What does satin say about truth. Composition on the topic: Who is right in the dispute about the truth in the play At the Bottom, Gorky

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The genre of Maxim Gorky's play "At the Bottom" 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 a key one.

History of creation

The play was written in 1902. This time is characterized by a serious one, as a result of which, due to the closure of factories, the workers were out of work, and the peasants were forced to beg and beg. All these people, and with them the state, found themselves at the very bottom of life. 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, tradeswoman, hostess, policeman.

And it is in the midst of this decline and poverty that the key age-old questions of life are being asked. And the basis of the conflict was 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 it up. However, Gorky was not at all frightened by this state of affairs, and he created a work devoid of didacticism and moralizing. The viewer himself has the right to make his choice, after listening to the different points of view expressed by the characters.

Argument about truth

In the play "At the Bottom", as mentioned above, Gorky not only portrayed a terrible reality, the answers to the most important philosophical questions became the main thing for the writer. 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 fragmented, plotless and fragmented, but gradually all the pieces of the mosaic add up, and a clash of heroes unfolds before the viewer, each of which is the bearer of his own truth.

Multifaceted, ambiguous and inexhaustible is such a topic as the dispute about the truth in the play "At the Bottom". A table that could be compiled for a better understanding of it would include three characters: Bubnova, It is these characters that lead heated discussions about the need for truth. Realizing the impossibility of answering this question, Gorky puts into the mouths of these heroes different opinions that are equivalent 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 the 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 ... What to regret ... ”This character is hopelessly desperate in 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, lies are unacceptable and incomprehensible, he believes that only the truth should be told: “And why do people like to lie?”; “In my opinion, bring down the whole truth as it is!” He openly, without hesitation, expresses his opinion to others. Bubnov's philosophy is truthful and ruthless to a person, he sees no point in helping his neighbor and caring for him.

Luke

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

Luke appears as one of the key figures in such a problem as the dispute about the truth in the play "At the bottom". His remarks are full of sympathy, reassurance, but there is not even a word of truth in them. This image is one of the most controversial in the drama. For a long time, literary critics evaluated him only from the negative side, but today many see positive aspects in Luke's actions. His lie consoles the weak, unable to resist the cruelty of the surrounding reality. The philosophy of this character is kindness: "A person can teach good things... While a person believed, he lived, but lost faith - and hung himself." Indicative in this regard is the story of how the elder saved two thieves when he treated them kindly. The truth of Luke is in pity for the person and the desire to give him hope, albeit an illusory one, for the possibility of a better one, which would help to live.

satin

Sateen is considered the main opponent of Luke. It is these two characters who are leading the main dispute about the truth in the play "At the Bottom". Satine's quotes contrast sharply with Luke's statements: "Lie is the religion of slaves", "Truth is the god of a free man!"

For Sateen, a lie is unacceptable, since in a person he sees strength, stamina 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: “There is only man, 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 the truth in the play "At the Bottom" is plot-forming. Gorky does not give a clear resolution to this conflict; each viewer must determine for himself who is right. However, it should be noted that Sateen's final monologue is heard at the same time as a hymn to man and a call to action aimed at changing the horrific reality.

The works created by him with all clarity and truthfulness reflect the reality of the late XIX - early XX century. Already at the beginning of the century, A. M. Gorky was perceived by his contemporaries as the head of democratic literature and as a major figure in Russian culture. The heroes of Gorky are mostly thinking people, inclined to think about their fate, about love for one's neighbor, about the essence of being. In my essay, I want to touch on the truth, a topic that worries people from the day the world arose, from the day when homo sapiens appeared on earth, when reason was given to man. The debate about truth has been going on for thousands of years. This dispute, the dispute about truth, the dispute about man, is also present in Gorky's work.

I would like to analyze the thoughts of the two heroes of the play: Luke and Sateen. In an interview with the correspondent of Peterburgskaya Gazeta, Gorky, referring to the problems of his play, said: “Is it necessary to bring compassion to the point of using a lie, like Luke? This question is not subjective, but general philosophical. This is how Gorky poses the problem. Luka and Satin reflect on a person, his strength, his truth, about his attitude towards a person: "this is the truth."

