Alexander Ostrovsky in the play “The Thunderstorm” divided all the inhabitants of the city into two large groups: « dark kingdom” and the oppressed. The first group includes those who are powerful, rich and suppress everything modern and living. Prominent representatives of this group are Dikoy and Kabanikha. The author contrasts them with the victims of the “dark kingdom”, oppressed people. These include Kuligin, Katerina, Boris, Tikhon, Varvara, Kudryash. The unfortunate heroes suffer equally from representatives of the “dark kingdom”, only they show their protest in different ways.

Money rules the world

The characterization of Dikiy becomes clear after reading the landowner’s surname, which speaks for itself. Savel Prokofich is a wealthy merchant and a very respected man in the city of Kalinov. This is one of the most negative characters in the play. Rude, aggressive, ignorant, stubborn - that's it a brief description of Wild. This person feels his impunity, so he is driven by unbridled tyranny. The landowner allows himself to treat people like nonentity, to be rude, call them names, offend - all this gives him unspeakable pleasure.

The wild one can be described in one word - tyrant. Savel Prokofich intimidated everyone around him; neither the people around him nor his relatives can rest from him. Readers are disgusted by the characterization of the Wild One. Every day his wife, with tears in her eyes, begs everyone not to anger the master, but it is impossible not to anger him: he himself does not know what his mood will be in a minute. Savel Prokofich's family is hiding in closets and attics in rage.

Excessive greed of the landowner

The characterization of the Wild One will be more complete if greed is added to tyranny. More than anything in the world, he loves his money, parting with which is like a knife in his heart. The servants did not even dare to hint about their salary. The owner himself understands that he needs to give the money, and in the end he will give it, but before that he will definitely scold the person. It didn’t cost anything to offend someone or inject the master more painfully. He is not at all ashamed of strangers, uses strong words and without hesitation swaggers over those who are weaker than him.

Ignorance and despotism of the moneybags

Cowardice in front of peers, rejection of everything new - this is also a characteristic of the Wild. The landowner does not care about the feelings of the people around him, but he maintains his temper in front of those who can fight back. Savel Prokofich did not dare to be rude to the passing hussar, but then he took out his insult on his family. He also does not dare to show his character to Kabanikha, because he considers her his equal.

Ostrovsky very well showed Dikiy’s ignorance in the landowner’s conversation with Kulagin. Savel sincerely believes that the thunderstorm is sent as punishment for sins. He accuses Kulagin of fraud, because how can one defend against the elements with pricks and poles. The characterization of the Wild shows what a stupid and backward person he really is. His ignorance can be seen in his manner of speaking, intonation, use of abusive, offensive expressions, and distortion of words of foreign origin. A rude, stupid, stubborn despot - that’s what can be said about Diky.

“The Thunderstorm” by A. N. Ostrovsky made a strong and deep impression on his contemporaries. Many critics were inspired by this work. However, even in our time it has not ceased to be interesting and topical. Elevated to the category of classical drama, it still arouses interest.

The tyranny of the “older” generation lasts for many years, but some event must occur that could break the patriarchal tyranny. Such an event turns out to be the protest and death of Katerina, which awakened other representatives of the younger generation.

Let's take a closer look at the characteristics of the main characters.

Dikiy's speech characterizes him as an extremely rude and ignorant person. He doesn't want to know anything about science, culture, inventions that improve life. Kuligin's proposal to install a lightning rod infuriates him. By his behavior he fully justifies the name given to him. “Like he broke the chain!” Kudryash characterizes him. But Dikoy fights only with those who are afraid of him or who are completely in his hands. Cowardice like characteristic feature Dobrolyubov noted the tyranny in his article “The Dark Kingdom”: “As soon as a strong and decisive rebuff appears somewhere, the strength of the tyrant falls, he begins to be cowardly and lost.” And indeed, Dikoy never ceases to scold Boris, his family, the peasants, even the meek Kuligin, a complete stranger to him, but he receives a fitting rebuff from his clerk Kudryash. “...He is the word, and I am ten; he will spit and go. No, I won’t slave to him,” says Kudryash. It turns out that the limit of a tyrant’s power depends on the degree of obedience of those around him. This was well understood by another mistress of the “dark kingdom” - Kabanikha.

