The ideological and artistic significance of the ending of the play is the dowry. Ostrovsky, "Dowry": analysis and characteristics of the heroes
The play “Dowry” is one of the psychological dramas that Ostrovsky turned to in the 1870s. It is somewhat out of the general context of the author’s dramaturgy; along with social issues, it contains psychological questions. After we carry out brief analysis the play "Dowry", the accents that Ostrovsky placed in the work will become more obvious, and the author's idea will also be clear.
Social and psychological problems of the play “Dowry”
A dowry is a girl who does not have a dowry, which makes it difficult for her to get married. This determines the main conflict in the play. The social status of the heroes determines their fate, their outlook on life and, in many ways, their character. Thus, at the beginning of the play, two successful merchants Knurov and Vozhevatov talk about the omnipotence of capital.
We will begin the analysis of the play "Dowry" with this thought. They are used to measuring everything with money. It is noteworthy that in response to Knurov’s remark about how nice it would be to “take a ride” with Larisa to Paris, and then fall in love with her for a short time, Vozhevatov replies: “Every product has a price,” “I... won’t give away too much.” In the hierarchy life values the main place is occupied by money, wealth, luxury. This determines the attitude of people towards each other. Paratov commands universal respect because he wastes money. Larisa's mother, Kharita Ignatyevna, welcomes rich suitors without thinking about her reputation. According to the merchants, in her house there is a “bazaar”, “camp”. Karandyshev envies wealthier people, which exacerbates his painful pride.
In this world, everything is bought and sold. When analyzing the play "Dowry", note this. Paratov says that he is “marrying a million,” without having any feelings for the bride. In the finale, Larisa, having learned that Knurov and Vozhevatov are playing a toss to decide who will get it, exclaims bitterly: “They are right, I am a thing, not a person.”
But no less important is psychological conflict. It is determined by the contradiction between the world of capital, its values and the desire for sincerity of feelings and purity of human relations. Larisa’s tragedy is that she “was looking for love and did not find it.” Knurov notes that Larisa is “simple” in the sense that she does not know how to be hypocritical or cunning, luring suitors. She believes in Paratov’s feelings, realizing only in the end that he deceived her. He does not immediately realize how petty and insignificant Karandyshev is. Contradictions between internal aspirations and reality lead to a dramatic outcome.
Analysis of the play “Dowry” - system of images
The system of images in the drama seems to form two poles. On one there are rich merchants, wealthy people, respected in the city. On the other is Larisa Ogudalova. The merchants, unlike other Ostrovsky dramas, are educated and travel to Europe. However, their life priorities– it’s still about money and pride. Such are Knurov, Vozhevatov, Paratov, Karandyshev, despite the difference social status. Everyone believes that Paratov is a “brilliant gentleman”, a man of a broad soul. In fact, for him “there is nothing cherished”; marriage for money is more important than Larisa, who truly loves him. Karandyshev, speaking about his feelings for the bride, only thinks about how everyone will envy him now. Even mother main character, Kharita Ignatievna, sells her daughters, trying to get them married. But as can be seen from the analysis of the play "Dowry", this does not bring them happiness.
The main character of the play is Larisa Ogudalova. Her name comes from the Greek "seagull". Larisa is a romantic, talented, subtle person. She plays beautifully, she is noble and beautiful. But because of poverty, they look at her only as a momentary entertainment.
Larisa is taller, bolder, better than those around her. With everything external attention Larisa is lonely. Her spiritual qualities, intelligence, and talent turn out to be of no use to anyone: they only go to her house to have fun and spend time. Love for Paratov also does not find a response. He seduces her, knowing that he would not exchange a million-dollar bride for a dowry. Karandyshev puts his wounded pride above all else, and his marriage to Larisa is a reason for him to assert himself. Understanding her loneliness, hopelessness in the world of the omnipotence of capital and calculation lead Larisa to think about “how it’s good to die,” to forgive everyone and die. That’s why she calls Karandyshev’s shot a “good deed.”