Luke... With the appearance of this man in the rooming house, the souls of its inhabitants were agitated, their thoughts became more intense, more collected. Luke is a wanderer preaching kindness, love and respect for people.

This is a man who loves to think. You can’t deny him the mind, he strives for the truth. Luka... In my opinion, this is the main character of the play.

If it weren't for him, "At the Bottom" would be boring, not reflecting the search for an idea about a person, about truth. He quietly entered the rooming house. He comforted someone, regretted someone, advised someone - and now one gets the impression that Luka has long been living among the inhabitants of the rooming house.

Luke is a humanist: "Man can do anything." This is a philosopher who knows that the main value on earth is a person, anyone. And so he sympathizes with people and consoles them. Luke's words are humane, they encourage, uplift the spirit, even if not for long. Hence their human value. Luke is a stranger.

The Stranger is not quite ordinary: he is much smarter, sharper, more insightful than many of his fellows. Luka is a tireless observer, he really wants to know how this one works and how it will work in the future - so monotonous and at the same time so different, so gray and so colorful, so evil and so kind, if only because it is already there is. Luke is evidence of the talents hidden among the people. For this person is undoubtedly gifted, developed and original. The strongest spiritual impressions received from Luka Sateen - the most intelligent and intelligent inhabitant of the "bottom". He picks up Luke’s humanistic thought about the value of a person and raises it to a height: “Man ...

It sounds proud." Everything that was in the soul of Sateen serious, real, suddenly stirred up. Under the influence of Luke's philosophy, his thoughts about truth, about man, arise - confused, but not incoherent, but endowed with considerable meaning.

Luka left in the spring ... Satin recalls his conversations with him, recalls his questions and answers: “- Grandfather! Why do people live?.. - And all rights reserved 2001-2005 for better people live, honey! For a hundred years ... and maybe more - they live for a better person!

Sateen's monologue about a man acquired, in my opinion, a special romantic coloring, as it sounded at the very "day" of life, in the most cruel circumstances. It was a protest both against the system that oppressed a person, and against humility and comforting compassion, which dulled the feeling of oppression: “Man is free ... he pays for everything himself, and therefore he is free!

» I think that, saying this monologue, Sateen was influenced by Luke, his conversations with him. I believe that there is no winner or loser in the debate about truth. In this dispute, everyone is right in their own way. Luke is right in calling on lies to help him - a comforting lie, a reconciling lie. Sateen is also right in his own way, asserting compassion, respect, saying that the truth is a Man.

His understanding of a person is as follows, a person is “... not you, not me, not them ... no! - it's you, me, them, the old man, Napoleon, Mohammed ... in one! This is huge! This is where it all starts and ends!” Based on this monologue, one can come to the conclusion that the truth is all the people that live on earth, everything else is the work of their hands and their brain.

Satin proves that “man is above satiety”, that man has higher goals, higher needs than caring about being fed: “I have always despised people who care too much about being fed. Not in this case! The man is higher! Man above satiety!

"Truly," man is not fed with bread alone. Luke wants to understand human affairs. And in most cases, he succeeds. Having understood the person, Luke tries to help him, to pity, console, cheer him up. He does this without difficulty, since Luke himself has gone through a lot, and he understands human troubles ...

After reading the play "At the Bottom" I had a certain concept of truth, pity, and lies. Truth is a man!

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History of creation

The play was written in 1902. This time is characterized by a serious economic crisis, as a result of which, due to the closure of factories, the workers were out of work, and the peasants were forced to beg and beg. All these people, and with them the state, found themselves at the very bottom of life. To reflect the full extent of the decline, Maxim Gorky made his heroes representatives of all segments of the population. This is the Baron, who became an adventurer, a former Actor, a prostitute, a locksmith, a thief, a shoemaker, a tradeswoman, a rooming house owner, a policeman.

Argument about truth

Multifaceted, ambiguous and inexhaustible is such a topic as the dispute about the truth in the play "At the Bottom". A table that could be compiled for a better understanding of it would include three characters: Bubnov, Luka and Satina. It is these characters who lead heated discussions about the need for truth. Realizing the impossibility of answering this question, Gorky puts into the mouths of these heroes different opinions that are equivalent 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.

