The story of M. Gorky “My companion”, a brief summary of the chapters of which we will now bring to your attention, was written in 1894 and first published in the Samara newspaper. It consists of eight chapters, but we will combine them for greater readability.
Transition from Odessa to Kherson
This is how the story of Maxim Gorky “My companion” begins, a brief summary of which we begin to expound.
In Odessa harbor, the narrator drew attention to a well-dressed oriental-type man who came there every day. The loader decided to meet him. Having lunch with bread and watermelon, he drew attention to the hungry gleam in the eyes of a young man who was about 19 years old, and offered him his simple meal. He instantly eagerly swallowed everything. Then Maxim, as the narrator was called, went and bought him meat and bread, which he quickly ate, as if afraid that he would be taken away his food. Then he thanked his breadwinner and said that he was the Georgian prince Shakro Ptadze (the real prototype is Tsulukidze). But he was robbed by his colleague, whom he began to search for. Now he wants to go to Tiflis with his father, a wealthy landowner. The narrator promised to help him get to the house on foot. So they went from Odessa to Tiflis.
We continue to cover the summary (“My companion” is a fascinating story that is worth getting to know it completely). When they walked about a hundred kilometers and reached Kherson, the narrator already knew Shakro quite well. It was an animal in human form: good-natured when it was full, and irritable, dissatisfied, wild and undeveloped - in other cases. He was sure that at the head of everything was a force that sets all the laws. Talking about Christ and mercy made him bored and misunderstood.
In Crimea
Finally, they passed Perekop and rushed to Feodosia in order to earn money at the port and get to Batumi. While they go through the Crimea, the narrator all the time earns money so that they have money for food, and the prince refuses to work, preferring to collect alms. This continues the story "My companion", a summary of which we transmit. Narrator Maxim forgives everything to his companion. Sharko considered Maxim stupid for working and feeding him, a loafer. He reasoned with arrogance and considered himself superior to the narrator in everything. Near Alushta, they spent the night on the seashore, making a bonfire. The moon, the vast sea fascinated the narrator.
Suddenly, Shakro began to laugh at him, offending and angry him to the very bottom of his soul: the Georgian decided that he was stupid like a ram. Once again Maxim forgave him. They got to Feodosia, but did not find work and went, starving, to Kerch. They broke off to such an extent that they were mistaken for tramps and did not give work. And it was necessary to cross the strait to Taman. Further, the story “My companion”, the summary of which we retell, becomes dramatic.
Crossing and meeting with shepherds
At night, they steal a boat without oars at customs. Maxim rowing the boards that lie in it. The wind is growing, he can carry them to the sea. The boat turns over. Clinging to the ropes along its sides, they continue to sail to no one knows where. Luckily, they are ashore, but huge dogs run up to them, ready to bite them.
Maxim whistles with all his might, and they hear people running to help. A few minutes later, frozen, wet and hungry, they are already sitting by the fire, which shepherds have built, and tell them about their misadventures. Shepherds are wondering who to hand them over to: customs or ataman. Both threaten travelers with prison. Finally, the elder decides to simply let them go, giving them bread and lard on the road. Continuing Gorky’s short story “My Companion,” a brief summary shows how the emerging conflict is resolved.
Anapa-Tiflis Road
Leaving the shepherds, the narrator admires the simplicity of their noble behavior, and his companion suddenly begins to laugh. It turns out that if they were brought to the authorities, then the Georgians would say to everyone that Maxim wanted to drown him, and he would not be sent to prison. The narrator is struck by the cynicism of his companion, who does not understand the simplest morality. Further, Shakro Ptadze steals from Maxim five rubles and drinks them. Then, after working with the Circassians to harvest corn, the Georgians steal their muslin cattle. Knowing the revenge and cruelty of the Circassians, the narrator takes away a kitten from a Georgian during a fight and throws it onto the road. Then, having reconciled, they continue on to Tiflis.
End of travel
Two martyrs finally reach the outskirts of Tiflis. They are waiting for the dark, since the prince is ashamed to appear in the city as a ragged man, where everyone, as he says, knows him. Finally, it got dark, and lights began to light in the houses. Shakro Ptadze takes away the bobbin from Maxim to completely hide, and asks his friend to wait at the horse. After that, he disappeared forever. So ends the story of Maxim Gorky "My companion", a summary of which we have transmitted. But the narrator was not offended by his companion, who accompanied him for four months. He often recalled him with kindness and laughter, because he saw the abyss between himself and the insignificant prince.