Analysis of Tikhon. The image and characteristics of Tikhon in the play The Thunderstorm by Ostrovsky essay

Tikhon Ivanovich Kabanov is one of the main characters of the play “The Thunderstorm”, Katerina’s husband, Kabanikha’s son. He belongs to the younger generation of Kalinovites and, in a sense, marks the end of the patriarchal way of life. The young people of Kalinov no longer want to live according to the old order, but they all express this protest differently, each in accordance with their own character. Unlike Katerina, who is a maximalist and takes an uncompromising position, Tikhon, Varvara and Kudryash have learned to adapt to the established order and, despite the oppression of their elders, live by their own rules.

Formally, they recognize traditional orders, but in reality they act as they want.

Tikhon is a kindly man, but weak. He does not see the need to adhere to ancient traditions, but he’s also not going to openly go against his mother. The hero tries in every possible way to avoid conflicts and is torn between sympathy for his wife and fear of his mother. He loves Katerina, but does not understand her suffering. Tikhon's soft character does not allow him to help and support his own wife. Kabanikha demands “masculine” actions from her son, but Tikhon does not want to show Katerina his power and demand blind obedience from her. He wants warmth, comfort and affection, but in home he doesn't get it.

Tikhon always has to play the role of an obedient son. Only long trips on business are an outlet for him: he forgets about constant humiliations, drowning them in wine. By secretly getting drunk, Tikhon thus expresses his protest against his mother’s oppression; he lacks the courage to take more serious actions. He is trying to teach Katerina to live according to his principles: not to pay attention to reproaches and humiliation, to adapt to the prevailing conditions and not to express his point of view. In a patriarchal family, the husband must be not only the ruler, but also a reliable protection and support for his wife. Tikhon does not fit this role; he is not able to protect his wife from sin, since he only evokes a feeling of pity in her. Constantly humiliated by his mother’s reproaches, Tikhon is sometimes even ready to take out his frustration and resentment on Katerina. He rejoices at the fact that he will be free for two whole weeks and does not notice at all what is happening to his wife. Tikhon refuses to take Katerina with him on the trip, not understanding that this request of hers is a plea for salvation. Yes, he could have saved her, but he didn’t want to. After returning, Tikhon learns about his wife’s betrayal. He accepted this news quite gently: he did not get angry or lose his temper. Tikhon should have supported his wife after her public repentance, protected her from the wrath of her mother-in-law and the ridicule of her household, but he did not do this. Just bending over dead body Katerina, Tikhon decides to openly rebel against his mother, blaming her publicly for the death of his wife.

The ending of the play is tragic and ambiguous. Good does not win, but evil does not triumph either. External conflict resolved by the collapse of the family, which is very reminiscent of the consequences of a terrible thunderstorm, bringing death and destruction. In addition to the external conflict, an active struggle takes place in the souls of some of the characters in the play, which becomes the basis for the internal conflict. Tikhon always submitted to his mother’s influence, suppressing his own individuality. He loved Katerina, but was afraid to resist his mother's oppression. The death of his wife awakened in Tikhon mental strength for open protest. It is this public protest that deals Kabanikha the most terrible blow.

Updated: 2012-08-10

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The traditional perception of Tikhon as “dumb and lazy” must be clarified.

It is unlikely that at the beginning of the play Tikhon loves Katerina (remember, he married her without any heartfelt inclination, on the orders of his mother). True, young Kabanov undoubtedly pities his wife, treats her with obvious sympathy and, as best he can, strives to alleviate her fate. But his possibilities are very limited. He was never able to become a true protector of Katerina, and she was looking for a protector in him, first of all.

And yet, it was Tikhon who was given, if not to understand, then, in any case, to feel the depth of Katerina’s experiences, the hopelessness of her situation. He was also given something more - the ability to sympathize, forgive, that mercy, which Marfa Ignatievna Kabanova is completely deprived of.