For Bubnov, lies are unacceptable and incomprehensible, he believes that only the truth should be told: “And why do people like to lie?”; “In my opinion, bring down the whole truth as it is!” He openly, without hesitation, expresses his opinion, without looking back at others. Bubnov's philosophy is truthful and ruthless to a person, he sees no point in helping his neighbor and caring for him.

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

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

Spore bows and satin table

The play "At the Bottom" is one of the most famous works of the outstanding Russian writer M. Gorky.

Luke Quotes

". It always turns out like this: a person thinks to himself - I'm doing well! Grab - and people are unhappy ... ”(Luke)

» . people are getting smarter, more and more interesting ... and even though they live - it's getting worse, but they want - it's getting better ... stubborn. "

". not in the word - the matter, but - why is the word spoken? - that's the problem. "

". To caress a person is never harmful ... "

". Prison - will not teach good, and Siberia will not teach ... but a man - will teach ... yes! A person can teach good things ... very simply. "

". It’s true, it’s not always because of a person’s illness ... you can’t always cure the soul with truth ... "

". Who seeks - will find ... Who strongly wants - will find. "

". What is truth? Man is the truth. "(Satin about the truth)

". There is a comforting lie, a reconciling lie... The lie justifies the heaviness that crushed the worker's hand... and blames those who are dying of hunger... I know the lie! Those who are weak in soul ... and who live on other people's juices - those need a lie ... it supports some, others hide behind it ... And who is his own master ... who is independent and does not eat someone else's - why does he need a lie? Falsehood is the religion of slaves and masters... Truth is the god of a free man. "(Satin about truth and lies)

Bubnov quotes

". It turns out: outside, no matter how you paint yourself, everything will be erased ... everything will be erased, yes. » (Bubnov)

". And who is drunk and smart - two lands in him ... "

". It is better. It's always better to leave early. "

". In a woman - the soul must be ... We are animals ... we need ... we need to be accustomed. "(Vaska Pepel)

". Work if you like ... what is there to be proud of here? If you value people at work ... then a horse is better than any person ... carries and - is silent. "

". There is no talent ... there is no faith in oneself ... and without this ... never, nothing ... "

". I know that man himself is not free. "(Vasilisa)

". Rogues are all smart... I know! They are crazy - impossible. A good person, he - and a stupid one is good, but a bad one - must have a mind. "(Medvedev)

"The Essence of the Debate between Luke and Satine"

1. The history of the appearance of the play by M. Gorky "At the bottom".
2. Innovation of the play.
3. General characteristics of the residents of the rooming house.
4. Position of Luke.
5. Contrasting the ideas of two heroes - Luke and Sateen.

Man is free. he pays for everything himself: for faith, for disbelief, for love, for intelligence. A person pays for everything himself and therefore he is free.
M. Gorky

The play "At the Bottom" by M. Gorky is one of the most striking and dramatic works of the writer. The play was first shown on the stage of the Moscow Art Theater in 1902. The play was the biggest success in the theatrical life of that time. Over time, it was already staged in other theaters in Russia and Western Europe. The main problems of M. Gorky's creativity in the early 1900s are shown in the play "At the Bottom". Here the writer again, as in his early works, refers to the world of outcasts, although he already considers them a little differently.

What is the innovation of M. Gorky's play "At the Bottom"? In itself, the theme of the human “bottom” is not new in literature, and the novelty of this play lies not in the theme itself, but in its new solution. M. Gorky, depicting the suffering of the people of the “bottom”, denounces the bourgeois-proprietary world and shows the whole society in miniature. The position of the writer towards the tramps has also changed, he is already trying to look into their fate and understand the essence of existence, to reveal social psychology. Describing the terrible pictures of the life of the inhabitants of the rooming house, M. Gorky at the same time shows the powerful strength of these people, which is able to withstand social conditions that affect a person and disfigure him. The heroes of the play "At the Bottom" are trying to figure it out and understand - what are the reasons and the meaning of the fate that is prescribed for them. They argue about the truth, about simple human happiness, and most importantly about the personality itself, about its place in this world. Each character in the play has his own opinion and his own answer to these questions.

