Analysis of Katerina's monologue with the key in the drama "The Thunderstorm" (Theme, idea, system of images, visual and expressive means). A

Appearance Ninth

Katerina And Varvara. Varvara (covers his head with a scarf in front of the mirror). I'll go for a walk now; and Glasha will make our beds in the garden, mamma allowed. In the garden, behind the raspberries, there is a gate, mummy locks it and hides the key. I took it away and put another one on her so she wouldn’t notice. Now, you might need it. (Gives the key.) If I see you, I’ll tell you to come to the gate.Katerina (pushing away the key in fear). For what! For what! No, no, no!Varvara. You don't need it, I will need it; take it, he won't bite you.Katerina. What are you up to, sinner! Is this possible? Have you thought! What you! What you!Varvara. Well, I don’t like to talk a lot, and I don’t have time. It's time for me to go for a walk. (Leaves.)

The tenth phenomenon

Katerina (alone, holding the key in her hands). Why is she doing this? What is she coming up with? Oh, crazy, really crazy! This is death! Here she is! Throw it away, throw it far away, throw it into the river so that it will never be found. He burns his hands like coal. (Thinking.) This is how our sister dies. Someone has fun in captivity! You never know what comes to mind. An opportunity arose, and another one was glad: so she rushed headlong. How can this be possible without thinking, without judging! How long does it take to get into trouble? And there you cry all your life, suffer; bondage will seem even more bitter. (Silence.) And bondage is bitter, oh, how bitter! Who doesn't cry from her! And most of all, we women. Here I am now! I live, I suffer, I don’t see any light for myself. Yes, and I won’t see it, you know! What's next is worse. And now this sin is still on me. (Thinks.) If only it weren’t for my mother-in-law!.. She crushed me... I’m sick of her and the house; the walls are even disgusting, (Looks thoughtfully at the key.) Leave him? Of course you have to quit. And how did it fall into my hands? To temptation, to my destruction. (Listens.) Ah, someone is coming. So my heart sank. (Hides the key in his pocket.) No!.. No one! Why was I so scared! And she hid the key... Well, you know, it should be there! Apparently, fate itself wants it! But what a sin is it if I look at it once, even from afar! Yes, even if I talk, it won’t matter! But what about my husband!.. But he himself didn’t want to. Yes, maybe such a case will never happen again in my entire life. Then cry to yourself: there was a case, but I didn’t know how to use it. What am I saying, am I deceiving myself? I could even die to see him. Who am I pretending to be!.. Throw in the key! No, not for anything in the world! He’s mine now... Whatever happens, I’ll see Boris! Oh, if only the night could come sooner!..

A.N. Ostrovsky
(1823-1886)

Storm

Drama in five acts

Faces:

Savel Prokofievich Dikoy, merchant, a significant person in the city.
Boris Grigorievich, his nephew, a young man, decently educated.
Marfa Ignatievna Kabanova (Kabanikha), rich merchant's wife, widow.
Tikhon Ivanovich Kabanov, her son.
Katerina, his wife.
Varvara, Tikhon's sister.
Kuligin, a tradesman, a self-taught watchmaker, looking for a perpetuum mobile.
Vanya Kudryash, a young man, Dikov's clerk.
Shapkin, tradesman.
Feklusha, wanderer
Glasha, girl in Kabanova's house.
A lady with two footmen, an old woman of 70 years old, half crazy.
City dwellers of both sexes.

* All the faces, except Boris, are dressed in Russian.

The action takes place in the city of Kalinov, on the banks of the Volga, in the summer. There are 10 days between the 3rd and 4th acts.

ACT ONE

A public garden on the high bank of the Volga, a rural view beyond the Volga. There are two benches and several bushes on the stage.

SCENE ONE

Kuligin sits on a bench and looks across the river. Kudryash and Shapkin are walking.

KULIGIN (sings). “In the middle of a flat valley, at a smooth height...” (Stops singing.) Miracles, truly it must be said, miracles! Curly! Here, my brother, for fifty years I have been looking across the Volga every day and I still can’t get enough of it.
K u d r i sh. And what?
K u l i g i n. The view is extraordinary! Beauty! The soul rejoices.
K u d r i sh. Nice!
K u l i g i n. Delight! And you are “something”! Either you look closely or you don’t understand what beauty is spilled out in nature.
K u d r i sh. Well, there’s nothing to talk about with you! You are an antique, a chemist.
K u l i g i n. Mechanic, self-taught mechanic.
K u d r i sh. It's all the same.

Silence.

KULIGIN (points to the side). Look, brother Kudryash, who is waving his arms like that?
K u d r i sh. This? This is Dikoy scolding his nephew.
K u l i g i n. Found a place!
K u d r i sh. He belongs everywhere. He's afraid of someone! He got Boris Grigoryich as a sacrifice, so he rides it.
Shapkin. Look for another scolder like ours, Savel Prokofich! There's no way he'll cut someone off.
K u d r i sh. Shrill man!
Shapkin. Kabanikha is also good.
K u d r i sh. Well, that one, at least, is all under the guise of piety, but this one has broken free!
Shapkin. There is no one to calm him down, so he fights!
K u d r i sh. We don’t have many guys like me, otherwise we would have taught him not to be naughty.
Shapkin. What would you do?
K u d r i sh. They would have given a good beating.
Shapkin. Like this?
K u d r i sh. Four or five of us in an alley somewhere would talk to him face to face, and he would turn into silk. But I wouldn’t even say a word to anyone about our science, I’d just walk around and look around.
Shapkin. No wonder he wanted to give you up as a soldier.
K u d r i sh. I wanted it, but I didn’t give it, so it’s all the same, nothing. He won’t give me up: he senses with his nose that I won’t sell my head cheap. He's the one who's scary to you, but I know how to talk to him.
Shapkin. Oh?
K u d r i sh. What's here: oh! I am considered a rude person; Why is he holding me? Therefore, he needs me. Well, that means I’m not afraid of him, but let him be afraid of me.
Shapkin. It's as if he doesn't scold you?
K u d r i sh. How not to scold! He can't breathe without it. Yes, I don’t let it go either: he is the word, and I am ten; he will spit and go. No, I won’t slave to him.
K u l i g i n. Should we take him as an example? It's better to endure it.
K u d r i sh. Well, if you are smart, then teach him to be polite first, and then teach us too. It’s a pity that his daughters are teenagers, and none of them are older.
Shapkin. So what?
K u d r i sh. I would respect him. I'm too crazy about girls!

Dikoy and Boris pass, Kuligin takes off his hat.

Shapkin (to Curly). Let's move to the side: he'll probably get attached again.

They are leaving.

PHENOMENA SECOND

The same. Dikoy and Boris.

D i k o y. Did you come here to beat up, or what? Parasite! Get lost!
B o r i s. Holiday; what to do at home.
D i k o y. You will find a job as you want. I told you once, I told you twice: “Don’t you dare come across me”; you're itching for everything! Not enough space for you? Wherever you go, here you are! Ugh, damn you! Why are you standing like a pillar? Are they telling you no?
B o r i s. I’m listening, what else should I do!
Dikoy (looking at Boris). Fail! I don’t even want to talk to you, the Jesuit. (Leaving.) I imposed myself! (Spits and leaves.)

PHENOMENA THIRD

Kuligin, Boris, Kudryash and Shapkin.

K u l i g i n. What is your business, sir, with him? We will never understand. You want to live with him and endure abuse.
B o r i s. What a hunt, Kuligin! Captivity.
K u l i g i n. But what kind of bondage, sir, let me ask you? If you can, sir, then tell us.
B o r i s. Why not say so? Did you know our grandmother, Anfisa Mikhailovna?
K u l i g i n. Well, how could you not know!
K u d r i sh. How could you not know!
B o r i s. She didn’t like Father because he married a noble woman. It was on this occasion that the priest and mother lived in Moscow. My mother said that for three days she could not get along with her relatives, it seemed very strange to her.
K u l i g i n. Still not wild! What can I say! You need to have a big habit, sir.
B o r i s. Our parents raised us well in Moscow; they spared nothing for us. I was sent to the Commercial Academy, and my sister to a boarding school, but both suddenly died of cholera, and my sister and I were left orphans. Then we hear that my grandmother died here and left a will so that my uncle would pay us the part that should be paid when we come of age, only with a condition.
K u l i g i n. With which one, sir?
B o r i s. If we are respectful to him.
K u l i g i n. This means, sir, that you will never see your inheritance.
B o r i s. No, that’s not enough, Kuligin! He will first break with us, abuse us in every possible way, as his heart desires, but he will still end up not giving anything or so, some little thing. Moreover, he will say that he gave it out of mercy, and that this should not have been the case.
K u d r i sh. This is such an institution among our merchants. Again, even if you were respectful to him, who would forbid him to say that you are disrespectful?
B o r i s. Well, yes. Even now he sometimes says: “I have my own children, why should I give other people’s money? Through this I must offend my own!”
K u l i g i n. So, sir, your business is bad.
B o r i s. If I were alone, it would be fine! I would give up everything and leave. I feel sorry for my sister. He was about to discharge her, but my mother’s relatives didn’t let her in, they wrote that she was sick. It’s scary to imagine what life would be like for her here.
K u d r i sh. Of course. They really understand the message!
K u l i g i n. How do you live with him, sir, in what position?
B o r i s. Yes, not at all. “Live,” he says, “with me, do what they tell you, and pay whatever you give.” That is, in a year he will give it up as he pleases.
K u d r i sh. He has such an establishment. With us, no one dares say a word about salary, he’ll scold you for what it’s worth. “Why do you,” he says, “why do you know what I have in mind? Why can you know my soul? Or maybe I’ll be in such a mood that I’ll give you five thousand.” So talk to him! Only in his entire life he had never been in such a position.
K u l i g i n. What to do, sir! We must try to please somehow.
B o r i s. That's the thing, Kuligin, it's absolutely impossible. Even their own people can’t please him; and where am I supposed to be?
K u d r i sh. Who will please him if his whole life is based on swearing? And most of all because of the money; Not a single calculation is complete without swearing. Another is happy to give up his own, just to calm down. And the trouble is, someone will make him angry in the morning! He picks on everyone all day long.
B o r i s. Every morning my aunt begs everyone with tears: “Fathers, don’t make me angry! Darlings, don’t make me angry!”
K u d r i sh. There's nothing you can do to protect yourself! I got to the market, that's the end! He will scold all the men. Even if you ask at a loss, you still won’t leave without scolding. And then he went for the whole day.
Shapkin. One word: warrior!
K u d r i sh. What a warrior!
B o r i s. But the trouble is when he is offended by such a person whom he does not dare to curse; stay home here!
K u d r i sh. Fathers! What a laugh it was! Once on the Volga, during a transport, a hussar cursed him. He worked miracles!
B o r i s. And what a homey feeling it was! After that, everyone hid in attics and closets for two weeks.
K u l i g i n. What is this? No way, have the people moved on from Vespers?

Several faces pass at the back of the stage.

K u d r i sh. Let's go, Shapkin, on a revelry! Why stand here?

They bow and leave.

