The main characters are a local self-taught mechanic, Kulygin, who converses with the young people Kudyash and Shapkin about the arrogance of the wealthy merchant Diky.

Meanwhile, a stranger named Feklusha speaks highly of Kalinov, and the wife of a local man, Varvara, discusses family relations with the beautiful and troubled Kateryna, who reveals her yearning for something beyond her constrained life.

Meanwhile, the older generation of characters, including the stern Kabaniha, persist in enforcing societal norms, creating a stark contrast to the youth's actions.

Kulygin, observing the scene, delivers a final judgment on Kateryna's fate, stating that her soul is no longer under the control of her tormentors, but in the hands of a more merciful judge.

The tragic fate of Kateryna, as well as the relationships that contributed to her demise, serve as a grim reflection of the societal pressures and moral conflicts of the time.