The main idea of the play
“At the Lower Depths” is a drama written by Gorky in 1902. The main issues that concern the writer are human freedom and the meaning of his life . The author tries to find answers through the images of his heroes. That is why the characters in the play are representatives of the lower strata, poor people. The reader is presented with images of the inhabitants of the shelter, declassed elements despised by “decent society.” Gorky is full of sympathy for these people, but depicts them with unsightly realism. This is precisely the social subtext.
The writer spent a long time studying the life of the “bottom,” the poor and degenerate people.
He tried to do the lowest paid hard work in order to experience life and describe it in his works. That is why the characters he drew are not fiction, but rather types, real representatives of the lower classes.
Fate itself, it seems, was unfair to them, forcing them to fall so low that it is almost impossible to rise. And the philosophical shade of the plot outline is associated, first of all, with the image of Luke, who is trying to help each of the inhabitants of the shelter, but in fact only increases their suffering.
Genre specifics
Considering whether “At the Bottom” is a play or a drama, it should be noted that the work is both. In terms of its type, the text is a dramatic play. Genre: drama. And if we look at it in more detail, we can distinguish a subgenre - socio-philosophical drama.
Features of the social aspect:
- The place of action is a rooming house, the embodiment of trouble, the collapse of life's hopes.
- The heroes are destitute and degenerate: the drunken Actor, the former convict Satin, the prostitute Nastya, the thief Vaska and others. These are not individual characters, but symbols, collective images. Together they embody the bottom of life. But the fate of each of them is tragic.
- The writer describes with genuine realism the authentic features of life in those times; Gorky does not use elements of fantasy.
- Social conflict is the opposition of the “masters of life” - the owners of the shelter, the Kostylevs, and all the other inhabitants of the dysfunctional institution.
And the characters’ reflections on the meaning of life add a philosophical element to the text. The author does not just describe the difficult life of disadvantaged people, but tries to find answers to questions that interest him, to understand what is better - the harsh truth or a saving lie.
Hero selection
The social and philosophical drama “At the Lower Depths” paints before the reader images of people whom even the Russian literary tradition rarely made protagonists. It seems that their life is over, they have sunk to the very bottom, where they drag out their miserable existence, with no hope of rising. It was precisely these people that Gorky risked bringing to the stage, showing their inner world. Even the fact that the title of the work changed several times suggests that the author tried to find the most accurate words to express his bleak thoughts. Here are the options he considered:
- "Nochlezhka";
- "Bottom";
- "No sun."
All these options are filled with pessimism, which is quite consistent with the text of the work. Nothing joyful and bright can happen in a room that is more reminiscent of a cave than human life. Gorky uses gloomy, gray colors to depict the scene of action. And he chooses the characters accordingly. It seems that there is nothing positive among the heroes, but the writer is confident that life itself made them so.
Example 1
The play by Maxim Gorky was written in 1902. At that time there was a terrible economic crisis in Russia. Impoverished peasants wandered around the country. They tried to find ways to make money. Many people found themselves without a roof over their heads, they sank to the very “bottom” of life. Clever slum owners turned their basements into flophouses, taking advantage of people's desperate situation and trying to profit from it. The unemployed and beggars, thieves and tramps, as well as other “former” people found shelter here. Gorky’s work tells us about one such shelter; we see how the destinies of different people touch each other there.