B o r i s. Eh, Kuligin, it’s painfully difficult for me here, without the habit. Everyone looks at me somehow wildly, as if I’m superfluous here, as if I’m disturbing them. I don't know the customs here. I understand that all this is Russian, native, but I still can’t get used to it.
K u l i g i n. And you will never get used to it, sir.
B o r i s. From what?
K u l i g i n. Cruel morals, sir, in our city, cruel! In philistinism, sir, you will see nothing but rudeness and naked poverty. And we, sir, will never escape this crust! Because honest work will never earn us more than our daily bread. And whoever has money, sir, tries to enslave the poor so that his labors will be free more money make money Do you know what your uncle, Savel Prokofich, answered to the mayor? The peasants came to the mayor to complain that he would not disrespect any of them. The mayor began to tell him: “Listen,” he said, “Savel Prokofich, pay the men well! They come to me with complaints every day!” Your uncle patted the mayor on the shoulder and said: “Is it worth it, your honor, for us to talk about such trifles! I have a lot of people every year; you understand: I won’t pay them a penny extra per person.” , I make thousands out of this, that’s how it is; it’s good for me!” That's it, sir! And among themselves, sir, how they live! They undermine each other's trade, and not so much out of self-interest as out of envy. They are at enmity with each other; they get drunken clerks into their high mansions, such, sir, clerks that there is no human appearance on them, the human appearance is lost. And for small acts of kindness they scribble malicious slander against their neighbors on stamped sheets. And for them, sir, a trial and a case will begin, and there will be no end to the torment. They sue, sue here and go to the province, and there they are expected and splash their hands with joy. Soon the fairy tale is told, but not soon the deed is done; They lead them, they lead them, they drag them, they drag them, and they are also happy about this dragging, that’s all they need. “I’ll spend it,” he says, “and it won’t cost him a penny.” I wanted to depict all this in poetry...
B o r i s. Can you write poetry?
K u l i g i n. In the old-fashioned way, sir. I read a lot of Lomonosov, Derzhavin... Lomonosov was a sage, an explorer of nature... But he was also from ours, from a simple rank.
B o r i s. You would have written it. It would be interesting.
K u l i g i n. How is it possible, sir! They will eat you, swallow you alive. I already get enough, sir, for my chatter; I can’t, I like to spoil the conversation! Here's more about family life I wanted to tell you, sir; yes some other time. And there is also something to listen to.

Feklusha and another woman enter.

F e k l u sha. Blah-alepie, honey, blah-alepie! Wonderful beauty! What can I say! You live in the promised land! And the merchants are all pious people, adorned with many virtues! Generosity and many donations! I’m so pleased, so, mother, completely satisfied! For our failure to leave them even more bounties, and especially to the Kabanovs’ house.

They leave.

B o r i s. Kabanovs?
K u l i g i n. Prude, sir! He gives money to the poor, but completely eats up his family.

Silence.

If only I could find a mobile phone, sir!
B o r i s. What would you do?
K u l i g i n. Why, sir! After all, the British give a million; I would use all the money for society, for support. Jobs must be given to the philistines. Otherwise, you have hands, but nothing to work with.
B o r i s. Are you hoping to find a perpetuum mobile?
K u l i g i n. Absolutely, sir! If only now I could get some money from modeling. Farewell, sir! (Leaves.)

SCENE FOUR

B o r i s (one). It's a shame to disappoint him! Which good man! He dreams for himself and is happy. And I, apparently, will ruin my youth in this slum. I’m walking around completely devastated, and then there’s still this crazy thing creeping into my head! Well, what's the point! Should I really start tenderness? Driven, downtrodden, and then foolishly decided to fall in love. Who? A woman with whom you will never even be able to talk! (Silence.) Still, she’s out of my head, no matter what you want. Here she is! She goes with her husband, and her mother-in-law with them! Well, am I not a fool? Look around the corner and go home. (Leaves.)

From the opposite side Kabanova, Kabanov, Katerina and Varvara enter.

SCENE FIFTH

Kabanova, Kabanov, Katerina and Varvara.

Kabanova. If you want to listen to your mother, then when you get there, do as I ordered you.
Kabanov. How can I, Mama, disobey you!
Kabanova. Elders are not very respected these days.
V a r v a r a (to himself). No respect for you, of course!
Kabanov. I, it seems, mummy, don’t take a step out of your will.
Kabanova. I would believe you, my friend, if I didn’t see with my own eyes and gasp with my own ears, what kind of respect has become for parents from children now! If only they remembered how many illnesses mothers suffer from their children.
Kabanov. I, mummy...
Kabanova. If a parent ever says something offensive, out of your pride, then, I think, it could be rescheduled! What do you think?
Kabanov. But when, Mama, have I ever been unable to bear being away from you?
Kabanova. The mother is old and stupid; Well, you, young people, smart ones, shouldn’t exact it from us fools.
Kabanov (sighing, to the side). Oh, my God. (To Mother.) Do we dare, Mama, to think!
Kabanova. After all, out of love your parents are strict with you, out of love they scold you, everyone thinks to teach you good. Well, I don’t like it now. And the children will go around praising people that their mother is a grumbler, that their mother does not allow them to pass, that they are squeezing them out of the world. And God forbid, you can’t please your daughter-in-law with some word, so the conversation started that the mother-in-law was completely fed up.
Kabanov. No, mama, who is talking about you?
Kabanova. I haven’t heard, my friend, I haven’t heard, I don’t want to lie. If only I had heard, I would have spoken to you, my dear, in a different way. (Sighs.) Oh, a grave sin! What a long time to sin! A conversation close to your heart will go well, and you will sin and get angry. No, my friend, say what you want about me. You can’t tell anyone to say it: if they don’t dare to your face, they will stand behind your back.
Kabanov. Shut up your tongue...
Kabanova. Come on, come on, don't be afraid! Sin! I’ve seen for a long time that your wife is dearer to you than your mother. Since I got married, I don’t see the same love from you.
Kabanov. How do you see this, Mama?
Kabanova. Yes in everything, my friend! What a mother doesn’t see with her eyes, she has a prophetic heart; she can feel with her heart. Or maybe your wife is taking you away from me, I don’t know.
Kabanov. No, mama! What are you saying, have mercy!
K a t e rina. For me, Mama, it’s all the same, like my own mother, like you, and Tikhon loves you too.
Kabanova. It seems like you could keep quiet if they don’t ask you. Don’t intercede, mother, I won’t offend you! After all, he is also my son; don't forget this! Why did you jump out in front of your eyes to make jokes! So that they can see how much you love your husband? So we know, we know, in your eyes you prove it to everyone.
V a r v a r a (to himself). I found a place for instructions to read.
K a t e rina. You are in vain saying this about me, Mama. Whether in front of people or without people, I’m still alone, I don’t prove anything of myself.
Kabanova. Yes, I didn’t even want to talk about you; and so, by the way, I had to.
K a t e rina. By the way, why are you offending me?
Kabanova. What an important bird! I'm really offended now.
K a t e rina. Who enjoys tolerating falsehoods?
Kabanova. I know, I know that you don’t like my words, but what can I do, I’m not a stranger to you, my heart aches for you. I have long seen that you want freedom. Well, wait, you can live in freedom when I’m gone. Then do what you want, there will be no elders over you. Or maybe you’ll remember me too.
Kabanov. Yes, we pray to God for you, mama, day and night, that God may give you health and all prosperity and success in business.
Kabanova. Well, that's enough, stop it, please. Maybe you loved your mother while you were single. Do you care about me: you have a young wife.
Kabanov. One does not interfere with the other, sir: the wife is in itself, and I have respect for the parent in itself.
Kabanova. So will you exchange your wife for your mother? I won't believe this for the life of me.
Kabanov. Why should I change it, sir? I love both of them.
Kabanova. Well, yes, that's it, spread it! I see that I am a hindrance to you.
Kabanov. Think as you wish, everything is your will; Only I don’t know what kind of unfortunate person I was born into this world that I can’t please you with anything.
Kabanova. Why are you pretending to be an orphan? Why are you being so naughty? Well, what kind of husband are you? Look at you! Will your wife be afraid of you after this?
Kabanov. Why should she be afraid? It's enough for me that she loves me.
Kabanova. Why be afraid? Why be afraid? Are you crazy, or what? He won’t be afraid of you, and he won’t be afraid of me either. What kind of order will there be in the house? After all, you, tea, live with her in law. Ali, do you think the law means nothing? Yes, if you hold such stupid thoughts in your head, you should at least not chatter in front of her, and in front of your sister, in front of the girl; She should also get married: this way she will listen to enough of your chatter, and then her husband will thank us for the science. You see what kind of mind you have, and you still want to live by your own will.
Kabanov. Yes, Mama, I don’t want to live by my own will. Where can I live by my own will!
Kabanova. So, in your opinion, everything should be affectionate with your wife? How about shouting at her and threatening her?
Kabanov. Yes I am, mummy...
Kabanova (hot). At least get a lover! A? And this, perhaps, in your opinion, is nothing? A? Well, speak up!
Kabanov. Yes, by God, mummy...
Kabanova (completely coolly). Fool! (Sighs.) What can you say to a fool! Only one sin!

Silence.

I'm going home.
Kabanov. And now we will only walk along the boulevard once or twice.
Kabanova. Well, as you wish, just make sure I don’t wait for you! You know, I don't like this.
Kabanov. No, mama, God save me!
Kabanova. That's the same! (Leaves.)

SCENE SIX

The same, without Kabanova.

Kabanov. You see, I always get it from my mother for you! This is what my life is like!
K a t e rina. What is my fault?
Kabanov. I don’t know who is to blame,
V a r v a r a. How would you know?
Kabanov. Then she kept pestering me: “Get married, get married, I would at least look at you as if you were married.” And now he eats, he doesn’t let anyone pass – it’s all for you.
V a r v a r a. So is it her fault? Her mother attacks her, and so do you. And you also say that you love your wife. I'm bored looking at you! (Turns away.)
Kabanov. Interpret here! What should I do?
V a r v a r a. Know your business - keep quiet if you don’t know anything better. Why are you standing - shifting? I can see in your eyes what’s on your mind.
Kabanov. So what?
V a r v a ra. It is known that. I would like to go see Savel Prokofich and have a drink with him. What's wrong, or what?
Kabanov. You guessed it, brother.
K a t e rina. You, Tisha, come quickly, otherwise mamma will scold you again.
V a r v a r a. You are faster, in fact, otherwise you know!
Kabanov. How could you not know!
V a r v a r a. We also have little desire to accept abuse because of you.
Kabanov. I'll be there in a jiffy. Wait! (Leaves.)

SCENE SEVEN

Katerina and Varvara.

K a t e rina. So, Varya, do you feel sorry for me?
Varvara (looking to the side). Of course it's a pity.
K a t e rina. So you love me then? (Kisses him firmly.)
V a r v a r a. Why shouldn’t I love you?
K a t e rina. Well, thank you! You are so sweet, I love you to death.

Silence.

