At the bottom is a brief three truths. Three truths and their tragic collision (based on M. Gorky's play "At the bottom"). I. Opening talk

Goals: consider the understanding of the heroes of Gorky's play "truth"; find out the meaning of the tragic collision of different points of view: the truth of a fact (Bubnov), the truth of a comforting lie (Luke), the truth of faith in a person (Satin); to determine the features of Gorky's humanism.

Download:


Preview:

Lesson topic:


"THREE TRUTHS" IN GORKY'S PLAY "AT THE BOTTOM"

Goals: consider the understanding of the heroes of Gorky's play "truth"; find out the meaning of the tragic collision of different points of view: the truth of a fact (Bubnov), the truth of a comforting lie (Luke), the truth of faith in a person (Satin); to determine the features of Gorky's humanism.

During the classes

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!

I. Introductory talk.

- Restore the sequence of events of the play. What events take place on stage, and what - "behind the scenes"? What is the role in the development of the dramatic action of the traditional "conflict polygon" - Kostylev, Vasilisa, Pepel, Natasha?

The relationship between Vasilisa, Kostylev, Ash, Natasha only outwardly motivates the stage action. Some of the events that make up the plot outline of the play take place outside the stage (the fight between Vasilisa and Natasha, Vasilisa's revenge - the overturning of the boiling samovar on her sister, the murder of Kostylev are committed around the corner of the rooming house and are almost invisible to the viewer).

All other characters in the play are not involved in a love affair. The compositional and plot disunity of the actors is expressed in the organization of the stage space - the characters are dispersed in different corners of the stage and "closed" in unrelated microspaces.

Teacher. Thus, two actions are going on in parallel in the play. First, we see on the stage (supposed and real). Detective story with conspiracy, escape, murder, suicide. The second is the exposure of "masks" and the revelation of the true essence of man. This happens as if behind the text and requires decoding. For example, here is the dialogue between the Baron and Luke.

Baron. Lived better... yes! I... used to... wake up in the morning and, lying in bed, drink coffee... coffee! - with cream ... yes!

Luke. And all are people! No matter how you pretend, no matter how you wiggle, but you were born a man, you will die a man ...

But the Baron is afraid to be "just a man". And "just a man" he does not recognize.

Baron. Who are you, old man? Where did you come from?

Luke. Am I?

Baron. Wanderer?

Luke. We are all wanderers on earth... They say, I heard, that the earth is also our wanderer.

The culmination of the second (implicit) action comes when the “truths” of Bubnov, Sateen and Luka collide on the “narrow worldly platform”.

II. Work on the problem stated in the topic of the lesson.

1. Philosophy of truth in Gorky's play.

What is the main theme of the play? Which of the characters is the first to formulate the main question of the drama "At the Bottom"?

The dispute about the truth is the semantic center of the play. The word “truth” will sound already on the first page of the play, in Kvashnya’s remark: “Ah! You can't stand the truth!" Truth is a lie (“You're lying!” - Klesch's sharp cry, which sounded even before the word “truth”), truth - faith - these are the most important semantic poles that determine the problems of "At the Bottom".

– How do you understand the words of Luke: “What you believe is what you are”? How are the characters of "At the Bottom" divided depending on their attitude to the concepts of "faith" and "truth"?

In contrast to the "prose of fact", Luke offers the truth of the ideal - the "poetry of fact". If Bubnov (the main ideologist of the literally understood “truth”), Satin, Baron are far from illusions and do not need an ideal, then the Actor, Nastya, Anna, Natasha, Pepel respond to Luka’s remark - for them, faith is more important than truth.

Luke’s uncertain story about hospitals for alcoholics sounded like this: “They are now treating drunkenness, listen! They treat for free, brother, ... such a hospital is built for drunkards ... You admitted, you see, that a drunkard is also a person ... "In the actor's imagination, the hospital turns into a" marble palace ":" An excellent hospital ... Marble .. .marble floor! Light... cleanliness, food... everything is free! And a marble floor. Yes!" The actor is a hero of faith, not the truth of fact, and the loss of the ability to believe is fatal for him.

- What is the truth for the heroes of the play? How to compare their views?(Work with text.)

A) How does Bubnov understand the “truth”? What are the contradictions between his views and Luke's philosophy of truth?

The truth of Bubnov consists in the exposure of the wrong side of being, this is the "truth of the fact." “What kind of truth do you need, Vaska? And for what? You know the truth about yourself ... and everyone knows it ... ”he drives Ash into the doom of being a thief when he was trying to figure himself out. “I stopped coughing, that means,” he reacted to Anna’s death.

After listening to Luke's allegorical story about his life at a dacha in Siberia and sheltering (rescuing) fugitive convicts, Bubnov admitted: “But I ... can't lie! For what? In my opinion, bring down the whole truth as it is! Why be ashamed?

Bubnov sees only the negative side of life and destroys the remnants of faith and hope in people, while Luka knows that in a kind word the ideal becomes real:“A person can teach good things ... very simply,”he concluded the story about life in the country, and outlining the "story" of the righteous land, he reduced it to the fact that the destruction of faith kills a person.Luka (thoughtfully, to Bubnov): “Here ... you say - the truth ... She, the truth, is not always due to illness to a person ... you can’t always cure the soul with truth ... " Luke heals the soul.