It just so happens in life that we begin to love a person only when we lose him. Tikhon unexpectedly feels tenderness for Katerina precisely at that moment when he suddenly realizes that he has lost her. Just recently, he had no doubt that nothing bad could happen to Katerina, that she would always, in any case, be there, would belong to him. And only when terrible truth reveals itself to him, new feelings unexpectedly awaken in him.

Unfortunately, schoolchildren often read text work of art not very carefully, in any case, they do not always pay due attention to the author’s remarks in the play. To the question “what does Tikhon do after Katerina’s bitter confession?” (“And yet I walked for ten nights...”) most often the tenth graders answered:

- Hit her... Turned away... Cried...

Do you remember what Tikhon did?

He did something so unexpected that it might make you think about the mysteries of human psychology.

Tikhon changes at the end of the play, but this began even before Katerina’s suicide. That's why the ending is so important fourth act. From it there is a direct bridge to the beginning of the fifth act, where we're talking about O latest events in the Kabanovs' house.

Having conveyed his mother’s words about Katerina (“she must be buried alive in the ground”), Tikhon says to Kuligin: “But I love her, I’m sorry to lay a finger on her. I beat him a little, and even then my mother ordered me to. I feel sorry for looking at her, understand that, Kuligin. Mama eats her up, but she walks around like a shadow, unresponsive. It just cries and melts like wax. So I’m dying looking at her.”

These words often do not attract attention and are not commented on. And this is precisely where one of Ostrovsky’s great lessons is contained. Tikhon reveals such subtlety of feelings, such extraordinary delicacy, such sympathy for the grief and suffering of a person close to him that you simply wonder where he got these words from. After all, we are talking about the wife who cheated on him! And he speaks, first of all, not about himself, but about her, he calls her unrequited, he pities her, he kills himself looking at her...

Now Tikhon looks at Katerina with different eyes. He finally saw a person in her - unhappy, suffering, repentant. Instead of a rude and narrow-minded merchant who looked condescendingly at his young wife, we see a man capable of rising to the heights of true drama.

Something happened to Tikhon. The shackles that artificially bound his human feelings, his soul, have been destroyed, and he finds the strength to exclaim in front of everyone: “Mama, you ruined her! You, you, you..." Material from the site

One should not condemn Tikhon for the fact that he blames one mother for all the troubles that befell his family, without being able to rise to the awareness of the more general and more formidable reasons for the death of Katerina. It is enough that Tikhon in the finale becomes a tragic figure. This is exactly how Ostrovsky’s favorite artist A. B. Martynov played this role. Contemporaries recalled that Martynov performed the last scene with amazing force. He truly made the audience cry. Tikhon, performed by a wonderful artist, appeared before the viewer as a man who felt within himself a new person, capable of defending his human dignity.

However, schoolchildren are often lenient towards young Kabanov. But Boris evokes almost unanimous contempt.

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On this page there is material on the following topics:

quotes by Tikhon Kabanov
Tikhon thunderstorm
Tikhon quotes thunderstorm
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Katerina’s feelings and experiences after Tikhon’s departure

Tikhon in the play “The Thunderstorm” by Ostrovsky is one of the key characters. Thanks to this image, many problems covered in the work are realized. Tikhon is the eldest son of Marfa Ignatievna and Katerina’s husband. But neither as a son nor as a husband can this character realize himself. Even Ostrovsky chooses the name to match, following the tradition of “speaking” proper names. Quiet Tikhon. Quieter than the grass - this could be the motto of this character. In “The Thunderstorm,” Tikhon’s characterization can be drawn up based on his behavior and attitude towards his mother and wife.

The image of Tikhon in “The Thunderstorm” absorbs all the negatively colored synonyms for the word “infantility”. Tikhon is too weak-willed to have own opinion and way of looking at things. He admits this more than once: For all his spinelessness, Tikhon does not evoke pity. Often the image of Tikhon is compared to the image of a child (due to the similarity in way of thinking and behavior). His childish immaturity and inability to be independent every day turns Tikhon more and more into an over-aged idiot. Of course, the character of this character was formed under the strong influence of his mother, but Kabanikha also has a second child. Varvara is completely different.

