him with his uncle, they already scolded him, scolded him - he was silent. Just what a wild one has become. With me, she says whatever you want to do, just don’t torture her! And he has pity for her too.

Tikhon's love for Katerina is fully manifested after her death:

“Mother, let me go, my death! I'll pull it out, otherwise I'll do it myself ... What can I do without it! And at that moment, Tikhon was able to tell his mother the truth, blaming her for the death of his wife: “Mama, you ruined her! You, you, you...

These words speak of the fact that new times have come, where there is no place for despotism, tyranny, and oppression.

Ostrovsky, Composition

In the drama of Katerina, the main character of A.N. Ostrovsky's "Thunderstorm", an important role was played not only by her mother-in-law Marfa Ignatievna Kabanova, but also, of course, the two heroes of this "love triangle" - Tikhon and Boris. Tikhon Kabanov - the heroine's husband, a merchant's son. He married Katerina because his mother demanded it, and he believes that he himself loves Katerina, but is that so? He himself is weak-willed and completely subordinate to his mother, he does not even dare to protect his wife from the attacks of his mother-in-law. All he can advise her is to ignore her mother's reproaches. He himself does this all his life, agreeing with his mother and dreaming at the same time of running away to his neighbor Savel Prokofievich and having a drink with him. Happiness for Tikhon is a two-week trip to Moscow on business. In this case, Katerina is no longer interested in him, and when she asks him to take her with him, he frankly admits: “Yes, as I know now that there will be no thunderstorm over me for two weeks, there are no shackles on my legs, so it’s up to my wife me?” Katerina feels sorry for her husband, but can she love him? Seeing neither understanding nor support from him, she involuntarily begins to dream of a different love, and her dreams turn to another hero, and Boris. Is he a hero? He is different from the inhabitants of the city of Kalinov - he is educated, studied at the Commercial Academy, he is the only one among the townspeople who walks in a European costume. But these are all external differences, but in fact Boris is just as weak-willed and dependent. He is financially dependent on his uncle, the merchant Diky, he is bound by the terms of the will of his late grandmother, and not only because of himself personally, but also because of his sister. If he does not respect his uncle, she will remain a dowry, not receiving, like he himself, an inheritance. But it seems that his words: “I would drop everything and leave” are just an excuse. After all, Boris suffers humiliation and abuse from Savel Prokofievich, without even trying to object to him, to defend his dignity. He has neither will nor strength of character. He fell in love with Katerina, having seen her several times in church, and his sublime feeling does not take into account the rough realities of the local way of life. Fearing "to ruin his youth in this slum," he does not listen to Kudryash, who immediately warns him that love for a married woman "quit it": "After all, this means you want to completely ruin her" - because for this in these parts Katerina "They will be driven into the coffin." Boris thinks only of himself, of his happiness, and all of Katerina's emotional experiences are alien to him, like Tikhon. If it were not for the indifference of her husband (“... you are still imposing ...”), Katerina would not have taken the fatal step by agreeing to a meeting with Boris. But Boris also thinks only of himself, brushing aside Katerina’s torment about the terrible dream she committed: “Well, what to think about it, it’s good for us now!” For him, meeting with Katerina is a secret romance that must be hidden: “No one will know about our love. Can't I pity you!" He did not understand at all that Katerina absolutely did not know how to lie, following the example of Varvara, so her behavior when her husband arrived was a complete surprise to him. He regrets everything that happened: “Who knew it that we should suffer so much with you for our love! I'd better run then!" But he is powerless to change anything, he cannot take Katerina with him - "I am not going of my own free will." Thinking about everything, he pities himself first of all, cursing the "villains" and "fiends": "Oh, if only there was strength!"

Tikhon also verbally pities Katerina: “... I love her, I’m sorry to touch her with my finger,” but he can’t contradict his mother: he beat his wife, as she ordered, and condemns, repeating mother’s words: “It’s not enough to kill her for this ". Most of all, he pities himself: “I am unhappy now, brother, man!” And only after the death of Katerina did he dare to object to Marfa Ignatievna: “Mother, you ruined her, you, you ...”

Both heroes, Boris and Tikhon, despite external differences, could not become reliable protection and support for Katerina: both are selfish, weak-willed, do not understand her anxious, restless soul. And both are to blame for her tragedy, unable and not even willing to prevent it.

The play "Thunderstorm" is one of Ostrovsky's most famous works. The images shown in this drama are very vivid and sometimes opposite. But, showing the opposite of the characters, the author sometimes reflects their similarity and the reader often recognizes his features in Katerina, Varvara or Boris.