The action takes place in a dark basement with a low ceiling, there is no space. The situation is also depressing: there are no chairs, but instead there are stumps of wood, a roughly knocked together dilapidated table in the middle and bunks along all the walls. All those who have been battered by life live here. Nobody needs them: the drunken Actor, the mechanic Kleshch, the fallen woman Nastya, the thief Vasily. These people are deprived of everything, but they still have a sense of self-worth. They dream of getting to the top, but realize that this is hardly possible. Throughout the entire work, the characters, through the mouth of Elder Luke, try to find out what is better: “bitter truth” or “sweet lie”. Luke himself argued that a person needs to believe in something, this can help him take his mind off painful thoughts and everything aggressive. He promised peace to the dying Anna, told Ash about the wonderful landscapes of Siberia, and told the Actor that there was a hospital that helped get rid of alcohol addiction. And each of the heroes, listening to him, perked up. This means the old man was right, hope can support a person. And as soon as Luka disappears, everything collapses; the heroes no longer believe in anything. The author thereby shows that you need to try to look at the world realistically, and not through rose-colored glasses. And the opponent of the old man’s theory is Satin; he rejects pity, which makes a person weaker. He says that everyone can create their own destiny. But his theory is doubtful: after all, he himself is at the “bottom”, which means he also does not know how to act. As a result, Gorky never gives a definite answer as to what is the best way to live. Everyone must decide for themselves.
Gorky himself once said about the play: “The main question that I wanted to pose is: what is better, truth or compassion? What is more needed? Is it necessary to take compassion to the point of using lies, like Luke?”
Social implications
There are two distinctive features of drama identified in literary criticism: the presence of plot and conflict . Both of them are present in the text of the play. The first contrast that is on the surface is the conflict between Kostylev and his wife Vasilisa with the other inhabitants of “The Bottom”. The owners of the shelter are shown as people who are not ready to show sympathy for the destitute and deprived residents. They demand payment and are completely insensitive to the problems of others.
The second conflict, which has a philosophical connotation, is the opposition between truth and saving lies, the embodiment of which is Luke. This man is an elderly wanderer who considers it his goal to “comfort” the unfortunate residents. But in reality, he only makes it worse for them. By saying what they want to hear, out of good intentions, he instills hope in the hearts of people for something that is not destined to come true.
Any of the characters in the play has a dream, but none of them will be able to make it come true - this is the main motive that forms the plot fabric of the work. Placed in unbearable conditions of existence, they evoke only sympathy from the reader and the author himself. You can’t call the heroes “former” people. After all, many of them retain moral values and moral qualities.
Every day of the heroes’ lives resembles the previous one; it seems that the series of repeated actions will never stop. They are tired of their forced proximity and of themselves, but they have neither the strength nor the opportunity to make an effort, to break out of the boundaries of the bottom of life.
Philosophical aspect
In the text one can find a vivid contrast between two life positions - Luke and Satin, representing diverse points of view. That is why the drama “At the Bottom” can be called philosophical. It seems that the author’s sympathy is on the side of the philosophy of Luke, this kind wanderer who is really trying to make the life of the disadvantaged inhabitants of the shelter as easy as possible. But in fact, Gorky is sure that the truth is in any case better than a saving lie.
In literature lessons and when writing an essay, you should figure out what is more valuable and significant for the writer and his characters. Luke is confident that one can lie for the greater good in order to save a person from suffering. Gorky believes that “truth is the god of a free person.”
Other residents of the shelter also have their own opinion on this issue, but it is not so radical. The tick believes that the truth is destructive, so he curses it in his hearts.
However, Luke's wisdom and kindness conflict with the reality in which the people around him are forced to live:
- The actor, convinced that no one is able to cure him of alcoholism, makes a fatal decision.
- Anna, believing that soon all her suffering will come to an end, wants to “live and suffer.”
- Vaska is enthusiastic about the idea of going to Siberia and starting a new life with Natasha, but these hopes are not destined to come true. Deciding to take revenge on Vasilisa, he dooms himself to prison.
The saving philosophy of pity turns out to be useless; it only humiliates the strength of spirit and deprives the inhabitants of the bottom of their last strength. This idea must be reflected in any work, be it an essay on a topic or a summary.
That is why Gorky’s work is usually called social and philosophical. Complex issues and the presence of conflict, the clash of two opposing life positions and a realistic depiction of the bottom of life - these are, briefly, the main features thanks to which the text fits the genre definition.