In this article you read a brief analysis of the play "Dowry" by Ostrovsky. Visit our literary blog, where you will find many articles on similar topics. Also read
Psychologism of drama by A.N. Ostrovsky "Dowry"
Plot and composition of the work
Ostrovsky began the play “Dowry” in 1874, but finished it only in 1878. Such a long period of work on a piece, which is generally not typical for a playwright, gives reason to think that in this play Ostrovsky artistic form embodied his thoughts about the new, rapidly changing reality of Russian life. Ostrovsky himself considered “Dowry” one of his most successful creations. This was also recognized by the playwright’s entourage: “I have already read my play in Moscow five times, among the listeners there were people who were hostile to me, and everyone unanimously recognized The Dowry as the best of all my works.”
The premiere of “Dowry” took place on November 10, 1878 at the Maly Theater, Larisa was played by G. N. Fedotova. The authors of the reviews that soon appeared in print were almost unanimous: in their opinion, the play was a complete, undoubted and even final failure.
Staging the play in Alexandrinsky Theater Petersburg a month later was hardly more successful.
“The playwright tired the entire audience, right down to the most naive spectators, because the audience had clearly outgrown the spectacles that Ostrovsky offered them,” wrote the popular fiction writer of that time P. Boborykin. His conclusion about the play as a whole is derogatory: “The hackneyed plot, familiar figures (from Ostrovsky’s other plays), everything is drowning in unnecessary conversations and unbearable lengths.” The work of A.N. Ostrovsky in criticism of his contemporaries / Comp. A.R. Vernitsky. - Krasnodar: Kuban, 1988, p. 40..
Such reviews cannot but surprise modern reader. Why "Dowry", one of the most famous plays Ostrovsky, in which such famous Russian actresses as M. N. Ermolova, M. G. Savina, V. F. Komissarzhevskaya, M. I. Babanova shone, met with misunderstanding of contemporaries?
Apparently, the point here is that Ostrovsky, like true artist, looked into the depths of his time, seeing those changes in Russian life that were not yet noticeable to the majority. If in “The Thunderstorm” in the image of Katerina the soul of Russian patriarchal antiquity perished, then in “The Dowry” the gentle, sublime, poetic, truly incomparable (that is, having no similarities, repetitions) Larisa was killed by the spirit of mercenary.
One more point is important. Real life“Dowryless” began in 1896, when Larisa was played by Vera Fedorovna Komissarzhevskaya. 18 years have passed since the creation of the play, another era has arrived - the turn of the century: the breaking of established worldviews, the reassessment of values, new trends in literature and art. And what Ostrovsky saw back in 1878 and wrote in his Larisa (fragility, poetry, brokenness, duality of character), Komissarzhevskaya was able to understand, although she said that she was playing “her” Larisa, and not Ostrovsky’s heroine.
Before further analyzing the psychologism of the play “Dowry,” briefly consider its plot and composition, as well as the features of the conflict.
The drama consists of four acts, each of which in turn is represented by several phenomena. All the time of the action that takes place in the present (for the author) time, in big city Bryakhimov on the Volga, takes less than a day.
The conflict “Dowry” is a variation on the theme “Thunderstorms”. A young girl from a poor family, pure and loving life, artistically gifted, encounters a world of businessmen, where her beauty is desecrated. As the action in the drama develops, the discrepancy between Larisa’s romantic ideas and the prosaic, pragmatic world of the people who surround her and worship her grows. People are complex and contradictory in their own way. Thus, the conflict of this play is very relevant today - the clash of the material with the spiritual.
The main character, Larisa Ogudalova, cannot and does not want to obey immoral laws that are established and regulated only by money, in which a person is only a commodity, so the play, which begins with “chatter in a coffee shop,” ends in disaster.
Already in Act I, in the dialogue between Knurov and Vozhevatov, the leading motive of the play appears - the product and its price; the drama of the situation is that the goods in in this case is a living person - Larisa.
The beginning of the plot is the arrival of Paratov.
