The Storm

Main Ideas

• Conflict between personal freedom and societal norms: The play depicts the struggle between the desire for personal freedom and the pressure of patriarchal norms and traditions.
• Tragedy of a woman's fate: The main character, Katerina, faces harsh restrictions and moral demands imposed by society on women.
• Critique of patriarchal society: Ostrovsky criticizes the patriarchal norms and the cruelty with which society treats individual feelings and desires.
• Moral decay and hypocrisy: The play reveals themes of hypocrisy and moral decay, especially among the upper classes.
• Nature as a symbol of freedom: Images of nature in the play are often used as symbols of freedom and purity, contrasted with the oppressive atmosphere of the town.