Do you know what came to my mind?
V a r v a r a. What?
K a t e rina. Why don't people fly?
V a r v a r a. I do not understand what you say.
K a t e rina. I say, why don’t people fly like birds? You know, sometimes I feel like I'm a bird. When you stand on a mountain, you feel the urge to fly. That's how she would run up, raise her hands and fly. Something to try now? (Wants to run.)
V a r v a r a. What are you making up?
Katherina (sighing). How playful I was! I've completely withered away from you.
V a r v a r a. Do you think I don't see?
K a t e rina. Was that what I was like? I lived, didn’t worry about anything, like a bird in the wild. Mama doted on me, dressed me up like a doll, and didn’t force me to work; I used to do whatever I want. Do you know how I lived with girls? I'll tell you now. I used to get up early; If it’s summer, I’ll go to the spring, wash myself, bring some water with me and that’s it, I’ll water all the flowers in the house. I had many, many flowers. Then we’ll go to church with Mama, all of us, strangers - our house was full of strangers; yes praying mantis. And we’ll come from church, sit down to do some kind of work, more like gold velvet, and the wanderers will begin to tell us: where they were, what they saw, different lives, or sing poetry. So time will pass until lunch. Here the old women go to sleep, and I walk around the garden. Then to Vespers, and in the evening again stories and singing. It was so good!
V a r v a r a. Yes, it’s the same with us.
K a t e rina. Yes, everything here seems to be out of captivity. And to death I loved going to church! Exactly, it happened that I would enter heaven and not see anyone, and I don’t remember the time, and I don’t hear when the service is over. Just like it all happened in one second. Mama said that everyone used to look at me to see what was happening to me. Do you know: on a sunny day such a light column goes down from the dome, and smoke moves in this column, like a cloud, and I see that it used to be as if angels were flying and singing in this column. And sometimes, girl, I would get up at night - we also had lamps burning everywhere - and somewhere in a corner I would pray until the morning. Or I’ll go into the garden early in the morning, the sun is just rising, I’ll fall on my knees, pray and cry, and I myself don’t know what I’m praying for and what I’m crying about; that's how they'll find me. And what I prayed for then, what I asked for, I don’t know; I didn’t need anything, I had enough of everything. And what dreams I had, Varenka, what dreams! Either the temples are golden, or the gardens are some kind of extraordinary, and everyone is singing invisible voices, and there is a smell of cypress, and the mountains and trees seem not to be the same as usual, but as if depicted in images. And it’s as if I’m flying, and I’m flying through the air. And now I sometimes dream, but rarely, and not even that.
V a r v a r a. So what?
KATERINA (after a pause). I'll die soon.
V a r v a r a. That's enough!
K a t e rina. No, I know that I will die. Oh, girl, something bad is happening to me, some kind of miracle! This has never happened to me. There is something so unusual about me. I’m starting to live again, or... I don’t know.
V a r v a r a. What's the matter with you?
Katherina (takes her hand). But here’s what, Varya: it’s some kind of sin! Such fear comes over me, such and such fear comes over me! It’s as if I’m standing over an abyss and someone is pushing me there, but I have nothing to hold on to. (He grabs his head with his hand.)
V a r v a r a. What happened to you? Are you healthy?
K a t e rina. Healthy... It would be better if I were sick, otherwise it’s not good. Some kind of dream comes into my head. And I won’t leave her anywhere. If I start to think, I won’t be able to gather my thoughts; I’ll pray, but I won’t be able to pray. I babble words with my tongue, but in my mind it’s not at all like that: it’s as if the evil one is whispering in my ears, but everything about such things is bad. And then it seems to me that I will feel ashamed of myself. What happened with me? Before trouble, before any of this! At night, Varya, I can’t sleep, I keep imagining some kind of whisper: someone is talking to me so affectionately, like a dove cooing. I don’t dream, Varya, as before, of paradise trees and mountains, but as if someone is hugging me so warmly and warmly and leading me somewhere, and I follow him, I go...
V a r v a r a. Well?
K a t e rina. Why am I telling you: you are a girl.
Varvara (looking around). Speak! I'm worse than you.
K a t e rina. Well, what should I say? I'm ashamed.
V a r v a r a. Speak, there is no need!
K a t e rina. It will become so stuffy for me, so stuffy at home, that I would run. And such a thought will come to me that, if it were up to me, I would now be riding along the Volga, on a boat, singing, or in a good troika, hugging...
V a r v a r a. Not with my husband.
K a t e rina. How do you know?
V a r v a r a. I wouldn't know.
K a t e rina. Ah, Varya, sin is on my mind! How much I, poor thing, cried, what I didn’t do to myself! I can't escape this sin. Can't go anywhere. After all, this is not good, because this is a terrible sin, Varenka, why do I love someone else?
V a r v a r a. Why should I judge you! I have my sins.
K a t e rina. What should I do! My strength is not enough. Where should I go; Out of boredom I will do something about myself!
V a r v a r a. What you! What happened to you! Just wait, my brother will leave tomorrow, we’ll think about it; maybe it will be possible to see each other.
K a t e rina. No, no, don't! What you! What you! God forbid!
V a r v a r a. What are you afraid of?
K a t e rina. If I see him even once, I will run away from home, I will not go home for anything in the world.
V a r v a r a. But wait, we'll see there.
K a t e rina. No, no, don't tell me, I don't want to listen.
V a r v a r a. What a desire to dry out! Even if you die of melancholy, they will feel sorry for you! Well, just wait. So what a shame it is to torture yourself!

The Lady enters with a stick and two footmen in triangular hats behind.

SCENE EIGHTH

The same and Barynya.

B aryna. What, beauties? What are you doing here? Are you expecting some good guys, gentlemen? Are you having fun? Funny? Does your beauty make you happy? This is where beauty leads. (Points to the Volga.) Here, here, into the deep end.

Varvara smiles.

Why are you laughing! Don't be happy! (Knocks with a stick.) You will all burn inextinguishably in the fire. Everything in the resin will boil unquenchable. (Leaving.) Look, there, where beauty leads! (Leaves.)

SCENE NINE

Katerina and Varvara.

K a t e rina. Oh, how she scared me! I’m trembling all over, as if she were prophesying something for me.
V a r v a r a. On your own head, old hag!
K a t e rina. What did she say, huh? What she said?
V a r v a r a. It's all nonsense. You really need to listen to what she is saying. She prophesies this to everyone. All my life I sinned from a young age. Just ask them what they'll tell you about her! That's why he's afraid to die. What she is afraid of, she scares others with. Even all the boys in the city are hiding from her, threatening them with a stick and shouting (mimicking): “You will all burn in fire!”
KATERINA (closing her eyes). Oh, oh, stop it! My heart sank.
V a r v a r a. There is something to be afraid of! Old fool...
K a t e rina. I'm scared, I'm scared to death. She all appears in my eyes.

Silence.

Varvara (looking around). Why is this brother not coming, there’s no way, the storm is coming.
Katherina (with horror). Storm! Let's run home! Hurry up!
V a r v a r a. Are you crazy or something? How will you show up home without your brother?
K a t e rina. No, home, home! God bless him!
V a r v a r a. Why are you really afraid: the thunderstorm is still far away.
K a t e rina. And if it’s far away, then perhaps we’ll wait a little; but really, it’s better to go. Let's go better!
V a r v a r a. But if something happens, you can’t hide at home.
K a t e rina. Yes, it’s still better, everything is calmer: at home I go to the images and pray to God!
V a r v a r a. I didn't know you were so afraid of thunderstorms. I'm not afraid.
K a t e rina. How, girl, not to be afraid! Everyone should be afraid. It’s not so scary that it will kill you, but that death will suddenly find you as you are, with all your sins, with all your evil thoughts. I’m not afraid to die, but when I think that suddenly I will appear before God as I am here with you, after this conversation, that’s what’s scary. What's on my mind! What a sin! It's scary to say!

Thunder.

Kabanov enters.

V a r v a r a. Here comes my brother. (To Kabanov.) Run quickly!

Thunder.

K a t e rina. Oh! Hurry, hurry!

ACT TWO

A room in the Kabanovs' house.

SCENE ONE

Glasha (gathers her dress into knots) and Feklusha (enters).

F e k l u sha. Dear girl, you are still at work! What are you doing sweetie?
Glasha. I'm packing the owner for the trip.
F e k l u sha. Al is going where is our light?
Glasha. On his way.
F e k l u sha. How long is it going, dear?
Glasha. No, not for long.
F e k l u sha. Well, good riddance to him! What if the hostess will howl or not?
Glasha. I don't know how to tell you.
F e k l u sha. When does she howl at your place?
Glasha. Don't hear something.
F e k l u sha. I really love, dear girl, to listen to someone howl well.

Silence.

And you, girl, look after the poor thing, you wouldn’t steal anything.
Glasha. Who can tell you, you are all slandering each other. Why are you not having a good life? It seems strange to you that there is no life here, but you are still quarreling and bickering. You are not afraid of sin.
F e k l u sha. It is impossible, mother, without sin: we live in the world. I'll tell you what, dear girl: you, ordinary people, everyone is confused by one enemy, but to us, to strange people, to whom six, to whom twelve are assigned; So we need to overcome them all. It's hard, dear girl!
Glasha. Why are there so many people coming to you?
F e k l u sha. This, mother, is an enemy out of hatred for us, that we lead such a righteous life. And I, dear girl, am not absurd, I have no such sin. I have one sin for sure, I myself know that there is one. I love to eat sweets. Well then! Because of my weakness, the Lord sends.
Glasha. And you, Feklusha, have you walked far?
F e k l u sha. No, honey. Due to my weakness, I did not walk far; and to hear - I heard a lot. They say that there are such countries, dear girl, where there are no Orthodox kings, and the Saltans rule the earth. In one land the Turkish saltan Makhnut sits on the throne, and in another - the Persian saltan Makhnut; and they carry out judgment, dear girl, on all people, and no matter what they judge, everything is wrong. And they, my dear, cannot judge a single case righteously, such is the limit set for them. Our law is righteous, but theirs, dear, is unrighteous; that according to our law it turns out this way, but according to them everything is the opposite. And all their judges, in their countries, are also all unrighteous; So, dear girl, they write in their requests: “Judge me, unjust judge!” And then there is also a land where all the people have dog heads.
Glasha. Why is this so with dogs?
F e k l u sha. For infidelity. I’ll go, dear girl, and wander around the merchants to see if there’s anything for poverty. Goodbye for now!
Glasha. Goodbye!

Feklusha leaves.

Here are some other lands! There are no miracles in the world! And we sit here, we don’t know anything. It’s also good that there are good people: no, no, and you’ll hear what’s going on in this world; Otherwise they would have died like fools.

Katerina and Varvara enter.

Katerina and Varvara.

V a r v a r a (Glashe). Take the bundle to the wagon, the horses have arrived. (To Katerina.) They gave you away in marriage, you didn’t have to go out with girls: your heart hasn’t left yet.

Glasha leaves.

K a t e rina. And it never leaves.
V a r v a r a. Why?
K a t e rina. This is how I was born, hot! I was still six years old, no more, so I did it! They offended me with something at home, and it was late in the evening, it was already dark; I ran out to the Volga, got into the boat, and pushed it away from the shore. The next morning they found it, about ten miles away!
V a r v a r a. Well, did the guys look at you?
K a t e rina. How not to look!
V a r v a r a. What are you doing? Didn't you really love anyone?
K a t e rina. No, I just laughed.
V a r v a r a. But you, Katya, don’t love Tikhon.
K a t e rina. No, how can you not love! I feel sorry for him very much!
V a r v a r a. No, you do not love. If you feel sorry, you don’t love. And no, you have to tell the truth. And in vain you are hiding from me! I have long noticed that you love another person.
Katherina (with fear). Why did you notice?
V a r v a r a. How funny you say! Am I little? Here's your first sign: when you see him, your whole face will change.

Katerina lowers her eyes.