Luke's position is more humane and more effective than Bubnov's naked truth, because it appeals to the remnants of the human in the souls of the overnight stays. A person for Luke, "whatever it is - but always worth its price."“I only say that if someone did not do well to someone, then he did badly.” "To caress a personnever harmful."

Such a moral credo harmonizes relations between people, cancels the wolf principle, and ideally leads to the acquisition of inner completeness and self-sufficiency, confidence that, despite external circumstances, a person has found truths that no one will ever take away from him.

B) In what does Satine see the truth of life?

One of the climaxes of the play is Sateen's famous monologues from the fourth act about man, truth, and freedom.

A trained student reads Sateen's monologue by heart.

It is interesting that Satin supported his reasoning with the authority of Luke, the man in relation to whom we presented Satin as an antipode at the beginning of the play. Moreover, Satine's references to Luke in act 4 prove the closeness of both."Old man? He is smart! .. He ... acted on me like acid on an old and dirty coin ... Let's drink to his health! "Man, that's the truth! He understood that…you don’t!”

Actually, the "truth" and "falsehood" of Sateen and Luke almost coincide.

Both believe that “one must respect a person” (emphasis on the last word) - not his “mask”; but they differ on how to communicate their "truth" to people. After all, she, if you think about it, is deadly to those who fall into her area.

If everything "faded" and one "naked" person remained, then "what's next"? Actor this thought leads to suicide.

Q) What role does Luke play in solving the problem of "truth" in the play?

For Luke, the truth is in the "comforting lie".

Luke takes pity on the man and comforts him with his dream. He promises Anna an afterlife, listens to Nastya's tales, and sends the Actor to a hospital. He lies for the sake of hope, and this, perhaps, is better than the cynical "truth" of Bubnov, "an abomination and a lie."

In the image of Luke there are hints of the biblical Luke, who was one of the seventy disciples sent by the Lord "to every city and place where He Himself wanted to go."

Gorkovsky Luke makes the inhabitants of the bottom think about God and man, about the "better man", about the highest calling of people.

"Luke" is also light. Luka comes to illuminate Kostylev's basement with the light of new ideas forgotten at the bottom of feelings. He talks about how it should be, what should be, and it is not at all necessary to look for practical recommendations or instructions for survival in his reasoning.

Evangelist Luke was a doctor. In his own way, Luka heals in the play - with his attitude to life, advice, word, sympathy, love.

Luke heals, but not everyone, but selectively, those who need words. His philosophy is revealed in relation to other characters. He sympathizes with the victims of life: Anna, Natasha, Nastya. Teaches, giving practical advice, Ash, Actor. Understanding, ambiguously, often without words, he explains with clever Bubnov. Skillfully avoids unnecessary explanations.

The bow is flexible, soft. “They crumpled a lot, that’s why it’s soft ...” - he said at the end of the 1st act.

Luke with his "lie" is sympathetic to Satine. "Dubye... keep quiet about the old man!.. The old man is not a charlatan!.. He lied... but - it's out of pity for you, damn you!" Still, Luke's "lie" doesn't suit him. “Lies are the religion of slaves and masters! Truth is the god of a free man!”

Thus, while rejecting the “truth” of Bubnov, Gorky does not deny either the “truth” of Sateen or the “truth” of Luka. In essence, he singles out two truths: “truth-truth” and “truth-dream”.

2. Features of Gorky's humanism.

The Problem of Man in Gorky's play "At the Bottom" (individual communication).

Gorky put his truth about man and overcoming the dead end into the mouths of the Actor, Luka and Sateen.

At the beginning of the play, indulging in theatrical memories, Actor selflessly spoke about the miracle of talent - the game of transforming a person into a hero. Responding to the words of Satin about the books he read, education, he divided education and talent: “Education is nonsense, the main thing is talent”; “I say talent, that's what a hero needs. And talent is faith in yourself, in your strength ... "

It is known that Gorky worshiped knowledge, education, books, but he valued talent even more. Through the Actor, he polemically, maximalistically sharpened and polarized two facets of the spirit: education as the sum of knowledge and living knowledge - a “system of thought”.

In the monologues of Satin the ideas of Gorky's thoughts about man are confirmed.

Man is “he is everything. He even created God”; “man is the container of the living God”; "Faith in the power of thought ... is a person's faith in himself." So in Gorky's letters. And so - in the play: “A person can believe or not believe ... this is his business! Man is free... he pays for everything himself... Man is the truth! What is a man... it's you, me, they, an old man, Napoleon, Mohammed... in one... In one - all beginnings and ends... Everything is in a person, everything is for a person! Only man exists, everything else is the work of his hands and his brain!

The Actor was the first to speak about talent and self-confidence. Satin summarized everything. What is the role Luke ? He carries ideas dear to Gorky of transforming and improving life at the cost of human creative efforts.

“And that’s all, I look, people are getting smarter, more and more interesting ... and even though they live, it’s getting worse, but they want it, it’s getting better ... stubborn!” - the elder confesses in the first act, referring to the common aspirations of all for a better life.

At the same time, in 1902, Gorky shared his observations and moods with V. Veresaev: “The vital mood is growing and expanding, vigor and faith in people are more and more noticeable, and - it’s good to live on earth - by God!” Some words, some thoughts, even intonations are the same in a play and a letter.

