How is the author's position expressed at the bottom? Analysis of the play "at the bottom"

The genre of Maxim Gorky's play “At the Lower Depths” can be defined as a philosophical drama. In this work, the writer managed to raise many problematic questions about man and the meaning of his existence. However, the dispute about the truth in the play “At the Bottom” became key.

History of creation

The play was written in 1902. This time is characterized by a serious situation in which, due to the closure of factories, workers were out of work, and peasants were forced to beg and beg. All these people, and with them the state, found themselves at the very bottom of their lives. To reflect the full extent of the decline, Maxim Gorky made his heroes representatives of all segments of the population. turned adventurer, former Actor, prostitute, locksmith, thief, shoemaker, merchant, rooming house keepers, policeman.

And it is in the midst of this decline and poverty that the key eternal questions of life are asked. And the conflict was based on a dispute about the truth in the play “At the Bottom.” This philosophical problem has long become insoluble for Russian literature; Pushkin, Lermontov, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov and many others took on it. However, Gorky was not at all frightened by this state of affairs, and he created a work devoid of didacticism and moralizing. The viewer has the right to make his own choice after listening to the different points of view expressed by the characters.

Dispute about the truth

In the play “At the Lower Depths,” as mentioned above, Gorky not only depicted a terrible reality, the main thing for the writer was the answers to the most important philosophical questions. And in the end, he manages to create an innovative work that has no equal in the history of literature. At first glance, the narrative seems scattered, plotless and fragmented, but gradually all the pieces of the mosaic come together, and a clash of heroes unfolds before the viewer, each of whom is the bearer of his own truth.

A topic such as the dispute about truth in the play “At the Bottom” is multifaceted, ambiguous and inexhaustible. A table that could be compiled to better understand it would include three characters: Bubnova. It is these characters who lead heated discussions about the need for truth. Realizing the impossibility of answering this question, Gorky puts different opinions into the mouths of these heroes, which are of equal value and equally attractive to the viewer. It is impossible to determine the position of the author himself, therefore these three images of criticism are interpreted differently, and there is still no consensus as to whose point of view on the truth is correct.

Bubnov

Entering into a dispute about truth in the play “At the Bottom,” Bubnov is of the opinion that facts are the key to everything. He does not believe in higher powers and the high destiny of man. A person is born and lives only to die: “Everything is like this: they are born, they live, they die. And I will die... and you... Why regret it..." This character is hopelessly despairing of life and does not see anything joyful in the future. The truth for him is that man cannot resist the circumstances and cruelty of the world.

For Bubnov, lying is unacceptable and incomprehensible; he believes that only the truth should be told: “And why do people like to lie?”; “In my opinion, leave the whole truth as it is!” He openly, without hesitation, expresses his opinion on others. Bubnov’s philosophy is truthful and merciless to man; he sees no point in helping his neighbor and caring for him.

Luke

For Luke, the main thing is not truth, but consolation. Trying to bring at least some meaning to the hopelessness of the daily lives of the inhabitants of the shelter, he gives them false hope. His help lies in lies. Luka understands people well and knows what everyone needs, based on this he makes promises. So, he tells the dying Anna that peace awaits her after death, inspires the Actor with hope for a cure for alcoholism, and promises Ash a better life in Siberia.

Luka appears as one of the key figures in such a problem as the dispute about truth in the play “At the Bottom.” His remarks are full of sympathy and reassurance, but there is not a word of truth in them. This image is one of the most controversial in the drama. For a long time, literary scholars assessed him only from the negative side, but today many see positive aspects in Luke’s actions. His lies console the weak, unable to resist the cruelty of the surrounding reality. The philosophy of this character is kindness: “A person can teach goodness... As long as a person believed, he lived, but he lost faith and hanged himself.” Indicative in this regard is the story of how the elder saved two thieves when he treated them kindly. Luke’s truth is in pity for the person and the desire to give him hope, albeit illusory, for the possibility of something better, which would help him live.

Satin

Satin is considered Luke's main opponent. It is these two characters who are leading the main debate about the truth in the play “At the Bottom.” Satin's quotes contrast sharply with Luke's statements: “Lies are the religion of slaves,” “Truth is the god of a free man!”

For Satin, lies are unacceptable, since in a person he sees strength, resilience and the ability to change everything. Pity and compassion are meaningless; people do not need them. It is this character who pronounces the famous monologue about the man-god: “Only man exists, everything else is the work of his hands and his brain! It's great! It sounds proud!”

Unlike Bubnov, who also recognizes only the truth and denies lies, Satin respects people and believes in them.

Conclusion

Thus, the dispute about truth in the play “At the Bottom” is plot-forming. Gorky does not give a clear resolution to this conflict; each viewer must determine who is right for himself. However, it should be noted that Satin’s final monologue is heard both as a hymn to man and as a call to action aimed at changing the terrifying reality.

The Fox knows many truths, but the Hedgehog knows one, but a big one.
Archilochus
The play “At the Bottom” is a socio-philosophical drama. More than a hundred years have passed since the creation of the work, the social conditions that Gorky exposed have changed, but the play is still not outdated. Why? Because it raises an “eternal” philosophical topic that will never cease to excite people. Usually for Gorky's play this theme is formulated as follows: a dispute about truth and lies. Such a formulation is clearly insufficient, since truth and lies do not exist by themselves - they are always associated with a person. Therefore, it would be more accurate to formulate the philosophical theme of “At the Bottom” in a different way: a dispute about true and false humanism. Gorky himself, in Satin’s famous monologue from the fourth act, connects truth and lies not only with humanism, but also with human freedom: “Man is free... he pays for everything himself: for faith, for unbelief, for love, for intelligence - man pays for everything pays himself, and therefore he is free! Man – that’s the truth!” It follows that the author in the play talks about man - truth - freedom,