In the appearance of the Wild One, despite all his belligerence, there are comical features: the contradiction of his behavior with reason, the painful reluctance to part with money looks too ridiculous. The boar, with her cunning, hypocrisy, cold, inexorable cruelty, is truly terrible. She is outwardly calm and has good self-control. Measured, monotonously, without raising her voice, she exhausts her family with her endless moralizing. If Dikoy strives to rudely assert his power, then Kabanikha acts under the guise of piety. She never tires of repeating that she cares not about herself, but about the children: “After all, out of love, parents are strict with you, out of love they scold you, everyone thinks to teach you good. Well, I don’t like it now.” But her “love” is only a hypocritical mask for asserting personal power. From her “concern” Tikhon becomes completely stupefied and runs away from Varvara’s house. Hers is methodical, constant. tyranny tormented Katerina and led her to death. “If only it weren’t for my mother-in-law!..” says Katerina. “She crushed me... I’m sick of her and the house; the walls are even disgusting.” Kabanikha is a cruel, heartless executioner. Even at the sight of Katerina’s body pulled out of the Volga, she remains icy calm

But if Tikhon from childhood was accustomed to unquestioning obedience and does not suspect the possibility of another life, then Boris, who received an education and lived in cultural environment, deliberately submits to the tyrant for the sake of the faint hope of receiving at least an insignificant share of the inheritance due to him. Selfish calculation forces Boris to endure humiliation and is the reason for his cowardice. Even with last date with Katerina, when he clearly sees that his beloved woman is dying, Boris cannot get rid of the cowardly thought: “They wouldn’t find us here!” This calculated caution completely reveals Boris’s insignificance. He, like Tikhon, actually becomes an accomplice of tyrants, an accomplice in their crimes; but for Boris this is more unforgivable, since he understands the whole crime of despotism.

The characterization of the Wild One from the play “The Thunderstorm” by Ostrovsky is important for revealing ideological meaning works. The image of this character must be analyzed to understand what the author wanted to show. Was this person invented or did he have a prototype? Why did Ostrovsky call him that? What traits did you give the hero? All this will be discussed in the essay.

Brief description of the Wild One from the play “The Thunderstorm”

Savel Prokofich Dikoy is a resident of the town of Kalinov, where the action of “The Thunderstorm” takes place. A merchant with a very large income. Money loves him, and it is extremely difficult for him to part with it. In his city Wild - Respected man. He is considered an authority and is feared. main reason This is wealth. In Kalinov, Dikoy is the wealthiest resident.

Ostrovsky gives a rather meager description of the Wild. There is practically no description of this character's appearance. The reader can get an idea of ​​the hero only by “observing” his behavior during the course of the plot.

Features of the image of the Wild

The image of the Wild One can be called complete. He is not characterized by any hesitation, doubt, or hesitation. He is not busy searching for the meaning of life, does not strive for any heights, and is not tormented by remorse. This is a bulldog man. He is confident in himself and in everything he does. He goes through life like a tank, not caring that he might crush someone along the way.

At the same time, Dikoy is completely uneducated and ignorant. Art, science, political and social processes are very far from him and are not interesting. Moreover, Dikoy considers all this empty, ridiculous, unworthy of respect, and even harmful. A rich man lives guided by prejudices or superstitions.
This is clearly manifested when Kuligin turns to the merchant for help in constructing a lightning rod. Residents of Kalinov are very afraid of thunderstorms, which is why this idea arises. However, Diko ridicules the idea of ​​Kuligin and himself. He claims that a thunderstorm with thunder and lightning is a sign God's people. A reminder that you need to live correctly. And it's stupid to try to fight higher power with the help of some “poles and rods”. The rich man does not accept any other opinion.

The only thing that matters to the Wild is money. If they got into his pocket, then Savel Prokofich would never part with them. Even Dikiy’s workers have to beg for wages. However, this does not always work out, and if it does, you will have to listen to a lot of abuse from the rich man.
The main trait of the Wild is rudeness. It can be traced throughout the entire work. Swear words constantly pour out of Savel Prokofich's mouth. He is absolutely not shy in his expressions, does not restrain himself, without any twinge of conscience he humiliates and insults his interlocutor. Calls everyone around him “parasites” and “asps”.

The merchant manifests himself everywhere as a rude and tyrant. However, his family gets the most. Boris Dikoy’s nephew was simply hunted down. And all because he depends on him financially. The moneybag's wife, driven to despair, ashamed of her husband's behavior, trembling in front of him, with tears in her eyes asks all her friends and relatives not to anger Savel Prokofich. However, it is difficult to fulfill her request even if desired. The Wild's aggressiveness is often unjustified. He may not like it appearance a person, one of his words, a look - and abuse begins.

The meaning of the image of the merchant in the work

For what purpose did the author introduce this character into his works? To understand the meaning of the image of the Wild in “The Thunderstorm”, you need to remember one more feature of this person. The richest and most respected man, Kalinov, is in fact an ordinary coward. Dikoy behaves boorishly only with those who cannot “fight back”, who are morally weaker.

