Russian playwright Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky created a whole galaxy of Russian characters. They were mostly merchants: sedate, with bushy beard. And if in some plays of the playwright one can meet real "tyrants", then there are works where Ostrovsky continued the traditions of Turgenev in depicting female characters. The "Turgenev" girl is resolute, she can be the first to confess her feelings and will never give up her words.
In Ostrovsky's plays "Hot Heart", "Thunderstorm", "Snow Maiden" images of such heroines are created - resolute and courageous, but with tragic fate. Even among these bright girls with a "hot heart" one can be singled out - Larisa Ogudalova, main character plays "Dowry". Outstanding personality, she stands out from her surroundings and is strikingly different from her mother, who is trying to find a benefit in everything.
She, Kharita Ignatievna Ogudalova, can be understood: she alone raised three daughters. Yes, only the two elders, married, had an unfortunate fate: the first Caucasian husband stabbed to death out of jealousy, the second was at the mercy of a cheater. Larisa - last hope mother: she sings beautifully, performs Russian romances, plays music, dances. And the mother hopes that such a talented and beautiful daughter she will be able to marry well, so that she lives like Christ in her bosom. Therefore, she teaches: "It is better to humiliate yourself from a young age, so that later you can live like a human being."
In the mind of a woman with gypsy name Harita, humanly, is when there are many men in the house, wine flows like water, compliments sound. It is no coincidence that Larisa's current fiancé, a poor official, Julius Kapitonych Karandyshev, compares life in the Ogudalovs' house with a camp. Only all the tricks of the mother are in vain, because Larisa is a dowry. And in the society that surrounds the girl, there is only money. The new masters of life, unlike the heroes of "Thunderstorm", are no longer petty tyrants: their power is based on money. “I have nothing cherished; I’ll find a profit, so I’ll sell everything, ”says another hero of the play, Sergey Sergeich Paratov,“ brilliant gentleman", in the author's assessment.
And this is true: Paratov, whom Larisa fell in love with so much that she “almost died of grief”, easily exchanged her for the “millionth” bride - the daughter of the owner of the gold mines. Having left her without explanation a year ago, now, when Larisa decides to marry the “first comer” Karandyshev, Paratov, having appeared again, accuses Larisa of treason. At a meeting, he reproachfully says that he would like to know “whether a passionately loved person is soon forgotten: on the next day after parting with him, in a week or a month ...”
And Larisa, who has already told her fiancé that "Sergei Sergeyich is the ideal of a man," loses her head again. She forgives her beloved, who disappeared unexpectedly a year ago, and "not a single letter." Larisa is a romantic person, so she does not notice obvious things. She proudly tells Karandyshev how a year ago Paratov shot in cold blood at the watch she was holding in her hand. But this fact, rather, suggests that Larisa does not mean anything to him. In addition, Paratov is vindictive: having barely met Karandyshev, he manages to hurt the pride of a poor official, but insists that it is Julius Kapitonich who apologizes to him, the master of life. And then, at a dinner party, he gets him drunk so that Once again humiliate in front of people who measure everything with money.
It just so happened in Ostrovsky's plays: against the backdrop of resolute and courageous heroines, men turn out to be lethargic and lifeless. In the play "Thunderstorm", the husband of Katerina Kabanova depends on her mother in everything, which as a result leads to tragedy: his young wife voluntarily passes away.
In "Dowry" the situation is similar: out of desperation, agreeing to marry Karandyshev, she begs him to leave for the village to start new life, little reminiscent of the former camp. But the petty official, who endured ridicule in the hope of waiting for reciprocity from Larisa, is now "spreading his wings." He wants to wipe out the representatives of the upper class, and he gives a dinner in honor of Larisa Dmitrievna to say: she chose herself as her suitor worthy person- him, Yuli Kapitonych. This is his revenge for the envy that he had to experience every time he saw Larisa's beautiful and successful fans.