that is, about the main moral categories of philosophy. Since it is impossible to unambiguously define these ideological categories (“the last questions of humanity,” as F. M. Dostoevsky called them), Gorky presented in his drama several points of view on the problems posed. Drama became polyphonic (the theory of polyphonism in a work of art was developed in his book “The Poetics of Dostoevsky’s Work” by M. M. Bakhtin). In other words, there are several ideologue heroes in the play, each with their own “voice,” that is, with a special point of view on the world and man.
It is generally accepted that Gorky portrayed two ideologists - Satin and Luka, but in fact there are at least four of them: Bubnov and Kostylev should be added to those named. According to Kostylev, the truth is not needed at all, since it threatens the well-being of the “masters of life.” In the third act, Kostylev talks about real wanderers and simultaneously expresses his attitude to the truth: “A strange person... not like others... If he is truly strange... knows something... learned something like that... no one needs... maybe he is telling the truth I learned there... well, not all truth is needed... yes! He - keep it to himself... and - be silent! If he is truly strange... he is silent! And then he says things that no one understands... And he doesn’t want anything, doesn’t interfere with anything, doesn’t bother people in vain...” (III). Indeed, why does Kostylev need the truth? In words he is for honesty and work (“It is necessary that a person be useful... that he work...” III), but in reality he buys stolen goods from Ash.
Bubnov always speaks the truth, but this is the “truth of fact,” which only captures the disorder and injustice of the existing world. Bubnov does not believe that people can live better, more honestly, helping each other, as in a righteous land. Therefore, he calls all dreams about such a life “fairy tales” (III). Bubnov frankly admits: “In my opinion, throw out the whole truth as it is! Why be ashamed?” (III). But a person cannot be satisfied with the hopeless “truth of fact.” Kleshch speaks out against Bubnov’s truth when he shouts: “What kind of truth? Where is the truth? (...) No work... no power! That's the truth! (...) You have to breathe... here it is, the truth! (...) What do I need it for - is it true?” (III). Another hero also speaks out against the “truth of fact,” the same one who believed in the righteous land. This faith, as Luke says, helped him live. And when faith in the possibility of a better life was destroyed, the man hanged himself. There is no righteous land - this is “the truth of the fact”, but to say that it should never exist is a lie. That is why Natasha explains the death of the hero of the parable this way: “I could not tolerate deception” (III).
The most interesting hero-ideologist in the play is, of course, Luke. Critics' assessments of this strange wanderer range from admiration for the old man's generosity to exposure of his harmful consolation. Obviously, these are extreme estimates and therefore one-sided. The objective, calm assessment of Luka, which belongs to I.M. Moskvin, the first performer of the role of the old man on the theater stage, seems more convincing. The actor played Luka as a kind and intelligent person, whose consolations are not self-interested. Bubnov notes the same thing in the play: “Luka, for example, lies a lot... and without any benefit to himself... Why would he?” (III).
The reproaches leveled at Luke do not stand up to serious criticism. It should be specially noted that the old man does not “lie” anywhere. He advises Ash to go to Siberia, where he can start a new life. And it is true. His story about a free hospital for alcoholics, which made a strong impression on the Actor, is true, which is confirmed by special research by literary scholars (see the article by Vs. Troitsky “Historical realities in M. Gorky’s play “At the Lower Depths”” // Literature at school, 1980 , No. 6). Who can say that in describing Anna’s afterlife, Luke is being disingenuous? He consoles a dying man. Why blame him? He tells Nastya that he believes in her romance with the noble Gaston-Raoul, because he sees in the story of the unfortunate maiden not just a lie, like Bubnov, but a poetic dream.

