The drama and the libretto "The Storm" by Alexander Ostrovsky: a historical plan in the image of the patriarchal world

In: Vestnik of Kostroma State University, Heft 3, S. 79-83

Abstract

The article is devoted to the problem of studying the historiosophical views of Alexander Ostrovsky. The author examines it on the material of two works by the playwright written in different years: the drama "The Storm" and the libretto "The Storm". The article provides a comparative analysis of these works and substantiates the provision that they are in complementary relations. The author comes to the conclusion that Alexander Ostrovsky as a librettist restores the character of public and private life of the heroes of the 17th century, consistently removing the themes indicating the crisis state of the patriarchal world in the mid 19th century. The article shows that at the same time, the playwright reveals the causes of this crisis. The author points out the convergence between the libretto "The Storm" and the novel "The Idiot" by Fyodor Dostoevsky, as well as the book "The History of a Town" by Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin. The study helps clarify the historical and cultural realities of the two works of the same name by Alexander Ostrovsky and deepen their interpretations, which is topical in the context of the preparation of his Complete works and letters to publish.