You never know...
KATERINA (looking down). Well, who?
V a r v a r a. But you yourself know what to call it?
K a t e rina. No, name it. Call me by name!
V a r v a r a. Boris Grigoryich.
K a t e rina. Well, yes, him, Varenka, his! Only you, Varenka, for God's sake...
V a r v a r a. Well, here's another! Just be careful not to let it slip somehow.
K a t e rina. I don’t know how to deceive, I can’t hide anything.
V a r v a r a. Well, you can’t live without it; remember where you live! Our house rests on this. And I was not a liar, but I learned when it became necessary. I was walking yesterday, I saw him, I talked to him.
KATERINA (after a short silence, looking down). Well, so what?
V a r v a r a. I ordered you to bow. It’s a pity, he says there’s nowhere to see each other.
KATERINA (looking down even more). Where can we meet? And why...
V a r v a r a. So boring.
K a t e rina. Don't tell me about him, do me a favor, don't tell me! I don't even want to know him! I will love my husband. Silence, my darling, I won’t exchange you for anyone! I didn’t even want to think, but you’re embarrassing me.
V a r v a r a. Don’t think about it, who is forcing you?
K a t e rina. You don't feel sorry for me! You say: don’t think, but you remind me. Do I really want to think about him? But what can you do if you can’t get it out of your head? No matter what I think about, he still stands before my eyes. And I want to break myself, but I just can’t. Do you know, the enemy confused me again this night. After all, I had left home.
V a r v a r a. You are some kind of tricky one, God bless you! But in my opinion: do what you want, as long as it’s safe and covered.
K a t e rina. I don't want it that way. And what good! I’d rather be patient as long as I can.
V a r v a r a. If you can’t bear it, what will you do?
K a t e rina. What will I do?
V a r v a r a. Yes, what will you do?
K a t e rina. Whatever I want, I’ll do.
V a r v a r a. Do it, try it, they will eat you here.
K a t e rina. What to me! I will leave, and I was like that.
V a r v a r a. Where will you go? You are a man's wife.
K a t e rina. Eh, Varya, you don’t know my character! Of course, God forbid it happens! And if I get really tired of it here, they won’t hold me back by any force. I’ll throw myself out the window, throw myself into the Volga. I don’t want to live here, I won’t, even if you cut me!

Silence.

V a r v a r a. You know what, Katya! As soon as Tikhon leaves, let’s sleep in the garden, in the gazebo.
K a t e rina. Well, why, Varya?
V a r v a r a. Does it really matter?
K a t e rina. I'm afraid to spend the night in an unfamiliar place,
V a r v a r a. What to be afraid of! Glasha will be with us.
K a t e rina. Everything is somehow timid! Yes, I guess.
V a r v a r a. I wouldn’t even call you, but my mother won’t let me in alone, but I need it.
Katherina (looking at her). Why do you need it?
Varvara (laughs). We'll do magic with you there.
K a t e rina. You must be joking?
V a r v a r a. Known, just kidding; is it really possible?

Silence.

K a t e rina. Where is Tikhon?
V a r v a r a. What do you need it for?
K a t e rina. No, I am. After all, he's coming soon.
V a r v a r a. They are sitting locked with their mother. Now she sharpens it like rusting iron.
Katerina. For what?
V a r v a r a. No way, it teaches wisdom. It will be two weeks on the road, it’s a no-brainer. Judge for yourself! Her heart is aching because he walks around of his own free will. So now she gives him orders, one more menacing than the other, and then she will lead him to the image, make him swear that he will do everything exactly as ordered.
K a t e rina. And in freedom, he seems to be tied up.
V a r v a r a. Yes, so connected! As soon as he leaves, he’ll start drinking. Now he listens, and he himself thinks about how he can escape as quickly as possible.

Enter Kabanova and Kabanov.

The same, Kabanova and Kabanov.

Kabanova. Well, you remember everything I told you. Look, remember! Cut it on your nose!
Kabanov. I remember, mom.
Kabanova. Well, now everything is ready. The horses have arrived. Just say goodbye to you, and to God.
Kabanov. Yes, mama, it's time.
Kabanova. Well!
Kabanov. What do you want, sir?
Kabanova. Why are you standing there, haven’t you forgotten the order? Tell your wife how to live without you.

Katerina lowered her eyes.

Kabanov. Yes, she knows it herself.
Kabanova. Talk more! Well, well, give the order. So that I can hear what you order her! And then you’ll come and ask if you did everything right.
Kabanov (standing up against Katerina). Listen to your mother, Katya!
Kabanova. Tell your mother-in-law not to be rude.
Kabanov. Do not be rude!
Kabanova. So that my mother-in-law respects how my own mother!
Kabanov. Honor your mother, Katya, like your own mother.
Kabanova. So that she doesn’t sit idly by like a lady.
Kabanov. Do something without me!
Kabanova. So that you don't stare at the windows!
Kabanov. Yes, mommy, when will she...
Kabanova. Oh well!
Kabanov. Don't look out the windows!
Kabanova. So that I don’t look at young guys without you.
Kabanov. But what is this, Mama, by God!
Kabanova (strictly). There's nothing to break! Must do what mother says. (With a smile.) It’s getting better, as ordered.
Kabanov (confused). Don't look at the guys!

Katerina looks at him sternly.

Kabanova. Well, now talk among yourselves if you need to. Let's go, Varvara!

They leave.

Kabanov and Katerina (stands as if in a daze).

Kabanov. Kate!

Silence.

Katya, aren't you angry with me?
Katherina (after a short silence, shakes her head). No!
Kabanov. What are you? Well, forgive me!
Katherina (still in the same state, shaking her head). God be with you! (Hovering her face with her hand.) She offended me!
Kabanov. If you take everything to heart, you will soon end up with consumption. Why listen to her? She needs to say something! Well, let her speak, and you turn a deaf ear, Well, goodbye, Katya!
KATERINA (throwing herself on her husband’s neck). Tisha, don't leave! For God's sake, don't leave! Darling, I beg you!
Kabanov. You can't, Katya. If my mother sends me, how can I not go!
K a t e rina. Well, take me with you, take me!
Kabanov (freeing himself from her embrace). Yes, you can't.
K a t e rina. Why, Tisha, is it not possible?
Kabanov. What a fun place to go with you! You've really driven me too far here! I have no idea how to get out; and you still force yourself on me.
K a t e rina. Have you really stopped loving me?
Kabanov. Yes, you haven’t stopped loving, but with this kind of bondage you can run away from whatever beautiful wife you want! Just think: no matter what I am, I’m still a man; Living like this all your life, as you see, will run away from your wife. Yes, as I know now that there won’t be any thunderstorms over me for two weeks, there are no shackles on my legs, so what do I care about my wife?
K a t e rina. How can I love you when you say such words?
Kabanov. Words are like words! What other words can I say! Who knows you, what are you afraid of? After all, you are not alone, you are staying with your mother.
K a t e rina. Don't tell me about her, don't tyrant my heart! Oh, my misfortune, my misfortune! (Cries.) Where can I, poor thing, go? Who should I grab hold of? My fathers, I am perishing!
Kabanov. Come on!
K aterina (comes up to her husband and cuddles up to him). Quiet, my dear, if only you would stay or take me with you, how I would love you, how I would love you, my dear! (Caresses him.)
Kabanov. I can't figure you out, Katya! Either you won’t get a word from you, let alone affection, or you’ll just get in the way.
K a t e rina. Silence, who are you leaving me with! There will be trouble without you! The fat is in the fire!
Kabanov. Well, it’s impossible, there’s nothing to do.
K a t e rina. Well, that's it! Take some terrible oath from me...
Kabanov. What oath?
K a t e rina. Here's this: so that without you I dare not, under any circumstances, speak with anyone else, or see anyone, so that I do not dare think about anyone but you.
Kabanov. What's this for?
K a t e rina. Calm my soul, do such a favor for me!
Kabanov. How can you vouch for yourself, you never know what can come to mind.
Katherina (Falling to her knees). So that I won’t see either my father or my mother! Should I die without repentance if I...
Kabanov (raising her). What you! What you! What a sin! I don't even want to listen!

The same ones, Kabanova, Varvara and Glasha.

Kabanova. Well, Tikhon, it's time. Go with God! (Sits down.) Sit down, everyone!

Everyone sits down. Silence.

Well, goodbye! (He gets up and everyone gets up.)
Kabanov (approaching his mother). Goodbye, mummy! Kabanova (gesturing to the ground). To your feet, to your feet!

Kabanov bows at his feet, then kisses his mother.

Say goodbye to your wife!
Kabanov. Goodbye Katya!

Katerina throws herself on his neck.

Kabanova. Why are you hanging around your neck, shameless thing! You are not saying goodbye to your lover! He is your husband - the head! Don't you know the order? Bow at your feet!

Katerina bows at her feet.

Kabanov. Goodbye sister! (Kisses Varvara.) Goodbye, Glasha! (Kisses Glasha.) Goodbye, mummy! (Bows.)
Kabanova. Goodbye! Long farewells mean extra tears.

Kabanov leaves, followed by Katerina, Varvara and Glasha.

Kabanova (one). What does youth mean? It's funny even to look at them! If they weren’t their own, I’d laugh to my heart’s content: they don’t know anything, there’s no order. They don’t know how to say goodbye. It’s good that those who have elders in the house are the ones who hold the house together as long as they are alive. But also, stupid people, they want to do their own thing; but when they are released, they are confused by obedience and laughter good people. Of course, no one will regret it, but everyone laughs the most. But you can’t help but laugh: they’ll invite guests, they don’t know how to seat you, and, look, they’ll forget one of your relatives. Laughter, and that's all! This is how the old days come out. I don’t even want to go to another house. And when you get up, you’ll spit, but get out quickly. What will happen, how the old people will die, how the light will remain, I don’t know. Well, at least it’s good that I won’t see anything.

Katerina and Varvara enter.

Kabanova, Katerina and Varvara.

Kabanova. You boasted that you love your husband very much; I see your love now. Other good wife After seeing her husband off, she howls for an hour and a half and lies on the porch; but you, apparently, have nothing.
K a t e rina. There's no point! Yes, and I can’t. Why make people laugh!
Kabanova. The trick is not great. If I loved it, I would have learned it. If you don’t know how to do it properly, you should at least make this example; still more decent; and then, apparently, only in words. Well, I’m going to pray to God, don’t bother me.
V a r v a r a. I'll leave the yard.
Kabanova (affectionately). What do I care? Go! Walk until your time comes. You'll still have enough to eat!

Kabanova and Varvara leave.

Katherina (alone, thoughtfully). Well, now silence will reign in your house. Oh, what boredom! At least someone's children! Eco woe! I don’t have children: I would still sit with them and amuse them. I really like talking to children - they are angels. (Silence.) If I had died as a little girl, it would have been better. I would look from heaven to earth and rejoice at everything. Otherwise she would fly invisibly wherever she wanted. She would fly out into the field and fly from cornflower to cornflower in the wind, like a butterfly. (Thinks.) But here’s what I’ll do: I’ll start some work as promised; I’ll go to the guest house, buy some canvas, and sew linen, and then give it to the poor. They will pray to God for me. So we’ll sit down to sew with Varvara and won’t see how time passes; and then Tisha will arrive.

Varvara enters.

Katerina and Varvara.

Varvara (covers her head with a scarf in front of the mirror). I'll go for a walk now; and Glasha will make our beds in the garden, mamma allowed. In the garden, behind the raspberries, there is a gate, mummy locks it and hides the key. I took it away and put another one on her so she wouldn’t notice. Now, you might need it. (Gives the key.) If I see you, I’ll tell you to come to the gate.
KATERINA (pushing away the key in fear). For what! For what! No, no, no!
V a r v a r a. You don't need it, I will need it; take it, he won't bite you.
K a t e rina. What are you up to, sinner! Is this possible? Have you thought! What you! What you!
V a r v a r a. Well, I don’t like to talk a lot, and I don’t have time. It's time for me to go for a walk. (Leaves.)