Larisa explains to Paratov the reason for her marriage:
Larisa. But what made me... If it’s impossible to live at home, if in times of terrible, mortal melancholy they force you to be nice, smile, impose suitors on whom you can’t look without disgust, if there are scandals in the house, if you have to run away from home and even from the city ?
Karandyshev is perceived by merchants as an insignificant person who does not deserve any attention, much less respect:
Paratov (about Karandyshev): ... He puffed up, too, like a man, he also decided to cock. Just wait, my friend, I’m making fun of you, my friend.
Further events unfolding in the play can be seen as the main character’s struggle for Paratov’s heart. This man captivated Larisa not so much with his external brilliance as with his breadth of soul. (It is no coincidence that Ostrovsky’s note in the playbill: From the artists.) But Larisa, like any girl in love, rather sees Paratov as her loving imagination created him (“ideal man”), and not as he really is.
Karandyshev is planning a dinner to which he plans to invite representatives of " high society» town, in order to introduce his bride and announce the upcoming wedding. During lunch, he doesn’t seem to notice that everyone is making fun of us and making fun of us, trying to get us drunk “for more fun.” The tragedy of Karandyshev is that in his attempts to “be on top” he does not realize how ridiculous and pitiful he is. Only Larisa is tormented seeing everything that is happening. She shares her experiences with her mother, to which she replies: “Who cares that you are tormented?”
No one feels sorry for Larisa; she is only a beautiful commodity for those around her, even for her own mother and fiancé.
The culmination of the play is Larisa's singing (and in it - all her pure, poetic soul). It had a completely unexpected effect on Paratov, touched best strings his soul. He is truly sincere in his confession - love spoke again in his heart. But... Paratov himself is not deceived about himself: noble feelings are just “stirring” in his soul, but nothing more.
Paratov’s noble impulse disappears quite quickly - immediately after Larisa Dmitrievna agrees to go boating on the Volga. In this regard, the following remarks are indicative:
Vozhevatov (about departure). Not waiting for the toast?
Paratov. That's better.
Vozhevatov. But what?
Paratov. Funnier.
Act IV. Phenomenon 7 - psychological denouement. Larisa lost the fight: “dreams are out of sight, and the veil has fallen.” The “ideal man” has been debunked. But Larisa pays for her own illusions and mistakes.
In the fourth act, the main motive of the entire play - the theme of buying and selling - finally “materializes” in the sixth act: Knurov and Vozhevatov draw lots for who will get Larisa.
Vozhevatov. I won’t take any compensation, Mokiy Parmenych.
Knurov. Why compensation? It can be done differently somehow.
Vozhevatov. Yes, this is best, (Takes a coin out of his pocket and puts it under his arm.) Heads or hash marks?
Knurov (thoughtfully). If I say: heads, then I will lose; eagle, of course you are. (Decisively.) Lattice.
Vozhevatov (raising his hand). Yours. So, I have to go to Paris alone. I'm not at a loss; costs less.
Scene 11 is the actual denouement. The scene is very important psychological point vision. Before this, in scene 9, Larisa’s only desire is to “forgive and die,” but she does not dare to take the last step. Knurov’s proposal is disgusting to her: “Luxury, shine... no, no, I’m far from vanity... (Shuddering.) Debauchery... oh, no...” Karandyshev appears, and Larisa takes out all her pain on him and bitterness: Paratov’s betrayal, the cynicism of Knurov and Vozhevatov (childhood friend!), their own unfulfilled hopes. It is no coincidence that Karandyshev tells her: “What are you doing, what are you doing, come to your senses!” Larisa seems to be delirious, she acts according to the principle: the worse (the sicker), the better: “...I am a thing! Finally, the word has been found for me, you have found it. Every thing has its own price... Ha ha ha... I’m too expensive for you!”
The play ends with the death of Larisa, who forgives in her last minutes everyone who, one way or another, led her to death.
As you can see, the plot of the play is quite simple: a girl leaves her groom on the eve of the wedding for her lover. The groom, driven to despair by jealousy, decides to kill his unfaithful bride. Consequently, what is important in this case is not the plot itself, but its psychological content.
