Comparative characteristics of Tikhon and Boris (based on Ostrovsky’s play “The Thunderstorm”). Comparative characteristics of Tikhon and Boris What is common in the fate of Tikhon and Boris

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

The play contains two male characters who are “bonded” in the dark kingdom. Tikhon and Boris are two completely opposite characters, but they are connected by Katerina. The reader can observe a love triangle. Tikhon is the husband of the main character, and Boris is just a passing 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 heroine’s husband, has been under the influence of his tyrannical mother since early childhood; he is very dependent on her. Kabanikha subordinated 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 it out 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 cannot protect her, because he himself is a very weak-willed person and cannot tell Kabanikha to leave him and his wife alone. He decides to find the strength to tell his mother everything that is in his heart only after the death of his wife. Katerina doesn’t love her husband, she only regrets it, which is probably why she is looking for true love that matches her young dreams.

Boris Grigorievich ends up in Kalinov 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 doesn't like the city and its ways. He would gladly give up everything and go somewhere, so as not to depend on Diky and the inheritance that he would leave him. He remains in Kalinov and obeys local orders for the sake of his sister.

Why did Katerina, of all the 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 Prince Charming and could not protect the young girl from the oppression of the “dark kingdom”, just like her husband, and perhaps 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 showing feelings of love and tenderness, none of them could resist the local order, the Domostroy system, they are not capable of committing 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 “The 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 the 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 everyone he can reach under strict control, and the mother, who acts as a benefactor among strangers and is not inferior to her father at home, greatly influences his son. She convinced Tikhon that he did not have his own mind, and he should live with someone else’s. That is, maternal. A young, married man is afraid to go against the will of his parents and makes excuses to his mother even if he does not feel guilty. Tikhon really wants to break free, he is raving about her and does not pay attention to Katerina’s problems. It can be argued that Tikhon loves his wife, he would forgive her for her betrayal, but he cannot openly go against his mother. This is a puppet who from time to time tries to break free, but is immediately put in his place.

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

It is impossible to say with certainty who is more to blame for Katerina’s death - Tikhon or Boris. The first did not fight for his happiness, he 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 suffered, but were afraid to go against the social order, to sacrifice their comfort for the sake of their loved one. Thus, it can be argued that Tikhon and Boris differ only in appearance.

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

Problems of the play "The Thunderstorm"

All characters can be divided into 2 groups: representatives of the older and younger generations. The eldest represents Kabanikh and Dikoy. They are representatives of the patriarchal world, where selfishness and poverty rule. Other characters suffer from the tyranny of Kabanikha and Wild. These are primarily Varvara, Katerina, Boris and Tikhon. A comparative description of the characters shows that all the heroes have resigned themselves to their fate, and only Katerina is not able to go against her conscience and her desires.

The entire work "The Thunderstorm" is dedicated to the story 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 you understand in detail the behavior of the characters in the play.

Boris's fate

Before analyzing the character of Boris, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with his history.

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

Tikhon's fate

Among all the characters, two heroes stand out, two men - Boris and Tikhon. The comparative characteristics of these heroes can say a lot.

Tikhon depends on Kabanikha - his mother. He has to obey her in everything. Kabanikha does not hesitate to get involved in the personal life of her son, dictating how he should treat his wife. Kabanikha literally takes his daughter-in-law out of the world. Kabanikha constantly finds fault with Katerina.

One day Tikhon is forced to leave for another city for several days. The reader clearly sees how glad he is for the opportunity to be alone and show his independence.

What Boris and Tikhon have in common

So, we have two characters - 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 the will of others. Both heroes lack independence. Both heroes love Katerina.

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

Boris and Tikhon: differences

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

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

The main idea of ​​the play "The 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 should have saved her, who should have rebelled against the power of the Kalinovsky tyrants. However, they failed, and Katerina’s lifeless body was taken 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 could change the whole city. Her death is the first catastrophe that disrupted the patriarchal structure of the family. Kabanikha and Dikoy feel that young people are leaving their power, which means 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 under the despotism of the Wild and Kabanikha. Kalinov is not a fictional city, but there are a lot of such “Kalinovs” throughout Russia.

Two male characters help us understand Katerina’s character. The meek, unrequited Tikhon, Katerina’s husband, who loves her but cannot protect her, and Boris, Dikiy’s nephew, who came to her from Moscow.

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

Both heroes are united by bondage and dependence: Tikhon - from his own mother, Boris - from Dikiy. Since childhood, Tikhon has been at the mercy of his despotic mother, agrees with her in everything, and does not dare to contradict her. 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, when you get there, do as I ordered you.

Kabanov: How can I, Mama, disobey you!

N.A., examining the image of Tikhon, notices that he himself loved his wife and would be ready to do anything for her; but the oppression under which he grew up has so disfigured him that he has no strong feelings...