Luke’s critics also claim that the harm from the old man’s consolations had a tragic impact on the fate of the night shelters: the old man did not save anyone, did not really help anyone, the death of the Actor is on Luke’s conscience. How easy it is to blame one person for everything! He came to degraded people whom no one cared about, and consoled them as best he could. Neither the state, nor the officials, nor the homeless shelters themselves are to blame - Luka is to blame! It’s true, the old man didn’t save anyone, but he didn’t destroy anyone either - he did what was in his power: he helped people feel like people, the rest depended on them. And the Actor, an experienced heavy drinker, has absolutely no willpower to stop drinking. Vaska Pepel, in a stressed state, having learned that Vasilisa crippled Natalya, accidentally kills Kostylev. Thus, the reproaches expressed against Luke seem unconvincing: Luke is not “lying” anywhere and is not to blame for the misfortunes that happened to the night shelters.
Usually, researchers, condemning Luke, agree that Satin, in contrast to the crafty wanderer, formulates the correct ideas about freedom - truth - man: “Lies are the religion of slaves and masters... Truth is the god of a free man!” Satin explains the reasons for lying this way: “Whoever is weak at heart... and who lives on other people’s juices needs a lie... some it supports, others hide behind it... And who is his own master... who is independent and does not eat someone else’s things - why does he need a lie?” (IV). If we decipher this statement, we get the following: Kostylev lies because he “lives on other people’s juices,” and Luka lies because he is “weak in soul.” Kostylev’s position, obviously, should be rejected outright; Luka’s position requires serious analysis. Satin demands to look life straight in the eye, and Luka looks around in search of a comforting deception. Satin's truth differs from Bubnov's truth: Bubnov does not believe that a person can rise above himself; Satin, unlike Bubnov, believes in man, in his future, in his creative talent. That is, Satin is the only hero in the play who knows the truth.
What is the author’s position in the debate about truth – freedom – man? Some literary scholars argue that only the words of Satin set out the author’s position, however, it can be assumed that the author’s position combines the ideas of Satin and Luke, but is not completely exhausted even by both of them. In other words, in Gorky Satin and Luke as ideologists are not opposed, but complement each other.
On the one hand, Satin himself admits that Luke, with his behavior and consoling conversations, pushed him (formerly an educated telegraph operator, and now a tramp) to think about Man. On the other hand, Luke and Satin both talk about goodness, about faith in the best that always lives in the human soul. Satin recalls how Luke answered the question: “Why do people live?” The old man said: “For the best!” (IV). But doesn’t Satin, when discussing Man, repeat the same thing? Luke says about people: “People... They will find and invent everything! You just need to help them... you need to respect them...” (III). Satin formulates a similar thought: “We must respect a person! Don’t feel sorry... don’t humiliate him with pity... you have to respect him!” (IV). The only difference between these statements is that Luke focuses on respect for a specific person, and Satin - on the Person. Diverging in particulars, they agree on the main thing - in the statement that man is the highest truth and value of the world. In Satin's monologue, respect and pity are contrasted, but it cannot be said for sure that this is the author's final position: pity, like love, does not exclude respect. On the third hand, Luka and Satin are extraordinary personalities who never clash in an argument in the play. Luka understands that Satin does not need his consolations, and Satin, carefully watching the old man in the shelter, never ridiculed him or cut him off.
To summarize what has been said, it should be noted that in the socio-philosophical drama “At the Bottom” the main and most interesting is the philosophical content. This idea is proven by the very structure of Gorky’s play: almost all the characters participate in the discussion of the philosophical problem of man - truth - freedom, while in the everyday storyline only four sort things out (Ashes, Natalya, the Kostylev couple). Many plays have been written showing the hopeless life of the poor in pre-revolutionary Russia, but it is very difficult to name another play other than the drama “At the Bottom,” in which, along with social problems, the “last” philosophical questions would be posed and successfully resolved.
The author's position (the fifth in a row, but perhaps not the last) in the play “At the Lower Depths” is created as a result of repulsion from false points of view (Kostylev and Bubnov) and the complementarity of two other points of view (Luka and Satin). The author in a polyphonic work, according to M. M. Bakhtin’s definition, does not join any of the points of view expressed: the solution to the posed philosophical questions does not belong to one hero, but is the result of the searches of all participants in the action. The author, like a conductor, organizes a polyphonic choir of heroes, “singing” the same theme in different voices.
Still, there is no final solution to the question of truth - freedom - man in Gorky's drama. However, this is how it should be in a play that poses “eternal” philosophical questions. The open ending of the work forces the reader himself to think about them.

Other works on this topic:

“Fathers and Sons” is a complex work in structure, warning of future social conflicts. I. S. Turgenev, together with traditional characters, introduced an invisible presence into the novel...
Man - that's the truth! M. Gorky. At the Depth The play “At the Depth” was written by M. Gorky in 1902, on the eve of the first Russian revolution. She gives bright...
Who is right in the dispute about truth? The drama “At the Depths” is one of the key works of Maxim Gorky. It was written in 1901-1902. and with great...

M. Gorky's play “At the Lower Depths” is rightfully one of the best dramatic works of the writer. This is evidenced by its incredible success for a long time in Russia and abroad. The play has caused and still causes conflicting interpretations regarding the characters depicted and its philosophical basis. Gorky acted as an innovator in dramaturgy, posing an important philosophical question about a person, about his place, role in life, about what is important to him. “Which is better: truth or compassion? What is more necessary?” - these are the words of M. Gorky himself. The incredible success and recognition of the play “At the Lower Depths” was also facilitated by its successful production on the stage of the Moscow Art Theater in 1902. V. N. Nemirovich-Danchenko wrote to M. Gorky: “The appearance of “The Bottom” at one stroke paved the entire path for theatrical culture... Having in “The Bottom” an example of a truly folk play, we consider this performance the pride of the theater.”

M. Gorky acted as the creator of a new type of social drama. He accurately and truthfully depicted the environment of the inhabitants of the shelter. This is a special category of people with their own destinies and tragedies.

Already in the first author's remark we find a description of the shelter. This is a “cave-like basement.” Poor surroundings, dirt, light coming from top to bottom. This further emphasizes that we are talking about the very “day” of society. At first the play was called “At the Bottom of Life,” but then Gorky changed the name - “At the Bottom.” It more fully reflects the idea of the work. A sharpie, a thief, a prostitute are representatives of the society depicted in the play. The owners of the shelter are also at the “bottom” of moral rules; they do not have any moral values in their souls, and they carry a destructive element within them. Everything in the shelter takes place away from the general flow of life and events in the world. The “bottom of life” does not capture this flow of life.

The characters in the play previously belonged to different strata of society, but now they all have one thing in common - their present, hopelessness, inability to change their fate, and some kind of reluctance to do this, a passive attitude towards life. At first, Tick differs from them, but after Anna’s death he becomes the same - he loses hope of escaping from here.

Different origins determine the behavior and speech of the heroes. The Actor's speech contains quotes from literary works. The speech of the former intellectual Satin is full of foreign words. Luke's quiet, leisurely, soothing speech can be heard.

The play has many different conflicts and storylines. This is the relationship between Ash, Vasilisa, Natasha and Kostylev; Baron and Nastya; Klesch and Anna. We see the tragic fates of Bubnov, Actor, Satin, Alyoshka. But all these lines seem to run in parallel; there is no common, core conflict between the characters. In the play we can observe a conflict in the minds of people, a conflict with circumstances - this was unusual for the Russian audience.