"Dowry"
We invite you to familiarize yourself with literary analysis Ostrovsky's plays.
Brief Analysis
Year of writing: 1874-1878
History of creation - There is an assumption that story line the play was taken by the author from real story, which occurred during his activities as a justice of the peace.
Subject — The main topic are the relationships between representatives of different classes of society, the predominance of money over real feelings.
Composition - The play consists of 4 acts. The first act is an exposition, the beginning of the action is the arrival of Sergei Sergeevich Paratov. The second act is the development of the plot, Larisa’s sacrificial love. The third is the culmination of the action, Karandyshev gives a dinner party, Larisa escapes to the ship. In the fourth act, the denouement occurs - a young girl dies at the hands of her failed husband.
Genre— Socio-psychological drama
Direction— Realism
History of creation
A. N. Ostrovsky was engaged not only literary activity. In the 70s of the 19th century, he had to act as a justice of the peace in the Kineshma district. Indispensable participation in trials gave him the opportunity to be aware of the criminal situation in the county of that period. Extensive literary material, accumulated during his judicial career, Ostrovsky used for his works. There is an assumption that the plot for “Dowry” was one of these cases that happened in the district. The court was considering the case of one of the residents accusing him of murdering his young wife. The process received wide publicity, and the writer took it as the basis for his new play.
The author began writing “The Dowry” on the eve of the winter of 1874 and finished it only in the fall of 1878, since along with this play he was working on other works. The censor approved the author's new work, and the play was published. The play's premieres, which took place on various theater stages, failed and were sharply criticized by critics.
After the writer’s death, ten long years passed before “The Dowry” gained well-deserved success and gained wide popularity among admirers of Ostrovsky’s talent.
Subject
The play reveals widely true essence representatives of different classes of society. The main point is the humiliation of real moral values. Those in power, wealthy merchants and nobles, carried away by the thirst for profit, have a heart-to-heart small people without wealth, with a sense of great superiority. The desire for even greater enrichment obscures their eyes. They don't care how people below them on the social ladder feel.
Here the drama of a young girl is played out, whose guilt is that she is homeless. Larisa Ogudalova is a young, beautiful, gifted girl. She is capable of real feelings, ready to sacrifice herself in the name of love. But she is poor, and the people around her do not take her seriously. All these Paratovs, Knurovs, Vozhevatovs, and even the complete insignificance of the Karandyshevs, see in Larisa only a toy, a beautiful thing that they can use and show off to their friends.
Larisa loves Sergei Sergeevich sincerely, truly. She is ready to do anything for him. At his first word, Larisa runs away with him onto the ship, leaving the unlucky groom with his dinner party. And only after the treachery of all these people of the so-called high society, the scales fall from her eyes. Only now does she realize the baseness of their actions. Larisa realized that she was no one, and she would never be anyone else. Karandyshev, who killed his bride, became her salvation, saving Larisa from further disappointment and dishonor.
Ostrovsky's work deeply touches social issue. The writer shows the real essence of the ostentatious well-being of a thoroughly rotten high society. This society lives in a world where everything is subject to the power of money. This world, soulless and immoral, is so low that everything can be bought in it, even love and human lives. The romantic dreams of the main character are shattered by a terrifying, vulgar reality.
Composition
The compositional structure of the play is kept within the strict framework classic style. The first act provides exposition and sets up the plot. Knurov and Vozhevatov meet in a coffee shop and exchange city news. In between times, they talk about the upcoming wedding of Larisa Ogudalova. Next, Sergei Sergeevich Paratov comes to the town.
In the second act, the development of the plot continues. Larisa has a conversation with Paratov, where she admits that she still loves him. Paratov is invited to dinner with Karandyshev.
In the third act comes climax. All invited guests gather at Karandyshev's place. Larisa performs a romance, openly declaring her love for Sergei Sergeevich. Paratov provokes Yuli Kapitonovich and he drinks a lot too much. Paratov and his friends take Larisa with them.