In the fourth act satin remembered and reproduced Luka's answer to his question "Why do people live?" , everything, as it is, live for the best! That is why every person must be respected ... After all, we do not know who he is, why he was born and what he can do ... ”And he himself, continuing to talk about a person, said, repeating Luke:“ We must respect a person! Do not pity ... do not humiliate him with pity ... you must respect! Satin repeated Luke, speaking of respect, did not agree with him, speaking of pity, but something else is more important - the idea of ​​a “better person”.

The statements of the three characters are similar, and, mutually reinforcing, they work for the problem of the triumph of Man.

In one of Gorky's letters, we read: “I am sure that a person is capable of endless improvement, and all his activities will also develop along with him ... from century to century. I believe in the infinity of life...” Again, Luka, Satin, Gorky - about one thing.

3. What is the significance of the 4th act of Gorky's play?

In this act, there is the former situation, but the “fermentation” of the previously sleepy thoughts of the tramps begins.

It started from the scene of Anna's death.

Luke says over the dying woman: “Much-merciful Jesus Christ! Accept the spirit of your newly-departed servant Anna in peace ... "But Anna's last words were words about life : “Well ... a little more ... to live ... a little! If there is no flour there ... here you can endure ... you can!”

- How to regard these words of Anna - as a victory for Luke or as his defeat? Gorky does not give an unequivocal answer; it is possible to comment on this phrase in different ways. One thing is clear:

Anna spoke for the first timepositive about life thanks to Luke.

In the last act, a strange, completely unconscious rapprochement of the “bitter brethren” takes place. In the 4th act, Kleshch repaired Alyoshka's harmonica, having tried the frets, the already familiar prison song sounded. And this ending is perceived in two ways. You can do this: you can’t leave the bottom - “The sun rises and sets ... but it’s dark in my prison!” It can be otherwise: at the cost of death, a person cut off the song of tragic hopelessness ...

Actor's suicide interrupted the song.

What prevents the overnight stays from changing their lives for the better? Natasha's fatal mistake is disbelief in people, Ashes (“I somehow don’t believe ... in any words”), who hopes to change fate together.

“That’s why I’m a thief, because no one has ever guessed to call me by another name ... Call me ... Natasha, well?”

Her answer is convinced, endured:"There's nowhere to go... I know... I thought... But I don't trust anyone."

One word of faith in a person could change the lives of both, but it did not sound.

The Actor, for whom creativity is the meaning of life, a vocation, did not believe in himself either. The news of the death of the Actor came after the well-known monologues of Satin, shading them in contrast: he didn’t cope, he didn’t play, but he could, he didn’t believe in himself.

All the characters in the play are in the zone of action of seemingly abstract Good and Evil, but they become quite concrete when it comes to the fate, attitudes, relationships with the life of each of the characters. And people are connected with good and evil by their thoughts, words and deeds. They directly or indirectly affect life. Life is a path of choosing your direction between good and evil. In the play, Gorky examined a person and tested his capabilities. The play is devoid of utopian optimism, as well as the other extreme - disbelief in man. But one conclusion is indisputable: “Talent, that's what a hero needs. And talent is faith in yourself, your strength ... "

III. Aphoristic language of Gorky's play.

Teacher. One of the characteristic features of Gorky's creativity is aphorism. It is characteristic of both the author's speech and the speech of the characters, which is always sharply individual. Many aphorisms of the play "At the Bottom", like the aphorisms of "Songs" about the Falcon and the Petrel, have become winged. Let's recall some of them.

- Which characters of the play belong to the following aphorisms, proverbs, sayings?

a) Noise - death is not a hindrance.

b) Such a life that as soon as he got up in the morning, so much for howling.

c) Wait for the sense of the wolf.

d) When work is a duty, life is slavery.

e) Not a single flea is bad: all are black, all are jumping.

f) Where it is warm for an old man, there is a homeland.

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

h) If you don’t like it, don’t listen, but don’t interfere with lying.

(Bubnov - a, b, g; Luka - d, f; Satin - d, Baron - h, Pepel - c.)

– What is the role of aphoristic statements of characters in the speech structure of the play?

Aphoristic judgments receive the greatest significance in the speech of the main "ideologists" of the play - Luka and Bubnov, heroes whose positions are indicated very clearly. The philosophical dispute, in which each of the heroes of the play takes his position, is supported by common folk wisdom, expressed in proverbs and sayings.

IV. Creative work.

Write a reasoning, expressing your attitude to the read work.(Answer to one question of your choice.)

- What is the meaning of the dispute between Luke and Satine?

- Whose side do you adhere to in the dispute "about the truth"?

- What problems raised by M. Gorky in the play "At the Bottom" did not leave you indifferent?

When preparing your answer, pay attention to the speech of the characters, how it helps to reveal the idea of ​​the work.

Homework.

Select an episode for analysis (oral). This will be the topic of your future essay.

1. Luke's story about the "righteous land". (Analysis of an episode from the 3rd act of Gorky's play.)

2. Dispute of rooming houses about a person (Analysis of the dialogue at the beginning of the 3rd act of the play "At the Bottom".)

