Lesson plan on the topic: “life and customs of the “dark kingdom.” the younger generation in Ostrovsky’s play “The Thunderstorm.” Depiction of the “cruel morals” of the “dark kingdom” in A. N. Ostrovsky’s play “The Thunderstorm Life and morals in the dark kingdom”

When reading Ostrovsky's works, we suddenly find ourselves in the prevailing atmosphere in society and become unwitting participants in the events taking place on stage. We connect with the crowd and, as if from the outside, consider the lives of the heroes.

We find ourselves in the Volga city of Kalinov and get the opportunity to observe the life and customs of its inhabitants. For the most part, these are merchants; the life of this particular class is depicted by the playwright with skill and deep knowledge of the matter.

We get acquainted with typical representatives of this society. On the first pages of the work, the merchant Dikoy appears before us - a “significant person” in the city.

Shapkin speaks of him this way: such a “scolder” as “Savel Prokofich, look for more.” We immediately hear the same words about Kabanikha. It becomes clear to us that they are the same with the Wild.

Kuligin admires the extraordinary landscape, but against the backdrop of this very landscape we observe a bleak picture of life, depicted by the author in “The Thunderstorm”. From Kuligin’s lips we hear an accurate and clear description of what is happening in Kalinov - the life, morals and customs of the merchants. He feels the bleak atmosphere in the city. Therefore, he declares that the masses are ignorant and uneducated, that it is impossible to earn money through honest work, to break out of the bondage of the nobles who rule the city. They are far from civilization, but they don’t need it. The preservation of the old foundations, the reluctance of the new, the absence of law and the complete power of force - this is what is the law and norm of their life, this is what they live and are content with. These people subjugate everyone around them to their will; they suppress any protest, as well as any manifestation of personality.

The author demonstrates Kabanikha and Dikoy - typical representatives of the “dark” society. They have a special position in society, they are feared and therefore respected, they have capital, which means that they have power. General laws do not exist for them; they live by their own laws and force everyone to live according to them. They have one desire - to conquer everyone who is weaker, and to “cajole” those who are stronger. They are despots both in the family and in life.

So, Tikhon unquestioningly obeys his mother, Boris - his uncle. Kabanikha’s scolding is always presented “under the guise of piety,” while the Dikiy’s scolding indicates that he seems to have “broken off the chain.” Both of them do not want to recognize the new, they live according to house-building orders. They are ignorant and stingy, which makes us laugh and sometimes even smile bitterly. For example, about a thunderstorm, Dikoy says that this is a punishment on the human race, so that we feel it.

The callousness with which these people treat those dependent on them is also surprising.

These rulers also have characters who help them exercise their dominance. Among them is Tikhon, who helps strengthen Kabanikha’s power, is silent and weak-willed; Feklusha is a stupid and uneducated writer of fables about the civilized world; townspeople living in Kalinov and reconciled with such orders. All these characters represent the “dark kingdom” depicted by the author in the play.

The playwright used a variety of artistic media, depicted a typical provincial town, showed its customs and morals, described the arbitrariness, violence, complete ignorance reigning in Kalinov, the suppression of any manifestation of freedom, first of all, freedom of spirit.

The play “The Thunderstorm” was written during the period of the rise of the social movement, when everyone felt the need for economic and political changes, and Ostrovsky’s work reflected the historical situation. In his play, Ostrovsky depicted the society of the mid-nineteenth century, its way of life and customs. He very vividly and accurately reproduced the life of the patriarchal merchant class, relationships in which were based only on material values, and the desire for knowledge, interest in discoveries in the field of science were perceived as something useless and unnecessary. Ostrovsky, depicting the world of ignoramuses and “tyrants of Russian life,” exposed the vices of society.

The old, inert order, the guardians of which are Dikoy and Kabanikha, dominates the relationships of the heroes. The characters in the play find themselves in an ominous environment of heartlessness and stupid admiration for the power of old, long-outdated orders. Thus, Kabanova, a defender of the old foundations of life, customs and rituals of the “dark kingdom,” tries in vain to instill despotic laws, which, in her opinion, constitute the basis of home well-being and the strength of family ties: unquestioning submission to the will of her husband, obedience, respect for elders, fulfillment of all ancient rituals, and most importantly, never dare to “have your own opinion.”

This is how Kabanova raised her son, discouraging him from any desire to think independently. “Do we dare... to think,” Tikhon sums up his “mother’s” teaching.

