Essay “The system of images in the play “Dowry.” The life principles of the characters in A. N. Ostrovsky’s play “Dowry” What does Knurov compare Larisa Dmitrievna with?

Plan

1. Introduction

2. Knurov in life

3. Knurov and Larisa

4.Conclusion

Mokiy Parmenych Knurov is a collective image of a man of a new era with fabulous capital. This is a representative of that inexorable force that slowly but steadily crushes everything under itself. “The owner of factories, newspapers, ships” feels like a complete master in this life. The only power he recognizes is money.

Knurov leads a prosperous, measured life. Any of his whims can be instantly fulfilled. Mokiy Parmenych was accustomed to universal veneration. He clearly divides people into two classes: those who have money and those who do not. From the point of view of the availability of capital, he evaluates the opportunities and benefits of others.

Knurov's social circle is small. In the play, it includes only Vozhevatov, Paratov and the Ogudalov family. He has business relations with the former. Mokiy Parmenych understands perfectly how important it is to maintain good relationships with business partners. This communication can hardly be called friendship. In any case, in a provincial town there are still no people closer, much less equal to him.

Mokiy Parmenych is kind in his own way, but his disposition towards people again depends on possible benefits. He can express sincere sympathy for someone else's grief, but will provide help only if it brings him some benefit. Knurov’s high opinion of himself is most clearly manifested in his attitude towards Karandyshev. The capitalist openly despises the petty official who could not achieve a higher position.

Mokiy Parmenych had long noted for himself the beauty of his daughter Kharita Ignatievna. The main problem is that the businessman is married. He is not averse to taking Larisa “to support”, but the girl has not yet tarnished her reputation. Knurov honestly admits to Vozhevatov that it is too late for him to openly compete with Larisa’s many fans. He prefers to act in roundabout ways. The concept of love is completely unfamiliar to Knurov. He even praises Vozhevatov for the absence of this feeling, which is useless in trade matters.

Love for Mokiy Parmenych is the same commodity, and Larisa is an “expensive diamond” that requires an “expensive frame.” Knurov despises Kharita Ignatievna in the same way, but maintains good relations with her and gives money in order to take possession of Larisa. He goes to this goal long and persistently. The girl's upcoming wedding seems like a convenient opportunity for him. Karandashev will not be able to adequately provide for Larisa. That's when Knurov hopes to take his chance.

All the baseness and heartlessness of Mokiy Parmenych and Vozhevatov is manifested in the scene of Larisa's toss. Thus, they decide the fate of a living girl without even asking her opinion. Larisa seems to them to be a simple, but incredibly beautiful thing that will definitely have an owner. The “victorious” Knurov, casting aside all shame, directly turns to Larisa with an offer to become his kept woman. He reinforces his words with a significant phrase: “For me, the impossible is not enough.”

Mokiy Parmenych is not just an all-powerful, incredibly rich businessman. Money distorted his thinking. For Knurov, everything around him (even people) is an object of purchase and sale. His attitude towards Larisa as a thing underlies the tragedy of the entire play.

Composition

“Dowry” (1878) is considered the best psychological drama by A. N. Ostrovsky. In this play, the playwright addresses the life of the new, bourgeois Russia. Ostrovsky focuses on the life of people of many classes: nobles, merchants, officials.

In the post-reform years, dramatic changes took place in society: nobles, even the richest, gradually went bankrupt, merchants turned into masters of life with a fortune of millions, their children became the main force of society - educated bourgeois. Against the backdrop of these events, the tragedy of the main character of the play, Larisa Ogudalova, unfolds.

At the very beginning of the drama - in the 2nd scene of Act I - we hear a conversation between Mokiy Parmenych Knurov and Vasily Danilych Vozhevatov. Knurov is “one of the big businessmen of recent times, an elderly man with a huge fortune.” Vozhevatov is “a very young man, one of the representatives of a wealthy trading company, European in dress.” During the casual conversation of these “new” people, we get to know the main characters of the play and learn about the events taking place in their lives.

At the very beginning of the conversation, the figure of Sergei Sergeevich Paratov, a rich gentleman, arrives in Bryakhimov on his ship. According to the merchants, this hero lives “in style”, “wasteful”, but does not know how to run a business. It can be assumed that his financial affairs are bad: Paratov sells a steamship to Vozhevatov cheaply: “You know, he doesn’t find any benefit.”