You can't feel sorry for Tikhon. He didn't do anything to make his mother proud of him. And Kabanikha herself, most likely, already sees in Tikhon not a son, but a semblance of a talking puppet, an always assenting dummy. He agrees with every word of his mother and acts solely on her instructions.

It can hardly be said that Tikhon expressed a desire to find himself a wife. Even though at that time marriages were arranged by agreement, Tikhon did not want and would never want to start a family. His marriage with Katerina can hardly be called happy. Tikhon has warm feelings for Katya and feels sorry for her, but this cannot be called love. Tikhon cannot and does not want to protect his wife from Marfa Ignatievna’s hysterics and insults. The fact that the spouses have no children is significant. Tikhon would not be able to raise a child with dignity, because he himself is morally too weak. Instead of educating himself, Tikhon tries to escape from existing reality. In “The Thunderstorm,” two paths open for Tikhon. The first is drunkenness. Kabanov Jr. often spends time with the merchant Dikiy, drinks with him and complains about life. The second is a business trip. Departure on business deprives Tikhon of “thunderstorms for several days.” “Thunderstorm” here means a heated atmosphere and hopeless situation, which developed at home.

How Tikhon behaves with others active heroes? He agrees with his mother, convinces Katya that she shouldn’t pay attention to Kabanikha’s words, but at the same time it’s better not to contradict her. Tikhon tries to get away from conversations with his sister as soon as possible, because Varvara is telling the bitter truth. At the end of the work, Tikhon behaves quite atypically. It seems that the news of his wife’s betrayal worries him much less than Kabanikha. Tikhon may “and would forgive, but mummy...” Once again the man is unable to defend his point of view, family happiness, to protect the honor of his wife. He seems to be justifying himself to Kuligin, as if it was not his, Tikhon’s, fault in that incident, as if only Kabanikha is to blame for what happened, because with her reproaches she almost forced Katya to see Boris. Here the idea traced earlier takes on more realistic shape.

Although in “The Thunderstorm” Kabanov Tikhon blames his mother for all failures, he will continue to agree with her and endure her humiliation. He is comfortable in this narrow, closed circle, and in fact, Tikhon does not want to change anything at all. But Katya’s suicide changes the situation. No, Tikhon does not rush at his mother with accusations, does not destroy the kingdom of tyrants, he utters a sharp accusatory remark: living here is much worse than committing suicide. The word, as you know, is the most powerful weapon. Exactly at final phrase Tikhona: “Good for you, Katya! Why did I stay in the world and suffer!” The clearest and most powerful protest is against the old order, against the obsolete foundations, against violence against man and freedom. The paradox is that only weak person in the entire work there was enough strength for such a step. But then we understand something else: in this phrase screaming with doom, Tikhon remains true to himself. He is still that ruined soul who does not dare to end his earthly existence.

The characterization of Tikhon in the play “The Thunderstorm” is notable for the fact that in this character, along with negative qualities character shows a transitional situation from the patriarchal way of life to the new one. Tikhon does not consider it necessary to follow outdated rules in Everyday life(for example, in the scene of farewell to his wife, he was against Katya throwing herself at his feet), but Tikhon is too weak to decide not to follow them.

Work test

All the characters in the play "The Thunderstorm", bright and ambiguous, cause a lot of controversy and disagreement. Here we will give a characterization of Tikhon from the play “The Thunderstorm,” a merchant’s son who is completely subordinate to his oppressive mother and does not have his own convictions and rights to an independent life.

Tikhon Kabanov - a young man from a rich merchant family, married to a beautiful and flexible woman, lives in contentment and prosperity, but is he happy?

Of course not. Katerina and Tikhon are a married couple living with their mother, who, in fact, is the head of the family and requires complete submission on the part of her son and daughter-in-law.

