Romanticism, fortitude and an incredible love of freedom - this is the legend of Danko. A summary of Maxim Gorky's story “The Old Woman Izergil” most often contains a retelling of the freedom-loving Danko, although there are other interesting characters in this work.
Romance and love of freedom
All the works of Maxim Gorky, which were written in the early period of his work, contain a lot of reflection on the meaning of life. The author appears before us an exalted romantic who is in love with strong people. A beautiful and instructive story - such is the legend of Danko, a summary of which is given below.
Story structure
Gorky wrote this amazing story-parable in 1895. It consists of three independent parts. The work contains two main characters - the author himself, on behalf of whom the story is being kept, and the old woman Isergil, who told him stories on the seashore. The legend of Danko, the brief content of which every educated person needs to know, structurally consists of three parts. This is a story about Larry, the son of an eagle who has no inner core, is cold and full of pride. This is the legend of Danko, who is ready to sacrifice his life for freedom. And the third part is a story about the difficult life of the old woman Isergil.
Arrogance and pride
An analysis of the legend of Danko from the story of M. Gorky will not be completely complete unless you first tell about the first hero of the story - Larry. He is very freedom-loving and proud, but he only thinks about his own benefits and conveniences. He wants to use all the benefits, but at the same time give nothing in return to anyone. He is extremely selfish, he is overwhelmed by unbridled desires, he knows no compassion and does not know what true love is.
The daughter of one of the elders rejected his feelings, and in a fit of anger he kills her. People punished him - they drove him out of their society, doomed to eternal wandering and loneliness. He begins to yearn, the only thing he longs for with all his soul is death. He is even ready to kill himself - but fate doomed him to immortality. People leave him alone in the steppe, soon from him there remains only a shadow on the earth.
Old woman's life
The ability to empathize, to find an element of romance and elevated feelings in the most ordinary things - this is how early Gorky M. appears to readers. A summary of Danko, this beautiful legend, the author precedes with a story about the life of the old woman Isergil.
The second part of this wonderful story is somewhat autobiographical in nature. The old woman Isergil led a rather stormy life, she traveled a lot and saw many people. She herself had insane pride and loved to play on the
feelings of people, use them to achieve her goals. When she loved a man, she surrendered herself to this passion completely and irrevocably; she was ready for everything for this man. She could even kill a man in order to free her lover from captivity. But her feelings quickly faded away, then she turned her back to the one who until recently had been so dear to her.
And only at the end of her life did the old woman realize that happiness is not in passions, not in strong feelings, but in a quiet seed life, when there is a beloved husband and long-awaited children nearby. Alas, life has passed, but the old woman has none of this.
Live for someone
And yet, the main thing, a key place in this story is the legend of Danko. A.M. Gorky was able to describe this story so piercingly and sincerely that it forever entered the world literature as a model of style.
Once upon a time, evil enemies decided to expel people from their native lands and sent them to live in dense forests. No one dared to complain. And only the young brave man Danko, courageous and unconquered, decided to bring people out of the forest. With his energy, he inspired people and led them on a difficult journey. At first, people walked energetically and confidently. But their strength was exhausted, a thunderstorm began, and a murmur grew louder and louder in the crowd - why did we embark on this difficult path? In their troubles, they accused Danko, who persuaded them to go on the road. And in order not to go further, they decided to kill the daredevil.
What to do in this situation? Persuade? Assure? Begging to keep going forward? Not. Danko, this brave handsome man, tore his heart out of his chest, raised it above his head. He illuminated the way for people. And it was so amazing that people followed him. The forest is over, the goal is achieved, here it is, freedom!
But people immediately forgot about Danko, as if there was no merit in that they gained the long-awaited freedom.
Morality and Conclusion
This is just a small retelling of a beautiful romantic story, a brief summary. Gorky, whose legend of Danko became very popular and turned into a parable, very subtly and beautifully describes all aspects of the human soul. Its dark corners, where there is a place of pride, narcissism, fears, and the bright sides of the human character, when for the sake of a lofty goal the hero is ready to sacrifice his life.
In this amazing story, there is the most important thing - the wisdom of life, the destiny of man, good that does not always win, and evil that dresses in decent clothes. Living not for yourself, but for others - this is the main message of this literary work. And even if people around you do not appreciate it right away. But it is the command of your soul to sacrifice yourself in order to gain freedom.
Indeed, in essence, the three heroes - and the old woman Isergil, and Larry, and Danko - are very similar to each other in their spiritual qualities. All of them are proud, purposeful, all live with great passions. But a lot depends on where to direct your energy, how to dispose of your gift, how to apply your leader's makings.
Larry decided to devote his life only to himself, did not accept rejection. As a result, he was expelled from society and received the worst punishment - complete loneliness.
Old woman Isergil, overwhelmed by passions, was ready to make sacrifices, but too quickly she cooled to her lovers. And in search of her soulmate, she never found love or peace.
And only Danko, this brave daredevil, was not afraid to give his life for the sake of others. Freedom and independence for him stood in the first place. And as a sacrifice of these dominant concepts, he was ready to give the most precious thing - his life.
That is why the legend of Danko has become very popular. The summary of the story “The Old Woman Isergil” does not convey all the beauty and sophistication of the style. And it is worth noting that in this work Maxim Gorky appears before us as a masterly master of the word.
A beautiful, moving, sad and at the same time life-affirming story elevated Maxim Gorky to the literary Olympus and became a real classic of Russian literature.