SCENE TENTH

Katerina (alone, holding the key in her hands). Why is she doing this? What is she coming up with? Oh, crazy, really crazy! This is death! Here she is! Throw it away, throw it far away, throw it into the river so that it will never be found. He burns his hands like coal. (Thinking.) This is how our sister dies. Someone has fun in captivity! You never know what comes to mind. An opportunity arose, and another one was glad: so she rushed headlong. How can this be possible without thinking, without judging! How long does it take to get into trouble? And there you cry all your life, suffer; bondage will seem even more bitter. (Silence.) And captivity is bitter, oh, how bitter! Who doesn't cry from her! And most of all, we women. Here I am now! I live, I suffer, I don’t see any light for myself. Yes, and I won’t see it, you know! What's next is worse. And now this sin is still on me. (Thinks.) If only it weren’t for my mother-in-law!.. She crushed me... I’m sick of her and the house; the walls are even disgusting, (Looks thoughtfully at the key.) Throw it away? Of course you have to quit. And how did it fall into my hands? To temptation, to my destruction. (Listens.) Oh, someone is coming. So my heart sank. (Hides the key in his pocket.) No!.. No one! Why was I so scared! And she hid the key... Well, you know, it should be there! Apparently, fate itself wants it! But what a sin is it if I look at it once, even from afar! Yes, even if I talk, it won’t matter! But what about my husband!.. But he himself didn’t want to. Yes, maybe such a case will never happen again in my entire life. Then cry to yourself: there was a case, but I didn’t know how to use it. What am I saying, am I deceiving myself? I could even die to see him. Who am I pretending to be!.. Throw in the key! No, not for anything in the world! He’s mine now... Whatever happens, I’ll see Boris! Oh, if only the night could come sooner!..

ACT THREE

SCENE ONE

Street. The gate of the Kabanovs' house, there is a bench in front of the gate.

SCENE ONE

Kabanova and Feklusha (sitting on the bench).

F e k l u sha. Last times, mother Marfa Ignatievna, the last, by all accounts the last. There is also paradise and silence in your city, but in other cities it’s just chaos, mother: noise, running around, incessant driving! People are scurrying about, one here, another there.
Kabanova. We have nowhere to rush, honey, we live in no hurry.
F e k l u sha. No, mother, the reason there is silence in your city is that many people, just like you, adorn themselves with virtues like flowers: that’s why everything is done coolly and orderly. After all, what does this running around, mother, mean? After all, this is vanity! For example, in Moscow: people are running back and forth, no one knows why. This is vanity. Vain people, Mother Marfa Ignatievna, here they are running around. It seems to him that he is running about something; he’s in a hurry, poor thing, doesn’t recognize people; he imagines that someone is beckoning him, but when he comes to the place, it’s empty, there’s nothing, just a dream. And he will go in sadness. And the other one imagines that he is catching up with someone he knows. From the outside, a fresh person now sees that there is no one; but because of the fuss, everything seems to him that he is catching up. It’s vanity, because it seems like a fog. Here, on such a beautiful evening, rarely does anyone even come out to sit outside the gate; but in Moscow there are now festivals and games, and there is a roar and a groan in the streets. Why, Mother Marfa Ignatievna, they started harnessing the fiery serpent: everything, you see, for the sake of speed.
Kabanova. I heard you, honey.
F e k l u sha. And I, mother, saw it with my own eyes; Of course, others don’t see anything because of the fuss, so it seems to them like a machine, they call it a machine, but I saw how he does something like that with his paws (spreads his fingers). Well, that’s what people in a good life hear moaning too.
Kabanova. You can call it anything, perhaps even call it a machine; People are stupid, they will believe everything. And even if you shower me with gold, I won’t go.
F e k l u sha. What extremes, mother! God forbid from such a misfortune! And here’s another thing, Mother Marfa Ignatievna, I had a vision in Moscow. I’m walking early in the morning, it’s still a little light, and I see someone standing on the roof of a tall, tall building, with a black face. You already know who it is. And he does it with his hands, as if he were pouring something, but nothing is pouring out. Then I realized that it was he who was scattering the tares, and that during the day in his bustle he would invisibly pick up the people. That’s why they run around like that, that’s why their women are all so thin, they can’t stretch their bodies, and it’s as if they’ve lost something or are looking for something: there’s sadness in their faces, even pity.
Kabanova. Anything is possible, my dear! In our times, why be surprised!
F e k l u sha. Hard times, Mother Marfa Ignatievna, hard. The time has already begun to decline.
Kabanova. How so, dear, in derogation?
F e k l u sha. Of course, it’s not us, where can we notice in the bustle! And here smart people They notice that our time is getting shorter. It used to be that summer and winter drag on and on, you can’t wait for it to end; and now you won’t even see them fly by. The days and hours still seem to remain the same, but time, for our sins, is becoming shorter and shorter. That's what smart people say.
Kabanova. And it will be worse than this, my dear.
F e k l u sha. We just wouldn't live to see this,
Kabanova. Maybe we'll live.

Dikoy enters.

Kabanova. Why are you, godfather, wandering around so late?
D i k o y. And who will stop me!
Kabanova. Who will ban! Who needs!
D i k o y. Well, that means there’s nothing to talk about. What am I, under the command, or what, who? Why are you still here! What the hell kind of merman is there!..
Kabanova. Well, don't let your throat out too much! Find me cheaper! And I am dear to you! Go your way where you were going. Let's go home, Feklusha. (Rises.)
D i k o y. Wait, godfather, wait! Do not be angry. You still have time to be at home: your home is not far off. Here he is!
Kabanova. If you are at work, don’t yell, but speak plainly.
D i k o y. There’s nothing to do, and I’m drunk, that’s what.
Kabanova. Well, will you now order me to praise you for this?
D i k o y. Neither praise nor scold. And that means I'm drunk. Well, that's the end of it. Until I wake up, this matter cannot be corrected.
Kabanova. So go, sleep!
D i k o y. Where am I going to go?
Kabanova. Home. And then where!
D i k o y. What if I don’t want to go home?
Kabanova. Why is this, let me ask you?
D i k o y. But because there is a war going on there.
Kabanova. Who's going to fight there? After all, you are the only warrior there.
D i k o y. So what if I'm a warrior? So what of this?
Kabanova. What? Nothing. And the honor isn’t great, because you’ve been fighting with women all your life. That's what.
D i k o y. Well, that means they must obey me. Otherwise, I’ll probably submit!
Kabanova. I’m really amazed at you: you have so many people in your house, but they can’t please you alone.
D i k o y. Here you go!
Kabanova. Well, what do you need from me?
D i k o y. Here's what: talk to me so that my heart will go away. You're the only one in the whole city who knows how to make me talk.
Kabanova. Go, Feklushka, tell me to prepare something to eat.

Feklusha leaves.

Let's go to chambers!
D i k o y. No, I won’t go to my chambers, I’m worse in my chambers.
Kabanova. What made you angry?
D i k o y. Ever since this morning.
Kabanova. They must have asked for money.
D i k o y. As if they had agreed, the damned ones; first one or the other pesters all day long.
Kabanova. It must be necessary, if they pester you.
D i k o y. I understand this; What are you going to tell me to do with myself when my heart is like this! After all, I already know what I have to give, but I can’t do everything with goodness. You are my friend, and I have to give it to you, but if you come and ask me, I will scold you. I will give, give, and curse. Therefore, as soon as you mention money to me, everything inside me will be ignited; It kindles everything inside, and that’s all; Well, in those days I would never curse a person for anything.
Kabanova. There are no elders over you, so you are showing off.
D i k o y. No, godfather, keep quiet! Listen! These are the stories that happened to me. I was once fasting about a great fast, but now it’s not easy and I slip a little man in: I came for money, I was carrying firewood. And it brought him to sin at such a time! I did sin: I scolded him, I scolded him so much that I couldn’t ask for anything better, I almost killed him. This is what my heart is like! After he asked for forgiveness, he bowed at his feet, that’s right. Truly I tell you, I bowed at the man’s feet. This is what my heart brings me to: here in the yard, in the mud, I bowed to him; I bowed to him in front of everyone.
Kabanova. Why are you deliberately bringing yourself into your heart? This, godfather, is not good.
D i k o y. How on purpose?
Kabanova. I saw it, I know. If you see that they want to ask you for something, you will take one of your own on purpose and attack someone in order to get angry; because you know that no one will come to you angry. That's it, godfather!
D i k o y. Well, what is it? Who doesn’t feel sorry for their own good!

Glasha enters.

Glasha. Marfa Ignatievna, a snack has been set, please!
Kabanova. Well, godfather, come in. Eat what God sent you.
D i k o y. Perhaps.
Kabanova. Welcome! (He lets the Wild One go ahead and follows him.)

Glasha stands at the gate with folded arms.

Glasha. No way. Boris Grigoryich is coming. Isn't it for your uncle? Does Al walk like that? He must be walking around like that.

Boris enters.

Glasha, Boris, then Kuligin.

B o r i s. Isn't it your uncle?
Glasha. We have. Do you need him, or what?
B o r i s. They sent from home to find out where he was. And if you have it, let it sit: who needs it? At home, we are glad that he left.
Glasha. If only our owner had been in charge of it, she would have stopped it soon. Why am I, fool, standing with you! Goodbye. (Leaves.)
B o r i s. Oh, my God! Just take a look at her! You can’t enter the house: uninvited people don’t come here. This is life! We live in the same city, almost nearby, and you see each other once a week, and then in church or on the road, that’s all! Here, whether she got married, or was buried, it doesn’t matter.

Silence.

I wish I wouldn’t see her at all: it would be easier! Otherwise you see it in fits and starts, and even in front of people; a hundred eyes are looking at you. It just breaks my heart. Yes, and you can’t cope with yourself. You go for a walk, and you always find yourself here at the gate. And why do I come here? You can never see her, and, perhaps, whatever conversation comes out, you will lead her into trouble. Well, I ended up in the town! (Kuligin walks towards him.)
K u l i g i n. What, sir? Would you like to go for a walk?
B o r i s. Yes, I’m taking a walk, the weather is very good today.
K u l i g i n. It’s very good, sir, to go for a walk now. Silence, excellent air, the smell of flowers from the meadows from across the Volga, clear sky...

An abyss has opened, full of stars,
The stars have no number, the abyss has no bottom.

Let's go, sir, to the boulevard, there's not a soul there.
B o r i s. Let's go!
K u l i g i n. This is the kind of town we have, sir! They made the boulevard, but they don’t walk. They only go out on holidays, and then they only pretend to be out for a walk, but they themselves go there to show off their outfits. The only thing you will see is a drunken clerk, trudged home from the tavern. The poor, sir, have no time to walk, they work day and night. And they sleep only three hours a day. What do the rich do? Well, so that, it seems, they don’t walk, don’t breathe fresh air? So no. Everyone's gates, sir, have been locked for a long time, and the dogs have been unleashed... Do you think they are doing business or praying to God? No, sir. And they don’t lock themselves away from thieves, but so that people don’t see them eating their own family and tyrannizing their family. And what tears flow behind these constipations, invisible and inaudible! What can I tell you, sir! You can judge for yourself. And what, sir, behind these castles is dark debauchery and drunkenness! Everything is sewn and covered - no one sees or knows anything, only God sees! You, he says, look, I’m among people and on the street, but you don’t care about my family; for this, he says, I have locks, and constipations, and angry dogs. The family says it’s a secret, secret matter! We know these secrets! Because of these secrets, sir, only he is having fun, while the rest are howling like a wolf. And what's the secret? Who doesn't know him! Rob orphans, relatives, nephews, beat up his family so that they don’t dare make a squeak about anything he does there. That's the whole secret. Well, God bless them! Do you know, sir, who is hanging out with us? Young boys and girls. So these people steal from sleep for an hour or two, and then walk in pairs. Yes, here's a couple!

Kudryash and Varvara appear. They kiss.

B o r i s. They kiss.
K u l i g i n. We don't need this.