The fourth act is the denouement. Larisa learns about the treachery and meanness of her lover, about the baseness of Knurov and Vozhevatov. The girl is in despair, the best way out for her is death. At this time, Larisa Karandyshev's failed husband appears. The bride refuses him. and Yuliy Kapitonovich shoots a girl with a pistol.
The compositional structure of the play fully reveals the characters and actions of the characters and makes it clear what a huge influence the social environment has on people’s actions.
Genre
The play by A. N. Ostrovsky describes tragic fate the main character, a young poor girl. Her situation is dramatic; she lives in hostile world without finding understanding from others. Larisa Ogudalova lives hard life. Her sublime and romantic nature tries to fight the injustice and cruelty of the world. Unfortunately, she is too weak for such a fight and Larisa’s life ends tragically.
All this places the play in the genre of psychological drama, reflecting the terrible reality surrounding life.
The play of the great playwright is topical and large-scale. Affected by it global problems societies have not lost their relevance to this day, and “Dowry” rightfully occupies a place of honor in world classical drama.
Play by A.N. Ostrovsky “Dowry” was written in 1879. At this time, the merchants from patriarchal relations transitioned to new economic realities of life.
At the head of merchant life were people of a new generation who copied everything European: costumes, entertainment, lifestyle. But the love of power and wealth remained and manifested itself ever since greater strength.
It was this destructive passion, the desire for wealth, and through it for power and pleasure, that A.N. showed. Ostrovsky in his best work“Dowry.” The life of a poor sensitive girl Larisa Ogudalova ended tragically, because love and honesty have no place in a world where money rules and feelings are trampled on for the sake of it.
Brief summary of the play by A.N. Ostrovsky "Dowry". The analysis reminds me of it, even though the events in that one took place 20 years ago, but:
- Money determines relationships between people: between mother and daughters, between business partners, between husband and wife, between bride and groom.
- People's feelings have no value, no respect. They marry not for love, but for convenience.
- Because of all this, the main character in both of Ostrovsky’s plays tragically dies.
It will always be like this until there is the power of money and sacred human feelings are trampled underfoot: love, respect, honesty.
Dowryless
Drama in four acts.
Brief retelling by action.
Act one
The action of the play takes place in the large Volga city of Bryakhimov, which, like the city of Kalinov from “The Thunderstorm,” is not on the map.
The action begins early in the morning on the site near the coffee shop. Gavrilo, the bartender, and Ivan, the servant, are gossiping about the rich merchants Knurov and Vozhevatov.
In the second scene, merchants appear near a coffee shop. They order champagne in a tea container so as not to provoke judgmental gossip. Vozhevatov is awaiting the arrival of the wealthy shipowner Paratov, who promised to sell him his steamship “Swallow”.
The conversation between two merchants turns to a beautiful, but poor girl Larisa Ogudalova. They remember her love for Paratov. When he left her and left, Larisa rushed to catch up with him in despair, but her mother returned. Suitors hover around her, whom her mother, the poor widow Kharita Ignatievna Ogudalova, greets. There are many suitors, but no one wants to marry a woman without a dowry.
Ogudalova married her eldest daughters to unworthy people, without worrying about how their wives would live with them. The widow invites guests into her house, hoping to quickly give away youngest daughter. Sensitive and intelligent Larisa does not like this life, so she declared that she would marry the first one who wooed her. It turned out to be Yuliy Kapitonich Karandyshev, a poor and unprepossessing official, but with great ambitions. Imitating the rich, he bought a carriage, old and rattling, a decrepit filly, and proudly gives his bride rides in it, not knowing what makes her ashamed of such behavior.
Knurov and Vozhevatov feel sorry for her and believe that a dowryless woman can only become a kept woman for a rich merchant or will be forced to suffer with a worthless husband in poverty.
Ogudalova, Karandysheva and Larisa appear. Karandyshev invites Vozhevatov to dinner, then Knurov. They want to refuse and agree only after the invitation of Larisa and Ogudalova.
When everyone leaves to meet the ship, Larisa begs the groom to quickly go to a village estate away from all the fuss. But Karandyshev does not understand her, refuses and bothers her with his jealousy. He remembers Paratov and demands an explanation as to why he is better than himself. Larisa frankly says that Paratov is the ideal man, in her opinion, and at one word he is ready to follow him.
