"Thomas Gordeev", a brief summary, analysis and main characters of which we will present in this article, is a story that tells about the growing bourgeoisie, describes how it gradually gained strength. Mayakin, her ideologist, not without reason believes that life is becoming more interesting. However, the story of Alexei Maximovich shows not only the growth of the Russian bourgeoisie. Her main thought is about how in this reality a healthy, energetic person had to fight, who was looking for a job in strength and scope for his energy.
Anatoly Schurov and Jacob Mayakin
Gorky's work presents a whole gallery of images of people who can be called "masters of life." This, for example, a major forest merchant Schurov Anatoly Savvich. This man is the mover of the merchant world. Mayakin says of him that this is a "cunning old devil." However, in tricks, Yakov Mayakin himself is not inferior to anyone. Merchants call him the "brain man." Jacob is the ideologist of the merchants. He teaches his "philosophy" godson Thomas. Jacob says that in the state the merchant is the first force, since there are millions with him. That is why, he notes, officials and nobles should step aside in order to give room to the merchants so that they can invest their capital and use their strength.
The representative of the patriarchal merchants, old and wild, is Anatoly Schurov. This man opposes all sorts of innovations, against machines that make life easier. He viciously prophesies that man perishes from freedom. Note that Jacob Mayakin is also a representative of the old merchants. However, he is able to adapt to changing conditions.
Taras and African Smolin
Taras (son of Jacob), as well as African Smolin (son-in-law) continue the work of the fathers. However, they act more soberly, more prudently, give their occupation a European gloss. These people are eager for power. They seek to transform domestic industry into the European manner.
Ignat Gordeev
Nevertheless, already in the older generation, already in the ranks of those who founded the fortune, there are people who internally protested against the unjust orders of this world. However, they could not change the economic relations that developed at that time. Such, for example, Ignat Gordeev. This is an intelligent and gifted person from the people. Ignat is greedy for life, he works with indomitable passion. Once he served as an aquifer, but now he has become rich. Ignat Gordeev owns a dozen barges and three steamboats. The author notes that his life did not flow in a straight line, like many others like him. She, boiling rebelliously, tried to get out of the rut, trying to get away from profit. But profit for merchants is the main purpose of existence, as noted by Maxim Gorky.
Thomas Gordeev
The summary below will introduce you in detail to the events in the life of this hero. Now we will focus on his inner world. Thomas does not want to follow the path of money-grubbing and hoarding. Instinctively, this hero is drawn to beauty, he does not know how and does not want to fake. For him, the prison is the world of possessive relations. Thomas says that he is "stuffy", that his soul hurts. This is precisely the very “healthy person” who longs for freedom in life. He is closely within the framework of this reality. Thomas persistently tries to leave the world of the owners, and the author sees this as an indicator of the instability of modernity, that the time will come to change it.
This hero cannot fully understand the structure of life. He does not know the methods and ways of changing it. Both from the people and from the advanced intelligentsia are far from Thomas Gordeev. The summary presented below indicates that he does not find a common language with either one or the other, although he reaches out to them in his soul. Gordeev thinks a lot about life, but he does not have a craving for a book and knowledge. Foma is scared away by a society of educated and smart people. He does not feel the need to have friends. The world of property, rejected by the hero, the merchant lifestyle left a mark in his soul. Thomas knew early what kind of condescending pity for the hungry a well-fed man shows. This hero at the end of the story is humiliated and defeated. The Mayakin world triumphs over the rebel.
However, this is a victory over a confused and weak person, not a reader. All the ugliness of the kingdom of the Mayakins and Shurovs was revealed to us by M. Gorky ("Thomas Gordeev"). A summary of the work will introduce you to this kingdom more closely. After reading the story, perhaps you better understand the main character.
First chapter
The summary of "Thomas Gordeeva" begins with a description of the appearance and life of Ignat Gordeev. This is a successful, intelligent and beautiful person. He is one of those who was able to make a millionaire fortune on the Volga. By the age of 40, this man was the owner of a dozen barges and three steamboats. He was considered a smart and wealthy person. However, he was given the nickname "Naughty", because his life did not flow measuredly, but all the time exploded in shocks. Ignat Gordeev dreams of a son. And his dream comes true - the second wife finally gives birth to him a boy. Unfortunately, a woman dies during childbirth. Ignat, having arranged the funeral of his wife and christening his son Thomas, gives him reluctantly to be brought up in the family of Mayakin, the godfather. The author notes that the death of his wife added a lot of gray hair to his beard, however, something new appeared in the sparkle of Ignat's eyes - affectionate and soft.