This is a society of degraded individuals. According to Dobrolyubov, Tikhon is “simple-minded and vulgar...

creature". He trusted his feelings to himself to a loved one, mother, and Kabanikha, under the guise of boundless “love,” made him understand that he was only a servant fulfilling her whims. She became so immersed in the role of an all-powerful ruler that she intended to make slaves out of her entire entourage and “teach good.” Everyone in this world of tyrants lives unfreely, “as if from bondage.” This standard of living is approved by the “elders”, who are sure that those who “want their own will” are “stupid.”

People under the yoke of people like Kabanova are associated with weak-willed serfs. But the “masters of life” do not allow them to live either. After all, freedom, according to Kabanikha, leads to the collapse of the old order, of which Savel Prokofievich Dikoy is a supporter. Wild - main figure in Kalinov. His image is a vivid example of the morals that reigned in society. He is rude and very rich.

He holds half the city in his fist, forces them to work for himself, and when the time comes for payback, he pays the money very reluctantly, sometimes he can even “scold” or “beat”. He either doesn't pay at all or cheats.

“What’s special here,” he explains, “I won’t give them a penny, but I have a fortune.” The authorities support Dikiy because he is “one of their own”, he is the support of the mayor and the police chief: it is not profitable for them to quarrel with him. It is impossible to please the Wild One. Kudryash says that his whole life is based on swearing. And Kuligin characterizes the life of the Wild and the entire “dark kingdom” most clearly: “And who has the money...

he is trying to enslave the poor... 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...

And those... they scribble malicious slander against their neighbors.” Such is the way of life in the world of tyrants.

The main trait of the Wild is rudeness. He can also do whatever he wants, because crushing a person with his money costs him nothing. And his main meaning in life is enrichment. But not only him, these are the principles of life of any representative of the “dark kingdom”; they are all characterized by ignorance and superstition. Drawing the images of these heroes, Ostrovsky clearly shows that life in provincial Russia is backward and cruel, that this life is ruled by people who do not care about human dignity and the inner experiences of others. “Cruel morals in our city, cruel,” Kuligin characterizes the life and customs of the city of Kalinov.

Lesson plan on the topic: « LIFE AND MORES OF THE “DARK KINGDOM”. YOUNG
GENERATION IN OSTROVSKY’S PLAY “THUNDERSTORM”

Goals: help to comprehend the images of Dikiy and Kabanova created by the author, their morality, which affirms the right of the strong, the right to tyranny and “trample” those who are weaker and more helpless, who think and live differently; show the inevitability of the collapse of the “dark kingdom”; note characteristic features representatives of the younger generation in Ostrovsky's play.

Progress of lessons

I. Teacher's opening speech.

LIFE AND MORES OF THE “DARK KINGDOM”

The critic N.A. Dobrolyubov called the world depicted by the playwright a “dark kingdom.”

Wild and Kabanikha - typical representatives"dark kingdom" These are human predators.

Conversation with studentsissues:

1. What did Dobrolyubov mean by the “dark kingdom”? What are its main features?

2. What does the word “tyrant” mean?

3. How does Dikoy understand the expression “go out into public”?

4. What is the reason for the unbridled tyranny of the Wild?

5. How does he feel about Kabanikha, Boris, Kuligin?

6. Marfa Ignatievna Kabanova. What is her attitude to the “new order”?

7. How does she relate to Katerina, Tikhon, Varvara?

8. Are tyrants confident in the limitlessness of their power?

9. What are the similarities and differences between the characters of the Wild and Kabanikha?

10. Describe the speech, manner of speaking, and communication of Dikiy and Kabanova. Give examples.

Wild Savel Prokofich - “shrill man”, “scolder”, “tyrant”, which meanswild, tough at heart, powerful man .

The power of money is the basis of tyranny. The purpose of Wild’s life is to get rich, and there are all sorts of ways to get rich: cheating workers, robbing neighbors, not paying inherited money.

Rudeness, ignorance, abuse, swearing are familiar to the Wild, moreover, this is the content of his life, this is also a defense against everything incomprehensible and hostile. Kudryash about Dikiy: “Like he broke the chain!” The passion for swearing is even stronger if they ask him for money.

Kabanova Marfa Ignatievna - the embodiment of despotism, covered with hypocrisy. Kuligin about her: “Prudence, sir! He gives money to the poor, but completely eats up his family.”

She constantly and sophisticatedly sharpens her household members. For her there is no love, no maternal feelings for her children, for her daughter-in-law Katerina. Feelings are corroded by callousness, arbitrariness and pretense. Kabanikha is a “guardian” and protector of the customs and orders of patriarchal antiquity.

