Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Cogito, cilt.8, sa.1, ss.165-179, 2026 (Scopus)
Aleksandr Nikolayevich Ostrovsky's drama The Storm (Гроза), also known in literature as Twilight or The Tempest, is an important example in literary studies in terms of how the setting is treated not merely as a physical backdrop but as a dynamic narrative element conveying social conflicts, the psychological depth of the characters, and thematic messages. The author positions his fictional city of Kalinov as symbol of the collapse of the feudal-peasant system in 19th-century Russia and the closed society dominated by narrow-minded, rigid ideas, referred to as the ‘Dark Kingdom’. The restrictive nature of the setting deepens the tragic conflict between the protagonist Katerina's quest for freedom and the oppressive moral structure intertwined with religion. The image of the storm functions as a multilayered metaphor encompassing both a natural disaster and the inevitability of social change and individual rebellion. The author constructs Katerina's psychological breakdown by creating a contrast between the liberating tranquillity of the Volga River and the chaotic atmosphere of the storm. This contrast points to the character’s inner tensions as well as the social decay caused by societal hypocrisy. Furthermore, while enclosed spaces such as churches and homes embody traditional authority, the city's static structure also reflects Russia’s economic and cultural backwardness. In this qualitative study, dialogues, scene descriptions, and archetypal figures such as the semi-mad noblewoman are examined to reveal the tension between the characters’ actions and social reality. This analysis demonstrates Ostrovsky's masterful use of space as both a realistic stage element and an ideological tool. Consequently, this study emphasises that space in literature should not be regarded merely as a decorative element but a fundamental component that deepens the layers of meaning in the text, thereby facilitating the analysis of similar texts.