But by this act, he even more causes contempt from those who are used to drinking champagne in the morning and having lunch in a restaurant. After all, he, a poor official, has enough money only for cheap liquor, the bottles from which are carefully sealed with labels from expensive wine. And if Larisa, in response to accusations of treason by Paratov, says that her fiancé has the most important advantage - he loves her, then in the final she is disappointed in him. She speaks in disgust ex-fiance kneeling in front of her: “You are too insignificant for me,” and then bitterly admits: “I was looking for love and did not find it.”
It is difficult to find love in a society where everything is just bought and sold. Paratov is selling his favorite ship, the Lastochka, because he found a profit - a bride with a million dollar dowry. But he commits a much more vile act: having humiliated her fiancé in the eyes of Larisa, gives hope for the future and, taking advantage of the situation, seduces poor girl, and then confesses that he is engaged - he has “golden chains”. That's when the epiphany comes to the heroine. She understands that everyone around, even own mother, look at it as a thing, for fun.
She does not have the courage to commit suicide, as Katerina did in The Thunderstorm, but she finds the strength to admit that no one has ever tried to look into her soul, she has not seen sympathy from anyone, has not heard a warm word. Larisa passes a terrible sentence to herself: "I did not find love, so I will look for gold." And she is really ready to ride to an exhibition in Paris with the middle-aged merchant Knurov, who won her in the "toss" from a younger rival, she is ready to become his kept woman, that is, to sell herself at a higher price, because for her there is only one consolation: if you really want to be a thing, then very Expensive.
Final of this psychological play a foregone conclusion. Sobered up, but rejected, Karandyshev shoots at Larisa, and for her this becomes a salvation. Now she cannot be bought or sold - she remains free and truly happy. She dies with words of forgiveness on her lips. Thus, the author shows that death is a tragic way out of the insoluble moral contradictions of time, a sentence to a society that is not able to preserve the treasure of a spiritual personality, beauty and talent.
The drama of A. N. Ostrovsky "Dowry" is a wonderful play late period the creativity of the writer. It was conceived in 1874, completed in 1878 and staged in Moscow and St. Petersburg the same year. M. Ermolova, M. Savina, and later V. Komissarzhevskaya - best actors capital theaters - they took on the role of Larisa Ogudalova. What captivated them so this wonderful heroine?
Larisa Ogudalova is distinguished by her truthfulness, sincerity, directness of character, thus reminiscent of Katerina from Thunderstorm. According to Vozhevaty, there is no "cunning" in Larisa Dmitrievna. With the heroine of "Thunderstorm" brings together her high poetry. Larisa is attracted by the trans-Volga distance, the forests across the river, the beauty itself is beckoning - the Volga with its spaciousness. "Earthly, this worldly is not" - notes Knurov. And in fact: it is all as if raised above the dirt of reality, above the vulgarity and baseness of life. In the depths of her soul, like a bird, which she herself looks like, beats a dream of a beautiful and noble, honest and quiet life, Translated from Greek, Larisa means "seagull", and this is no coincidence.
Shouldn't you prefer your mother's lifestyle? Harita Ignatievna, left a widow with three daughters, is constantly cunning and cunning, flattering and fawning, begging from the rich and accepting their handouts. She set up a real noisy "gypsy camp" in her house to create the appearance of beauty and brilliance of life. And all this in order to trade as living goods under the cover of this tinsel. She had already ruined two daughters, now it was the turn of the third to trade. But Larisa cannot accept this way of life of her mother, it is alien to her. The mother tells her daughter to smile, but she wants to cry. And she asks her fiancé to tear her out of this "bazaar" surrounding her, where there are a lot of "all sorts of rabble", to take her away, beyond the Volga.
However, Larisa is a dowry, a poor, penniless bride. She has to put up with it. In addition, she herself managed to catch a craving for external brilliance. Larisa is devoid of integrity of character, her mental life pretty controversial. She not only does not want to see the vulgarity and cynicism of the people around her, but - for quite a long time - she cannot see. All this distinguishes her from Katerina. Abandoning her mother's lifestyle, she exists among vulgar admirers.