If on the way you meet a person who is ready to fight back, the brawler and tyrant “puts his tail between his legs.” For example, the relationship between Dikiy and his clerk Kudryash. He is not at all afraid of his boss and can answer him with rudeness. For this reason, the merchant prefers not to contact the employee. The moneybags also treat the powerful and cruel Kabanikha with respect. Next to such people, the merchant’s aggressiveness disappears.

In the play “The Thunderstorm,” Dikoy is a representative of the “dark kingdom.” Moreover, its zealous guardian. Wild is the opposite of the “kingdom of light”. It wins, if a person does not bow his head, he can fight back.
The image of the Wild One, to whom the author even gave an eloquent surname, suggests such thoughts. Perhaps the character's flaws are somewhat exaggerated - there is hyperbole here.

At the time the play was written, society was ruled by heroes like the Wild One. His portrait is similar to hundreds of other wealthy merchants, drowning in a luxurious lifestyle, absolute ignorance. Such people dragged Russia to the bottom. Into the dark kingdom of stupidity, stupidity, medieval morals. The image and characterization of the Wild One in the play “The Thunderstorm” is negative. He is the true embodiment of the concept of tyranny. Is prominent representative wild morals and harsh attitude towards people and life.

Savel Prokofievich Dikoy- a wealthy merchant in the city of Kalinov. Negative character.

Image and characteristics

The wild man is unpleasant, to put it mildly. This impression is given because of his terrible character. Wild’s wife, knowing that it is better not to anger her husband, begins every morning to tearfully address those around her:

“Fathers, don’t make me angry! Darlings, don’t make me angry!”

And so on every day. It’s easy to guess how she gets it from him if she disobeys or deigns to anger him. Oh happy family life no speech.

A wild typical portrait of a tyrant. I got used to feeling like the rightful ruler of the city. He is absolutely sure that he has the right to influence the fate of residents, brazenly interfering in their lives.

“If I want, I’ll have mercy, if I want, I’ll crush.”

Feeling power over people, he uses it to the fullest, doing whatever comes into his head. Dikoy knows for sure that his antics will go unpunished.

Rude and boorish. Speaking is a complete nightmare. Lots of swearing. Maybe he’s used to expressing himself this way, believing that his interlocutor will understand faster. Kind words You definitely won’t hear from him. Dikoy knows exactly who to yell at and where to remain silent.

Man of moods. You never know what mood he will be in today. However, he was not seen smiling. Always gloomy and embittered.

Not educated. I haven't read a single book in my entire life. Surnames famous writers cause Savel bewilderment. Doesn't know history. Not friendly with modernity. Considers science a waste of time. Stupidity, a ridiculous activity unworthy of respect. In a word, a wild man.

Conscious of actions. He is well aware that he is doing badly, but changing the situation or changing himself is not for him.

“I know what I’m doing is bad, but I can’t help it.”

Greedy for money. Money is the main thing in the life of Savel Prokofievich. Meaning and essence. If money gets into the Wild's pocket, he will never be able to part with it. The employees have forgotten what a salary is. As soon as someone asks to borrow some money, Dikiy begins to seethe internally.

“So if you even mention money to me, it will ignite everything inside me.”

When they try to reproach him with greed, Dikoy makes an excuse:

“Who cares about his own goods.”

It's a rare occasion when you can beg for it. But if you hear enough of this, it won’t seem enough.

Attitude towards women. Whoever gets it from Savel Prokofievich is the poor women. All aggression is directed at the female sex. The only woman whom the tyrant and despot is afraid of is Kabanikha. He respects her. Opinion counts. The woman feels stronger and more cunning. She herself has a character akin to his.

Selfish. According to the will, Dikoy owes his nephew the inheritance that Boris inherited from his grandmother. One of the conditions for receiving it is a respectful attitude towards your uncle. Such conditions are beneficial to the Wild. He takes advantage of this by forcing his nephew to work for him from morning to night. It's like he's free labor. Why not exploit a relative. At the same time, Dikoy constantly humiliates and insults his nephew. She constantly reminds him, as if making excuses:

“I have my own children, why would I give money to strangers? Through this I must offend my own people!”

Cowardly. Despite the fighting nature of the Wild, he is as cowardly as a hare. An ordinary thunderstorm can make him tremble. He associates it with the Lord's punishment, supernatural power. He tries to hide from her, fearing that heavenly thunder will strike him.

Self-assured. He goes through life straight ahead. Like a tank, it does not stop in front of obstacles along the way. He knows exactly what he is doing and is absolutely sure that he is doing the right thing. The opinions of others are indifferent.