N.A. Dobrolyubov writes: “The tyrants of Russian life, however, begin to feel some kind of discontent and fear, without knowing what and why. Everything seems to be fine as before: Dikoy scolds whoever he wants... Kabanova still keeps her children in fear, forces her daughter-in-law to observe all the etiquettes of the old days, eats her like rusty iron, considers herself completely infallible... But everything is somehow restless , it’s not good for them. Besides them, without asking them, another life grew up, with other beginnings.”(From the article “A Ray of Light in dark kingdom» . )

The cruelty of Kabanikha and the tyranny of Dikiy also have concrete historical foundations in life: the more acutely they feel the fragility of their position, the more fiercely they defend their foundations, suppress those who think differently, who inspire at least some suspicion. The main “weapon” of subjugation and suppression is fear. As a norm of life, fear has been elevated to law. Law in the “dark kingdom” and fear are inseparable,you have to be afraid , this is what order is based on.

II. Students' reports about the young characters in the play.

Tikhon, Boris, Varvara, Kuligin, Kudryash are “victims” of the “dark kingdom”.

Tikhon - kind, sincerely loves Katerina. Exhausted by Kabanikha’s reproaches and orders, he thinks about how to escape from the house. But submissive to his mother in everything, Tikhon still openly blamed her (!) for the death of his wife. Here are his words after the death of his wife: “Good for you, Katya! Why did I stay alive?..” It’s scary if the living envy the dead.

Boris - soft, kind person. He really understands Katerina, but is unable to help her; indecisive, unable to fight for his happiness, Boris chooses the path of humility.

Kuligin – talented person from the people. His last name is reminiscent of the Nizhny Novgorod inventor Kulibin. He does not enter into a decisive struggle with tyrants, he rather persuades them, convinces them to do something for the common good. The image of the self-taught Kuligin helps to understand the main idea of ​​the play: the idea of ​​the inevitable death of the “dark kingdom.”

Varvara understands the meaninglessness of protest, she lives by the principle: “Do what you want, as long as it’s safe and covered.”DFor Varvara, lying is the norm of life. She ran away from home, but did not submit.

Curly – desperate, boastful, but at the same time capable of sincere feelings. He is worried about Katerina. It is not afraid of its owner. “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.”

III. Reading and discussion of the continuation of the play “The Thunderstorm” (“What happened to the residents of Kalinov after Katerina’s suicide?”)

Homework A story about Katerina (How is she different from other characters in the play? Her range of hobbies as a girl. Relationships with Tikhon, Boris, Varvara. Could she find happiness in the family? Under what conditions? Is the death of the heroine a defeat or a victory?)

Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky, for the first time in Russian literature, deeply and realistically depicted the life and customs of the merchants, and painted colorful images of tyrants. He dared to look behind the iron merchant gates and was not afraid to openly show the “power of inertia,” “numbness.”

Dramatic

The conflict in “The Thunderstorm” (1860) lies in the clash of the obsolete morality of tyrants with the new morality of people in whose souls a sense of human dignity is awakening. In the play, the background of life itself, the setting itself, are important.

The world of the “dark kingdom” is based on fear and monetary calculation. Direct financial dependence forces Boris to “be respectful” with the “scold” Dikiy. Tikhon is obediently obedient to his mother, although at the end of the play even he rises to a kind of “rebellion”. Wild Curly's clerk and Tikhon's sister Varvara are cunning and dodging. Discerning Heart

Katerina feels the falseness and inhumanity of the life around her: “Yes, everything here seems to be from under captivity.”

The images of tyrants in “The Thunderstorm” are complex, they lack psychological clarity. Dikoy is a rich merchant, a significant person in the city of Kalinov. At first glance, his power is not threatened. Savel Prokofievich, according to Kudryash’s apt definition, “as if he had broken free from a chain, he feels like the master of life and the arbiter of the destinies of the people under his control.” Isn’t this what Dikiy’s attitude towards Boris speaks about? Those around him are afraid to anger Savel Prokofievich with something, his wife is in awe of him.

At the same time, as already mentioned, the image of the Wild is quite complex. The tough character of a “significant person in the city” encounters not some kind of external protest, but internal self-condemnation. Savel Prokofievich himself is not happy with his “heart,” and this is a terrible meaning for the foundations of the “dark kingdom”: tyranny is so unnatural and inhuman that it becomes obsolete, loses any moral justification for its existence.