Larisa Ogudalova had to experience the indifference and cruelty of those around her, to endure love drama, and as a result, she dies, just like the heroine of "Thunderstorm". But with a seeming similarity, Larisa Ogudalova is the owner of a completely different character than Katerina Kabanova. The girl received an excellent education, she is smart, sophisticated, educated, dreams of beautiful love, but initially her life is very different. She is a dowry. Larisa's mother is very mercenary. She trades in the beauty and youth of her daughters.
First, an old man with gout appeared in the house. Larisa clearly does not want this unequal marriage, but "it was necessary to be amiable: mother orders." Then the wealthy manager of some prince, always drunk, would "run in". Larisa is not up to him, but in the house they accept him: "her position is unenviable." Then a certain cashier "appeared" who bombarded Kharita Ignatievna with money. This one repulsed everyone, but did not show off for long. Circumstances helped the bride here: in their house he was arrested with a scandal.
Larisa Ogudalova falls in love with the "brilliant gentleman" Sergei Sergeevich Paratov. She sincerely considers him the ideal of a man. The master has a fortune, he fully corresponds to the idea of a noble and an educated person. Its inner essence is revealed later. Larisa is young and inexperienced, so she falls into Paratov's trap and destroys herself. She does not possess strong character and becomes a toy in the hands of others. It comes to the fact that the girl is played in a toss. People around her consider her a thing, expensive and beautiful fun, and her sublime soul, beauty and talent are not important. Karandyshev says to Larisa: "They do not look at you as a woman, as a person ... they look at you as a thing."
She herself agrees with this: "Thing ... yes, a thing! They are right, I am a thing, I am not a person ...".
Larisa has an ardent heart, she is sincere and emotional. She generously gives her love, but what does she get in return? For her loved one, Larisa is another entertainment, fun. Out of desperation, she even agrees to accept Knurov's conditions.
Death is a kind of salvation for Larisa, spiritual salvation, of course. Such a tragic ending saves her from the difficult choice that she is trying to make, saves her from moral death and falling into the abyss called depravity.
The only way out that Larisa finds is to leave this world. Larisa at first wanted to commit suicide herself. She went to the cliff and looked down, but unlike Katerina, she did not have the determination and strength to accomplish her plan. Nevertheless, the death of Larisa is a foregone conclusion and prepared by the whole play. Suddenly a shot is heard from the pier (this is what Larisa is frightened of). Then the ax in the hands of Karandyshev is mentioned. He calls certain death falling off a cliff. Larisa talks about Paratov's "indifferent shot" at the coin she was holding. She herself thinks that here on any knot "you can hang yourself", but on the Volga "it's easy to drown yourself everywhere." Robinson anticipates a possible murder. Finally, Larisa dreams: "What if someone killed me now?"
The death of the heroine becomes inevitable, and it comes. In an insane fit of the owner, doing a great good deed for her, Karandyshev kills her. This is the last and involuntary choice of the dowry. Thus ends the tragedy of the main character of Ostrovsky's play.
"Dowry" is a drama about the catastrophe of the individual in an inhuman world. This is a work about the tragedy of an ordinary Russian woman, a dowry with a warm loving heart.
The drama of A. N. Ostrovsky "Dowry" is a remarkable play of the late period of the writer's work. It was conceived in 1874, completed in 1878 and staged in Moscow and St. Petersburg the same year. M. Ermolova, M. Savina, and later V. Komissarzhevskaya - the best actors of the capital's theaters - took on the role of Larisa Ogudalova. What captivated them so this wonderful heroine?
Larisa Ogudalova is distinguished by her truthfulness, sincerity, directness of character, thus reminiscent of Katerina from Thunderstorm. According to Vozhevaty, there is no "cunning" in Larisa Dmitrievna. With the heroine of "Thunderstorm" brings together her high poetry. Larisa is attracted by the trans-Volga distance, the forests across the river, the beauty itself is beckoning - the Volga with its spaciousness. "Earthly, this worldly is not" - notes Knurov. And in fact: it is all as if raised above the dirt of reality, above the vulgarity and baseness of life. In the depths of her soul, like a bird, which she herself looks like, the dream of a beautiful and noble, honest and quiet life is beating. Translated from Greek, Larisa means "seagull", and this is not accidental.