But both Vozhevatov and Knurov see her perfectly. Their practical mind is primarily aimed at extracting benefits, making money. The heroes do this brilliantly - both of them are rich and successful. Knurov and Vozhevatov are enjoying life: they drink champagne in the morning, get ready to go to an exhibition in Paris, and dream that it would be nice to take the city’s first beauty Larisa Ogudalova with them on a trip.

This is how we meet the main character of the play. From the conversation between Knurov and Vozhevatov we learn about her fate, about her life. Larisa is going to marry a petty official, Karandyshev. The merchants are perplexed: “What nonsense! What a fantasy! Well, what is Karandyshev? He’s not a match for her...” But Larisa is homeless and finds it difficult for her to find a good groom. Therefore, the girl’s mother, Kharita Ignatievna, until recently gathered “single” people in her house. These evenings were known to all of Bryakhimov, “because they were a lot of fun: the young lady was pretty, played different instruments, sang, she was free to speak…”

Thanks to her “agility, agility and dexterity,” Kharita Ignatievna married off her two eldest daughters. But their fate is unhappy: one was allegedly stabbed to death by a jealous husband, and the other’s husband turned out to be a cheater. Thus, already at the beginning of the play, the motif of an unhappy female fate, disappointment in love appears, which will develop in the image of Larisa.

Here, in Knurov’s conversation with Vozhevatov, the leading motive of the play appears - the motive of buying and selling. It applies not only to things, but also to people: “Grooms are paid. If someone likes their daughter, then shell out..." Vozhevatov himself, who has known Larisa since childhood, buys the pleasure of visiting her house: "What can you do, you have to pay for pleasures: they don’t come for free; and it’s a great pleasure to be in their house.” Knurov, a married man, dreams: “It would be nice to go to Paris with such a young lady to an exhibition.”

Cold and calculating, these new masters of life are incapable of sincere feelings. Vozhevatov shares with Knurov: “No, somehow I... I don’t notice this in myself at all... what they call love.” For which he receives the approval of an experienced merchant: “Commendable, you will be a good merchant.” The main thing for these people is calculation, profit. Both Knurov and Vozhevatov selfishly take advantage of people. “Why should I care about her morality! I’m not a guardian…” says Vasily Danilych, whom Larisa considers her friend.

The heroine herself, according to Vozhevatov, is “simple,” “there is no cunning in her... suddenly, for no reason at all, and... the truth.” The girl sincerely expresses her feelings, does not know how to be hypocritical: “Whoever she is disposed towards, she does not hide it at all.” The young merchant says that last year Larisa was in love with Paratov: “...couldn’t look at him enough, but he traveled for a month...and there was no trace of him...” The heroine was very worried: “almost died of grief... She rushed to catch up with him ..."

After Paratov, some old man and an always drunk manager wooed Larisa, then a stealing cashier appeared, who was arrested right in the Ogudalovs’ house. The heroine was in despair. She could no longer bear all this “shame” and decided to marry the first one who wooed her. This first was Karandyshev.

In Larisa’s house, he was a “backup option”: they paid attention to him when there was no one more interesting around. And the pathetic Karandyshev, seeing this, “plays different roles, casts wild glances...”

Vozhevatov characterizes Karandyshev as “a proud, envious person.” Having achieved his goal, Yuliy Kapitonich began to “shine like an orange.” Karandyshev boasts of his “booty” - he takes Larisa to the boulevard, walking with her arm. The same motive of buying and selling is visible in his behavior: the hero is proud of Larisa as a beautiful and expensive thing that increases his prestige in society.

At the end of the conversation, the characters feel sorry for Larisa, imagining her future life with Karandyshev: “In a beggarly situation, and even with a fool of a husband, she will either die or become vulgar.”

Thus, the conversation between Knurov and Vozhevatov at the beginning of the play gives an idea of ​​all the main characters of the drama, outlines their characters, and describes their fate. In addition, the leading motives of the play are already indicated here: the motive of buying and selling a person as a beautiful thing, the motive of an unhappy woman’s fate, disappointment in love.