The rich merchant Kabanova can also be called a “tyrant in a skirt.” In a conversation with her son and daughter-in-law, Kabanikha hypocritically sighs: “Oh, a grave sin! How long will it take to sin!” Behind these feigned exclamations lies a domineering, despotic character. Marfa Ignatievna actively defends the foundations of the “dark kingdom”, trying to subjugate them to the deadening power of Tikhon and Katerina. Relations between people in the family should, according to Kabanova, be regulated by the law of fear. Marfa Ignatievna’s desire to follow previous traditions in everything is manifested in the scene of Tikhon’s farewell to Katerina.

The image of the wanderer Feklusha plays a significant role in Ostrovsky’s play. At first glance in front of us minor character. In fact, Feklusha is a peacemaker and defender of the “dark kingdom”. The meaning of her reasoning about “Saltan Makhnut Persian” and “Saltan Magnut Turkish” is that we have a “righteous law.”

Feklusha foresees the death of the “dark kingdom.” She sees the ominous specter of the end in the acceleration of time. And indeed, time works against the “dark kingdom”.

Ostrovsky comes to large-scale artistic generalizations in the play and creates almost symbolic images. The author’s remark at the beginning of the fourth act of the play is noteworthy: “In the foreground is a narrow gallery with the arches of an ancient building that is beginning to collapse. “It is in this dilapidated world, from its very depths that Katerina’s confession sounds. The fate of the heroine is so tragic primarily because she rebelled against her own Domostroevsky ideas about good and evil. The ending of the play tells us that living in the “dark kingdom” is worse than death” (Dobrolyubov).

The need to awaken man in man, the rehabilitation of living human feeling that replaces false asceticism, constitutes, it seems to me, the enduring merit of Ostrovsky’s play. And today it helps to overcome the power of “inertia”, “numbness”.

Essays on topics:

1. The drama “The Thunderstorm” appeared in print in 1860. Its plot is quite simple. Main character, Katerina Kabanova, not finding a response from her...
2. Early XIX century. The city of Kalinov, standing on the steep bank of the Volga. In the first act of the play, the reader sees a public city garden. Here...
3. Three topics attracted particular attention of Russian writers in the 50-60s of the 19th century: serfdom, appearance in public life new strength...
4. Literature XIX century is qualitatively different from the literature of the previous “golden age”. In 1955-1956 freedom-loving and freedom-realizing tendencies in literature begin...

Life and customs of the “dark kingdom”

Cruel morals, sir,

in our city, cruel

A. N. Ostrovsky.

A. N. Ostrovsky is very modern as truly talented artist. He never shied away from complex and painful issues of society. Ostrovsky is not just a master of drama. This is a very sensitive writer who loves his land, his people, its history. His plays attract people with their amazing moral purity and genuine humanity.

“The Thunderstorm” is rightfully considered one of the masterpieces of Ostrovsky and all Russian drama. After all, the author himself evaluates it as creative luck.

“The Thunderstorm was written in 1859 after Ostrovsky’s trip along the Volga. This trip filled the writer with new impressions and gave him the opportunity to get acquainted with the life of the population of the Upper Volga. Later, these impressions were reflected in the transfer of life, customs, general atmosphere provincial town Kalinova.

The town is all green. The view is extraordinary. My soul just rejoices! It would seem that everything is fine, but this is only at first glance. The viewer seems to see with his own eyes the beauty of Russian nature. In the scene of the night festivities, in Katerina’s stories, this constitutes the poetic side of life in the city of Kalinov. However, next to poetry, there is another, ugly, repulsive side of Kalinov’s reality. It is revealed in Kuligin’s assessments, felt in the characters’ stories, and sounds in the prophecies of the crazy lady.

Here merchants undermine each other's trade, tyrants mock their households, here all information about other lands is gleaned from the stories of ignorant wanderers. The writer showed a fictional city, but it looks very authentic. He very accurately and vividly reproduces the atmosphere of the patriarchal merchant class, which reeks of mossy, narrow-mindedness, savagery, which does not know the desire for knowledge, interest in the sciences, in socio-political and economic problems

The only enlightened person in the whole city, Kuligin, looks like an eccentric in the eyes of the residents. His completely disinterested desire to do good does not find a single drop of sympathy among the townspeople. Naive, kind, honest, he, in my opinion, does not oppose Kalinov’s little world, humbly endures not only ridicule, but also obvious rudeness. However, it is this weak-willed creature that the author instructs to characterize the “dark kingdom”

It seems as if Kalinov is fenced off from the rest of the world by a high fence and lives some kind of special, closed life. Ostrovsky focused on the most important things, showing the wretchedness and savagery of the morals of Russian patriarchal life. I ask myself again and again, why is there no place for anything new, fresh? Probably because this whole life is based solely on familiar, outdated laws, which are obviously completely ridiculous. The “Dark Kingdom” tenaciously clings to everything old and established. And this, I think, is a terrible brake on development. This is standing in one place, stagnation. And stagnation is possible only when it is supported by people who have strength and authority. Such are Dikoy and Kabanova.