Shouldn't you prefer your mother's lifestyle? Harita Ignatievna, left a widow with three daughters, is constantly cunning and cunning, flattering and fawning, begging from the rich and accepting their handouts. She set up a real noisy "gypsy camp" in her house to create the appearance of beauty and brilliance of life. And all this in order to trade as living goods under the cover of this tinsel. She had already ruined two daughters, now it was the turn of the third to trade. But Larisa cannot accept this way of life of her mother, it is alien to her. The mother tells her daughter to smile, but she wants to cry. And she asks her fiancé to tear her out of this "bazaar" surrounding her, where there are a lot of "all sorts of rabble", to take her away, beyond the Volga.
However, Larisa is a dowry, a poor, penniless bride. She has to put up with it. In addition, she herself managed to catch a craving for external brilliance. Larisa is devoid of integrity of character, her spiritual life is rather contradictory. She not only does not want to see the vulgarity and cynicism of the people around her, but - for quite a long time - she cannot see. All this distinguishes her from Katerina. Abandoning her mother's lifestyle, she exists among vulgar admirers.
Larisa Ogudalova had to experience the indifference and cruelty of those around her, endure a love drama, and as a result she dies, just like the heroine of Thunderstorm. But with a seeming similarity, Larisa Ogudalova is the owner of a completely different character than Katerina Kabanova. The girl received an excellent education, she is smart, sophisticated, educated, dreams of beautiful love, but initially her life is completely different. She is a dowry. Larisa's mother is very mercenary. She trades in the beauty and youth of her daughters.
First, an old man with gout appeared in the house. Larisa clearly does not want this unequal marriage, but "it was necessary to be amiable: mother orders." Then the wealthy manager of some prince, always drunk, would "run in". Larisa is not up to him, but in the house they accept him: "her position is unenviable." Then a certain cashier "appeared" who bombarded Kharita Ignatievna with money. This one repulsed everyone, but did not show off for long. Circumstances helped the bride here: in their house he was arrested with a scandal.
Larisa Ogudalova falls in love with the "brilliant gentleman" Sergei Sergeevich Paratov. She sincerely considers him the ideal of a man. The master has a fortune, he fully corresponds to the idea of a noble and educated person. Its inner essence is revealed later. Larisa is young and inexperienced, so she falls into Paratov's trap and destroys herself. She does not have a strong character and becomes a toy in the hands of others. It comes to the fact that the girl is played in a toss. People around her consider her a thing, expensive and beautiful fun, and her sublime soul, beauty and talent are not important. Karandyshev tells Larisa: "They do not look at you as a woman, as a person ... they look at you as a thing."
She herself agrees with this: "Thing ... yes, thing! They are right, I am a thing, I am not a person ...".
Larisa has an ardent heart, she is sincere and emotional. She generously gives her love, but what does she get in return? For her loved one, Larisa is another entertainment, fun. Out of desperation, she even agrees to accept Knurov's conditions.
Death is a kind of salvation for Larisa, spiritual salvation, of course. Such a tragic ending saves her from the difficult choice that she is trying to make, saves her from moral death and falling into the abyss called depravity.
The only way out that Larisa finds is to leave this world. Larisa at first wanted to commit suicide herself. She went to the cliff and looked down, but unlike Katerina, she did not have the determination and strength to accomplish her plan. Nevertheless, the death of Larisa is a foregone conclusion and prepared by the whole play. Suddenly a shot is heard from the pier (this is what Larisa is frightened of). Then the ax in the hands of Karandyshev is mentioned. He calls certain death falling off a cliff. Larisa talks about Paratov's "indifferent shot" at the coin she was holding. She herself thinks that here on any knot "you can hang yourself", but on the Volga "it's easy to drown yourself everywhere." Robinson anticipates a possible murder. Finally, Larisa dreams: "What if someone killed me now?"