The author does not tell in detail the history of each shelter, and yet we have enough information about each of them. The life of some, their past, for example, Satin, Bubnov, Actor, is dramatic, in itself worthy of a separate work. Circumstances forced them to sink to the “bottom”. Others, such as Ash and Nastya, have known the life of this society since birth. There are no main characters in the play; everyone occupies approximately the same position. In the long term, they have no improvement in life, which is depressing with its monotony. Everyone is used to Vasilisa beating Natasha, everyone knows about the relationship between Vasilisa and Vaska Ash, everyone is tired of the suffering of dying Anna. Nobody pays attention to how others live; there are no connections between people; no one is able to listen, sympathize, or help. It’s not for nothing that Bubnov repeats that “the threads are rotten.”

People no longer want anything, do not strive for anything, they believe that everyone on earth is superfluous, that their life has already passed. They despise each other, each considers himself higher, better than others. Everyone is aware of the insignificance of their situation, but does not try to get out, stop eking out a miserable existence and start living. And the reason for this is that they are used to it and have come to terms with it.

But not only social and everyday problems are raised in the play, the characters also argue about the meaning of human life, about its values. The play “At the Bottom” is a deep philosophical drama. People thrown out of life, who have sunk to the “bottom,” argue about the philosophical problems of existence.

M. Gorky raised the question in his work about what is more useful to a person: the truth of real life or a comforting lie. This is the question that has caused so much controversy. The preacher of the idea of compassion and lies is Luke, who consoles everyone and speaks kind words to everyone. He respects*^ every person (“not a single flea is bad, all are black”), sees a good beginning in everyone, believes that a person can do anything if he wants. He naively tries to awaken in people faith in themselves, in their strengths and capabilities, in a better life.

Luke knows how important this faith is for a person, this hope for the possibility and reality of the best. Even just a kind, affectionate word, a word that supports this faith, can give a person support in life, solid ground under his feet. Belief in one’s ability to change and improve one’s own life reconciles a person with the world, as he plunges into his fictional world and lives there, hiding from the frightening real world in which a person cannot find himself. And in reality this person is inactive.

But this only applies to a weak person who has lost faith in himself.

That is why such people are drawn to Luke, listen to him and believe him, because his words are a miraculous balm for their tormented souls.

Anna listens to him because he alone sympathized with her, did not forget about her, said a kind word to her, which she, perhaps, had never heard. Luke gave her hope that in another life she would not suffer.

Nastya also listens to Luka, because he does not deprive her of the illusions from which she draws vitality.

He gives Ash hope that he can start life anew where no one knows either Vaska or his past.

Luke talks to the actor about a free hospital for alcoholics, in which he can recover and return to the stage again.

Luke is not just a comforter, he philosophically substantiates his position. One of the ideological centers of the play is the wanderer's story about how he saved two escaped convicts. The main idea of Gorky’s character here is that it is not violence, not prison, but only goodness that can save a person and teach goodness: “A person can teach goodness...”

The other inhabitants of the shelter do not need Luke’s philosophy, the support of non-existent ideals, because these are stronger people. They understand that Luke is lying, but he is lying out of compassion and love for people. They have questions about the necessity of these lies. Everyone argues, and everyone has their own position. All the sleepovers are involved in an argument about truth and lies, but do not take each other very seriously.

In contrast to the philosophy of the wanderer Luke, Gorky presented the philosophy of Satin and his judgments about man. “Lies are the religion of slaves and masters... Truth is the god of a free man!” When pronouncing monologues, Satin does not expect to convince others of anything. This is his confession, the result of his long thoughts, a cry of despair and a thirst for action, a challenge to the world of the well-fed and a dream of the future. He speaks with admiration about the power of man, about the fact that man was created for the best: “man - this sounds proudly!”, “man is above satiety,” “do not feel sorry..., do not humiliate him with pity... you must respect him.” This monologue, pronounced among the ragged, degraded inhabitants of the shelter, shows that faith in genuine humanism, in the truth, does not fade.

M. Gorky's play “At the Lower Depths” is an acute socio-philosophical drama. Social, since it presents drama caused by the objective conditions of society. The philosophical aspect of drama is rethought in a new way by each generation. For a long time, the image of Luke was assessed as unequivocally negative. Today, due to the historical events of the last decade, the image of Luke is read in many ways differently, he has become much closer to the reader. I believe that there is no clear answer to the author’s question. It all depends on the specific situation and historical era.

The author's position (the fifth in a row, but perhaps not the last) in the play “At the Lower Depths” is created as a result of repulsion from false points of view (Kostylev and Bubnov) and the complementarity of two other points of view (Luka and Satin). The author in a polyphonic work, according to M.M. Bakhtin’s definition, does not subscribe to any of the points of view expressed: the solution to the posed philosophical questions does not belong to one hero, but is the result of the searches of all participants in the action. The author, like a conductor, organizes a polyphonic choir of characters, “singing” the same theme in different voices.

Still, there is no final solution to the question of truth - freedom - man in Gorky's drama. However, this is how it should be in a play that poses “eternal” philosophical questions. The open ending of the work forces the reader himself to think about them.

Stage directions help us understand the real motives and thoughts of the characters. A striking example is Luke: the remarks indicate his insincerity, the secret meaning of his words, the question arises: “Does he himself believe in what he says?” When talking with Anna, Luka replies: “They crushed him a lot, that’s why he’s soft...” But Gorky adds a remark: “He laughs with a rattling laugh.” This is a sign of deceit, reticence, which makes us think about who Luke is, why he creates this “beautiful fairy tale” and what real contribution he makes to the lives of the heroes. This role is clearly visible when talking with the actor about the hospital where drunkards are treated. The actor first thinks about Luka’s words, then smiles and laughs, and then the author’s important remark: “suddenly, as if waking up,” he says goodbye and leaves. The illusion dissipates, but hope remains in the actor’s soul; he remembers this conversation and dreams of such a place until the very end of the play.