PHILOSOPHICAL AND ETHICAL PROBLEMS OF M. GORKY’S PLAY “AT THE DAY” - presentation
PHILOSOPHICAL AND ETHICAL PROBLEMS OF M. GORKY’S PLAY “AT THE BOTTOM”
The most important semantic category - Truth - lieTruth - faith truth 2 oppositions: Different understandings of truth and different attitudes towards faith determine the position and place of each of the shelters (and not their social biography) Faith unites Actor, Anna, Natasha, Nastya, Vaska Ashes is close to them and Mite. Their faith (albeit illusory) keeps them alive. This FAITH is the TRUTH for them Bubnov, Baron, Satin
The truth of reality and the truth of dreams are two facets of the play’s problem. Bubnov, Satin and Actor are far from illusions. They don't need them. For Actor, Natasha, Nastya, Anna and others, FAITH is more important than TRUTH. That is why they responded so ardently to Luke’s remark: “What you believe is what you believe.”
true Luke. “What you believe is what you believe” – Man is the truth. Luke's kindness is comforting. He is forgiving of weaknesses, tolerant of other people's sins, responsive to requests for help, and his interest in people is genuine. The “sufferers” need it, because... encourages and consoles them, supporting an already established dream, without offering his own recipes. Gives faith, hope, warms the souls of weak people with sympathy. Bubnov Man depends on the environment. The truth is “evil”, not animated by good. Satin A person needs a dream, BUT he MUST move towards it himself! He needs active love, respect instead of pity. “Man is the truth” CONCLUSION: Truth is fluid, mobile. Subtle are the transitions of good into indifferent impotence, of truth into lies.
Dispute about a person. (Luke - Satin) “You need to feel sorry for a person” “A person can believe and not believe... he pays for everything himself... and therefore he is free.”
Luke. A complex, contradictory hero. On the one hand, it seems to give impetus to Satin’s awakening consciousness. On the other hand, his kindness, condescension, desire to help can result in fatal consequences for the weak in spirit. True, the blame for this falls on themselves. Luke consoles people by resorting to lies. He simply has not hardened his soul, he does real, active good, he does not just console, but philosophically substantiates his position: “A person can be saved and taught good not by violence, not by prison, but only by good.”
Arguing with his hero, Gorky shows that a “saving” lie has never saved anyone. You cannot live forever in captivity of illusions, since the way out of them is always a tragedy. And, most importantly, a person living in a world of illusions comes to terms with his dull life, that is, he AGREES TO TENDER. Gorky does not accept this.
Gorky managed to show one of the most dangerous features of the consciousness and psychology of the social lower classes in Russia: Dissatisfaction with reality; Anarchic criticism of this reality; At the same time, dependence on external assistance; Belief in “miraculous” salvation; Unpreparedness for independent life creativity
Let's discuss: Researcher's opinion: “The drama is based on a deeply religious problem. The concept of “bottom” has not only social, but also spiritual and moral content.” Questions: Can a person live without faith? Statement: “For the sake of truth one must sacrifice everything.” Quote: From F. Nietzsche’s book “Thus Spoke Zarathustra”:
I teach you about the superman. Man is something that must be transcended. What have you done to surpass him? Superman is the meaning of the earth. Let your will say: let the superman be the meaning of the earth! I conjure you, my brothers, remain faithful to the earth and do not believe those who tell you about supermundane hopes! They are poisoners, whether they know it or not. They despise life, these dying and self-poisoning ones, from whom the earth is tired: let them disappear! Previously, blasphemy against God was the greatest blasphemy; but God died, and these blasphemers died with him. Now to blaspheme the earth is the most terrible crime, just as to honor the essence of the incomprehensible is higher than the meaning of the earth! The soul once looked at the body with contempt: and then there was nothing higher than this contempt; it wanted to see the body skinny, disgusting and hungry. So she thought of running away from the body and from the earth. Oh, this soul itself was still skinny, disgusting and hungry; and cruelty was the lust of this soul! But now, my brothers, tell me: what does your body say about your soul? Isn’t your soul poverty and filth and miserable self-satisfaction? Truly, man is a dirty stream. One must be the sea in order to receive the dirty stream and not become unclean. See, I teach you about the superman: he is the sea where your great contempt can drown.
What is a body (superman) without a soul?
