THE WEAKNESS OF A STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER (“THUNDERSTORM” BY A. N. OSTROVSKY) 

Bogdanova Olga Vladimirovna, Doctor of philological sciences, professor, leading Researcher, St. Petersburg State University (11 Universitetskaya embankment, Saint-Petersburg, Russia), olgabogdanova03@mail.ru

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Background. Various changes in the system of perception of literary works over time cause a necessity to address classical texts of Russian literature. The purpose of the work is to analyze the main female character of the play by A. N. Ostrovsky “Thunderstorm” from the point of view of modern science.
Results. On the basis of a thorough analysis of the play the article shows that the character of Catherine, the main character of the drama, was created by the writer as an integral and contradictory one, depriving the character of strength and firmness traditionally attributed to her. The author shows that the playwright followed the trends of the democratic critics of that time (for example, N. A. Dobrolyubov). He realized the artificial substitution of a love conflict by a social conflict. A. N. Ostrovsky presented the first love of his heroine in the form of her citizenship. The playwright has made the public orders responsible for the immaturity of her love feelings.
Conclusions. The article shows that the image of Catherine clearly splits into two independent characters which don’t have common ground. Deep studying of the image system of the play allows to understand that the “love triangle” was artificial and unmotivated, the tragic death of the character is perceived as an occasional one.

Russian drama of mid-nineteenth century, A. N. Ostrovsky, “Thunderstorm” play, image of the main character, image system, conflict

1. Ostrovskiy A. N. Sobr. soch.: v 6 t. [Collected works: in 6 volumes]. Moscow: Terra, 1999, vol. 2, Plays, 1857–1865, pp. 35–90.