3. What is the meaning of the finale of Gorky's play "At the Bottom"?

4. The appearance of Luke in a rooming house. (Analysis of a scene from the 1st act of the play.)


The play "At the Bottom" was written on June 15, 1902, and premiered on stage on December 31 of the same year. It changed many names during the development process and overcame many obstacles due to censorship in Russian theaters, but it has remained interesting to this day, because in it you can find the truth about the life of "former people", that is, the social lower classes of society, hence its name to which we are so accustomed.

One can argue a lot about why Gorky did not leave her a name, for example, “Without the Sun” or “The Nochlezhka”, but the most interesting thing, in my opinion, is to talk about the conflict of this play.

I want to start with the fact that in the play we can notice three “truths”, each of which is true in its own way, it is they that constitute the conflict of the work.

The “truth” of the wanderer Luke is that if in order to live, a person needs a lie, he needs to lie, because this will be a lie for the good. Without it, a person may not endure the hard truth and die altogether, since everyone needs consolation to continue the fight against despondency. The speech of the hero is aphoristic, and in it one can see his life position. For example, the hero believes that: "What you believe is what it is."

There is also a second "truth", which is displayed in the image of Sateen, who is a sharpie and an alcoholic. In the past, he was a telegraph operator, but he dared to kill a man and went to prison, and ended up in a rooming house, carrying his “truth” that lies are the religion of slaves and you can’t lie to anyone, anywhere. Satin believes that a person needs to be respected, and not humiliated with pity. According to Konstantin, a person should not despair, and it is in his monologues that the author's position is observed: "Truth is the god of a free man!"

The third “truth” is that you need to say everything directly, as it is, and this is the truth of Bubnov. He believes that there is no point in lying, because anyway everyone will die sooner or later.

Each person decides for himself which “truth” is closer to him, but the most difficult thing is to make the right choice, because a person’s life, or even hundreds of people, can depend on it. I believe that the truth proposed by Satin is closer to me, since I think that a person should always be aware of his value and be respected. A lie will always exist, whether we like it or not, because without evil, as you know, there would be no good. However, it cannot be cultivated and turned into an idea, justifying it with an illusory good. Everyone has their own understanding of “good”, and if we start deceiving each other in order to achieve a “higher” goal, then we will only sow evil. The dispute, whose truth is more truthful, will be decided by force, and it will no longer be up to respect and the value of human life and personality.

Luke leaves, as do abstract ideals under the pressure of real life. What can he, a vagabond and a beggar, advise people? How can I help you? Only to inspire a destructive vain hope, which, leaving, will smash a person to smithereens.

In conclusion, I want to write that an honest person is much stronger and kinder than a liar: he is not indifferent if he tries to find the truth and show it to you, and not hide or “not notice” out of banal indifference to your fate. A liar irresponsibly and cold-bloodedly uses gullibility and betrays it, and an honest person has to break through the armor of distrust and act directly for your good. He doesn't use you or fool around for fun. Luka, too, was neither calculating nor funny, but he was far from real life and immersed in his own illusions. Satin is a realist, he has seen more in his lifetime. A kind of prodigal son knew from his own experience how a person needs respect and truth, which, as you know, could warn him in due time from a fatal mistake.

Interesting? Save it on your wall!

Lesson 15 "THREE TRUTHS" IN GORKY'S PIECE "AT THE BOTTOM"

30.03.2013 78767 0

Lesson 15
"Three Truths" in Gorky's play "At the Bottom"

Goals : consider the understanding of the heroes of Gorky's play "truth"; find out the meaning of the tragic collision of different points of view: the truth of a fact (Bubnov), the truth of a comforting lie (Luke), the truth of faith in a person (Satin); to determine the features of Gorky's humanism.

During the classes

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!

I. Introductory talk.

- Restore the sequence of events of the play. What events take place on stage, and which ones take place behind the scenes? What is role in the development of the dramatic action of the traditional "conflict polygon" - Kostylev, Vasilisa, Pepel, Natasha?

The relationship between Vasilisa, Kostylev, Ash, Natasha only outwardly motivates the stage action. Some of the events that make up the plot outline of the play take place outside the stage (the fight between Vasilisa and Natasha, Vasilisa's revenge - the overturning of the boiling samovar on her sister, the murder of Kostylev are committed around the corner of the rooming house and are almost invisible to the viewer).

All other characters in the play are not involved in a love affair. The compositional and plot disunity of the characters is expressed in the organization of the stage space - the characters are dispersed in different angles scenes and "closed» in unconnected microspaces.

Teacher . Thus, two actions are going on in parallel in the play. First, we see on the stage (supposed and real). Detective story with conspiracy, escape, murder, suicide. The second is the exposure of "masks" and the revelation of the true essence of man. This happens as if behind the text and requires decoding. For example, here is the dialogue between the Baron and Luke.

Baron. Lived better... yes! I... used to... wake up in the morning and, lying in bed, drink coffee... coffee! - with cream ... yes!

Luca. And all are people! No matter how you pretend, no matter how you wiggle, but you were born a man, you will die a man ...

But the Baron is afraid to be "just a man". And "just a man" he does not recognize.

Baron. Who are you, old man? Where did you come from?

Luca. Am I?

Baron. Wanderer?

Luca. We are all wanderers on earth... They say, I heard, that the earth is also our wanderer.

The culmination of the second (implicit) action comes when the “truths” of Bubnov, Sateen and Luka collide on the “narrow worldly platform”.