The death of the heroine becomes inevitable, and it comes. In an insane fit of the owner, doing a great good deed for her, Karandyshev kills her. This is the last and involuntary choice of the dowry. Thus ends the tragedy of the main character of Ostrovsky's play.
"Dowry" is a drama about the catastrophe of the individual in an inhuman world. This is a work about the tragedy of an ordinary Russian woman, a dowry with a warm loving heart.
I am a thing, not a person!
A. N. Ostrovsky
The main conflict of the play "Dowry" is determined by its very title. The tragedy of Larisa Dmitrievna Ogudalova lies precisely in the fact that she is a dowry. Beauty, mind, charm, human dignity mean nothing in this world if you don't have money.
Reading the list actors, we draw attention to the exceptional importance Ostrovsky attaches to the property and social status of the heroes. The playwright points out that Knurov is “one of the big businessmen of the last time ... with a huge fortune”, Vozhevatov is “one of the representatives of a rich trading company”, Karandyshev is a “poor official”, Paratov is “a brilliant gentleman, from the shipowners”. The title of the play speaks of Larisa's property status. All these indications are not accidental. Social status Ostrovsky's heroes predetermine both the peculiarities of their psychology and their fate. But to explain the drama of the play only by social evil is to belittle its significance. "Dowry" has become one of the masterpieces of world drama due to the deep psychologism of the characters. Turgenev rightly remarked: "Truly dramatic situations ... arise when suffering inevitably follows from the characters of people and their passions."
Neither Katerina in The Thunderstorm, nor Larisa in The Dowry are not just victims of circumstances. Much in life depends on the people themselves, on the warehouse of their character. The heroes of "Dowry" have complex and sometimes contradictory characters. Each of them, with the possible exception of only Knurov, Vozhevatov and Ogudalova, finds it difficult to get along not only with others, but also with himself. Paratov, Larisa, Karandyshev, although they depend on the circumstances, they do things of their own free will. dramatic hero, like a knight from a fairy tale, often finds himself at a crossroads. Which way to choose? Larisa decided to take risks, because she did not want to give up the dawning hopes in which she so wanted to believe. Is she doing the right thing? After all, she is not at all sure of Paratov, for she remembers his words: "I'm leaving tomorrow." Leaving Karandyshev's house and saying goodbye to her mother, Larisa utters a meaningful phrase: "Either you rejoice, mother, or look for me in the Volga." There is no right or wrong choice here. This choice is dramatic, it is the result of complex motives and leads to dramatic consequences.
The play reveals the contradictions of time and human characters. The image of Robinson is interesting in this respect. This man is clown all the time, he drank himself and stooped to the role of a jester. But there is a seriousness in this comic character. Robinson is needed in the play not only as a comic character. In his image main topic acquires an important and artistically necessary meaning: what they want to do with Larisa has already happened to Robinson. It has already turned into a thing that passes from hand to hand: the young merchant handed it over to Paratov, who handed it over to Vozhevatov. Not only for fun, but also for self-affirmation, they need Robinson. Infinitely humiliated, he, too, sometimes tries, like Karandyshev, to "cock" and even "bump," he tries to be insolent. strong of the world this. Robinson's miserable attempts to defend his dignity at least in some way will only make Paratov and Vozhevatov laugh. Robinson does not need to be "curbed", or "tamed", or pissed off, like Karandyshev. He is already tamed by life. And yet not to the end. Let us recall one of the most cynical scenes in the play. Knurov and Vozhevatov discuss the current situation: Sergei Sergeich Paratov, although a brave man, “will not exchange a millionth bride for Larisa Dmitrievna.” Now it is their turn, and they cast lots, who will get Larisa left by Paratov. None of them are interested in the opinion of Larisa herself. “Oh, barbarians, oh, robbers! Well, I got into the company!” exclaims Robinson. As is often the case in dramatic work, the mouth of the jester here speaks the truth.
After Paratov's words: "She will go" - we do not expect anything good from Sergei Sergeyich. And Larisa is still waiting and hoping. Although the words: "Or look for me in the Volga" - were spoken by her.