People living in a rooming house with completely different characters, different origins and ages, but they are all brought together by one fate. And just as differently they perceive their position. The mortally ill Anna and the Tartar put up with their position. The only thing that the Baron can do is a worthless mockery of the people of the "bottom" who are the same as him. Nastya is angry, the thief Vaska Pepel is rebelling, Luka is trying to console all the inhabitants of the rooming house, and Satin philosophizes a lot, but does absolutely nothing to somehow realize his ideals in life. The tick is most worried about his fate, he constantly dreams of someday breaking out of the captivity of the rooming house and starting to live with honest work.

But one of the most important disputes in the play "At the Bottom" is between two residents of the rooming house - between Luka and Satin.

For Luke himself, all people are selfish, pitiful, worthless, and they only need consolation in their lives. The role of Luke is precisely the role of a comforter for all the inhabitants of the rooming house. For Luke himself, there are as many truths as there are people in the world. He tells various stories to the inhabitants of the rooming house: about extraordinary love, about the righteous land “in that land, they say, special people inhabit. good people! They respect each other. - help, "he tells Anna about a wonderful life in the next world." and you will be calm. nothing else will be necessary and be afraid - nothing! Silence. ". The elder informs the actor about a free clinic where alcoholics are cured: “. drunkenness is now being treated. Free, brother, treat. such a hospital is arranged. in order to treat them for nothing. ". But such a lie of Luka did not help the inhabitants of the rooming house, but, on the contrary, only hurt them. So, the Actor, who for a moment believed in Luke's fairy tale about an extraordinary hospital, very soon realized what his fictional stories were worth. And it is not in vain that the Actor quotes P. J. Beranger:

Lord! If the truth is holy
The world can't find the way,
Honor to the madman who will inspire
Mankind has a golden dream!

These verses by Beranger from the mouth of the Actor sound like a mockery of illusions. He does not want to live in a fictional world and, as a result, commits suicide. As a result, it turns out that all Luke's sermons do not improve a person's life, but, on the contrary, only push him to the edge. Gradually, life itself and harsh reality exposes all the comforting lies of Luke. In M. Gorky's play, Sateen's monologue is opposed to Luke's position. He calls for each person to open their eyes to life's problems and see the real reality, and not the fictional one that Luke suggests. According to Satin, “Lie is the religion of slaves and masters. Truth is the god of a free man!” But all the heroes of this play are absolutely not like free people. These people are losers, they are stupid, they are those “who are weak in soul. and those who live on other people's juices need a lie. some she supports, others - hide behind her. And who is his own master. who is independent and does not eat someone else's, why should he lie. ". But gradually it becomes clear that there is no one in the play who could become his own master.

Satin opposes Luke, against his sermons - patience and consolation: “I can’t get out of my head. this old man. Don't hurt the person! And if I was once offended and - for life at once! How to be? Forgive? Nothing. Nobody. ". Satin argues that you should not humiliate a person with pity for him, you just need to respect him. For Satin, a person “is not you, not me, not them. No! It's you, me, them, the old man, Napoleon, Mohammed. in one! This one is huge. Human. It sounds. proudly! You have to respect the person! Don't regret. do not humiliate him with pity. must be respected!"

In the play “At the Bottom”, M. Gorky tried to show how different social conditions of life, incompatible contradictions of reality, can push each person “to the bottom”. M. Gorky sees a way out of this situation only in a resolute and merciless struggle against all these living conditions.

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Quotes from the play "At the Bottom" by Gorky: statements, aphorisms of Luka, Satin, Bubnov, Pepel, etc.

This article presents quotes from the play "At the Bottom" by Gorky, statements and aphorisms of such heroes as Luka, Satin, Bubnov, Vaska Pepel, etc.