II. Work on the problem stated in the topic of the lesson.

1. Philosophy of truth in Gorky's play.

What is the main theme of the play? Which of the characters is the first to formulate the main question of the drama "At the Bottom"?

The dispute about the truth is the semantic center of the play. The word “truth” will sound already on the first page of the play, in Kvashnya’s remark: “Ah! You can't stand the truth!" Truth is a lie (“You're lying!” - Klesch's sharp cry, which sounded even before the word “truth”), truth - faith - these are the most important semantic poles that determine the problems of "At the Bottom".

– How do you understand the words of Luke: “What you believe is what you are”? How are the characters of "At the Bottom" divided depending on their attitude to the concepts of "faith" and "truth"?

In contrast to the "prose of fact", Luke offers the truth of the ideal - the "poetry of fact". If Bubnov (the main ideologist of the literally understood “truth”), Satin, Baron are far from illusions and do not need an ideal, then the Actor, Nastya, Anna, Natasha, Pepel respond to Luka’s remark - for them, faith is more important than truth.

Luke’s uncertain story about hospitals for alcoholics sounded like this: “They are now treating drunkenness, listen! They treat for free, brother, ... such a hospital is built for drunkards ... You admitted, you see, that a drunkard is also a person ... "In the actor's imagination, the hospital turns into a" marble palace ":" An excellent hospital ... Marble .. .marble floor! Light... cleanliness, food... everything is free! And a marble floor. Yes!" The actor is a hero of faith, not the truth of fact, and the loss of the ability to believe is fatal for him.

- What is the truth for the heroes of the play? How to compare their views?(Work with text.)

A) How does Bubnov understand the “truth”? What are the contradictions between his views and Luke's philosophy of truth?

The truth of Bubnov consists in the exposure of the wrong side of being, this is the "truth of the fact." “What kind of truth do you need, Vaska? And for what? You know the truth about yourself ... and everyone knows it ... ”he drives Ash into the doom of being a thief when he was trying to figure himself out. “I stopped coughing, that means,” he reacted to Anna’s death.

After listening to Luke's allegorical story about his life at a dacha in Siberia and sheltering (rescuing) fugitive convicts, Bubnov admitted: “But I ... can't lie! For what? In my opinion, bring down the whole truth as it is! Why be ashamed?

Bubnov sees only the negative side of life and destroys the remnants of faith and hope in people, while Luka knows that in a kind word the ideal becomes real: “A person can teach good things ... very simply,” he concluded the story about life in the country, and outlining the "story" of the righteous land, he reduced it to the fact that the destruction of faith kills a person. Luka (thoughtfully, to Bubnov): “Here ... you say - the truth ... She, the truth, is not always due to illness to a person ... you can’t always cure the soul with truth ... " Luke heals the soul.

Luke's position is more humane and more effective than Bubnov's naked truth, because it appeals to the remnants of the human in the souls of the overnight stays. A person for Luke, "whatever it is - but always worth its price." “I only say that if someone did not do well to someone, then he did badly.” "To caress a personnever harmful."

Such a moral credo harmonizes relations between people, cancels the wolf principle, and ideally leads to the acquisition of inner completeness and self-sufficiency, confidence that, despite external circumstances, a person has found truths that no one will ever take away from him.

B) In what does Satine see the truth of life?

One of the climaxes of the play is Sateen's famous monologues from the fourth act about man, truth, and freedom.

A trained student reads Sateen's monologue by heart.

It is interesting that Satin supported his reasoning with the authority of Luke, the person in respect of whom we are at the beginning of the play represented Sateen as an antipode. Moreover, Satine's references to Luke in act 4 prove the closeness of both. "Old man? He is smart! .. He ... acted on me like acid on an old and dirty coin ... Let's drink to his health! "Man, that's the truth! He understood that…you don’t!”

Actually, the "truth" and "falsehood" of Sateen and Luke almost coincide.

Both believe that “one must respect a person” (emphasis on the last word) - not his “mask”; but they differ on how to communicate their "truth" to people. After all, she, if you think about it, is deadly to those who fall into her area.

If everything "faded" and one "naked" person remained, then "what's next"? Actor this thought leads to suicide.

Q) What role does Luke play in solving the problem of "truth" in the play?

For Luke, the truth is in the "comforting lie".

Luke takes pity on the man and comforts him with his dream. He promises Anna an afterlife, listens to Nastya's tales, and sends the Actor to a hospital. He lies for the sake of hope, and this, perhaps, is better than the cynical "truth" of Bubnov, "an abomination and a lie."

In the image of Luke there are hints of the biblical Luke, who was one of the seventy disciples sent by the Lord "to every city and place where He Himself wanted to go."

Gorkovsky Luke makes the inhabitants of the bottom think about God and man, about the "better man", about the highest calling of people.

"Luke" is also light. Luka comes to illuminate Kostylev's basement with the light of new ideas forgotten at the bottom of feelings. He talks about how it should be, what should be, and it is not at all necessary to look for practical recommendations or instructions for survival in his reasoning.

Evangelist Luke was a doctor. In his own way, Luka heals in the play - with his attitude to life, advice, word, sympathy, love.