Other works on this work

In the work of A.N. Ostrovsky's "Dowry" has one interesting supporting character. He has a rather unusual name. Mokiy Parmenych Knurov is an elderly man, a successful businessman. During his life he amassed a huge fortune.

Knurov is a prominent representative of the upper class of the county town. The man has a high opinion of himself. He tries not to pay attention to ordinary people; they are not interesting to him. Even a person with excellent features and character will not evoke any feelings in Knurov. The man is very concerned about his health and often walks along the city streets before eating.

Knurov communicates only with people in his circle. He pays attention to rich, significant and prestigious gentlemen. To do this, he constantly visits the capital and attends various social events. The man also loves to travel around Europe. Bryakhimov Knurov considers his small town a remote village. Here he does not communicate with anyone and believes that he has no equal. Therefore, in his hometown he prefers to remain silent and not talk to anyone.

Despite the fact that Knurov behaves aloof, city residents treat him with reverence and great respect. The people recognize his importance and bow to him when they see Knurov.

The man has a family and they have been together for a long time. Mokiy Parmenych is a great connoisseur of everything beautiful. He believes that money can buy everything, even love. Knurov fell in love with Larisa Dmitrievna, he considers her an expensive diamond, and would like to see himself as a jeweler next to her. He wants the girl to become his kept woman. To realize his desire, he is ready to spend a large sum of money.

Knurov created for himself the image of a kind and noble person. And to support his image, he decided to give Larisa’s mother money to buy a wedding dress. When allocating funds, he hoped in his heart that they would be refused. The man was secretly against the wedding of Larisa and Karandashev; he hoped that the ceremony would not take place.

Talking with Kharita Ignatievna, Knurov expressed his assumption that Larisa would quickly get tired of poor Karandashev. He openly says that he is not against taking a young girl to his permanent residence. Knurov is even ready to take her to Paris. But Larisa is a proud girl and Mokiy Parmenych’s proposals are offensive to her.

In general, Knurov appears to readers as an arrogant character. He is a callous, soulless and pompous person. He is not interested in other people's experiences.

Option 2

One of the contenders for Larisa Ogudalova’s affection is Mokiy Parmenych Knurov. He is no longer a young man and a very wealthy man. This gives him confidence, leisure and respect in society. Everyone would like to have such a respectable friend or patron, which is why they curry favor with him.

Knurov often attends dinner parties, his presence is an honor for the hosts. There are many famous people among his acquaintances. Knurov has a strict character, everyone knows that. He loves to eat delicious food. He often walks, but only to meet someone he knows on the boulevard and work up an appetite in the fresh air. Knurov is never in a hurry, which corresponds to his status.

He has practically no ordinary people among his friends. He spends a lot of time abroad, often travels to St. Petersburg and Moscow, where he is received in high society. Undoubtedly, Knurov is an educated person, knows French and easily reads newspapers in this language.

In addition to delicious food, another weakness of an important gentleman is women. He really liked the beautiful and poor Larisa. He is ready to see her often, despite her unenviable position. The fact that Knurov is married does not bother him at all. A legal wife is not a reason for him to have a young mistress. Moreover, he openly talks about this with others and offers this status to Larisa herself.

On the one hand, he pities the girl and promises her such protection and provision that not a single rumor will spread. On the other hand, he offers all this only for selfish reasons. There is not a drop of love on his part. Moreover, Knurov treats Larisa not as a person, but as a beautiful object that can be bought or played on a coin. Ogudalova finds herself in a hopeless situation and agrees to be an “expensive thing,” but dies. This does not cause Knurov much regret.

Knurov is a typical example of a person who believes that money can solve everything. He is confident that he will easily buy the favor of any person. He is also confident that no one will oppose his wishes. He could easily save Larisa, provide her with a dowry or give her a generous wedding gift, but Knurov does not know compassion, kindness and sensitivity. He is a selfish, narcissistic and cynical person.

Essay by Mokiy Parmenych Knurov

In Ostrovsky's play "Dowry", Knurov Mokiy Parmenych is an elderly man who has amassed a huge fortune. For him, money is the meaning of life. This character doesn’t have many phrases, but they are meaningful, so it’s quite easy to imagine such a businessman.