Although Dikoy is depicted in only 3 scenes, the playwright created a complete image. His name appears even in the exhibition. “Look for another scolder like ours, Savel Prokofich! “says Shapkin. A wild typical tyrant, that is, a person who acts purely on his own whim, according to his own arbitrariness, without regard for others. And I completely agree with Dobrolyubov that “the tyrant is always trying to prove that no one can tell him and that he will do whatever he wants.” Dikoy swaggers over his nephew and all his family, but retreats before those who can fight back. He scolds everyone over whom he feels his power, but if someone scolds him himself, and he cannot answer, then, all your family, hold on! Dikoy will take out all his anger on them. At such hours, people in the Wild’s house hide in the corners, just not to catch the eye of the owner. It seems to me that the reason for this attitude towards people is the consciousness of one’s superiority, and also, complete impunity. “So you know that you are a worm. If I want, I’ll have mercy, if I want, I’ll crush,” says Dikoy. He behaves completely differently with Kabanova, although he is also rude to her out of habit: “What are you doing here!” What the hell kind of merman is there! “However, she quickly tamed him. It is from her that Dikoy seeks peace after fighting at home: “Talk to me so that my heart will go away. You're the only one in the whole city who knows how to make me talk. “It is obvious that the Wild One has traits inherent in the people as a whole. He looks at natural phenomena from a religious perspective, believes that a lightning rod is “vanity,” and a thunderstorm is sent to us as punishment. Dikoy is not an exception for Kalinov, but the fruit of the entire way of life of Kalinov. He is, in a sense, a child of his city. But the worst thing is that this attitude towards family members, and all disenfranchised Kalinovites, is perceived by everyone as the norm and no deviations are seen in this.

Kabanov is no better. Marfa Ignatievna has a strong and domineering character. She also keeps her boyfriend under her control and in constant fear. However, Kabanikha is lenient towards her daughter Varvara. She knows very well what kind of life Varya will have when she gets married, so she willingly lets her daughter go out with the young people and talks to her in a motherly kind way. Kabanikha is one of the characters who actively drives the action. She takes into account what is accepted, what order requires, and honors traditions and rituals. In her deepest conviction, a wife must submit to her husband and live in fear of him. And she convinces Tikhon that Katerina should be afraid of him. Kabanova not only complies with Domostroevsky norms, but also fights for them. Marfa Ignatievna surrounded herself with ignorant wanderers. She needs them like air, as they support her enormous authority, without which she cannot imagine her existence. And it’s not for nothing that Feklusha says: “Bla-alepie, dear, blah-alepie!” Wonderful beauty! What can I say! You live in the promised land. “And what’s interesting is that neither the beauty of marvelous nature nor the charming view of the Volga cause such delight. It glorifies the morals of the city. In the image of Feklushi, the playwright showed not a proud person, of which there were many among the wanderers, but a selfish, ignorant, deceitful nature. The harm of such people is undeniable. The Wanderer talks a lot about unknown lands in which there are unjust orders. And in Kalinov, in her opinion, life is very good. She flatters Kabanikha solely for selfish purposes; wants to be noted in time, to be singled out from among others. In addition, Feklusha protects the interests of Kabanoi, and therefore the entire “dark kingdom”.

Residents of the city of Kalinov are illiterate. They believe in all sorts of fables, take a thunderstorm, a common natural phenomenon, for God's punishment. And when Kuligin explains this phenomenon to them, people simply do not believe him. The life of the dark kingdom goes on as usual: what happened yesterday will happen tomorrow. Nothing worries them, nothing in the world can disturb the measured flow of their life. And if it weren’t for the rare rumors running into Kalinov, they would think that everyone in this world lives the way they do.

In “The Thunderstorm,” according to Goncharov, “the picture of national life and morals has settled down with unprecedented artistic completeness and fidelity.” in this capacity, the play was a passionate challenge to the despotism and ignorance that reigned in pre-reform Russia.