(341 words) The play “A. Thunderstorm” by A. N. Ostrovsky was written in 1859 on the eve of peasant reform. All events take place in the city of Kalinov. It can not be found on the map, and this is not necessary - the atmosphere and events described in the work could be observed in any Russian town of that period. Kalinov, as, indeed, the country, is ruled by the rich, tyrants, liars and ignoramuses who profit from the work of ordinary people who can’t escape from this worn out system of relations. “The Dark Kingdom” - this is how the literary critic and contemporary of the author Dobrolyubov described this system.
The roles of those in power in the "dark kingdom" are assigned to Kabanikha and the Wild. Marfa Ignatievna Kabanova is despotic and hypocritical, her philosophy is simple to the point of banality: in the family, fear comes first, and all relationships are based on it. Kabanikha is a real tyrant who can drive anyone who does not like her crazy. She relies on old, well-rooted traditions in everything and expects the same from others. It’s not even worth talking about love for your children: they are frightened and are in constant fear.
To match Martha Ignatievna and Savely Ignatievich Dikoy - a merchant with a decent fortune and raised from poverty. Money is of utmost importance to him, unlike the people whom he constantly humiliates and scolds. He does not like to lend, he does not like to pay salaries to employees, he does not like everything that makes him part with his savings.
Kalinov is literally saturated with hypocrisy, stinginess and addictions. Sometimes there is a feeling that the "dark kingdom" is animated and expects permanent victims from its inhabitants. And the people living here do not notice the shabby traditions, or simply do not resist. Katerina, on the other hand, becomes a hostage to the system — she is kind and pure. Raised by an old school, the observance of the laws of which Kabanova so often mentions, the heroine still has a different outlook on life. She longs to help people, go to church, raise children. Yes, only here it is practically impracticable. The environment is constantly in fear, in a drunken stupor, in lies, hatred and betrayal, hiding those aspects of life that do not like. And such an atmosphere simply does not allow a normal family life. In a world where there are no like-minded people and there is no way to escape from the "dark kingdom", the only way out is death.