Luke heals, but not everyone, but selectively, those who need words. His philosophy is revealed in relation to other characters. He sympathizes with the victims of life: Anna, Natasha, Nastya. Teaches, giving practical advice, Ash, Actor. Understanding, ambiguously, often without words, he explains with clever Bubnov. Skillfully avoids unnecessary explanations.

The bow is flexible, soft. “They crumpled a lot, that’s why it’s soft ...” - he said at the end of the 1st act.

Luke with his "lie" is sympathetic to Satine. "Dubye... keep quiet about the old man!.. The old man is not a charlatan!.. He lied... but - it's out of pity for you, damn you!" Still, Luke's "lie" doesn't suit him. “Lies are the religion of slaves and masters! Truth is the god of a free man!”

Thus, while rejecting the “truth” of Bubnov, Gorky does not deny either the “truth” of Sateen or the “truth” of Luka. In essence, he singles out two truths: “truth-truth” and “truth-dream”.

2. Features of Gorky's humanism.

Problem Human in Gorky's play "At the Bottom" (individual communication).

Gorky put his truth about man and overcoming the dead end into the mouths of the Actor, Luka and Sateen.

At the beginning of the play, indulging in theatrical memories, Actor selflessly spoke about the miracle of talent - the game of transforming a person into a hero. Responding to the words of Satin about the books he read, education, he divided education and talent: “Education is nonsense, the main thing is talent”; “I say talent, that's what a hero needs. And talent is faith in yourself, in your strength ... "

It is known that Gorky worshiped knowledge, education, books, but he valued talent even more. Through the Actor, he polemically, maximalistically sharpened and polarized two facets of the spirit: education as the sum of knowledge and living knowledge - a “system of thought”.

In monologues satin the ideas of Gorky's thoughts about man are confirmed.

Man is “he is everything. He even created God”; “man is the container of the living God”; "Faith in the power of thought ... is a person's faith in himself." So in Gorky's letters. And so - in the play: “A person can believe or not believe ... this is his business! Man is free... he pays for everything himself... Man is the truth! What is a man... it's you, me, they, an old man, Napoleon, Mohammed... in one... In one - all beginnings and ends... Everything is in a person, everything is for a person! Only man exists, everything else is the work of his hands and his brain!

The Actor was the first to speak about talent and self-confidence. Satin summarized everything. What is the role Luke? He carries ideas dear to Gorky of transforming and improving life at the cost of human creative efforts.

“And that’s all, I look, people are getting smarter, more and more interesting ... and even though they live, it’s getting worse, but they want it, it’s getting better ... stubborn!” - the elder confesses in the first act, referring to the common aspirations of all for a better life.

At the same time, in 1902, Gorky shared his observations and moods with V. Veresaev: “The vital mood is growing and expanding, vigor and faith in people are more and more noticeable, and - it’s good to live on earth - by God!” Some words, some thoughts, even intonations are the same in a play and a letter.

In the fourth act satin remembered and reproduced Luka's answer to his question "Why do people live?" , everything, as it is, live for the best! That is why every person must be respected ... After all, we do not know who he is, why he was born and what he can do ... ”And he himself, continuing to talk about a person, said, repeating Luke:“ We must respect a person! Do not pity ... do not humiliate him with pity ... you must respect! Satin repeated Luke, speaking of respect, did not agree with him, speaking of pity, but something else is more important - the idea of ​​a “better person”.

The statements of the three characters are similar, and, mutually reinforcing, they work for the problem of the triumph of Man.

In one of Gorky's letters, we read: “I am sure that a person is capable of endless improvement, and all his activities will also develop along with him ... from century to century. I believe in the infinity of life...” Again, Luka, Satin, Gorky - about one thing.

3. What is the significance of the 4th act of Gorky's play?

In this act, there is the former situation, but the “fermentation” of the previously sleepy thoughts of the tramps begins.

It started from the scene of Anna's death.

Luke says over the dying woman: “Much-merciful Jesus Christ! Accept the spirit of your newly-departed servant Anna in peace ... "But Anna's last words were words about life: “Well ... a little more ... to live ... a little! If there is no flour there ... here you can endure ... you can!”

- How to regard these words of Anna - as a victory for Luke or as his defeat? Gorky does not give an unequivocal answer; it is possible to comment on this phrase in different ways. One thing is clear:

Anna spoke for the first time positive about life thanks to Luke.

In the last act, a strange, completely unconscious rapprochement of the “bitter brethren” takes place. In the 4th act, Kleshch repaired Alyoshka's harmonica, having tried the frets, the already familiar prison song sounded. And this ending is perceived in two ways. You can do this: you can’t leave the bottom - “The sun rises and sets ... but it’s dark in my prison!” It can be otherwise: at the cost of death, a person cut off the song of tragic hopelessness ...

Suicide actor interrupted the song.

What prevents the overnight stays from changing their lives for the better? Natasha's fatal mistake is disbelief in people, Ashes (“I somehow don’t believe ... in any words”), who hopes to change fate together.

“That’s why I’m a thief, because no one has ever guessed to call me by another name ... Call me ... Natasha, well?”

Her answer is convinced, endured: "There's nowhere to go... I know... I thought... But I don't trust anyone."

One word of faith in a person could change the lives of both, but it did not sound.