Moky Parmenych divides people into rich and poor. Calculation and self-interest became part of his flesh and blood. He does not deign to pay attention to the poor, this is especially evident from the contempt with which he treats Karandyshev. In the small town where he came on business, there are only a few people with whom Mokiy Parmenych communicates. These are the young merchant Vasily Danilych Vozhevatov, the nobleman Sergei Sergeevich Paratov and the Ogudalov family (mother and daughter).

Knurov, as a fairly insightful person and, in turn, blinded by the beauty and purity of Larisa Ogudalova, understands that she will be unhappy in her marriage to Karandyshev. Therefore, after Larisa’s “fall,” having won her in an argument with Vozhevatov, he invites the girl to become his mistress. Poor Larisa, deceived and abandoned by everyone, is in such nervous tension that she doesn’t care how her own fate will turn out in the future.

By making an unequivocal offer, Mokiy Parmenych thinks of himself as a benefactor. A “diamond” like Larisa Ogudalova should shine only with him. This man has long been accustomed to living his own way.

His every step is measured, he even walks around the city (exercises) only to work up an appetite. In essence, Knurov is a collective character. There were many such merchants at the end of the nineteenth century.

Without benefit for themselves, the Knurovs did not open their mouths. Mokiy Parmenych allows himself to talk only with a “pure” public and only in Moscow, St. Petersburg and abroad. Imagining himself in the company of a young beautiful mistress, Knurov mentally sees how he and Larisa are vacationing in Paris, going to artist exhibitions, and so on.

He is cunning, telling Kharita Ogudalova (Larissa’s mother) that he is ready to marry Larisa, but cannot fulfill this because he is married. However, with unusual agility for him, he talks in detail about his trip to Paris. Alas, the mother is ready to sell her daughter at a higher price.

He doesn’t give a damn about the feelings of his wife and “mistress”, because he provides for them from head to toe. In Dahl's dictionary, the word “knur” is a synonym for hog, boar and wild boar. This is approximately what this person is like in life. Behind the mask of decency and prosperity lies a cruel, heartless heart.

Mokiy Parmenych Knurov, thanks to his fabulous wealth, feels like the master of the world. Slowly and surely, he captures everything that lies in his zone of interest. He puts money at the forefront, therefore this attitude has distorted his mind and heart. Knurov looks at everything from the point of view of buying and selling, and since he is emotionally poor, he compensates for his feelings with “despicable metal.” Mokiy Parmenych treats Larisa Ogudalova like a thing and this is the whole tragedy of the play.

Knurov is a typical representative of the merchant class of the 19th century. This hero is driven by cold calculation, and the main thing in their life is money.

“Mokiy Parmenych Knurov, one of the big businessmen of recent times, an elderly man with a huge fortune.” Now about his name. According to Dahl's dictionary, "knur" is a hog, boar, boar, male pig. It turns out what kind of a human being this Knurov is.

This is a civilized “idol”, a millionaire who despises all low-income people, is withdrawn, taciturn, and disdainful of people not in his circle, for example, the poor official Karandyshev. Explaining his rare visits to the Ogudalovs, he says: “It’s awkward; They have a lot of all sorts of rabble; then they meet, bow, and start talking. For example, Karandyshev - what a meeting for me!”

“Who should he talk to? There are two or three people in the city, he talks to them, but no one else; well, he is silent. He doesn’t live here for long because of this; business. And he goes to talk to Moscow, St. Petersburg and abroad, where he has more space."

Knurov is first and foremost a businessman. He values ​​money and a profitable business. (“It’s good for him, Vasily Danilovich, who has a lot of money”). Referring to his fortune, which can be used to buy literally everything, even the love of a beautiful woman (“For me, the impossible is not enough”).

Knurov even walks solely for exercise, to work up an appetite and eat his sumptuous lunch. He is secretive and taciturn, but Gavrilo says about him: “How do you want him to talk when he has millions?...And he goes to Moscow, St. Petersburg and abroad to talk, where he has more space.”

Knurov is married, but would like to “take a ride to an exhibition” in Paris with Larisa. When Knurov and Vozhevatov draw lots for who should go to Paris with Larisa, Knurov wins (he doesn’t care about Larisa’s opinion).