But when the truth is revealed, he cannot stand it and commits suicide. The stage directions help reveal the psychology of the characters, their state before and after their meeting with Luka. Satin laughs often - something awakened in him after conversations with Luka; it was in Satin’s mouth that Gorky put his attitude towards truth and lies. And in general, in the fourth act the characters often laugh, and at this time the actor decides to hang himself. This is also the important meaning of the book: in such a society everyone is indifferent, deaf to the grief of their neighbor. And with the help of remarks we can follow this indifference.

Thus, with the help of remarks, Gorky shows us the state of the characters, their thoughts and emotions.

Updated: 2017-10-11

Attention!
If you notice an error or typo, highlight the text and click Ctrl+Enter.
By doing so, you will provide invaluable benefit to the project and other readers.

Thank you for your attention.

Usually for Gorky's play this theme is formulated as follows: a dispute about truth and lies. This formulation is clearly insufficient, since truth and lies do not exist by themselves.

– they are always connected with a person. Therefore, it would be more accurate to formulate the philosophical theme of “At the Bottom” in a different way: a dispute about true and false humanism.

Gorky himself, in Satin’s famous monologue from the fourth act, connects truth and lies not only with humanism, but also with human freedom: “Man is free... he pays for everything himself: for faith, for unbelief, for love, for intelligence - man pays for everything pays himself, and therefore he is free! Man – that’s the truth!” It follows that in the play the author talks about man - truth - freedom, that is, about the main moral categories of philosophy.

Since it is impossible to unambiguously define these ideological categories (“the last questions of humanity,” as F. M. Dostoevsky called them), Gorky presented in his drama several points of view on the problems posed. Drama became polyphonic (the theory of polyphonism in a work of art was developed in his book “The Poetics of Dostoevsky’s Work” by M. M. Bakhtin). In other words, there are several ideologue heroes in the play, each with their own “voice,” that is, with a special point of view on the world and man.
It is generally accepted that Gorky portrayed two ideologists - Satin and Luka, but in fact there are at least four of them: Bubnov and Kostylev should be added to those named. According to Kostylev, the truth is not needed at all, since it threatens the well-being of the “masters of life.” In the third act, Kostylev talks about real wanderers and simultaneously expresses his attitude to the truth: “A strange man... not like others...

If he is truly strange... knows something... learned something like that... no one needs... maybe he learned the truth there... well, not every truth is needed... yes! He - keep it to himself... and - be silent! If he is truly strange... he is silent!

And then he says things that no one understands... And he doesn’t want anything, doesn’t interfere with anything, doesn’t bother people in vain...” (III). Indeed, why does Kostylev need the truth?

In words he is for honesty and work (“It is necessary that a person be useful... that he work...” III), but in reality he buys stolen goods from Ash.
Bubnov always speaks the truth, but this is the “truth of fact,” which only captures the disorder and injustice of the existing world. Bubnov does not believe that people can live better, more honestly, helping each other, as in a righteous land. Therefore, he calls all dreams about such a life “fairy tales” (III). Bubnov frankly admits: “In my opinion, throw out the whole truth as it is!

Why be ashamed?” (III). But a person cannot be satisfied with the hopeless “truth of fact.” Kleshch speaks out against Bubnov’s truth when he shouts: “What kind of truth? Where is the truth? (...) No work... no power!

That's the truth! (...) You have to breathe... here it is, the truth! (...) What do I need it for - is it true?” (III). Another hero also speaks out against the “truth of fact,” the same one who believed in the righteous land. This faith, as Luke says, helped him live. And when faith in the possibility of a better life was destroyed, the man hanged himself.

There is no righteous land - this is “the truth of the fact”, but to say that it should never exist is a lie. That is why Natasha explains the death of the hero of the parable this way: “I could not tolerate deception” (III).
The most interesting hero-ideologist in the play is, of course, Luke. Critics' assessments of this strange wanderer range from admiration for the old man's generosity to exposure of his harmful consolation. Obviously, these are extreme estimates and therefore one-sided. The objective, calm assessment of Luka, which belongs to I.M. Moskvin, the first performer of the role of the old man on the theater stage, seems more convincing.

The actor played Luka as a kind and intelligent person, whose consolations are not self-interested. Bubnov notes the same thing in the play: “Luka, for example, lies a lot... and without any benefit to himself... Why would he?” (III).
The reproaches leveled at Luke do not stand up to serious criticism. It should be specially noted that the old man does not “lie” anywhere. He advises Ash to go to Siberia, where he can start a new life.

And it is true. His story about a free hospital for alcoholics, which made a strong impression on the Actor, is true, which is confirmed by special research by literary scholars (see the article by Vs. Troitsky “Historical realities in M. Gorky’s play “At the Lower Depths”” // Literature at school, 1980 , No. 6). Who can say that in describing Anna’s afterlife, Luke is being disingenuous?

He consoles a dying man. Why blame him? He tells Nastya that he believes in her romance with the noble Gaston-Raoul, because he sees in the story of the unfortunate maiden not just a lie, like Bubnov, but a poetic dream.

It’s true, the old man didn’t save anyone, but he didn’t destroy anyone either - he did what was in his power: he helped people feel like people, the rest depended on them. And the Actor, an experienced heavy drinker, has absolutely no willpower to stop drinking. Vaska Pepel, in a stressed state, having learned that Vasilisa crippled Natalya, accidentally kills Kostylev.

Thus, the reproaches expressed against Luke seem unconvincing: Luke is not “lying” anywhere and is not to blame for the misfortunes that happened to the night shelters.
Usually, researchers, condemning Luke, agree that Satin, in contrast to the crafty wanderer, formulates the correct ideas about freedom - truth - man: “Lies are the religion of slaves and masters... Truth is the god of a free man!” Satin explains the reasons for lying this way: “Those who are weak in soul... and who live on other people’s juices need a lie... it supports some, others hide behind it...