Tikhon is a completely spineless person, as they say, “ Sissy" He does nothing without the direct permission of the imperious Kabanikha. In his mother’s house he feels like he’s in prison. Speech characteristics the hero of the play confirms his diminished role in the house. Tikhon constantly agrees with his mother, repeating that he will not leave her will, he cannot and does not want to live by his own mind.

Kabanikha does not mince words with her only son, scolds him and teaches traditions to him and her unloved daughter-in-law Katerina.

Relationship with wife

The image of Tikhon in the play “The Thunderstorm” shows a whiny, narrow-minded man who has no right to be called a man. Does he love his wife? This question cannot be answered unambiguously, although is it possible to experience true love downtrodden and weak person.

Tikhon married at the behest of his mother, maybe he treats his wife well, but such a husband is not a protector. He dreams of freedom, but hardly knows what to do with it. He thinks first of all about himself, and not about the unhappy woman living next to him.

The hero of the play wants freedom, but does not take any steps to gain the desired independence. Having left home for two weeks for Moscow, he goes on a spree, drinks and has fun all the way. He is glad that there will be no “thunderstorm” over him during these few days, and spends his time as his conscience and upbringing tell him.

A cruel mother is jealous of her only son and his wife, so she often offends her for no reason. The submissive Tikhon tries to calm his mother down, but is in no hurry to stand up for his unrequited wife.

According to the “household structure” that existed at that time, the husband was the complete master of the life and destiny of his wife. However, the characterization of Tikhon in this work is completely different. This character does not have despotic, domineering character traits.

He does not want to punish his wife, but on his mother’s orders he still beats her and scolds her, although he himself feels sorry for her. When the question arises of who is responsible for the death of sinful Katerina, the weak Tikhon directly blames his mother.

The quotation, created based on the remarks of the hero of the play, emphasizes his characteristic features:

moral weakness;
moral imbalance;
complete subordination to the power of Kabanikha.

Contrasting the images of Tikhon and Varvara

In “The Thunderstorm,” the cruel Kabanikha, in addition to her son, also has a daughter, Varvara. These two characters serve as antipodes. As much as Tikhon is weak, soft and pliable, that even in his thoughts he cannot contradict his mother, Varvara is so cunning and resourceful.

The brother and sister do not have any closeness, perhaps due to the age difference. This is probably the norm for the “dark kingdom”: not to have kindred feelings for close people, but to obey only power and self-interest. Varvara lives by the principle “as long as everything is hidden and no one finds out anything.”

The girl walks at night with Kudryash, because she will soon be married off to an unloved old man, simply sold, and her maiden will will come to an end. She does not suffer from this, she does not verbally contradict her mother, although, at times, she tries to protect herself from unfair reproaches, and then tries to do everything her own way. Varvara teaches the same to the straightforward and pure Katerina.

This is interesting! Most likely, over time, the daughter will turn into a second Kabanikha. Tikhon, the eldest in age and the only man in the family, but already completely broken by his mother, will increasingly turn into a “rag.” If he is left without guidance, he will sink and drink himself to death, because he cannot live without a firm hand guiding his entire path.

What does criticism say about the character?

IN critical articles The 19th century characterization of Tikhon from the play “The Thunderstorm” is given in detail, as an example of a man completely subordinate to the power of a formidable and oppressive mother.

IN " dark kingdom“Only the one who has money is always right; he subjugates everyone to himself, making obedient slaves of his will. Such are Kabanikha and Dikoy, who experience a certain semblance of respect only for their own kind.

Critics' opinion about the hero of the play:

at his core, Katerina’s husband is not a bad person, kind and gentle;
he sympathizes with his wife and sympathizes with her, understanding how hard life is for her under the heel of her mother-in-law;
tries to stop his wife when she, experiencing pangs of conscience for a sin committed, begins to repent in the presence of strangers;
has no will to resist, has been accustomed since childhood to complete submission, crushed by heavy maternal oppression;
cannot think independently, much less take decisive action;
allows insults to his wife, obeying his mother’s orders, he himself insults and beats her, although he later admits that he feels sorry for the unfortunate woman and of his own free will he would not lay a finger on her.