Knurov is cunning and knows how to find an approach to people. How he cleverly won over Larisa’s mother and proposed to the girl a trip to Paris. Smart Knurov does not talk about love, but promises Larisa a luxurious life if she becomes his mistress. He promises that no one will speak ill of her as he will make her very rich.

The role of Knurov in the plot of the play

The role of Mokiy Parmenych is minimal. He is present in all significant events of the play, but does not have any important influence on them. Although the scene with the division of Larisa between Knurov and Vozhevatov played a certain role in Larisa’s fate. When Knurov invited her to go with him to Paris, she realized that she did not need to wait for some special fate, but just need to play her card - beauty and youth.

Quotes from Knurov

• The warm sympathy of a strong, rich man...
• In such cases, it is necessary to have a good friend, solid, durable.
• I wouldn't think for one minute about offering you my hand, but I'm married
• It’s good if she realizes to leave her husband as soon as possible and return to you.
• Don't be afraid of shame, there will be no condemnation. There are boundaries beyond which condemnation does not cross; I can offer you such enormous content that the most evil critics of other people's morality will have to shut up and open their mouths in surprise.
• I kept thinking about Larisa Dmitrievna. It seems to me that she is now in such a position that we, close people, are not only allowed, but we are even obliged to take part in her fate.
• An expensive diamond requires an expensive setting.

A.N. Ostrovsky created an amazing gallery of Russian characters. The main characters were representatives of the merchant class - from the "Domostroevsky" tyrants to real businessmen. The playwright’s female characters were no less bright and expressive. Some of them resembled the heroines of I.S. Turgenev: they were just as brave and decisive, had warm hearts and never gave up their feelings. Below is an analysis of Ostrovsky's "Dowry", where the main character is a bright personality, different from the people who surrounded her.

History of creation

The analysis of Ostrovsky's "Dowry" should begin with the history of its writing. In the 1870s, Alexander Nikolaevich was an honorary judge in one district. Participation in trials and familiarity with various cases gave him a new opportunity to search for topics for his works.

Researchers of his life and work suggest that he took the plot for this play from his judicial practice. It was a case that caused a lot of noise in the county - the murder of his young wife by a local resident. Ostrovsky began writing the play in 1874, but work progressed slowly. And only in 1878 the play was completed.

Characters and their brief descriptions

The next point in the analysis of Ostrovsky's "Dowry" is a small description of the characters in the play.

Larisa Ogudalova is the main character. A beautiful and impressionable noblewoman. Despite her sensitive nature, she is a proud girl. Its main drawback is poverty. Therefore, her mother tries to find her a rich groom. Larisa is in love with Paratov, but he leaves her. Then, out of despair, she decides to marry Karandyshev.

Sergei Paratov is a nobleman who is over 30 years old. An unprincipled, cold and calculating person. Everything is measured in money. He is going to marry a rich girl, but does not tell Larisa about it.

Yuliy Kapitonich Karandyshev is a minor official who has little money. Vain, his main goal is to win the respect of others and impress them. Larisa is jealous of Paratov.

Vasily Vozhevatov is a young rich merchant. I have known the main character since childhood. A cunning person without any moral principles.

Mokiy Parmenych Knurov is an elderly merchant, the richest man in the city. He likes young Ogudalova, but he is a married man. Therefore, Knurov wants her to become his kept woman. Selfish, only his own interests are important to him.

Kharita Ignatievna Ogudalova is Larisa’s mother, a widow. Cunningly, she tries to give her daughter away in marriage so that they don’t need anything. Therefore, he believes that any means are suitable for this.

Robinson is an actor, mediocrity, drunkard. Paratov's friend.

One of the points of analysis of Ostrovsky's "Dowry" is a brief description of the plot of the play. The action takes place in the Volga region town of Bryakhimov. In the first act, the reader learns from a conversation between Knurov and Vozhevatov that Sergei Paratov, a rich gentleman who loves to appear spectacularly in society, is returning to the city.

He left Bryakhimov so quickly that he did not say goodbye to Larisa Ogudalova, who was in love with him. She was in despair over his departure. Knurov and Vozhevatov say that she is beautiful, smart and performs romances incomparably. Only her suitors avoid her because she is without a dowry.