". It is, perhaps, a nobility - like smallpox ... and a person will recover, but the signs remain. "

". How many different people on earth manages ... and scares each other with all sorts of fears, but there is no order in life ... and there is no purity ... "

". if someone did not do good to someone, he did badly ... "

". Every person lives ... as the heart is adjusted, so it lives ... today - good, tomorrow - evil ... "

". Why love them. To love - you need the living ... the living ... ”(Luke about the dead)

". You - beware of the living ... that's what I will say ... ”(Luke about the dead and living people)

". If you believe, you had true love ... then it was! Was. "

". It is necessary, girl, to be kind to someone ... you need to feel sorry for people! to feel sorry for a person in time ... it happens well. "

". There are - people, and there are - others - and people ... "

". That is why every person must be respected ... after all, we don’t know who he is, why he was born and what he can do ... maybe he was born for our happiness ... for our great benefit. "

". Especially children must be respected ... children! The kids need space! Don't interfere with children's lives... Respect children. "

Satin Quotes

". Human! It's great! It sounds… proud! Human! You have to respect the person! Do not pity ... do not humiliate him with pity ... you must respect. "(Satin about a man)

". I was honest, but the spring before last. "

". Such a life that as soon as I got up in the morning, so much for howling ... "

". Everyone wants order, but there is a lack of reason. "

Quotes by Vaska Ash

Actor Quotes

". Education is nonsense, the main thing is talent And talent is faith in yourself, in your strength ... ”(Actor)

Quotes from other heroes

» . All people have gray souls ... everyone wants to get browned ... ”(Baron)

". It is not enough to know, you understand. "(Natasha)

". Do not offend a person - that's the law. » (Tatar)

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The dispute about truth and dream In the play by M. Gorky "At the bottom" - presentation

Presentation on theme: "Dispute about Truth and Dream In M. Gorky's play "At the Bottom"" - Presentation transcript:

1 The dispute about truth and dream In M. Gorky's play "At the Bottom"

2 The relevance of Gorky's work, written a century ago, is not surprising, because the author highlighted one of the main questions of human existence: on what and how can relations between people be built and what will come of it?

3 The central idea of the play is a dispute about a person, about what a person is, what he needs more - though often a cruel or beautiful dream. The choice between an “elevating” truth and a “comforting, reconciling” dream, and at such a level that human life depends on it, is the problem that the author raises in his work.

4 Particularly important and interesting for the writer are the positions of Luke and Sateen as carriers of the main ideas.

Luke's position This is the idea of compassion for people, for their misfortunes, the idea of active goodness that comforts a person, arousing in him faith that can lead him further, which will allow him to withstand the burden of "the truth of life."

6 Luke comforts Anna, promises her an afterlife. Luka pretends to believe Nastya. The old man gives hope to the Actor. Luke believes that a person in life needs to be supported, to “inspire a golden dream” of dreams. With the appearance of Luke, the main conflict of the play arises. There is a dispute about a person between two heroes: Satin and Luke.

7 Luke consoles Anna

8 Luka pretends to believe Nastya

9 Luca Gives Hope To The Actor

10 Satin's position Satin does not accept Luke's position, but still thinks. “He is smart. He ... acted on me like acid on an old and dirty coin ... ”the hero exclaims. Then he delivers his famous monologue.

11 Satin says that a real person, free, strong, deserves the truth (“truth is the God of a free person!”), that the truth opens up opportunities for a person to think realistically, soberly.

13 Thus, Luke did not improve the life of anyone, his consolation does not last long: the truth again makes everyone disappointed. But at the same time, Luka did not lie about the existence of hospitals for alcoholics, and the Actor himself could not find the strength to be treated. And when it was time to wake up from the "sleep" inspired by the wanderer, the hero crashed against the harsh "truth" of Sateen, falling from the height of his dreams. Illusions only temporarily lull and calm people - this is the meaning of the whole play.

Maxim Gorky is a legendary writer whose works have replenished the collection of classics of Russian literature. The writer departs from certain literary canons and turns the society of that time upside down with his writings. The most striking of the "innovative" works of Gorky, perhaps, can be called his sensational play "At the Bottom".