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 lashes out at the innocent Katerina (“You see, here I always get it from my mother for you! That’s what my life is like!). And Kuligin was right when he said that behind the locked gates in families there is dark debauchery and drunkenness! Tikhon drinks out of despair, trying to brighten up his life. He is waiting for a trip to escape from his mother's tyranny at least for a while. Varvara understands well her brother’s true desires:

Varvara: They are sitting with their mother, locked up. Now she sharpens it like rusting iron.

Katerina: For what?

Varvara: No way, it teaches wisdom. It will be two weeks on the road, it’s a big deal! Judge for yourself! Her heart is aching because he walks around of his own free will. So now she gives 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 tied up.

Varvara: Yes, of course, tied up! As soon as he leaves, he’ll start drinking. Now he listens, and he himself thinks about how to get out as quickly as possible.

Tikhon cannot, and it simply does not occur to him, to contradict his mother; he cannot protect Katerina from attacks, although he feels sorry for her. In the farewell scene, we see how Tikhon suffers, realizing that he is offending his wife by 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, she knows it herself.

Kabanova: Talk more! Well, well, give the order! So that I can hear what you order her! And then you’ll come and ask if you did everything right.

Kabanov: Listen to your mother, Katya!

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

Kabanov: Don't be rude!

Kabanova: May your mother-in-law honor you like your own mother!

Kabanov: Honor your mother, Katya, like 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 consoles Katerina, trying to make amends: “Take everything to heart, and you’ll soon end up in consumption.” Why listen to her? She needs to say something! Well, let her talk, and you ignore her...

Boris is also in a dependent position, because the main condition for receiving an inheritance is to show respect to his uncle, Dikiy. He admits that he would have given up everything and left. I feel sorry for my sister.

Boris is a new face in the city, but he also bends under the influence of Kalinov’s cruel morals. What did he do to deserve Katerina’s love? Perhaps Katerina pays attention to Boris because he is a newcomer, not from the locals; or, as N. Dobrolyubov wrote, “she is attracted to Boris not only by the fact that she likes him, that in appearance and speech he is not like the others...; She is drawn 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 melancholy of her monotonous life, and the desire for freedom, space, hot, unfettered freedom.

Katerina claims that she loves her husband, replacing the concept of “love” with pity. As Varvara asserts, “if you feel sorry, you don’t love.” Yes, and no problem, we must tell the truth!

I believe that there is nothing to love Boris either. He knew that this forbidden, sinful relationship could have very dire consequences for him, and especially for Katerina. And Kudryash warns: “Just watch, don’t cause trouble for yourself, and don’t get her into trouble either!” Let’s face it, even though her husband is a fool, her mother-in-law is painfully fierce. But Boris doesn’t even try to resist his feelings or reason with Katerina. But this is not the worst thing. Boris’s behavior after Katerina admitted cheating on her mother-in-law and husband is striking. 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 sends me, and the horses are ready... Boris is not ready for open rebellion, and this is exactly how the Kalinovites would regard an act that the hero never dared to take. It turns out that the inheritance is still more valuable to him. He is only ready to cry with Katerina over his and her unfortunate fates. And he understands that he is leaving his beloved woman to die (“Only one thing should be asked of God, that she 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 worth Katerina, she fell in love with him more in solitude... He represents one of the circumstances that makes necessary the fatal end... of the play.

But Tikhon, on the contrary, turned out to be more humane, taller and stronger than Boris! Despite the fact that Katerina betrayed and disgraced him, he turned out to be capable of sympathy for her and for his rival: “He rushes about too; crying. Just now my uncle and I attacked him, we scolded him, scolded him - he was silent. Looks like he's become wild. With me, she says, do whatever you want, just don’t torture her! And he also has pity for her.

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

“Mama, let me in, my death! I’ll get her out, otherwise I’ll do it myself... What would I do without her! And at that very moment Tikhon was able to tell his mother the truth, accusing her of his wife’s death: “Mama, you ruined her!” You, you, you...

These words indicate that new times have come, where there is no place for despotism, tyranny, and oppression.

Ostrovsky, Essay

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

Boris, just like Tikhon, is connected with the “dark kingdom.” He is Dikiy’s nephew, the 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, just like Tikhon.

Unlike Kabanov, Dikiy’s nephew is well educated. Before coming to Kalinov, the hero lived in Moscow, the customs 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! ...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 the young woman’s feelings for Dikiy’s nephew. Boris also loves Katerina, but nevertheless, when their connection is revealed, he “throws about” and “cries.” The hero is a cowardly man; he cannot find the strength within 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 their 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 subjugates himself to the Dikiy, hoping to receive at least a tiny share of the inheritance.

Updated: 2017-09-06

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