Realizing this, her mother constantly keeps the doors of the house open, in the hope that a rich groom will woo Larisa. The girl decides to marry a minor official, Yuri Kapitonich Karandyshev. During the walk, the merchants inform them about Paratov's arrival. Karandyshev invites them to a dinner party in honor of his bride. Yuliy Kapitonich creates a scandal with his bride because of Paratov.

Meanwhile, Paratov himself, in a conversation with the merchants, says that he was going to marry the daughter of the owner of the gold mines. And Larisa is no longer interested in him, but the news about her marriage makes him think.

Larisa quarrels with her fiancé because she wants to go to the village with him as soon as possible. Karandyshev, despite the lack of funds, is going to give a dinner party. Ogudalova has an explanation with Paratov. He accuses her of cheating and asks if she loves him. The girl agrees.

Paratov decided to humiliate Larisa’s fiance in front of the guests. He gets him drunk at dinner, and then persuades the girl to go on a boat trip with him. After spending the night with her, he tells her that he has a fiancee. The girl understands that she is disgraced. She agrees to become Knurov’s kept woman, who won her in a dispute with Vozhevatov. But Yuri Karandyshev shot Larisa out of jealousy. The girl thanks him and says that she is not offended by anyone.

Image of Larisa Ogudalova

In the analysis of Ostrovsky's "Dowry", one should also consider the image of the main character. Larisa appeared before the reader as a beautiful, educated noblewoman, but without a dowry. And, finding herself in a society where the main criterion is money, she was faced with the fact that no one took her feelings seriously.

Possessing an ardent soul and a warm heart, she falls in love with the treacherous Paratov. But because of his feelings, he cannot see his real character. Larisa feels lonely - no one even tries to understand her, everyone uses her like a thing. But despite her delicate nature, the girl has a proud disposition. And just like all heroes, she is afraid of poverty. Therefore, she feels even more contempt for her fiancé.

In the analysis of Ostrovsky's "Dowry", it should be noted that Larisa does not have great fortitude. She does not decide to commit suicide or start living the way she wants. She accepts the fact that she is a thing and refuses to fight any further. Therefore, the groom’s shot brought her peace of mind; the girl was glad that all her suffering was over and she had found peace.

Image of Yuri Karandyshev

In the analysis of the play "Dowry" by Ostrovsky, one can also consider the image of the heroine's groom. Yuliy Kapitonich is shown to the reader as a small person for whom it is important to earn the recognition of others. For him, a thing has value if rich people have it.

This is a proud person who lives for show and only causes contempt from others because of his pathetic attempts to be like them. Karandyshev, most likely, did not love Larisa: he understood that all men would envy him, because she was the dream of many. And he hoped to receive the public recognition he so desired after their wedding. Therefore, Yuliy Kapitonich could not come to terms with the fact that she left him.

Comparison with Katerina

A comparative analysis of Ostrovsky's "The Thunderstorm" and "Dowry" helps to find not only similarities, but also differences between the works. Both heroines are bright personalities, and their chosen ones are weak and weak-willed people. Katerina and Larisa have warm hearts and fall madly in love with men who correspond to their imaginary ideal.

Both heroines feel lonely in society, and the internal conflict is heating up more and more. And here the differences appear. Larisa did not have the inner strength that Katerina had. Kabanova could not come to terms with life in a society where tyranny and despotism reigned. She rushed into the Volga. Larisa, realizing that she is a thing for everyone, cannot decide to take such a step. And the girl doesn’t even think about fighting - she simply decides to live now like everyone else. Perhaps this is why the viewer immediately liked the heroine Katerina Kabanova.

Stage productions

In the analysis of Ostrovsky's drama "Dowry", it can be noted that, contrary to expectations, the production failed. The viewer found the story about a provincial girl who was deceived by a fan boring. Critics also did not like the acting: for them it was too melodramatic. And only in 1896 the play was staged again. And even then the audience was able to accept and appreciate it.

An analysis of Ostrovsky's work "Dowry" allows us to show what a serious psychological subtext the play has. How detailed the characters are. And, despite the sentimental scenes, the play belongs to the genre of realism. And her characters joined the gallery of Russian characters masterfully described by A.N. Ostrovsky.