Indeed, Gorky's pen inhabits the theatrical stage - the altar of the temple of Melpomene - with "former people": cheaters, fallen women, thieves, murderers ... Do they belong here? But Gorky tells people thrown overboard of life to "be."

"At the Bottom" is a social, philosophical and psychological play that reflects the actual problems of the present day of both the writer himself and his descendants, problems that have not yet been resolved. Of course, it is impossible to list all the questions raised by the author: there are too many of them, especially if we consider the play from different points of view. But the most "bright", "conspicuous" problem can be called the problem of truth and the meaning of life.

The inhabitants of the rooming house are the inhabitants of the bottom. Once upon a time they were ordinary people, except, perhaps, Vaska Pepel, who from childhood was accustomed to looking at theft and, having matured, he himself adapted to the same business. Each of the inhabitants has their own dream, which they want to fulfill, but do not make any efforts for this. Life, like a stormy sea, throws them against the stones of problems, overwhelms them with their heads, covers their eyes with dark water, making it impossible to understand who you are and what to do next. These people are lost, powerless, deprived of hope for the best. And suddenly in their "dark kingdom" there appears such a necessary "beam of light" for them - Luke.

The biblical name was interpreted in different ways at different times: someone claimed that Luke brings light with him; others believed that the elder, with his lies, only plunges the inhabitants of the bottom more into darkness. And then the question arises: is such a lie necessary? Is it for good or for harm?

Luke appears in the play as a comforter. He draws to the dying Anna Death-deliverer, Death-friend, who will take away all the pain of the unfortunate woman along with her soul. The Drunkard-Actor gives hope for healing: “Today they are treating drunkenness, listen! Free, brother, they treat ... ". He gives advice to Ash to take Natasha and leave for Siberia to start a new life there. He, perhaps, is the only one who believes Nastenka, who tells fables about a student in love with her: “I know ... I believe! Your truth, not theirs... If you believe, you had true love... so it was! Was!". At some point, it really seems that the sun came out from behind the clouds and illuminated the faces and souls of people lost in the darkness. Each of those who are comforted has the meaning of life. They themselves begin to believe in what they could only dream of before! And is this not happiness?

But Luka disappears just as he appears. The clouds are gathering again. Leaving, he "forgot" to tell the Actor the name of the city in which "drunk treatment is free of charge." And he commits suicide. Ash kills Kostylev, and Natasha turns away from him. He is put in jail. Nastya's life does not change. She still reads tabloid novels, trying at least from there to draw those grains of true feeling that never descended on her. Only Anna dies in dreams of bliss after death. But are we allowed to know whether she received it? ..

Luke takes pity on the inhabitants of the rooming house. But his pity does not bring happiness to anyone, although the inhabitants of the bottom are grateful to him for it. Except, perhaps, the loafer Satin, who does not agree with Luke and even opposes him in some way. When the old man disappears, Satin, who was affected by the appearance of Luke "like acid on a dirty coin", is the only one who understands the meaning of all the words he said and tells his cohabitants about it:

“He lied to you ... but - this is out of pity for you, damn you!<…>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 someone else's - why does he need a lie? Lies are the religion of slaves and masters… Truth is the god of a free man!”

Satin preaches human freedom as the highest value. And Luke's pity jars him rather than makes him hope for a better future:

“That sounds… proud! Human! You have to respect the person! Do not pity ... do not humiliate him with pity ... you must respect!
So who is right anyway?

In the play, Gorky asks the reader and viewer a lot of questions, but does not give an unambiguous answer to any of them. He seems to open several doors in front of us, puts us at a crossroads and pushes us in the back: “Choose.” If I stood at such a crossroads, where the road to the left is Luke's pity, and to the right is Sateen's respect, then, in my opinion, it would be worth going straight, because pity as sympathy should be in our life, but without respect a person cannot be called human. In my opinion, there should be some symbiosis of both. Where would you go?..

Many of us remember the famous play by M. Gorky, in which there are two heroes: Luka and Satin. Each of them defends his point of view, and only the audience can decide which of them is right.

Let's consider the dispute of these characters in more detail.

The plot and the main characters of Gorky's play

This was not surprising, because the young playwright was able to create not only a touching plot, but also brilliant images of the main characters.