The Actor, for whom creativity is the meaning of life, a vocation, did not believe in himself either. The news of the death of the Actor came after the well-known monologues of Satin, shading them in contrast: he didn’t cope, he didn’t play, but he could, he didn’t believe in himself.

All the characters in the play are in the zone of action of seemingly abstract Good and Evil, but they become quite concrete when it comes to the fate, attitudes, relationships with the life of each of the characters. And people are connected with good and evil by their thoughts, words and deeds. They directly or indirectly affect life. Life is a path of choosing your direction between good and evil. In the play, Gorky examined a person and tested his capabilities. The play is devoid of utopian optimism, as well as the other extreme - disbelief in man. But one conclusion is indisputable: “Talent, that's what a hero needs. And talent is faith in yourself, your strength ... "

III. Aphoristic language of Gorky's play.

Teacher . One of the characteristic features of Gorky's creativity is aphorism. It is characteristic of both the author's speech and the speech of the characters, which is always sharply individual. Many aphorisms of the play "At the Bottom", like the aphorisms of "Songs" about the Falcon and the Petrel, have become winged. Let's recall some of them.

- Which characters of the play belong to the following aphorisms, proverbs, sayings?

a) Noise - death is not a hindrance.

b) Such a life that as soon as he got up in the morning, so much for howling.

c) Wait for the sense of the wolf.

d) When work is a duty, life is slavery.

e) Not a single flea is bad: all are black, all are jumping.

f) Where it is warm for an old man, there is a homeland.

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

h) If you don’t like it, don’t listen, but don’t interfere with lying.

(Bubnov - a, b, g; Luka - d, f; Satin - d, Baron - h, Pepel - c.)

– What is the role of aphoristic statements of characters in the speech structure of the play?

Aphoristic judgments receive the greatest significance in the speech of the main "ideologists" of the play - Luka and Bubnov, heroes whose positions are indicated very clearly. The philosophical dispute, in which each of the heroes of the play takes his position, is supported by common folk wisdom, expressed in proverbs and sayings.

IV. Creative work.

Write reasoning, expressing their attitude to the read work. (Answer to one question of your choice.)

- What is the meaning of the dispute between Luke and Satine?

- Whose side do you adhere to in the dispute "about the truth"?

- What problems raised by M. Gorky in the play "At the Bottom" did not leave you indifferent?

When preparing your answer, pay attention to the speech of the characters, how it helps to reveal the idea of ​​the work.

Homework.

Select an episode for analysis (oral). This will be the topic of your future essay.

1. Luke's story about the "righteous land". (Analysis of an episode from the 3rd act of Gorky's play.)

2. Dispute of rooming houses about a person (Analysis of the dialogue at the beginning of the 3rd act of the play "At the Bottom".)

3. What is the meaning of the finale of Gorky's play "At the Bottom"?

4. The appearance of Luke in a rooming house. (Analysis of a scene from the 1st act of the play.)

Three truths in the play "At the Bottom"

In the play "At the Bottom" M. Gorky strives not only to draw attention to the fate of disadvantaged people by depicting terrible reality. He created a truly innovative philosophical and journalistic drama. The content of seemingly disparate episodes is a tragic clash of three truths, three ideas about life.

The first truth is the truth of Bubnov, it can be called the truth of a fact. Bubnov is convinced that a person is born for death and there is no need to feel sorry for him: “Everything is like this: they are born, live, die. And I will die ... and you ... What to regret ... You are superfluous everywhere ... and all the people on earth are superfluous. As you can see, Bubnov completely denies both himself and others, his despair is generated by unbelief. For him, truth is the cruel, murderous oppression of inhuman circumstances.

The truth of Luke is the truth of compassion and faith in God. Looking closely at the tramps, he finds words of consolation for everyone. He is sensitive, kind to those who need help, he instills hope in everyone: he tells the Actor about the hospital for alcoholics, advises Ash to go to Siberia, Anna talks about happiness in the afterlife. What Luke says is not just a lie. Rather, it inspires faith that there is a way out of any hopeless situation. “People are looking for everything, everyone wants what’s best, give them, Lord, patience!” - Luke sincerely says and adds: “Whoever seeks will find ... They only need help ...” Luke brings saving faith to people. He thinks that pity, compassion, mercy, attention to a person can heal his soul, so that the very last thief understands: “It is better to live! You have to live like this ... so that you can ... respect yourself ... "

The third truth is the truth of Sateen. He believes in man as in God. He believes that a person can believe in himself and rely on his own strength. He sees no point in pity and compassion. "What good is it to you if I pity you?" he asks Kleshch. Human! It's great! It sounds proud! Satin speaks not just about a strong personality. He speaks of a man who is able to rebuild the world at his own discretion, to create new laws of the universe - about a man-god.

Three truths in the play tragically collide, which determines precisely such an ending to the play. The problem is that in each of the truths there is a part of a lie and that the very concept of truth is multidimensional. A vivid example of this - and at the same time a moment of collision of different truths - Sateen's monologue about a proud man. This monologue is delivered by a drunken, downtrodden man. And the question immediately arises: is this drunken, downtrodden person the same one who “sounds proud”? A positive answer is doubtful, and if it is negative, then what about the fact that “only man exists? Does this mean that Satin, speaking this monologue, does not exist? It turns out that in order to perceive the truth of Sateen's words about a proud man, one must not see Sateen, whose appearance is also true.