Preparing to leave, the girl approaches the grate, and Karandyshev warns that falling from it onto the stones below is certain death.
After they leave, Paratov appears with Robinson, an artist whom the master took from a desert island on the Volga and gave him such a nickname. Paratov tells his plans: he is getting married, taking gold mines as a dowry, and has come to sell “Swallow” and say goodbye to his cheerful bachelor life. Hearing that Larisa is getting married, he is pleased. This means that the old is forgotten, you can go in and chat with Kharita Ignatievna and Larisa, just like before.
Act two
In the first appearance, Ogudalova is preoccupied with the lack of money. Vozhevatov gave Larisa a birthday present. Knurov arrives and Ogudalova tricks him into giving him three hundred rubles. The merchant tells Ogudalova that Kharita Ignatievna buys for her daughter nice outfit brides and everything you need for a wedding. He will pay for everything. Knurov promises the widow that when Larisa gets tired of her worthless husband, he will help her leave him, but not for nothing.
Ogudalova understands his hints and agrees with them.
Larisa is making plans for life in the village:
- I found a basket for picking mushrooms and berries;
- asked the gypsy Ilya to tune his guitar to sing in the village;
- collects romances that he will take with him.
Larisa again begs Karandyshev to come to the village as soon as possible. He refuses because he wants to show off his bride and stroke his pride. Larisa is outraged that he only thinks about himself, only loves himself. With despair she exclaims: “When will someone love me? You will bring me to death!!”
Everyone is talking about the master's arrival. When Larisa finds out that this master is Paratov, the girl, in fear, calls Karandyshev to go to the village and not meet with Paratov. But Karandyshev wants to show off his bride in front of him too. Larisa warns what a dangerous opponent Paratov is.
The master's carriage has arrived in the window.
When he meets Larisa, Paratov gets her to confess that he is still loved by her. He hopes to invite her to a picnic where he will say goodbye to his bachelor life. because Knurov and Vozhevatov also want this. Karandyshev is rude to Paratov, but is forced, at Larisa’s insistence, to ask him for an apology and invite him to dinner.
Act three
The first appearance in Karandyshev's house after his lunch. Efrosinya Potapovna, his aunt, Ogudalova and Larisa exchange opinions about the past dinner.
Efrosinya Potapovna is outraged by the high cost of food and drink. She thinks it’s right that Karandyshev ordered cheap wine with stickers of expensive wines, that the food is cheap and not best quality. Still a lot of money spent.
Ogudalova condemns guests who do not drink crappy wine themselves, but get Karandyshev drunk. Larisa, out of shame for the owner and guests, does not know where to go.
In the fourth scene, Paratov, Knurov and Vozhevatov come out after lunch and make fun of Karandyshev, his lunch menu and the quality of food and wine. They laugh at the cheap carpet and the weapons hanging on it. Karandyshev enters with a box of cigars and assures that the pistol is loaded and removes it from the carpet. Guests refuse crappy Karandyshev cigars, saying with irony and mockery that they are very expensive for them.
Paratov asks Larisa to sing to them. Together with Ilya they sing the romance “Do not tempt me unnecessarily.”
The merchants leave and leave Larisa and Paratov alone. He remembers their love, that they have not forgotten their feelings, that he will be her slave, and she will be her mistress. And he persuades them to go with them on a picnic across the Volga. Larisa believes him and agrees.
Paratov offers the guests a toast to Karandyshev as they enter. He goes for wine. Everyone leaves and Larisa is with them. When Karandyshev returns, he realizes that they laughed at him. Outraged by yet another humiliation, he grabs a pistol from the table and, saying that he will take revenge on everyone, leaves.
Act four
The first phenomenon begins on a bright summer night on the same Volzhskaya embankment, as in the first act near the coffee shop. Karandyshev with a pistol approaches the coffee shop and interrogates Robinson where his comrades are. He replies that he doesn’t know and, frightened by the gun, hides in the coffee shop.
