A very complex work was created by Maxim Gorky. “At the bottom”, the brief content of which cannot be expressed in a few sentences, leads to philosophical reflections on life and its meaning. Carefully written out images offer the reader their own point of view, however, as always, only he needs to decide.
The plot of the famous play
The analysis “At the bottom” (Gorky M.) is impossible without knowledge of the plot of the play. A thread running through the whole work is a debate about the possibilities of man and the man himself. The action takes place in the Kostylev’s rooming house, a place that, as if forgotten by God, is divorced from the civilized world of people. Every inhabitant here has long lost professional, social, social, spiritual, family ties. Almost all of them consider their situation abnormal, hence the reluctance to know anything about the neighbors, a certain bitterness, vices. Once at the bottom, the characters have their own life position, they know only their own truth. Can anything save them, or is it lost souls for society?
"At the bottom" (Gorky): the heroes of the work and their characters
In the debate in the entire play, three vital positions are especially important: Luke, Bubnov, Sateen. They all differ in fate, and their names are also symbolic.
Luke is considered the most difficult way. It is his character that prompts reflection on what is best — compassion or truth. And is it possible to use a lie in the name of compassion, how does this character do it? A thorough analysis of “At the Bottom” (Gorky) shows that Luke personifies precisely this positive quality. He eases Anna's death throes, gives hope to the Actor and Ashes. However, the disappearance of the hero leads others to disaster, which might not be.
Bubnov is a fatalist by nature. He believes that a person is not able to change anything, and his fate is determined from above by the will of the Lord, circumstances and laws. This hero is indifferent to others, to their sufferings, as well as to himself. He goes with the flow and does not even try to get ashore. Thus, the author emphasizes the danger of such a creed.
When doing the analysis "At the bottom" (Gorky), it is worth paying attention to Satin, who is firmly convinced that a person is the master of his destiny, and that is all the work of his hands.
However, preaching noble ideals, he himself is a sharpie, despises others, longs to live without working. Clever, educated, strong, this character could get out of the quagmire, but does not want to do this. His free man, who, in the words of Sateen himself, “sounds proudly,” becomes the ideologist of evil.
Instead of a conclusion
It is worth considering that Sateen and Luke are paired, similar heroes. Their names are symbolic and nonrandom. The first is associated with the devil, Satan. The second, despite the biblical origin of the name, also serves the evil one. Concluding the analysis “At the Bottom” (Gorky), I would like to note that the author wanted to convey to us that truth can save the world, but compassion is no less important. The reader must choose the position that is right for him. However, the question of man and his abilities still remains open.