It is terrible that an inhuman society kills and maims human souls. But the main thing in the play is that M. Gorky made his contemporaries even more acutely feel the injustice of the social structure, made them think about a person, his freedom. He says in his play: one must live without reconciling with untruth, injustice, but not destroy the kindness, compassion, mercy in oneself.

Three truths in M. Gorky's play "At the Bottom"

The play "At the Bottom" (1902) is perhaps the most famous drama by M. Gorky. This work can be called a socio-philosophical drama, since it sharply raises the most important questions regarding human existence.
In my opinion, the main among them is the question of truth - its essence, role in human life, the versatility and ambiguity of this phenomenon. Throughout the play, the characters painfully decide what is more important to them - reality or illusion, truth or lies.
All of them are "former people" who once led a "normal" lifestyle - had a job, family, friends. But, for various reasons, these heroes ended up at the "bottom of life" - in a rooming house. Gorky emphasizes that now the social differences between his characters have been erased, leaving just people with their character and worldview, with their individual point of view on the world and man.
It is from this position that each of the heroes expresses his opinion regarding the role of truth in life. So, the Actor, Anna, Natasha, Nastya, as well as Vaska Pepel and Kleshch prefer not the harsh truth, but life in their own illusions: “I rebelled very much against the truth ... that's right! True - what's the truth? And without it - there is nothing to breathe ... "
It is the illusions that help them keep their faith in a better future, in miraculous changes that will help these characters become happier.
And the heroes really need this, because each of them has lost something very important in life: the Actor - the opportunity to create on stage, the locksmith Kleshch - a permanent job, the young woman Nastya - love.
The real situation of the "believers" is in horrifying contrast with their hopes. Everything around speaks of the groundlessness of their faith. The "unbelieving" neighbors are constantly reminding the overnight stays of this. These include the skeptic Bubnov (mainly), Baron and Satin. These heroes gladly expose the illusions of those who are suffering from salvation: “Those who are weak in soul ... and who live on other people's juices need a lie ... it supports some, others hide behind it ...”
Thus, from the very beginning of the play, the problem of truth is seen as a conflict between the truth of dreams and the truth of reality. This conflict is aggravated and aggravated with the appearance of the wanderer Luke in the rooming house.
This hero is distinguished by great kindness and love for people, sincere respect and compassion for them: “... is it possible to leave a person like that? He - whatever he is - is always worth his price ... "
Luke believes that a person's life should be made easier, and a kind word and hope, given or supported in time in a person, can help in this. The motto of this hero is: "What you believe in is what you are..."
And it turns out that this wanderer with his philosophy of life is extremely necessary for the overnight stays - they need consolation and encouragement in order to continue to fight for life or accept their fate with humility. It is Luke who helps Anna come to terms with her miserable life and imminent death: “Nothing! Rest there!.. Be patient! Everyone, dear, endures ... everyone endures life in his own way ... ”It is he who revives the hope for recovery in the Actor. It is he who supports Nastya, showing respect for her: “Respect a person ... not in a word - it's a matter, but - why is a word said? - that's the problem!"
And we see that before the forced departure of Luka, the well-being of the overnight stays is noticeably improving: most of them have a stronger faith in the possibility of living better, some are already taking the first steps towards gaining human dignity. Luke managed to breathe faith and hope into people, warmed their souls with his sympathy. Even the cynic Bubnov changed under his influence - at the end of the play he invites the neighbors to share a meal with him.
But after the pilgrim leaves, the roommates very quickly lose their faith again, and the Actor, unable to bear the harsh reality, even commits suicide. Is it Luke's fault? To a certain extent, yes. He could not see - the overnight shelters are so weak and downtrodden that they are not able to independently maintain faith in the best, their hope. However, Luka is not to blame for their weakness - he sincerely tried to make life easier for his temporary neighbors.
Satin also feels this sincerity in the hero: “The old man is not a charlatan! What is truth? Man is the truth! He understood this ... ”This character is convinced (and in many ways these are the thoughts of Gorky himself) that the most important value in life is a person, his soul, his feelings, his life. A person is beautiful when he is free in his manifestations, when he has the opportunity to realize himself to the fullest. Then he is like God: "Man... that sounds proud!"
It is from humanistic considerations that Satin argues that a person does not need to be humiliated by a lie, he is worthy only of the truth: “Lies are the religion of slaves and masters ... Truth is the god of a free man!” And in these words of his there is a loud call for cardinal social changes in Russia.
What is the position of Gorky himself regarding the problem of truth? In my opinion, his position is ambiguous. I think the writer believed that in the social conditions of his day, given the tendency of a Russian person to “cry, but do nothing,” the truth is more necessary than a compassionate lie. Another time will come and compassion will become one of the most important values ​​of human society. But for the time being, says Gorky, people face other tasks, and there can be no place for lies in modern life.
Thus, in the play "At the Bottom" the author sharply posed one of the important socio-philosophical problems - the problem of truth and lies in human life. The writer tried to reveal this issue in many ways - to show several opposing points of view, two antagonistic truths - the truth of reality and illusion. But besides them, there is a third truth in the drama - the opinion of the author himself, who tried to find a compromise between the opinions of his characters, to reveal a rational grain in them and to get as close to the truth as possible.