Kudryash leaves, and Varvara approaches her gate and beckons Boris. He comes up.

Boris, Kuligin and Varvara.

K u l i g i n. I, sir, will go to the boulevard. Why bother you? I'll wait there.
B o r i s. Okay, I'll be right there.

Kuligin leaves.

Varvara (covering yourself with a handkerchief). Do you know the ravine behind the Boar Garden?
B o r i s. I know.
V a r v a r a. Come back there later.
B o r i s. For what?
V a r v a r a. How stupid you are! Come and see why. Well, go quickly, they are waiting for you.

Boris leaves.

I didn’t recognize it! Let him think now. And I really know that Katerina won’t be able to resist, she’ll jump out. (He goes out the gate.)

SCENE TWO

Night. A ravine covered with bushes; at the top there is a fence of the Kabanovs’ garden and a gate; from above there is a path.

SCENE ONE

KUDRYSH (enters with a guitar). There is no one. Why is she there! Well, let's sit and wait. (Sits on a stone.) Let’s sing a song out of boredom. (Sings.)

Like a Don Cossack, the Cossack led his horse to water,
Good fellow, he’s already standing at the gate.
Standing at the gate, he himself is thinking,
Dumu thinks about how he will ruin his wife.
Like a wife, the wife prayed to her husband,
Soon she bowed to him:
“Are you, father, are you, dear, dear friend!
Don't hit me, don't destroy me this evening!
You kill, ruin me from midnight!
Let my little children sleep
To the little children, to all our close neighbors."

Boris enters.

Kudryash and Boris.

Kudryash (stops singing). Look! Humble, humble, but also went on a rampage.
B o r i s. Curly, is that you?
K u d r i sh. I, Boris Grigoryich!
B o r i s. Why are you here?
K u d r i sh. Me? Therefore, I need it, Boris Grigoryich, if I’m here. I wouldn't go unless necessary. Where is God taking you?
BORIS (looks around the area). Here's what, Kudryash: I would need to stay here, but I don't think you care, you can go to another place.
K u d r i sh. No, Boris Grigoryich, I see, this is your first time here, but I already have a familiar place here and the path has been trodden by me. I love you, sir, and am ready for any service for you; and don’t meet me on this path at night, so that, God forbid, some sin does not happen. An agreement is better than money.
B o r i s. What's wrong with you, Vanya?
K u d r i sh. Why: Vanya! I know that I am Vanya. And you go your own way, that’s all. Get one for yourself, and go for walks with her, and no one will care about you. Don't touch strangers! We don’t do that, otherwise the guys will break their legs. I’m for mine... Yes, I don’t even know what I’ll do! I'll cut your throat.
B o r i s. You are in vain to be angry; It’s not even on my mind to take it away from you. I wouldn't have come here if I hadn't been told to.
K u d r i sh. Who ordered it?
B o r i s. I couldn't make it out, it was dark. Some girl stopped me on the street and told me to come here, behind the Kabanovs’ garden, where the path is.
K u d r i sh. Who would this be?
B o r i s. Listen, Curly. Can I have a heart-to-heart talk with you, won’t you babble?
K u d r i sh. Speak up, don't be afraid! All I have is one that has died.
B o r i s. I don’t know anything here, neither your orders, nor your customs; but the thing is...
K u d r i sh. Did you fall in love with someone?
B o r i s. Yes, Curly.
K u d r i sh. Well, that's okay. We are free about this. The girls go out as they please, father and mother don’t care. Only women are locked up.
B o r i s. That's my grief.
K u d r i sh. So did you really fall in love with a married woman?
B o r i s. Married, Kudryash.
K u d r i sh. Eh, Boris Grigoryich, stop annoying me!
B o r i s. It's easy to say - quit! It may not matter to you; you will leave one and find another. But I can’t do this! Since I fell in love...
K u d r i sh. After all, this means you want to ruin her completely, Boris Grigoryich!
B o r i s. Save, Lord! Save me, Lord! No, Curly, as much as possible. Do I want to destroy her? I just want to see her somewhere, I don’t need anything else.
K u d r i sh. How, sir, can you vouch for yourself! But what a people here! You know it yourself. They will eat it and hammer it into the coffin.
B o r i s. Oh, don't say that, Curly, please don't scare me!
K u d r i sh. Does she love you?
B o r i s. Don't know.
K u d r i sh. Have you ever seen each other?
B o r i s. I only visited them once with my uncle. And then I see in the church, we meet on the boulevard. Oh, Curly, how she prays, if only you would look! What an angelic smile she has on her face, and her face seems to glow.
K u d r i sh. So this is young Kabanova, or what?
B o r i s. She, Curly.
K u d r i sh. Yes! So that's it! Well, we have the honor to congratulate you!
B o r i s. With what?
K u d r i sh. Yes, of course! It means things are going well for you, since you were told to come here.
B o r i s. Was that really what she ordered?
K u d r i sh. And then who?
B o r i s. No, you're kidding! This can't be true. (He grabs his head.)
K u d r i sh. What's wrong with you?
B o r i s. I'll go crazy with joy.
K u d r i sh. Bota! There is something to go crazy about! Just watch - don’t cause trouble for yourself, and don’t get her into trouble either! Let’s face it, even though her husband is a fool, her mother-in-law is painfully fierce.

Varvara comes out of the gate.

Same with Varvara, then Katerina.

Varvara (sings at the gate).

Beyond the river, beyond the fast one, my Vanya is walking,
My Vanyushka is walking there...

K udryash (continues).

Purchases goods.

(Whistles.)
Varvara (goes down the path and, covering his face with a handkerchief, approaches Boris). You, guy, wait. You'll wait for something. (To Curly.) Let's go to the Volga.
K u d r i sh. What took you so long? Still waiting for you! You know what I don't like!

Varvara hugs him with one hand and leaves.

B o r i s. It’s like I’m seeing a dream! This night, songs, dates! They walk around hugging each other. This is so new to me, so good, so fun! So I'm waiting for something! I don’t know what I’m waiting for, and I can’t imagine it; only the heart beats and every vein trembles. Now I can’t even think of what to say to her, it’s breathtaking, my knees are weak! That's when my stupid heart suddenly boils, nothing can calm it down. Here he comes.

Katerina quietly walks down the path, covered with a large white scarf, her eyes cast down to the ground.

Is it you, Katerina Petrovna?

Silence.

I don’t even know how I can thank you.

Silence.

If only you knew, Katerina Petrovna, how much I love you! (Wants to take her hand.)
KATERINA (with fear, but without raising her eyes). Don't touch, don't touch me! Ahah!
B o r i s. Do not be angry!
Katerina. Get away from me! Go away, you damned man! Do you know: I can’t atone for this sin, I can never atone for it! After all, it will fall like a stone on your soul, like a stone.
B o r i s. Don't drive me away!
K a t e rina. Why did you come? Why have you come, my destroyer? After all, I’m married, and my husband and I will live until the grave!
B o r i s. You yourself told me to come...
K a t e rina. Yes, understand me, you are my enemy: after all, to the grave!
B o r i s. It would be better for me not to see you!
Katherina (with excitement). After all, what am I cooking for myself? Where do I belong, you know?
B o r i s. Calm down! (Takes him by the hand.) Sit down!
K a t e rina. Why do you want my death?
B o r i s. How can I want your death when I love you more than anything in the world, more than myself!
K a t e rina. No no! You ruined me!
B o r i s. Am I some kind of villain?
Katherina (shaking her head). Ruined, ruined, ruined!
B o r i s. God save me! I'd rather die myself!
K a t e rina. Well, how come you didn’t ruin me, if I, leaving home, come to you at night.
B o r i s. It was your will.
K a t e rina. I have no will. If I had my own will, I would not have gone to you. (Raises his eyes and looks at Boris.)

A little silence.

Your will is now over me, don't you see! (Throws herself at his neck.)
BORIS (hugs Katerina). My life!
K a t e rina. You know? Now I suddenly wanted to die!
B o r i s. Why die when we can live so well?
K a t e rina. No, I can't live! I already know that I can’t live.
B o r i s. Please don't say such words, don't make me sad...
K a t e rina. Yes, it’s good for you, you are a free Cossack, and I!..
B o r i s. No one will know about our love. Surely I won’t regret you!
K a t e rina. Eh! Why feel sorry for me, it’s no one’s fault - she went for it herself. Don't be sorry, destroy me! Let everyone know, let everyone see what I do! (Hugs Boris.) If I was not afraid of sin for you, will I be afraid of human judgment? They say that it is even easier when you suffer for some sin here on earth.
B o r i s. Well, what to think about it, fortunately we are good now!
K a t e rina. And then! I’ll have time to think and cry in my spare time.
B o r i s. And I was scared; I thought you were going to send me away.
Katherina (smiling). Drive away! Where else! Is it with our hearts? If you hadn’t come, it seems that I would have come to you myself.
B o r i s. I didn't even know that you loved me.
K a t e rina. I've loved you for a long time. It’s like it’s a sin that you came to us. As soon as I saw you, I didn’t feel like myself. From the very first time, it seems, if you had beckoned me, I would have followed you; If you went to the ends of the world, I would still follow you and wouldn’t look back.
B o r i s. How long has your husband been gone?
Katerina. For two weeks.
B o r i s. Oh, so we'll take a walk! There's plenty of time.
Katerina. Let's take a walk. And then... (he thinks) how they will lock him up, that’s death! If they don’t lock you up, I’ll find a chance to see you!

Kudryash and Varvara enter.

The same ones, Kudryash and Varvara.

V a r v a r a. Well, did you manage?

Katerina hides her face on Boris's chest.

B o r i s. We worked it out.
V a r v a r a. Let's go for a walk, and we'll wait. When necessary, Vanya will shout.

Boris and Katerina leave. Kudryash and Varvara sit on a stone.

K u d r i sh. And you came up with this important thing, climbing into the garden gate. It is very capable for our brother.
V a r v a r a. All I.
K u d r i sh. I'll take you on this. Will the mother not be enough?
V a r v a r a. Eh! Where should she go? It won't even hit her in the face.
K u d r i sh. Well, what a sin?
V a r v a r a. Her first sleep is sound; In the morning, he wakes up like this.
K u d r i sh. But who knows! Suddenly the difficult one will lift her up.
V a r v a r a. Well then! We have a gate that is locked from the yard from the inside, from the garden; knocks, knocks, and just like that it goes. And in the morning we will say that we slept soundly and did not hear. Yes, and Glasha guards; At any moment, she'll give a voice. You can't do it without danger! How is it possible! Just look, you'll get into trouble.

Kudryash plays a few chords on the guitar. Varvara rests on the shoulder of Curly, who, not paying attention, plays quietly.

V a r v a r a (yawning). How can I find out what time it is?
K u d r i sh. First.
V a r v a r a. How do you know?
K u d r i sh. The watchman hit the board.
V a r v a r a (yawning). It's time. Give me a shout. Tomorrow we will leave early, so we can walk more.
Kudryash (whistles and starts singing loudly).

All home, all home,
But I don't want to go home.

B o r i s (behind the stage). I hear you!
V a r v a r a (gets up). Well, goodbye. (Yawns, then kisses him coldly, like someone he’s known for a long time.) Tomorrow, look, come early! (Looks in the direction where Boris and Katerina went.) It’s time to say goodbye to you, you’re not parting forever, you’ll see each other tomorrow. (Yawns and stretches.)

Katerina runs in, followed by Boris.

Kudryash, Varvara, Boris and Katerina.