All hopes of Larisa collapsed. And the point is not that Paratov, as it turned out, is engaged, that, having beckoned Larisa for the Volga, he deceived her. The fact is that Larisa deceived herself, vainly hoping to find and acquire that “ideal man”, which in life, probably, cannot be found at all. Larisa has to face the truth: in her chosen one there is neither nobility, nor courage, nor breadth of soul, she invented all this in him.
Larisa is a victim not only of the cynical plans of Knurov and Vozhevatov or the selfish claims of Paratov and Karandyshev, but also of her own delusions, illusions, and mistakes, for which one must pay. Larisa began with the fact that, while performing internally contradictory actions, she was not yet aware of this. Then she began to realize the inconsistency of her actions, as evidenced by her farewell speech addressed to her mother. Now, by doing even more contradictory actions, she acquires the ability to analyze them with growing demands on herself. material from the site
The ancient Greek scientist and philosopher Aristotle believed that the goal of tragedy is the purification of the soul (“catharsis”). Shocked by the unexpected course of events, the hero comprehended their true meaning, something essential was revealed to him in himself. This is what Larisa also experiences and comes to ruthlessness towards herself. She has a choice: either be tempted by Knurov's luxury, or at least somehow exist. There is a third, most desirable way out: “If someone killed me now ...” In this state, Karandyshev finds her. He continues to insist on his rights. But his “should” is followed by her “never.” And then Karandyshev shoots. “My dear, what a blessing you have done for me!” Larisa tells him.
Ostrovsky's "Dowry" is a play with catharsis. Purification here is experienced by the noblest, most beautiful, most deep man— Larisa. “No one is to blame ... Live, live everyone! .. I don’t complain about anyone, I’m not offended by anyone ... you all good people... I love you all ... I love you all, ”the dying Larisa repeats, and these words purify not only her soul, but also ours.
Didn't find what you were looking for? Use the search
On this page, material on the topics:
- why is the play called dowry
- Ostrovsky dowry heroes of the play
- what is the essence of the problem of the play without a dowry
- who are the main characters in the dowry Ostrovsky
- summary of the play
"Dowry" analysis of the work - the theme, idea, genre, plot, composition, heroes, problems and other issues are disclosed in this article.
Russian playwright Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky created a whole galaxy of Russian characters. Mostly they were merchants: sedate, with a bushy beard. And if in some plays of the playwright one can meet real "tyrants", then there are works where Ostrovsky continued the traditions of Turgenev in depicting female characters. The "Turgenev" girl is resolute, she can be the first to confess her feelings and will never give up her words.
In Ostrovsky's plays "Hot Heart", "Thunderstorm", "Snow Maiden" images of such heroines are created - resolute and courageous, but with a tragic fate. Even among such bright girls with a "hot heart", one can be singled out - Larisa Ogudalova, the main character of the play "Dowry". An outstanding personality, she stands out from her surroundings and is strikingly different from her mother, who is trying to find benefits in everything.
She, Kharita Ignatievna Ogudalova, can be understood: she alone raised three daughters. Yes, only the two elders, married, had an unfortunate fate: the first Caucasian husband stabbed to death out of jealousy, the second was at the mercy of a cheater. Larisa is her mother's last hope: she sings beautifully, performs Russian romances, plays music, and dances. And the mother hopes that she will be able to marry such a talented and beautiful daughter well, so that she lives like Christ in her bosom. Therefore, she teaches: "It is better to humiliate yourself from a young age, so that later you can live like a human being."
In the view of a woman with a gypsy name Harita, humanly, this is when there are many men in the house, wine flows like water, compliments sound. It is no coincidence that Larisa's current fiancé, a poor official, Julius Kapitonych Karandyshev, compares life in the Ogudalovs' house with a camp. Only all the tricks of the mother are in vain, because Larisa is a dowry. And in the society that surrounds the girl, there is only money. The new masters of life, unlike the heroes of "Thunderstorm", are no longer petty tyrants: their power is based on money. “I have nothing cherished; I will find a profit, so I will sell everything, ”says another hero of the play, Sergei Sergeyich Paratov,“ a brilliant gentleman, ”in the author’s assessment.