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Let's sum it up

Only after tragic death Katerina, the son finds the strength to protest and throw accusations at his mother. And his last words that Katerina is now free in her death, and he remains to live and suffer, sound like an indictment of the entire “dark kingdom” and its inhabitants.

Tikhon is a ruined personality. He cannot resist his mother’s orders and does everything she demands. As a result final scene The play becomes even more tragic. Only under the influence of the death of his wife do Tikhon’s feelings, and most importantly, his soul, awaken, and he blames his passionately loving mother for what happened. The external conflict is resolved by the collapse of the family and is directly related to the image of a thunderstorm looming at the very beginning of the narrative, bringing destruction to the established orders of the “dark kingdom.” But the moral essence of some of its representatives is contradictory; there is an active internal struggle in their souls, which becomes the basis for the internal conflict in the work/ internal conflict happens in Tikhon’s soul. His mother's influence suppressed his individuality. But he is not able to hurt his wife, because he loves her very much and worries about her.

He says: “...I’ll get her out, otherwise I’ll do it myself...what would I do without her!” The death of his wife greatly affects him internal state. The desire, the desire to resist is revived in him, and he finds the spiritual strength to tell his mother: “You ruined her!”
Since the play "The Thunderstorm" is a work critical realism, the heroes are both typical and individual. Author's position dissolved in the narrative and not directly expressed. Only sometimes do some heroes become reasoners. The ending is open, but good does not win and evil does not triumph.
Let us now turn to the true victims of the “dark kingdom”. So, Katerina Kabanova’s husband Tikhon is a weak-willed, spineless creature. He obeys his mother in everything and obeys her. He doesn't have a clear life position, courage, boldness. His image fully corresponds to the name given to him - Tikhon (quiet). Young Kabanov not only does not respect himself, but also allows his mother to treat his wife rudely. This is especially evident in the farewell scene before leaving for the fair. Tikhon repeats word for word all his mother’s instructions and moral teachings. Kabanov could not resist his mother in anything, he slowly became an alcoholic and thereby became even more weak-willed and quiet.
The desire for love in Katerina is closely intertwined with the desire for freedom, liberation from family oppression, from a weak-willed husband and a grumpy and unfair mother-in-law. Boris, as she sees him, is the complete opposite of the “dark kingdom” of tyrants. This is not surprising: Boris is well-mannered, educated, courteous, and dressed in metropolitan fashion. But Katerina is cruelly mistaken about this man: Boris differs from the inhabitants of the city of Kalinov only in appearance. He is unable to oppose anything to the Dikiy, just as Tikhon cannot say anything against the order reigning in Kabanikha’s house. Katerina Kabanova's love leads to tragic consequences. After her confession of adultery, Katerina can no longer live as before with her husband and mother-in-law, and be subjected to constant humiliation and insults. In desperation, she seeks help from her loved one, secretly hoping to find a way out of the created psychological impasse. Katerina going on last date with Boris, hopes that he will take her with him, will not leave her like that, will protect her. But Boris turns out to be weak-willed, cowardly and cowardly man, he refuses to take Katerina with him. This is where his complete inability to fight, his weak character, manifests itself. He betrays the woman he loves, refusing to take her with him out of fear of his uncle. After this betrayal, Katerina Kabanova has no choice but to leave this hateful life. But even then she continues to selflessly love Boris, which is so clearly shown by the author in last scene goodbyes. She says these words to him: “Go with God! Don't worry about me. At first, perhaps you, poor thing, will be bored, and then you’ll forget.” And this is said by a woman whose whole meaning of life is love. Not a single swear word, not a single reproach will escape her lips. Her love is high, she cannot stoop to humiliation and reproaches. On the verge of death, this woman forgives her lover, who never lived up to her hopes, who never gave her the desired happiness.