The entire Paratov company returns along with the gypsies. Gypsy Ilya is very pleased with the picnic. Knurov and Vozhevatov understand that drama is brewing.
Vozhevatov believes that Karandyshev will get angry, jealous and will again be the same loving groom. To which Knurov objects that she is not the same. The girl believed the words of the man who had already deceived her once, which means he promised serious relationship. Knurov invites Vozhevatov to “take part in her fate.”
They decide her fate by playing toss, as a result of which Knurov has the right to offer Larisa to become his kept woman.
Paratov and Larisa return to the coffee shop. The merchants leave, leaving them alone. Paratov sends Larisa home. Larisa explains that she cannot return home alone, cannot return to her fiance, whom she not only does not love, but does not even respect. Paratov took her away from her fiance’s house, and her mother is waiting to bless them. After a long conversation, Larisa realizes that the master has deceived her again, that he is engaged to a rich bride and will not exchange her for a dowry.
Larisa is left alone. Vozhevatov approaches her. To her requests for compassion, he replies that bound by an honest merchant's word.
Knurov asks Larisa to listen to him. He invites her to go with him to Paris, offers her a huge amount of content, persuades her not to rush into an answer, maybe he can wait. As soon as he hears a positive answer from her, he will be able to fulfill all her desires and whims. “For me, the impossible is not enough,” he asserts. Larisa silently shakes his head negatively.
Left alone, the homeless woman in despair thinks about suicide. He approaches the grate over the abyss again and does not dare. “If someone would kill me now,” she dreams bitterly.
Robinson brings Karandyshev. He calls Larisa with him and assures her that he loves her. But his bride replies: “You’re lying!”
Larisa makes a decision if she's a thing that's being tossed around, then every thing must have an owner, a rich owner. I didn’t find love, I looked for it, but it wasn’t there, then will look for gold.
Larisa gets up to leave, Karandyshev stands in her way: “You should be mine.” Hearing Larisino: “Never,” he shoots her with a pistol, shouting: “ So don’t let anyone get you!”
Larisa with the words: “My dear, what a good deed you have done for me!” - picks up the gun and puts it on the table so that everyone believes that she shot herself: “I did it myself, I did it myself.”
She dies with words of love to everyone, accompanied by loud singing of gypsies.
Ostrovsky showed us with his play that where money and calculation rule, there is no place for love. “Dowry” was written 20 years after the play “The Thunderstorm”. Much has changed, the wild dark ones have changed merchant morals, but the power of money remained. There is still no place in this life for people with a loving and passionate soul like Larisa’s. Lifestyle, clothing, language may change, but as long as money rules the world, behind these changes there will still be a thirst for money and power, and love and simple human feelings there won't be room.
Ostrovsky's play was staged in many theaters, stood the test of time, and was filmed more than once. Analysis of “Dowry”, summary does not allow you to appreciate all the merits of the play; you need to read it all and watch at least one film adaptation, if you cannot see it on stage. Literature lovers need:
- know the history of the creation of Ostrovsky’s play;
- read not the short version, but the full version:
- look theatrical production or film adaptation.
In this case, viewers and readers will become fans of the work of playwright Ostrovsky.
Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky’s play “Dowry” is rightfully considered a real masterpiece of Russian drama. It is distinguished by its deep psychologism, colorful images, and acute social and personal issues. We invite you to familiarize yourself with literary analysis works according to a plan that will be useful to 10th grade students in preparation for a literature lesson.
Brief Analysis
Year of writing– 1874-1878.
History of creation– Ostrovsky, who held the honorary position of justice of the peace, based the plot on the real story of the death of a young woman who died at the hands of her husband. The author worked on the play for four years, from 1874 to 1878. At first the work did not receive recognition, but after a while it became a stunning success.
Subject- Distorted relationships in a society in which the principles of “buying and selling” reign. Any person, any action can be bought, the only question is the price.