And who is his own master... who is independent and does not eat other people’s things - why does he need lies?” (IV). If we decipher this statement, we get the following: Kostylev lies because he “lives on other people’s juices,” and Luka lies because he is “weak in soul.” Kostylev’s position, obviously, should be rejected outright; Luka’s position requires serious analysis. Satin demands to look life straight in the eye, and Luka looks around in search of a comforting deception.

Satin's truth differs from Bubnov's truth: Bubnov does not believe that a person can rise above himself; Satin, unlike Bubnov, believes in man, in his future, in his creative talent. That is, Satin is the only hero in the play who knows the truth.
What is the author’s position in the debate about truth – freedom – man? Some literary scholars argue that only the words of Satin set out the author’s position, however, it can be assumed that the author’s position combines the ideas of Satin and Luke, but is not completely exhausted even by both of them. In other words, in Gorky Satin and Luke as ideologists are not opposed, but complement each other.
On the one hand, Satin himself admits that Luke, with his behavior and consoling conversations, pushed him (formerly an educated telegraph operator, and now a tramp) to think about Man. On the other hand, Luke and Satin both talk about goodness, about faith in the best that always lives in the human soul. Satin recalls how Luke answered the question: “Why do people live?”

The old man said: “For the best!” (IV). But doesn’t Satin, when discussing Man, repeat the same thing? Luke says about people: “People...

They will find and come up with everything! You just need to help them... you need to respect them...” (III). Satin formulates a similar thought: “We must respect a person!

Don’t feel sorry... don’t humiliate him with pity... you have to respect him!” (IV). The only difference between these statements is that Luke focuses on respect for a specific person, and Satin - on the Person. Diverging in particulars, they agree on the main thing - in the statement that man is the highest truth and value of the world.

In Satin's monologue, respect and pity are contrasted, but it cannot be said for sure that this is the author's final position: pity, like love, does not exclude respect. On the third hand, Luka and Satin are extraordinary personalities who never clash in an argument in the play. Luka understands that Satin does not need his consolations, and Satin, carefully watching the old man in the shelter, never ridiculed him or cut him off.
To summarize what has been said, it should be noted that in the socio-philosophical drama “At the Bottom” the main and most interesting is the philosophical content. This idea is proven by the very structure of Gorky’s play: almost all the characters participate in the discussion of the philosophical problem of man - truth - freedom, while in the everyday storyline only four sort things out (Ashes, Natalya, the Kostylev couple). Many plays have been written showing the hopeless life of the poor in pre-revolutionary Russia, but it is very difficult to name another play other than the drama “At the Bottom,” in which, along with social problems, the “last” philosophical questions would be posed and successfully resolved.
The author's position (the fifth in a row, but perhaps not the last) in the play “At the Lower Depths” is created as a result of repulsion from false points of view (Kostylev and Bubnov) and the complementarity of two other points of view (Luka and Satin). The author in a polyphonic work, according to M. M. Bakhtin’s definition, does not join any of the points of view expressed: the solution to the posed philosophical questions does not belong to one hero, but is the result of the searches of all participants in the action. The author, like a conductor, organizes a polyphonic choir of heroes, “singing” the same theme in different voices.
Still, there is no final solution to the question of truth - freedom - man in Gorky's drama. However, this is how it should be in a play that poses “eternal” philosophical questions. The open ending of the work forces the reader himself to think about them.

(No Ratings Yet)

