In the story "Childhood" Maxim Gorky portrayed his own image. The writer lost his father early and was forced to live in a family home, where a gloomy and bleak atmosphere reigned. Grandfather was brutal, other relatives - greed and cowardice. In such an atmosphere, the personality of the classic of Russian and Soviet literature was formed, but in this house he also found love and understanding. The characterization of Alyosha from the story “Gorky's Childhood” is the topic of this article.
From an early age, the writer learned the harsh truth of life. The reality of the life of the Russian people tormented him for all years. But still, even against the background of an unsightly picture, he found something beautiful. An invincible faith in man guided him both in life and in creativity.
Grandfather
Before Alyosha got into the house of his relatives, he did not know anything about violence. His grandfather - the father of his mother - was a man not only cruel, but also extremely unjust. In fear, he kept the whole house. Children were punished here for any wrongdoing. And even if the child’s guilt was not proven, he was brutally beaten.
What is the characteristic of Alyosha from the story "Gorky's Childhood"? After analyzing the boy’s actions, we can conclude that he differed from relatives in his desire for justice and compassion for someone else’s grief. In the house of the grandfather, the atmosphere was spiritual. The man and his experiences were not taken into account. Alyosha had every chance to become like one of the inhabitants of this gloomy dwelling. However, the injustice that he faced, resulted in a desire to fight for their rights, contributed to the development of better human qualities.
Grandfather was a frank tyrant. For any reason, he was furious. And over the years, greed began to develop more and more in it, which had taken pathological forms in recent years. The man in this house had no value. Material values ​​were above all. But, despite this, life next to such people became for Alyosha Peshkov a good school of life.
Gregory
Alesha’s characterization from Gorky’s Childhood story would be incomplete without a description of his attitude to this character. In the house of his grandfather, a blind master lived. And uncles, possessing extremely meager intelligence, regularly made fun of him. Taunts of his blindness amused them. And their sons - cousins ​​of Alyosha - quickly adopted a similar way of entertainment from their fathers. The main character of Gorky's story not only did not imitate adults in this unsightly affair, but from an early age he began to understand how low his relatives behave. He felt compassion for Gregory. The characterization of Alyosha from the story “Gorky's Childhood” suggests that this hero had a beautiful noble soul, which was not crippled even in a dark, spiritless world.
Akulina Ivanovna
The author describes the grandmother as "round, big-headed, with big eyes and a funny nose." This woman almost replaced his mother and became a man, thanks to the kindness of which the boy’s soul did not harden. Akulina Ivanovna was a man of little education, but gifted in her own way. She told many tales and stories to her grandson. The tendency to use mythological plots and romantic motifs, which can be seen in Gorky's early work, may have been laid down in the writer's childhood. In addition, this woman possessed extraordinary artistry. “She did not dance, but as if she was telling something,” the author recalls in his work. Life difficulties helped her to overcome faith in God. And most importantly, the grandmother had fearlessness and courage, as evidenced by that fragment in the story, which depicts a fire in the house of his grandfather.
Alyosha Peshkov is a personality in the formation of which the struggle between good and evil played a special role. She did not have an open character. His wife did not respond to the cruelty and stupidity of his grandfather. But the boy, using the example of his grandmother, understood that evil can be overcome only with love and kindness. Alyosha Peshkov has preserved the image of this woman in his heart for life.
Gypsy woman
In the house of his grandfather, in addition to his wife, sons and grandchildren, Ivan lived - a foundling, for whose appearance he was given a characteristic nickname. He was handsome, black-haired, looking like a gypsy. In the house, everyone was especially kind to him. Surprisingly, Gorky remembered childhood to the smallest detail. A description of the events in the story and the people who influenced the formation of his inner world are proof of this. The image of the Gypsy is presented in the story quite clearly. It should be said that he received this nickname not only because of external data, but also for his penchant for theft. Nevertheless, strangely enough, Alyosha loved him precisely for his honesty. Ivan was a sincere person and became a true friend to our hero during his stay at his grandfather's house.
Good deal
There was another person who played a significant role in shaping the personality of Alyosha. This was a strange man nicknamed Good Deed. He lived in a new house, which his grandfather acquired after the old burned out, was distinguished for his scholarship and selflessness. The boy loved to talk with him for a long time. And he was very upset when the Good Deal was expelled from the house. In the book, he called him one of those close from an infinite number of strangers.
One of the main images in the writer's work was Alyosha. Gorky wrote "Childhood" in adulthood. But the vivid and lively depiction of the boy’s experiences suggests that the events of this period in the author’s biography became decisive in life and in writing.