There are two male images in the play, which are "bonded" in the dark kingdom. Tikhon and Boris are two completely opposite characters, but Katerina connects them. The reader can observe a love triangle. Tikhon is the husband of the main character, and Boris is only a fleeting hobby. Let's look at these characters separately to better understand their similarities and differences. We will also be able to understand Katerina's motives: what does she feel for both heroes and why did the heroine cheat on her husband?

Tikhon - the husband of the heroine from early childhood is under the influence of his tyrannical mother, he is very dependent on her. The boar subjugated her son to her will so much that she can influence him even after Tikhon has already created his own family. He cannot resist his mother and sometimes takes out evil on Katerina, even though she is not to blame for anything. All this leads Tikhon to drunkenness. In fact, he loves and pities his wife, but he cannot protect her, because he himself is a very weak-willed person and cannot tell Kabanikha to leave him and his wife alone. To find the strength in himself to tell his mother everything that is in his heart, he decides only after the death of his wife. Katerina does not love her husband, she only regrets, which is probably why she is looking for true love, which corresponds to her young dreams.

Boris Grigoryevich finds himself in Kalinovo not of his own free will. He received a good education, but is forced to come to Kalinov for the sake of a large inheritance, obeying the will of his uncle. He does not like the city and its rules. He would gladly give up everything and go somewhere, so as not to depend on the Wild and the inheritance that he would leave him. He stays in Kalinovo and obeys local orders for the sake of his sister.

Why did Katerina, of all men, fall in love with Boris? Probably because he was a new face in Kalinov and in her vision he appeared as a man completely different from her husband. At first, Boris is very affectionate with the girl, but realizing that Katerina loves him, he opens up and shows his cruel and selfish nature. Boris is not a handsome prince, and he could not protect the young girl from the oppression of the "dark kingdom", just like her husband, or maybe did not want to. He refuses to take her with him when he leaves, effectively dooming her to death.

The reader sees that Tikhon and Boris are similar in many ways. Even if they are capable of expressing feelings of love and tenderness, none of them could resist the local orders, the Domostroy system, they are not able to make a decisive, even desperate act for the sake of another person. All their actions and inactions lead to the death of Katerina - and there is no light left in the dark kingdom.

Option 2

In his work "Thunderstorm" A.N. Ostrovsky showed the tragedy of a small town suffering from the despotism of those in power. The tragedy that happened to Katerina did not change her life, but became the first step towards changes in society. Tikhon and Boris are the main characters, two men living in a patriarchal society. Both suffer from a patriarchal way of life, both love Katerina, but neither Bori nor Tikhon could save her life.

Tikhon grew up under severe pressure, in constant humiliation and infringement of his own interests. The tyrant father, who keeps under tight control everyone who can be reached by the mother, who acts as a benefactor among strangers, and at home is not inferior to her father, has a very strong influence on his son. She convinced Tikhon that he did not have his own mind, and he must live for someone else's. That is, maternal. A young, married man is afraid to go against the will of his parents, he makes excuses to his mother even if he does not feel guilty. Tikhon really wants to break free, he raves about her and does not pay attention to Katerina's problems. It can be argued that Tikhon loves his wife, he would forgive her betrayal, but he cannot openly go against his mother. This is a puppet that from time to time tries to break free, but he is immediately put in his place.

Boris was brought up in more free conditions. But life circumstances forced him to endure the tyranny of his uncle. Outwardly, Boris differs from Tikhon in conversations and education. He boldly risks his reputation, emotional, also loves Katerina. But at the same time, Boris does nothing to save his beloved. Moreover, having achieved the love of Katerina, Boris begins to treat her cruelly. A distinctive feature of Boris's character is selfishness. He was well aware of the consequences of his act, but was not even going to worry about how Katerina would have to live on. The young man is also not interested in Katerina's inner world, does not want to listen to her and help her in some way. It can be argued that Boris shifts the responsibility for what happened onto the shoulders of Katerina, while he leaves. Having an education, the opportunity to change his life, a young man easily goes with the flow, calling himself a victim. It is safe to say that over time he will become the same adherent of Domostroy as his uncle.

It is impossible to say with certainty who is more to blame for the death of Katerina - Tikhon or Boris. The first did not fight for his happiness, indulged his mother's whims. Even knowing that she is very wrong. The second protested only in words, and did nothing to change the situation for the better or prevent the tragedy. Both loved Katerina, both saw how she was suffering, but they were afraid to go against the social order, to sacrifice their comfort for the sake of a loved one. Thus, it can be argued that Tikhon and Boris differ only in appearance.

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