“Fathers and Sons” is a complex work in structure, warning of future social conflicts. I. S. Turgenev, along with traditional characters, introduced into the novel the invisibly present Author, expressing the thoughts of the writer himself. The plot of the novel is revealed mainly in terms of ideas, supported by disputes and passionate speeches of the characters. Often their actions are accompanied by the author's characteristics, comments and remarks. Affected […]...
Man - that's the truth! M. Gorky. At the Depth The play “At the Depth” was written by M. Gorky in 1902, on the eve of the first Russian revolution. It gives a vivid idea not only of class antagonism and social ills of the old society, but also of those complex processes of mental fermentation that engulfed even the most backward, restless sections of the people. The main philosophers [...]
Who is right in the dispute about truth? The drama “At the Depths” is one of the key works of Maxim Gorky. It was written in 1901-1902. and was held with great success at the Moscow Art Theater. The central characters of the play were mainly people from the lower strata of the population who, for various reasons, had sunk to the bottom. Having become guests of a wretched rooming house, many of them [...]
In the play “At the Bottom,” Gorky raises some of the most important questions that a person should ask. What is truth? What is the purpose of man on earth? And what is the meaning of life? In his work, the author shows a world of complete poverty and suffering, the world of people. Placed in extremely inhuman living conditions. It is here that three truths collide: Luka, Bubnov and [...]
Honor to the madman who will bring a golden dream to humanity. Bérenger Perhaps, even in our days, when passing through the painfully burning unknown, a bitter and proactive word is much more useful than a soporific harp. L. Leonov I. M. Gorky's Dream about Man. Proud and strong, beautiful and free, people “with the sun in their blood” are the heroes of the writer’s early works. II. Gorky is looking for people everywhere, [...]
1. The system of characters in M. Gorky’s play “At the Lower Depths”. 2. The originality of the conflict and composition of M. Gorky’s play “At the Depths”. 3. Which is better: truth or compassion? (Based on M. Gorky’s play “At the Lower Depths.”) 4. Man and truth in M. Gorky’s play “At the Lower Depths.” 5. M. Gorky’s play “At the Depths” as a socio-philosophical drama. 6. Problems of goodness and truth […]...
Two truths that hate each other can give birth to thousands of types of lies. Vl. Grzegorczyk The play “At the Lower Depths” is the pinnacle of Maxim Gorky’s dramaturgy. The central idea of the play is a dispute about a person, about what a person is, what he needs more - the truth, often cruel, or a beautiful lie. The choice between the “uplifting” truth and the “comforting, reconciling” lie, and at such a level that [...]
Gorky’s play “At the Lower Depths” certainly has a socio-philosophical character. It reveals not only the gradual moral “dying” of people who find themselves in difficult social conditions, but also the author’s philosophical views on various problems. Without any doubt, we can say that one of the main themes of the work is thinking about Man. In fact, it seems unusual that each of the inhabitants of the shelter [...]
“At the Bottom” is a complex, contradictory work. And like any truly great work of art, the play does not tolerate a one-line, unambiguous interpretation. In his work, the writer gives two completely different approaches to human life, without clearly showing his personal attitude towards any of them. In the play “At the Lower Depths,” Gorky seemed to summarize his many years of observations of life […]...
The truth is healing, and only it can cure us. M. Gorky A work of art that touches on eternal issues usually has a long life. I wonder: why? Probably because it is the eternal that always resonates in people’s hearts and makes them think about life. This is M. Gorky’s play “At the Lower Depths”. In all the works of M. Gorky there is passive humanism, addressed only to […]...
At first glance, Luka and Satin are opposing figures in Gorky’s play “At the Bottom.” Luke is a supporter of “false humanism,” the so-called lie for the sake of salvation. Satin preaches “true humanism”, justifies immorality, despises moral values and takes the concept of “free man” to the extreme. Indeed, from this point of view, the beliefs of Luke and Satin are completely opposite. Luka feels sorry for everyone, [...]
M. Gorky's play “At the Lower Depths” (1902). This drama was the result of the writer's life experience and philosophical quest. “The main question 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? This is not a subjective question, but a general philosophical one,” the author noted in an interview in 1903 […]...
The play shows the “humiliated and insulted”, thrown to the bottom of life. Each of them has their own biography, their own history, their own dream. These formerly worthy people are victims of the conditions prevailing in society, where no one cares about anyone else, where wolf laws apply. The fate of each of them is tragic, since neither a drunken actor nor [...] can rise from the bottom.
Dispute about man in M. Gorky's play “At the Depths” I. Introduction The problem of Man is central to Gorky’s work. The solution to this problem is in the early stories; the romantic ideal of a person (pride, freedom, strength, ability to achieve feats) in the images of Danko, Chelkash and others. II. Main part 1. Man in the conditions of capitalist reality: suppression of the high essence of man, inhumanity of society (fate [...]
M. Gorky's play “At the Depths” was written in 1902. This play was approved for production only by the Art Theater. The censors hoped for its failure, but the performance was a huge success. M. Gorky showed us the life of people who have sunk “to the bottom” and will never rise to another life. Gorky in his play does not give a detailed description [...]
It is impossible to give a definite answer to this question. After all, everyone has their own truth. And it is very difficult to discern in the play what is true and what is a lie. After all, there is truth - true, correct, united, destructive, something difficult, especially in the current situation. Compassion is a fog, something distant, incomprehensible, like regret, condolences, illusion, empathy. […]...
Maxim Gorky wrote his play “At the Depths” in 1902. In this work, a “naked” person appears before the reader. He is deprived of all external layers (cultural, class, professional) acquired in human society. The study of the behavior of a “naked” person, faced with the need to live and act in extremely difficult circumstances for him, is the play “At the Bottom.” The “bottom” itself […]...
The play shows the “humiliated and insulted”, thrown to the bottom of life. Each of them has their own biography, their own history, their own dream. These formerly worthy people are victims of the conditions prevailing in society, where no one cares about anyone else, where wolf laws apply. The fate of each of them is tragic, since neither a drunken actor nor [...] can rise from the bottom.
Maxim Gorky is one of the few writers who boldly showed the poverty of life. In the play “At the Bottom” he talks about people who have lost the meaning of life. With this work, as with other stories of the early period of creativity, the author tried to attract public attention to the problems of the lower social classes. A dozen and a half inhabitants of the shelter represent a world of outcasts. These degenerate people have lost touch with society, [...]
In the play, Gorky contrasts false humanism, which preaches universal humility, submission to fate, and true humanism, the essence of which is the struggle against everything that oppresses a person, depriving him of dignity and faith in his own strength, against the slave life of humanity. These are the two main truths that Luke and Satin argue about in the play - characters that immediately stand out from the general […]...