Composition– A work consisting of four acts is characterized by a linear composition. The first act is exposition and announcement (Paratov’s arrival), the second act is the development of the plot ( strong love Larisa to Paratov, for whose sake she is ready to make great sacrifices), the third act is the climax (dinner at Karandyshev’s), the fourth act is the denouement (Larissa’s death).
Genre- A play. Social and psychological drama.
Direction– Realism.
History of writing
In the 70s of the 19th century, Alexander Nikolaevich served as justice of the peace for the Kineshma district. On duty, he took part in high-profile court hearings and was well acquainted with the criminal chronicles of that time. All this gave Ostrovsky, as a writer, rich literary material, which he often used in his works.
Presumably, the plot of “Dowry” was based on a real story that shocked the entire Kineshma district, when local Ivan Konovalov killed his own young beautiful wife.
Ostrovsky began writing the play in the fall of 1874. However, parallel work on other works delayed its writing for four long years. Having successfully passed the censorship, “Dowry” was published in 1879 in the literary magazine “Domestic Notes.”
The first productions were a failure and drew harsh criticism. Such rejection was due to the fact that the author managed to open painful ulcers on the body of society. Such courage was not to everyone’s taste, and was received with hostility by both theater critics and ordinary readers.
And only in the 90s of the 19th century, almost 10 years after the death of the writer, the play achieved well-deserved success.
Subject
The essence of Ostrovsky's drama fully reflects the meaning of the title- “Dowry.” Previously, this was the name given to poor girls who did not have a penny to their name. Their situation was very humiliating and difficult - rarely did anyone want to start a family with a dependent woman, who had to be fully supported all her life. Only beauty, education and personal traits could attract the attention of a worthy groom who was ready to turn a blind eye to the bride’s lack of dowry.
Thus, the author draws one of serious problems a society in which a person appears as a commodity that can be bought or sold. Few people are interested in a person’s personality, his soul feelings, since everyone has only one goal - not to sell things short.
Larisa Ogudalova is a sensitive, kind and vulnerable girl, a real beauty, which still has one significant drawback - the lack of a dowry. They see the meaning of their life in searching true love, and soon finds her in the person of Sergei Paratov. She sees his image in a kind of halo, endowing him with virtues that do not exist in reality.
However, soon the romantic flair disappears from the heroine’s eyes, and she sensibly assesses the current situation. The people around her, including birth mother, they see in it only luxurious fun, expensive toy, which can be boasted in society. Even in her close circle, no one seeks to look into her soul or show sincere concern for her.
Larisa comes to the sad conclusion that she is a thing that should be sold at a higher price. The collision of a pure soul with a vicious material world invariably leads to a tragic outcome - the death of the main character. However, Larisa finds joy in her death, since it gives her long-awaited freedom.
Composition
In "Dowry" the analysis includes a description compositional structure works. The composition of the play follows all classical laws and consists of four acts:
- first act contains exposition and plot (description of the life of Larisa and her family, Paratov’s arrival);
- in the second act events develop (Larissa is becoming more and more convinced that her personal happiness is possible only with Paratov, and for his sake she is ready to sacrifice a lot);
- third act- climax (dinner at Karandyshev’s, Larisa’s singing, which, in fact, is a pure and sincere declaration of love for Paratov);
- fourth act- denouement (the death of Larisa, who at the moment of her death wholeheartedly forgives all those who, one way or another, are guilty of her death).
All events take place within 24 hours, which further enhances the drama of the story. Linear composition allows the author to convey as accurately as possible the motives for the behavior of the main characters. It becomes clear that their actions are largely determined not only by their character traits, but also by the environment in which they live.
Main characters
Genre
The play “The Dowry” fully corresponds to the drama genre, since it presents the difficult fate of the main character, who is forced to live in a constant conflict between her soul and society.
The purpose of the socio-psychological drama, to which “Dowry” belongs, is to reveal to the reader all the hardships that a person is forced to face in an environment alien to him. As a rule, the main characters of the drama are expected internal contradictions, spiritual suffering, and ultimately a tragic fate. But at the same time, the drama fully reflects the realities of life around us, making us think about many important issues prevailing in any society.
