Plot

The small town of Kalinove on the banks of the Volga.

Act 1

   On the Volga bank, the young teacher Ványa Kudrjash, an intellectual with revolutionary views, is talking to Glasha, housekeeper of the adjoining Kabanov home, and rhapsodizes over the view of the Volga. They see two men approaching - the merchant Savël Prokofjevic Dikoy and his nephew, Boris. Kudriash hides quickly as Dikoy continues his castigation of the young man. Dikoy sends his nephew away and asks Glasha if Marfa Ignatevna Kabanová - Kabanicha is at home.

   Kudriash approaches Boris who tells his friend about his difficult position: his parents and grandmother are dead; he and his sister are dependent on uncle Dikoy until their coming of age, and in order to collect their inheritance, they must treat their uncle with due respect. Then Boris confesses to his friend that he is in love with Katya, Kabanicha’s son Tichon Kabanov’s young wife. The two men hide around the corner of the house and watch the scene in front of the Kabanovs’ house.

   Kabanicha sends her son, Tichon, to the fair in Kazan and berates him for his lack of attentiveness and love for her since he got married. Katya comes to her husband’s defence and is castigated for doing so by her mother-in-law. When alone with Varvara, Tichon complains to her about his wife. Varvara comes to Katya’s defence and retorts he would rather drink and forget his troubles than stand up for his wife’s rights.

   The scene at the Kabanovs’ house. Katya tells Varvara how free and happy she felt as a child. She confesses she has dreamt of a mysterious lover. Her confession is interrupted by Tichon who comes to say good-bye: he is leaving on a trip to Kazan. Katya begs him not to go or else to take her along. She accuses him of not loving her any more and asks him to make her swear to be faithful. Kabanicha enters and rushes her son to leave. Before that she makes him tell his wife how to behave while he is gone, that is to treat her mother-in-law with respect, be obedient and always act with propriety. Then he bids his mother and his wife a farewell and leaves.

Act 2

   Later that day. Kabanicha criticizes Katya for not making an appropriate display of grief over her husband’s absence, and leaves the room. Varvara gives Katya the key to the far part of the garden: she plans to meet her lover there and hints that Katya might want to do the same. Katya hesitates but decides that fate has willed it: she is going to meet Boris.

   Meanwhile, Kabanicha is visited by the drunken Dikoy, who says she is the only person he wants to see and the only one he can talk to because she understands him. He complains about people who demand money from him, which makes him furious. Falling at her feet, he tells her a story of a peasant who recently angered him with a request for wages, but he ended up on his knees to ask the man’s forgiveness. Kabanicha rejects and admonishes him, but the finale of the scene reveals a special kind of sexual tension between them.

   Late at night, Kudriash waits outside the Kabanovs’ garden for a tryst with Varvara. He sings a folk song. To his surprise, Boris appears, having received a message from Varvara to come there. Varvara arrives. She and Kudriash head for a walk by the Volga.

   When Katya appears, Boris proclaims his love. She is hesitant at first, seeing only sin and ruin, but finally her pent-up feelings pour out, and she embraces him.

   Varvara and Kudriash return from their walk and encourage the other couple to have a walk by the river. Varvara explains to Kudriash why they shouldn’t be bothered with Kabanicha as she cannot uncover their plot. Both couples end their tryst and the women come back home.

Act 3

   Two weeks later. Despite the rain, Kudriash and Kuligin meet for a game of chess. Suddenly, they are joined by soaking wet Dikoy, and Kudriash starts talking to him, but this only angers Dikoy who unwillingly and rudely discusses the nature of storm. Kudriash presents modern scientific views while Dikoy, who is full of superstitious fear, insists storms are God’s punishment for sins. Their dispute is stopped by the end of downpour. Everybody leaves the shelter but Kudriash. Boris and Varvara appear. The girl reports on the events at the Kabanovs’ house. She says that Katya’s husband, Tichon is back, and that Katya is on the verge of confessing her guilt to her husband while her mother-in-law, Kabanicha is suspicious of something.

   Kabanicha approaches with Katya. The noise of the returning storm makes tormented Katya lose control. She falls to her knees and confesses infidelity to her husband, then runs out into the tempest.

   Evening approaches on the Volga bank. Tichon and Glasha look for Katya. Varvara and Kudriash decide to escape to Moscow. Katya wanders along the river bank in despair at what she has done, at her guilt and dishonour. She longs to see her lover one last time and die. Boris wanders in and they embrace. He says his uncle is sending him away to Siberia. He rejects Katya’s request to take her with him and leaves.

   Katya is left alone. In despair, she throws herself into the river. On the far bank, Kuligin sees her jump and calls for help. Tichon rushes back with Kabanicha trying to stop him.

   When one of the bystanders brings Katya’s body and lays it before Kabanov, the man flings himself down on it, sobbing. Coldly and for the sake of appearances, Kabanicha thanks the bystanders for their assistance.