In the play “At the Bottom” the author poses many rhetorical questions. The work reveals not only the tragedy of the gradual moral death of people caught in cruel social conditions, but also the author’s view of various public problems. Of course, one of the main themes of the play is Man. It seems strange that the inhabitants of the shelter could have their own positions on this problem. But this […]...
CLASSICS THE PROBLEM OF LIES AND TRUTH IN M. GORKY’S PLAY “AT THE BOTTOM BOTTOM” AND IN O. HENRY’S STORY “THE FOUL DECEIVER” The concept of M. Gorky’s play “At the Bottom” is based on two concepts - “comforting, reconciling” lies and “uplifting” truth. In O. Henry's short story “The Vile Deceiver,” we do not find a champion of truth, at least as inconsistent as Satin in Gorky’s play. […]...
The debate about human capabilities and the meaning of his life lies at the heart of the play “At the Depths” by Maxim Gorky. The action of the play takes place in a place cut off from the world of people - the Kostylevs' shelter. Almost all the inhabitants of the shelter are well aware that their situation cannot be called normal, because all the most important ties (spiritual, social, professional, family) have been severed between them and the rest of society. […]...
“There are people, and there are others - people...” (Based on M. Gorky’s play “At the Lower Depths.”). At the heart of Maxim Gorky’s play “At the Lower Depths” (1902) is a dispute about Man and his capabilities. The action of the work takes place in the Kostylevs' shelter - a place located outside the world of people. Almost all the inhabitants of the shelter are aware of their situation as abnormal: between them and [...]
Maxim Gorky is the greatest writer of his time. His play “At the Bottom” reveals all the vices of modern society. The author describes the life and everyday life of people who have fallen to the bottom of society. These people, different in social origin, upbringing and education, once stumbled in life or simply went broke and ended up in a shelter where everyone is equal, and there is no hope of getting out. IN […]...
In 1902, M. Gorky created his second play “At the Lower Depths”. In it, the writer again turned, as in the stories of the early period, to the world of the outcast. But the playwright’s plan is not limited to depicting people of the “bottom”, crippled by the social system. The play is a passionate and excited debate about man, about various paths to human happiness. Reading the play, we find ourselves [...]
What is truth and what is lie? Humanity has been asking this question for hundreds of years. Truth and lies, good and evil always stand side by side, one simply does not exist without the other. The collision of these concepts is the basis of many world-famous literary works. Among them is M. Gorky’s play “At the Lower Depths”. Its essence is in the collision of life [...]
In Gorky’s socio-philosophical drama “At the Depths,” the main philosophical problem is the characters’ understanding of the truth. They view their truth from different perspectives. Particularly prominent here are the worldviews of Satin and Luke, which have differences and interact with each other in the development of the action of the play. From the first moment of his appearance in the shelter, Luka begins to tell people about his views. His attitude towards people [...]
M. Gorky in his play depicted the terrible reality, the ugly way of life of most people. In his work, he also touched on many important and pressing issues of the time. One of them was the problem of truth and its perception and understanding by the characters in the play. In the plot, three main truths and their opposition can be identified. The first truth is Satin's truth. This […]...
The play “At the Lower Depths,” according to Gorky, was the result of “almost twenty years of observations of the world of “former people”.” The main philosophical problem of the play is the dispute about truth. Young Gorky, with his characteristic determination, took on a very difficult topic, which the best minds of mankind are still struggling with. Unambiguous answers to the question “What is truth?” haven't found it yet. In hot […]...
The concept of M. Gorky’s play “At the Depths” is based on two concepts - “comforting, reconciling” lies and “uplifting” truth. In O. Henry's short story “The Vile Deceiver,” we do not find a champion of truth, at least as inconsistent as Satin in Gorky’s play. Nevertheless, the problem in these two works is the same - the choice between truth and lies, and on such […]...
Throughout Gorky’s play “At the Bottom,” the playwright forces readers to solve a dilemma - what is better, truth or lies, truth or compassion. Written in 1902, on the eve of revolutionary events, the play reveals the social and psychological truth about the life of the “lower classes.” The playwright mercilessly and realistically shows all the wretchedness and hopelessness of the existence of people who have sunk to the very “bottom of life.” Locksmith Kleshch, [...]
“At the Bottom” is a complex, contradictory work. And, like any truly great creation, the play does not tolerate a one-line, unambiguous interpretation. Gorky gives in it two completely different approaches to human life, without clearly showing his personal attitude towards any of them. The main characters of this work are Luka and Satin. They express two truths, two points […]...
Gorky's play “At the Lower Depths” is of a socio-philosophical nature. All of Gorky's works are endowed with complex moral issues. But in the play “At the Bottom” the moral and philosophical problems that concern the author are most fully revealed. In this play, Gorky combined many theories, opinions, and assumptions. The author made his heroes the inhabitants of the shelter, people who had sunk to the very bottom socially and morally. After all, it is on the very [...]
The issue of lies and honesty is far from clear-cut. That is why all thinkers of mankind have been struggling with it for many centuries. These two completely opposite concepts, just like good and evil, are always nearby and cannot exist separately. Many literary figures in their works posed these questions to society and themselves. […]...
The play “At the Bottom” was written by M. Gorky in 1902. Its premiere took place that same year. The play was a stunning success. According to V.I. Kachalov, “the audience received the play vigorously and enthusiastically, like a “play petrel,” which foreshadowed future storms and called for storms.” The main source of the play's content was the impressions of reality in the early nineties. IN […]...
Maxim Gorky’s work “At the Depths” can be defined as a socio-philosophical drama. The presence of social issues in the play is evidenced not only by the bright and telling title, but also by the appearance of its characters. The heroes of the work are degenerate people, outcasts from society, who for various reasons have lost their place in a civilized society. Upon reading a little more carefully, it becomes obvious that these people are completely [...]
In the play “At the Bottom,” M. Gorky strives not only to depict a terrible reality to draw attention to the plight of disadvantaged people. He created a truly innovative philosophical and journalistic drama. The content of the seemingly disparate episodes is a tragic collision of three truths, three ideas about life. The first truth is Bubnov’s truth, it can be called the truth of fact. Bubnov is convinced that [...]
In the realistic works of Maxim Gorky, a person is portrayed as rejected by society, an outcast. The author is interested in the hero's inner world, his experiences, emotions. The play “At the Bottom” was written at the end of 1901. At a time when a person is ready and able to declare his rights, his freedom. In the play, the author raised two questions that have always been important. This is a question of freedom [...]
Purpose: to draw attention to the closeness of the poem to folklore works; continue to develop group work skills; practice public speaking; develop observation and attention; develop a civic position. The very choice of this subject [the historical Past. - Author] testifies to the state of the poet’s Spirit, dissatisfied with modern Reality and transported from it to the distant past, in order to look for life there, Which he does not see in [...]