Katherina (to Varvara). Well, let's go, let's go! (They go up the path. Katerina turns around.) Goodbye.
B o r i s. Till tomorrow!
K a t e rina. Yes, see you tommorow! Tell me what you see in your dream! (Approaches the gate.)
B o r i s. Definitely.
Kudryash (sings with a guitar).

Walk, young, for the time being,
Until the evening dawn!
Ay cherished, for the time being,
Until evening until dawn.

Varvara (at the gate).

And I, young, for the time being,
Until the morning until dawn,
Ay cherished, for the time being,
Until dawn!

They leave.

K u d r i sh.

How Zoryushka got busy
And I went home... etc.

There are times in people's lives when they are given a choice of path, one of two; it can lead to success or to problems, or more importantly - to salvation or destruction, to heaven or hell. Saying “yes” or “no” can be difficult for a contradictory human personality, but a choice still has to be made.

In the drama A.N. Ostrovsky's "The Thunderstorm" such a choice is a turning point in the development of events, decisive future fate the main character, Katerina Kabanova.

Katerina’s character is a place of collision between fear of God and sinful, illegal passions. She is a “husband’s wife,” but is in love with another person; and the time comes for a choice - the heroine is given a tantalizing opportunity to commit this sin by meeting her lover, to overstep what is permitted with the only condition that outsiders will not find out about it. This is the "key scene."

What is permitted in Katerina’s life is determined by Domostroy. By her character, she is her own judge, and the law for her is not only the law of actions, but also the law of thoughts. Only one thing contradicts this - her mind is so freedom-loving that it is very difficult to set boundaries for it. She is ready for a rebellious escape when it becomes unbearable, but at the same time her mind is clear of lies; and God's grace is higher than anything else for her.

The environment of the “dark kingdom”, the house of the Kabanovs, brings turmoil into her soul. She feels cramped and stuffy among the forcibly imposed laws that weigh so heavily on her here; for her this house is a hateful prison. Here Domostroy does not become different, but the atmosphere of limited existence presses on Katerina’s consciousness; she defines her condition sparingly, concluding only once, in a conversation with Varvara: “Yes, everything here seems to be from under captivity...”. In her desire to escape from captivity, her feelings seem to find an outlet in sincere love for a visiting person and the same victim of the “dark kingdom” as she herself - Boris. Katerina understands that this is a sin and a violation of the rules of Domostroy, but she is unable to resist herself...

“What a disaster! Here she is!" - Katerina exclaims, standing on the threshold of tragedy. Varvara gives her the key to this trouble.

This key only unlocks the gate in the Kabanovs’ garden, but, crossing this threshold, Katerina goes on a date with Boris, transgresses boundaries and laws, statutes and foundations, destroys them within herself and commits a sin, consciously, but unable to restrain herself. She succumbs to temptation, following the principle of Varvara, who insisted that “...do what you want, as long as it’s safe and covered.”

Varvara, who does not have stable internal limitations, has grown into this dark world of ignorance, and behind the fog of self-deception she does not see sin or does not want to see it. She found a place for herself here; she has enough intelligence and ability for all kinds of petty crimes. “Take it, he won’t bite you...” she says to Katerina, giving the key, insisting on her calmly and indifferently. She pushes Katerina to do this act, which is contrary to the laws, without thinking about the consequences, without reflecting on what is being done and how Katerina perceives it. Varvara easily organized a meeting between Katerina and Boris, because she was used to such “pranks”; but Varvara’s “prank” is Katerina’s sin.

This woman cannot lie to herself; or shame, or an incriminating thought prompts her: “What am I saying, that I’m deceiving myself?” And, standing with the key and unable to make a decision, she understands her defenselessness in front of her weakness: “Even if I die, I can see him [Boris] ...”, she casts aside prejudices - sin or not sin, she doesn’t care anymore; she becomes too stuffy in captivity and lack of love.

Katerina takes the key, she accepts her sin, she takes up protest, she dooms herself to death from the very beginning. She accepts her sin, steps over Domostroy and all other norms of piety, and follows her love. She can be compared in many ways with Katerina Lvovna from N. Leskov’s story “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk”; both Katerinas do not think at the very last moment, and, having driven away their doubts, they enter into a blind struggle with fate for their happiness as women, without repenting, without doubting and finally deciding, as Katya Kabanova decides: “Come what may, I will see Boris!” ”, and are already rushing towards a ghostly dream: “Oh, if only the night would speed up!..”. Both Katerinas will die in a moment of emotion and feeling, in cold and disappointment, in restlessness and despair - the hell of the soul.

Katerina takes the key, starting her path into the abyss, which fate had planned for her long ago. However, the tragedy was made inevitable by the prevailing atmosphere of the “dark kingdom”, which was simply incompatible with Katerina’s character. After all, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk found a way out of her melancholy in mad love. They were pushed into sin by loneliness and the coldness of relationships... “What’s next is worse. And now this sin is still on me. If only it weren’t for my mother-in-law!..” says Katerina, holding the ill-fated key in her hands, admits to herself: “She crushed me...”.

And it turns out that the cold awakens in Katerina’s soul the desire to live, awakens locked feelings. She contradicts herself, one exclaiming in fear “What!” determining that she could no longer resist the opportunity to go out the gate at night; her monologue is replete with ellipses, because words are not able to contain all her thoughts; she gets scared, she imagines steps, but she is no longer afraid of heavenly punishment, but of her mother-in-law. In the monologue she exclaims, reflects, is burdened; falls silent, asks herself... repeats again and again the sentimental “Ah!..” and other exclamations, compares the key to a burning coal, calls the walls of the house disgusting... In the stage directions, the author especially notes her thoughtfulness and impulsiveness; Katerina’s speech is peculiarly emotional, completely different from what is used in everyday life... and this betrays her condition.

Her soul is filled with feelings and aspirations. Even if this desire ultimately ends up in the abyss and waters of the Volga. Katerina takes the key and accepts her fate as a lonely ray of light, sinning for the sake of freedom and short-term happiness.

But what is sin here and what is redemption remains another global theme; All that matters is that Katerina takes the key... dooming herself.

A room in the Kabanovs' house.

First appearance

Glasha (gathers her dress into knots) and Feklusha (enters).

Feklusha. Dear girl, you are still at work! What are you doing sweetie? Glasha. I'm packing the owner for the trip. Feklusha. Al is going where is our light? Glasha. On his way. Feklusha. How long, my dear, is he going? Glasha. No, not for long. Feklusha. Well, good riddance to him! What if the hostess will howl or not? Glasha. I don't know how to tell you. Feklusha. When does she howl at your place? Glasha. Don't hear something. Feklusha. I really love, dear girl, to listen to someone howl well!

Silence.

And you, girl, look after the poor thing, you wouldn’t steal anything.

Glasha. Who will understand you, you are all slandering each other, that life is not going well for you? It seems strange to you that there is no life here, but you are still quarreling and bickering; You are not afraid of sin. Feklusha. It is impossible, mother, without sin: we live in the world. Here's what I'll tell you, dear girl: you, ordinary people, are each confused by one enemy, but for us, strange people, some have six, some have twelve; So we need to overcome them all. It's hard, dear girl! Glasha. Why are there so many people coming to you? Feklusha. This, mother, is an enemy out of hatred for us, that we lead such a righteous life. And I, dear girl, am not absurd, I have no such sin. I have one sin, for sure; I myself know that there is. I love to eat sweets. Well then! Because of my weakness, the Lord sends. Glasha. And you, Feklusha, have you walked far? Feklusha. No, honey. Due to my weakness, I did not walk far; and to hear - I heard a lot. They say that there are such countries, dear girl, where there are no Orthodox kings, and the Saltans rule the earth. In one land the Turkish saltan Makhnut sits on the throne, and in another - the Persian saltan Makhnut; and they carry out judgment, dear girl, on all people, and no matter what they judge, everything is wrong. And they, my dear, cannot judge a single case righteously, such is the limit set for them. Our law is righteous, but theirs, dear, is unrighteous; that according to our law it turns out this way, but according to theirs everything is the opposite. And all their judges, in their countries, are also all unrighteous; So, dear girl, they write in their requests: “Judge me, unjust judge!” And then there is also a land where all the people have dog heads. Glasha. Why is this so with dogs? Feklusha. For infidelity. I’ll go, dear girl, and wander around the merchants to see if there’s anything for poverty. Goodbye for now! Glasha. Goodbye!

Feklusha leaves.

Here are some other lands! There are no miracles in the world! And we sit here, we don’t know anything. It’s also good that there are good people; no, no, and you will hear what is happening in this wide world; Otherwise they would have died like fools.

Katerina and Varvara enter.

Second phenomenon

Katerina and Varvara.

Varvara (Glashe). Drag the bundles to the wagon, the horses have arrived. (To Katerina.) They gave you away in marriage, you didn’t have to go out with the girls; Your heart hasn't left yet.

Glasha leaves.

Katerina. And it never leaves. Varvara. From what? Katerina. I was born so hot! I was still six years old, no more, so I did it! They offended me with something at home, and it was late in the evening, it was already dark, I ran out to the Volga, got into the boat, and pushed it away from the shore. The next morning they found it, about ten miles away! Varvara. Well, did the guys look at you? Katerina. How not to look! Varvara. What are you doing? Didn't you really love anyone? Katerina. No, I just laughed. Varvara. But you, Katya, don’t love Tikhon. Katerina. No, how can you not love! I feel sorry for him very much. Varvara. No, you do not love. If you feel sorry, you don’t love. And no, you have to tell the truth. And in vain you are hiding from me! I have long noticed that you love one person. Katerina (with fear). Why did you notice? Varvara. How funny you say! Am I little? Here's your first sign: when you see him, your whole face will change.

Katerina lowers her eyes.

You never know...

Katerina (looking down). Well, who? Varvara. But you yourself know what to call it? Katerina. No, name it! Call me by name! Varvara. Boris Grigoryich. Katerina. Well, yes, him, Varenka, his! Only you, Varenka, for God's sake... Varvara. Well, here's another! Just be careful not to let it slip somehow. Katerina. I don’t know how to deceive; I can’t hide anything. Varvara. Well, you can’t live without it; remember where you live! Our whole house rests on this. And I was not a liar, but I learned when it became necessary. I was walking yesterday, I saw him, I talked to him. Katerina (after a short silence, looking down). So what? Varvara. I ordered you to bow. It’s a pity, he says there’s nowhere to see each other. Katerina (looking down even more). Where can we meet? And why... Varvara. So boring... Katerina. Don't tell me about him, do me a favor, don't tell me! I don't even want to know him! I will love my husband. Silence, my darling, I won’t exchange you for anyone! I didn’t even want to think, but you’re embarrassing me. Varvara. Don't think about it, who is forcing you? Katerina. You don't feel sorry for me! You say: don’t think, but you remind me. Do I really want to think about him? But what should you do if it’s out of your head? No matter what I think about, he still stands before my eyes. And I want to break myself, but I just can’t. Do you know, the enemy confused me again this night. After all, I had left home. Varvara. You are some kind of tricky one, God bless you! But in my opinion: do whatever you want, as long as it’s safe and covered. Katerina. I don't want it that way. And what good! I’d rather be patient as long as I can. Varvara. If you can’t bear it, what will you do? Katerina. What will I do? Varvara. Yes, what will you do? Katerina. Whatever I want, I’ll do. Varvara. Do it, try it, they will eat you here. Katerina. What about me? I will leave, and I was like that. Varvara. Where will you go? You are a man's wife. Katerina. Eh, Varya, you don’t know my character! Of course, God forbid this happens! And if I get really tired of it here, they won’t hold me back by any force. I’ll throw myself out the window, throw myself into the Volga. I don’t want to live here, I won’t, even if you cut me!

