(329 words) The environment greatly affects how a person behaves, what he says, what he thinks and dreams about. The environment becomes that authoritative source of information from which the personality, as it seems to her, draws reality. However, this is not quite true. Often, society crushes individuality under itself, distorting its ideas about reality. If so, then how to break out of this Procrustean bed? Can this be done?
Let’s try to find the answers in A. Ostrovsky’s play “The Storm”. Katerina does not give in to the influence of her environment, does not recognize the life and customs of Kalinov. Cruel orders arouse in her only bewilderment. She is weighed by the tyranny of her mother-in-law and dreams of freedom, as at the time of girlhood. But, unfortunately, her status obliges her to maintain at least the appearance of submission to conventions. And, nevertheless, the heroine still finds a way out. She falls in love with Boris and learns real feelings, secretly running out on dates. However, soon the realization of sin begins to torment the young woman, and she confesses to her husband a betrayal. She wanted to live honestly with the one she really loved. Realizing that Boris is not going to take her with her, Katerina rushes to the Volga, getting rid of the oppression of Kabanikh forever. Thus, the heroine managed to gain freedom from an alien environment.
Another example was described by F. Dostoevsky in the novel Crime and Punishment. Sonya Marmeladova earned money as a prostitute. Only in those days could she earn enough to provide for her family. The environment where she found herself was very aggressive: a vicious lifestyle changed people beyond recognition. However, the author noted that his heroine managed, despite everything, to maintain purity in her heart. She still remained a kind, responsive and bashful girl who spent all the pennies she earned for good purposes. In the finale, Sonia completely leaves the slums of St. Petersburg, going to exile with Rodion Raskolnikov to support him. So she forever severed ties with the environment that tyrannized all the girls of her occupation.
So, we examined examples that confirm a person’s ability to get rid of the environment that dominates him. To do this, it’s not necessary to take extreme measures and take your own life, just gather your strength and take a step towards another future.