And this is true: Paratov, whom Larisa fell in love with so much that she “almost died of grief”, easily exchanged her for a “millionth” bride - the daughter of the owner of gold mines. Having left her without explanation a year ago, now, when Larisa decides to marry the “first comer” Karandyshev, Paratov, having appeared again, accuses Larisa of treason. At a meeting, he reproachfully says that he would like to know “whether a passionately loved person is soon forgotten: on the next day after parting with him, in a week or a month ...”
And Larisa, who had already told her fiancé that "Sergei Sergeyich is the ideal of a man," loses her head again. She forgives her beloved, who disappeared unexpectedly a year ago, and "not a single letter." Larisa is a romantic person, therefore she does not notice the obvious things. She proudly tells Karandyshev how a year ago Paratov shot in cold blood at the watch she was holding in her hand. But this fact, rather, suggests that Larisa does not mean anything to him. In addition, Paratov is vindictive: having barely met Karandyshev, he manages to hurt the pride of a poor official, but insists that it is Julius Kapitonich who apologizes to him, the master of life. And then, at a dinner party, he gets drunk on him in order to once again humiliate him in front of people who measure everything with money.
It just so happened in Ostrovsky's plays: against the backdrop of resolute and courageous heroines, men turn out to be lethargic and lifeless. In the play "Thunderstorm", the husband of Katerina Kabanova depends on her mother in everything, which as a result leads to tragedy: his young wife voluntarily passes away.
In "Dowry" the situation is similar: out of desperation, agreeing to marry Karandyshev, she begs him to leave for the village to start a new life, little reminiscent of the former camp. But the petty official, who endured ridicule in the hope of waiting for reciprocity from Larisa, is now "spreading his wings." He wants to rub off the representatives of the upper class, and he gives a dinner in honor of Larisa Dmitrievna to say: she chose the most worthy man for her suitors - him, Yuli Kapitonych. This is his revenge for the envy that he had to experience every time he saw Larisa's beautiful and successful fans.
But by this act, he even more causes contempt from those who are used to drinking champagne in the morning and having lunch in a restaurant. After all, he, a poor official, has enough money only for cheap liquor, the bottles from which are carefully sealed with labels from expensive wine. And if Larisa, in response to reproaches of treason by Paratov, says that her fiancé has the most important advantage - he loves her, then in the final she is disappointed in him. She disgustedly tells her ex-fiance, who is kneeling before her: “You are too insignificant for me,” and then bitterly admits: “I was looking for love and did not find it.”
It is difficult to find love in a society where everything is just bought and sold. Paratov is selling his favorite ship, the Lastochka, because he has found a profit - a bride with a million dollar dowry. But he commits a much more vile act: having humiliated her fiancé in the eyes of Larisa, he gives hope for the future and, taking advantage of the situation, seduces the poor girl, and then confesses that he is engaged - he has “golden chains”. That's when the epiphany comes to the heroine. She understands that everyone around her, even her own mother, looks at her as a thing, for fun.
She does not have the courage to commit suicide, as Katerina did in The Thunderstorm, but she finds the strength to admit that no one has ever tried to look into her soul, she has not seen sympathy from anyone, has not heard a warm word. Larisa passes a terrible sentence to herself: "I did not find love, so I will look for gold." And she is really ready to ride to an exhibition in Paris with the middle-aged merchant Knurov, who won her in the "toss" from a younger rival, she is ready to become his kept woman, that is, to sell herself at a higher price, because for her there is only one consolation: if you really want to be a thing, then very Expensive.
The finale of this psychological play is a foregone conclusion. Sobered up, but rejected, Karandyshev shoots at Larisa, and for her this becomes a salvation. Now she cannot be bought or sold - she remains free and truly happy. She dies with words of forgiveness on her lips. Thus, the author shows that death is a tragic way out of the insoluble moral contradictions of the time, a sentence to a society that is not able to preserve the treasure of a spiritual personality, beauty and talent.