The plot was the life of the inhabitants of a rooming house for the poor, people who have nothing: no money, no status, no social status, and even simple bread. Their fate is tragic, they do not see the meaning of their existence, their future is only death and poverty.

Among the heroes, two antipodes stood out - Luke and Satin, who conveyed to the audience the main meaning of the play.

Luke's position

Luka, an old wanderer of about 60, does not appear in the play immediately. He comes to the rooming house and in his own way tries to console the inhabitants there.

He promises Anna, who is dying of illness, heavenly bliss for the torment suffered on earth, the robber Vaska - the opportunity to start a new life in distant and cold Siberia, the alcoholic - the hospital in which he will be cured, the prostitute - the opportunity to find true love, etc.

Some residents of this institution begin to believe the kind old man, but some of them reject his stories, considering (and deservedly considering) them to be lies.

Philosophy of Luke

In fact, Luke suggests to his listeners that he primitively understands the Christian man must endure everything, because he is sinful, he bears a well-deserved punishment on earth, and after death he will be rewarded according to his deeds.

This philosophy essentially justifies evil on earth, turns God into a powerful and ferocious ruler of people who rewards everyone according to their deserts.

Therefore, Luke seeks to deceive the unfortunate people who have fallen into a rooming house, believing that such deception will help them cope with life's difficulties. Luke is ready to accept social injustice as a given, considering it a consequence of the imperfection of human nature.

Satin Position

Satin is the only rooming house character who tries to maintain his human dignity in the inhuman conditions of extreme poverty.

Once he was a more significant person (although he was a cheater and gambler), but he lost his status after standing up for the honor of his sister, he was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 5 years.

Luka and Satin are very different. They are distinguished not so much by age as by beliefs.

Satin is a humanist, in difficult conditions he did not lose faith in people, he does not want to believe Luke's sweet speeches, believing that every person is "the blacksmith of his own happiness."

Philosophy Satin

The dispute between Luke and Sateen begins with the fact that the latter begins to contradict the words of the old man. No, Sateen does not need consolation, he is looking for active work. His truth is not Christian philosophy. Satin is closer to the position of atheism, which believes that everything is in the hands of the person himself, and does not depend on the action of higher powers. Satin does not believe in the immortality of the human soul, he does not need God, he believes that he was “at the bottom” not because his fate was so, but because he acted nobly and honestly and was punished unfairly.

“The truth is that there is a god of a free man!” Satin exclaims. He strives to build a new socially just society of free people who could live in harmony with themselves.

The characterization of Sateen and Luke shows us that these two people demonstrate by their example two completely different positions, two different attitudes towards life and understanding of a person's place in this world.

The position of Luke is compassionate, but passive, the position of Sateen is active, transformative, active. In the play, Satin won the actual victory in the dispute, because it was Luka who left the rooming house.

The dispute between Luke and Sateen: the reaction of contemporaries

Gorky's play was a huge success with the audience also because the author was able to feel and convey in it the spirit of his time.

Society wanted change. Luke's philosophy did not suit young people seeking to transform society according to new patterns. They were opposed by the more conservative part of the older generation, who wanted to preserve the state and social system.

Luka and Satin were just expressing the social split. They revealed these two irreconcilable positions and philosophies of life.

By the way, the author of the play himself, of course, belonged to the latter, he shared the position of Satin, for him this hero embodied what he himself thought. All his life, Gorky fought those who tried to preach tolerance and forgiveness, his values were the struggle and faith in the great future of his country.

In fact, Gorky himself could be called a "revolutionary in Russian literature", who in his works vividly and vividly conveyed the atmosphere of expectation of a new life by part of the progressively minded youth.

People wanted to abandon the monarchical system, they wanted to abandon the power of the capitalists, they believed that they themselves would be able to build a new and more just state.

As a result, the truth of Luke and Sateen turned out to be unequal. A revolution took place in the country, the Bolsheviks seized power, who, like Satin, decided to abandon religion as an extra social link.

So Gorky's play really turned out to be prophetic. And therein lies the genius of this work of Russian literature.

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