After reading the essay “Lady Magbeth of Mtsensk Uyezd” by Leskov, the main topic for reflection for me was the mystery of the female soul. The heroine of the work - Katerina Lvovna - has a calm, carefree life. What is the true reason for her behavior? Why does her own husband seem boring and predictable to her, and for the sake of another does she defame her own reputation and give up freedom? Why is even morality and public censure not an obstacle for Katerina? And why does not even a dear child born of a beloved soften her soul? These puzzles are still the cause of controversy and reflection of many readers.
On the one hand, of course, Katerina Lvovna can be understood. From the very beginning of the essay, she appears before us as an unhappy woman. He is humble and does not contradict her husband, respects his father. But once the spouse leaves, Katerina is as if reborn. She removes lawlessness and wordlessness from herself, like an old dress. She joyfully accepts the courtship of the young handsome clerk and, at the expense of him, raises her self-esteem, rethinks many of her values. The life of the heroine is again replete with bright colors and makes sense. She feels herself a woman - coveted, beloved and beautiful. The feelings she had for the clerk seemed real, real, but her whole past life did not. She is flattered by his reciprocal feelings, in which he confesses to her. But unfortunately, in the time of Leskov, it was impossible to get a divorce. Treason to her husband was like death for a woman and deprived her of just everything, all the meager rights that she had at that time. About her betrayal Katerina learns her father-in-law Boris Timofeevich and tells her how to solve this situation. He severely punishes the clerk Sergey and expects from Katerina a humble return to the bosom of the family.
But Katerina refuses to give up and give up her happiness. In her new lover, she sees support and her real meaning of life. Blindly surrendering to her feelings, she goes on several crimes without a shadow of regrets and doubts. She does not feel any pity for the victims of her illegal actions. All this for the sake of love, Katerina thinks so.
Having destroyed its reputation, it becomes a different person. The opinion of society becomes for her something unimportant, meaningless. From a quiet, tortured simpleton, she turns into an interesting, passionate, desired woman. The measure of her censure and punishment for herself is chosen only by herself and she madly likes it. Sergei cherishes his new lady, he is also in love with the new Katerina.
Interestingly, the main character at the time of the story is only 24 years old. She is in the prime of her life and at the peak of femininity and beauty. However, for her husband, she is still not interested, it causes only censure and reproaches. Her husband, Zinovy Borisovich, has only one goal in life - making a profit. Spending time with his wife is a great luxury for him. In many ways, it is her husband’s behavior that pushes Katerina Lvovna into the abyss of betrayal and passion. And after the loss of her reputation, she believes that she is no longer bound by moral standards and commits other misconduct and crimes in order to preserve her immoral connection.
Of course, Leskov could not allow such a blatant series of crimes to not be punished. The end of the story for Katerina is fatal. She receives betrayal from her beloved and loses all meaning of life. Such a fierce blow pushes her suicide. In addition, she manages to take revenge on the homeowner. Of course, the completion of the essay is very sad and this is perhaps the logical end that should happen in such stories. Only one thing remains interesting: does the windy Sergey realize all responsibility for his behavior? And who will he mourn? Katerina or a new mistress? But this, of course, has nothing to do with the mysterious soul of the Russian woman Katerina.