Second chapter
We proceed to the second chapter, describing the summary of "Thomas Gordeev." It tells about the house in which Jacob Mayakin lives. It is very large, two-story. This house is surrounded by old linden trees. Mayakin's family consists of Jacob, his daughter and wife, as well as five relatives. In addition, he has a son, Taras, but Mayakin disowned him because he acted against his will by marrying some girl in Moscow. By occupation, Jacob Mayakin is a merchant. He owns a cable factory and also holds a bench at the marina. He lived in the family of Jacob Thomas Gordeev for six years. Very brief content does not allow to dwell on his life here. We will only say that this time was, in general, not bad.
Thomas looked older in his years, both internally and externally. After a while, Ignat took his son home. Jacob attached to him asked to leave him. However, Gordeev objected that he had given birth to Thomas not for him. After returning home, our hero began to look after Anfisa. Since then, Thomas fell asleep to the sounds of the old woman’s voice every day. The boy was eight years old when his father informed him that it was time to start studying. After he studied winter, Ignat promised to take him in the spring to sail. The father kept his promise, and in the spring went to the Ermak with his son. Ignat reminded the boy that they were masters, and sailors should be treated like servants. The child heard dissatisfied whispers of team members about his father. The case of the drowned man is described by the author at the end of this chapter. Sailors push the dead man from the sides so that the drowned man does not get in the wheel. The boy is frightened, but his father explains to him that this is necessary. The dead do not care what happens to his body, and the ship does not need extra problems with the authorities. All this is recorded in his memory by Thomas Gordeev. A summary of the chapters continues with the events of the third chapter.
Third chapter
Thomas enters the school. Here he meets Smolin, who was the son of a wealthy breeder. In addition, he is friends with the usual poor guy Yezhov. Thomas is engaged in childishness with them - chasing pigeons and stealing apples through orchards. When he turns 19, he goes on his first independent voyage. Yefim is the captain of the lead ship. This is an experienced sailor whom Thomas knows well. This man enlightens him "according to women’s affairs", and also introduces him to Pelagia. At this time, Ignat begins to drink heavily from boredom. When his son returns from swimming, he is already bad and after some time dies.
Chapter four
Ignat is buried, a memorial dinner is arranged in his honor. Thomas meets on the bookmark of a rooming house with Sofia Medynskaya, who invites him to dinner. Thomas did not like the assembled society. He talks about life with Any, and seems to understand her.
Fifth chapter
The main character has a double impression of Jacob. Mayakin helps Foma in business, but the young man believes that he wants to marry him to Lyuba. Having learned that Thomas spends a lot of time in the company of Sophia, Jacob warns him. The young man admits Medynskaya in love.
Meeting with Shchurov and Ukhtishchev
Mayakin once sent Thomas to Shchurov Ananiy Savvich on the case. This man is a wood merchant. There are terrible rumors about him. He allegedly sheltered a convict in his bathhouse who made fake money for him, and then killed him and burned him in the bathhouse. In addition, he outlived two wives, and then recaptured his wife from his own son. During the meeting, Schurov speaks poorly of Mayakin.
Then Thomas goes to the club, where he meets Ukhtishchev. He learns from him that Sophia will go abroad tomorrow all summer. Someone (as it turned out, the vice-governor’s son-in-law) intervenes in the conversation and speaks poorly of Medynskaya. Thomas grabs his hair. This arouses interest in Ukhtishchev.
The binges of Thomas Gordeev
After 3 days, Thomas wraps up on a forest pier. His lady is Alexandra. Thomas wrote about the outrages in the newspaper. Mayakin scolds him, but cannot stop him. One Sasha among the hustle and bustle of diners is smooth and calm. Foma is attracted by the secret hidden in her. However, he feels that he does not love this woman.
Sasha warns him that Thomas Gordeev will surely disappear. The summary (chapter 9 ends here) continues with the fact that the protagonist cannot find his place in life. He walks with women, laughs at them, but never raises his hand on them.
Soon, Thomas learns that Mayakin started a rumor that he was not in his mind and needed custody. Our hero reconciled with this and continued to revel. In the end, a scene occurred on the ship. Thomas looked at the audience with hatred and said that they made a prison, not life, forged chains on a person. Gordeev remembered all the merchants who knew about them criminally.
Final events
3 years have passed, as Gorky ("Thomas Gordeev") notes. A summary of the final events is as follows. Mayakin died after excruciating agony, leaving his son, daughter and Afrika Smolin, his son-in-law, all the fortune. Yezhov was sent for something from the city. A trading house appeared in the city, with a sign saying "Taras Mayakin and Afrikan Smolin." Nothing was heard of Gordeev. They said that Mayakin sent him to his mother’s relatives outside the Urals.
One day he appears in the city. Thomas, almost always drunk, now gloomy, then smiles at the sad and pathetic smile of a blessed one. He now lives in a small wing in the courtyard of his godmother. The townspeople and merchants often laugh at him. Thomas avoids people and rarely approaches the caller.
This concludes the summary of Foma Gordeeva (the author’s photo is presented above). Note that we described only the main events. This story is quite voluminous, so the summary of "Thomas Gordeev" presented above gives only the most general idea of it.