Silence.

Varvara. You know what, Katya! As soon as Tikhon leaves, let’s sleep in the garden, in the gazebo. Katerina. Well, why, Varya? Varvara. Does it really matter? Katerina. I'm afraid to spend the night in an unfamiliar place. Varvara. What to be afraid of! Glasha will be with us. Katerina. Everything is somehow timid! Yes, I guess. Varvara. I wouldn’t even call you, but my mother won’t let me in alone, but I need it. Katerina (looking at her). Why do you need it? Varvara (laughs). We'll do magic with you there. Katerina. You must be joking? Varvara. Known, just kidding; is it really possible?

Silence.

Katerina. Where is Tikhon? Varvara. What do you need it for? Katerina. No, I am. After all, he's coming soon. Varvara. They are sitting with their mother, locked up. Now she sharpens it like rusting iron. Katerina. For what? Varvara. No way, it teaches wisdom. It will be two weeks on the road, it’s a big deal! Judge for yourself! Her heart is aching because he walks around of his own free will. So now she gives him orders, one more menacing than the other, and then she will lead him to the image, make him swear that he will do everything exactly as ordered. Katerina. And in freedom, he seems to be tied up. Varvara. Yes, so connected! As soon as he leaves, he’ll start drinking. Now he listens, and he himself thinks about how he can escape as quickly as possible.

Enter Kabanova and Kabanov.

The third phenomenon

The same . Kabanova and Kabanov.

Kabanova. Well, do you remember everything I told you? Look, remember! Cut it on your nose! Kabanov. I remember, mom. Kabanova. Well, now everything is ready. The horses have arrived to say goodbye only to you and to God. Kabanov. Yes, mama, it's time. Kabanova. Well! Kabanov. What do you want, sir? Kabanova. Why are you standing there, don’t you know the order? Tell your wife how to live without you.

Katerina lowered her eyes to the ground.

Kabanov. Yes, she knows it herself. Kabanova. Talk more! Well, well, give the order! So that I can hear what you order her! And then you’ll come and ask if you did everything right. Kabanov (standing up against Katerina). Listen to your mother, Katya! Kabanova. Tell your mother-in-law not to be rude. Kabanov. Do not be rude! Kabanova. So that the mother-in-law honors her as her own mother! Kabanov. Honor your mother, Katya, like your own mother! Kabanova. So that she doesn’t sit idly by like a lady! Kabanov. Do something without me! Kabanova. So that you don't stare at the windows! Kabanov. Yes, mommy, when will she... Kabanova. Oh well! Kabanov. Don't look out the windows! Kabanova. So that I don’t look at young guys without you! Kabanov. But what is this, Mama, by God! Kabanova (sternly). There's nothing to break! Must do what mother says. (With a smile.) It’s getting better, as ordered. Kabanov (confused). Don't look at the guys!

Katerina looks at him sternly.

Kabanova. Well, now talk among yourselves if you need to. Let's go, Varvara!

They leave.

The fourth phenomenon

Kabanov and Katerina (stands as if in a daze).

Kabanov. Kate!

Silence.

Katya, aren't you angry with me?

Katerina (after a short silence, shaking his head). No! Kabanov. What are you? Well, forgive me! Katerina (still in the same state, shaking his head slightly). God be with you! (Hovering his face with his hand.) She offended me! Kabanov. If you take everything to heart, you will soon end up with consumption. Why listen to her? She needs to say something! Well, let her talk, and you ignore her. Well, goodbye, Katya! Katerina (throwing himself at her husband’s neck). Tisha, don't leave! For God's sake, don't leave! Darling, I beg you! Kabanov. You can't, Katya. If my mother sends me, how can I not go! Katerina. Well, take me with you, take me! Kabanov (freeing himself from her embrace). Yes, you can't! Katerina. Why, Tisha, is it not possible? Kabanov. What a fun place to go with you! You've really driven me too far here! I don’t know how to get out, and you’re still forcing yourself on me. Katerina. Have you really stopped loving me? Kabanov. Yes, I haven’t stopped loving; and with this kind of bondage you can run away from whatever beautiful wife you want! Just think about it: no matter what I am, I’m still a man, living like this all my life, as you see, you’ll run away from your wife. Yes, as I now know that there will be no thunderstorms over me for two weeks, there are no such shackles on my legs, so what do I care about my wife? Katerina. How can I love you when you say such words? Kabanov. Words are like words! What other words can I say! Who knows what you are afraid of! After all, you are not alone, you will stay with your mother. Katerina. Don't tell me about her, don't tyrant my heart! Oh, my misfortune, my misfortune! (Cries.) Where can I, poor thing, go? Who should I grab hold of? My fathers, I am perishing! Kabanov. Come on! Katerina (walks up to her husband and cuddles up to him). Quiet, my dear, if only you stayed or if you took me with you, how I would love you, how I would love you, my dear! (Caresses him.) Kabanov. I can't figure you out, Katya! Either you won’t get a word from you, let alone affection, or you’ll just get in the way. Katerina. Silence, who are you leaving me with! There will be trouble without you! The fat is in the fire! Kabanov. Well, it’s impossible, there’s nothing to do. Katerina. Well, that's it! Take some terrible oath from me... Kabanov. What oath? Katerina. Here's what; so that without you I would not dare, under any circumstances, to speak with anyone else, or to see anyone, so that I would not dare to think about anyone but you. Kabanov. What's this for? Katerina. Calm my soul, do such a favor for me! Kabanov. How can you vouch for yourself, you never know what can come to mind. Katerina (falling to his knees). So that I won’t see either my father or my mother! Should I die without repentance if I... Kabanov (raising her). What you! What you! What a sin! I don't even want to listen!

Fifth appearance

The same ones, Kabanova, Varvara and Glasha.

Kabanova. Well, Tikhon, it's time! Go with God! (Sits down.) Sit down, everyone!

Everyone sits down. Silence.

Well, goodbye! (He gets up and everyone gets up.)

Kabanov (approaching mother). Goodbye, mummy! Kabanova (gestures to the ground). To your feet, to your feet!

Kabanov bows at his feet, then kisses his mother.

Say goodbye to your wife!

Kabanov. Goodbye Katya!

Katerina throws herself on his neck.

Kabanova. Why are you hanging around your neck, shameless thing! You are not saying goodbye to your lover! He is your husband - the head! Don't you know the order? Bow at your feet!

Katerina bows at her feet.

Kabanov. Goodbye sister! (Kisses Varvara.) Goodbye, Glasha! (Kisses Glasha.) Goodbye, mummy! (Bows.) Kabanova. Goodbye! Long farewells mean extra tears.

Kabanov leaves, followed by Katerina, Varvara and Glasha.

Appearance Six

Kabanova (alone). What does youth mean? It's funny even to look at them! If it weren’t our own, I would have laughed my fill. They don’t know anything, there is no order. They don’t know how to say goodbye. It’s good that those who have elders in the house are the ones who hold the house together as long as they are alive. But they, too, are stupid, want their own will, but when they are released, they get confused to the obedience and laughter of good people. Of course, no one will regret it, but everyone laughs the most. Yes, it’s impossible not to laugh; They’ll invite guests, they don’t know how to seat them, and, lo and behold, they’ll forget one of their relatives. Laughter, and that's all! This is how the old days come out. I don’t even want to go to another house. And if you get up, you’ll just spit and get out quickly. What will happen, how the old people will die, how the light will remain, I don’t know. Well, at least it’s good that I won’t see anything.

Katerina and Varvara enter.

Seventh Appearance

Kabanova, Katerina and Varvara.

Kabanova. You boasted that you love your husband very much; I see your love now. Another good wife, having seen her husband off, howls for an hour and a half and lies on the porch; but you, apparently, have nothing. Katerina. There's no point! Yes, and I can’t. Why make people laugh! Kabanova. The trick is not great. If I loved it, I would have learned it. If you don’t know how to do it properly, you should at least make this example; still more decent; and then, apparently, only in words. Well, I’ll go and pray to God; Do not bother me. Varvara. I'll leave the yard. Kabanova (affectionately). What do I care? Go! Walk until your time comes. You'll still have enough to eat!

Kabanova and Varvara leave.

The eighth phenomenon

Katerina (alone, thoughtfully). Well, now silence will reign in our house. Oh, what boredom! At least someone's children! Eco woe! I don’t have children: I would still sit with them and amuse them. I really like talking to children - they are angels. (Silence.) If I had died as a little girl, it would have been better. I would look from heaven to earth and rejoice at everything. Otherwise she would fly invisibly wherever she wanted. She would fly out into the field and fly from cornflower to cornflower in the wind, like a butterfly. (Thinks.) But here’s what I’ll do: I’ll start some work as promised; I’ll go to the guest house, buy some canvas, and sew linen, and then give it to the poor. They will pray to God for me. So we’ll sit down to sew with Varvara, and we won’t see how time passes; and then Tisha will arrive.

Varvara enters.

Appearance Ninth

Katerina and Varvara.

Varvara (covers his head with a scarf in front of the mirror). I'll go for a walk now; and Glasha will make our beds in the garden, mamma allowed. In the garden, behind the raspberries, there is a gate, mummy locks it and hides the key. I took it away and put another one on her so she wouldn’t notice. Now, you might need it. (Gives the key.) If I see you, I’ll tell you to come to the gate. Katerina (pushing away the key in fear). For what! For what! No, no, no! Varvara. You don't need it, I will need it; take it, he won't bite you. Katerina. What are you up to, sinner! Is this possible? Have you thought? What you! What you! Varvara. Well, I don’t like to talk a lot; and I have no time. It's time for me to go for a walk. (Leaves.)

The tenth phenomenon

Katerina (alone, holding the key in her hands). Why is she doing this? What is she coming up with? Oh, crazy, really, crazy! This is death! Here she is! Throw it away, throw it far away, throw it into the river so that it will never be found. He burns his hands like coal. (Thinking.) This is how our sister dies. Someone has fun in captivity! You never know what comes to mind. An opportunity arose, and another one was glad: so she rushed headlong. How can this be possible without thinking, without judging! How long does it take to get into trouble? And there you cry all your life, suffer; bondage will seem even more bitter. (Silence.) And captivity is bitter, oh, how bitter! Who doesn't cry from her! And most of all, we women. Here I am now! I’m living, I’m toiling, I can’t see any light for myself! Yes, and I won’t see it, you know! What's next is worse. And now this sin is still on me. (Thinks.) If only it weren’t for my mother-in-law!.. She crushed me... I’m sick of her and the house; The walls are even disgusting. (Looks thoughtfully at the key.) Leave him? Of course you have to quit. And how did he get into my hands? To temptation, to my destruction. (Listens.) Ah, someone is coming. So my heart sank. (Hides the key in his pocket.) No!.. No one! Why was I so scared! And she hid the key... Well, you know, it should be there! Apparently, fate itself wants it! But what a sin is it if I look at it once, even from afar! Yes, even if I talk, it won’t matter! But what about my husband!.. But he himself didn’t want to. Yes, perhaps such a case will never happen again in my entire life. Then cry to yourself: there was a case, but I didn’t know how to use it. What am I saying, am I deceiving myself? I could even die to see him. Who am I pretending to be!.. Throw in the key! No, not for anything in the world! He’s mine now... Whatever happens, I’ll see Boris! Oh, if only the night could come sooner!..

This work has entered the public domain. The work was written by an author who died more than seventy years ago, and was published during his lifetime or posthumously, but more than seventy years have also passed since publication. It may be freely used by anyone without anyone's consent or permission and without payment of royalties.