The genre of the play by Maxim Gorky “At the Bottom” can be defined as a philosophical drama. In this work, the writer managed to raise many problematic questions about the person and the meaning of his existence. However, the debate about the truth in the play "At the Bottom" has become key.
History of creation
The play was written in 1902. This time is characterized by a serious economic crisis, as a result of which, due to the closure of factories, the workers were out of work, and the peasants were forced to live in poverty and fight. All these people, and with them the state, were at the very bottom of life. To reflect the full extent of the decline, Maxim Gorky made his heroes representatives of all walks of life. This is Baron, who has become an adventurer, a former Actor, a prostitute, a locksmith, a thief, a shoemaker, a merchant, landlords, a police officer.
And it is precisely in the midst of this decline and poverty that the key eternal questions of life are asked. And the conflict was based on a debate about the truth in the play “At the Bottom”. This philosophical problem has long become insoluble for Russian literature; Pushkin, Lermontov, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov and many others took up it. However, Gorky was not at all frightened by this state of affairs, and he created a work devoid of didacticism and moralization. The viewer himself has the right to make his choice, after listening to the various points of view expressed by the characters.
The truth dispute
In the play “At the Bottom”, as already mentioned above, Gorky not only depicted terrible reality, the answers to the most important philosophical questions became the main one for the writer. And in the end, he manages to create an innovative work that was unparalleled in the history of literature. At first glance, the narrative seems fragmented, plotless and fragmentary, but gradually all the pieces of the mosaic are formed, and a clash of heroes unfolds in front of the viewer, each of which is a bearer of its own truth.
A multifaceted, ambiguous and inexhaustible topic is the debate about the truth in the play “At the Bottom”. A table that could be compiled for a greater understanding of it would include three characters: Bubnov, Luka and Satin. It is these characters who have heated discussions about the need for truth. Understanding the impossibility of answering this question, Gorky puts different opinions into the mouth of these heroes that are equivalent and equally attractive to the viewer. It is impossible to determine the position of the author himself, therefore these three images of criticism are interpreted differently, and there is still no consensus on whose point of view on the truth is correct.
Bubnov
Entering into the dispute about the truth in the play “At the Bottom”, Bubnov is of the opinion that the key to everything is facts. He does not believe in the higher powers and high destiny of man. A man is born and lives only in order to die: “Everything is like this: they will be born, live, die. And I will die ... and you ... What to regret ... "This character is hopelessly desperate in life and does not see anything joyful in the future. The truth for him is that a person cannot resist the circumstances and cruelty of the world.
For Bubnov, a lie is unacceptable and incomprehensible; he believes that only the truth should be said: “And why do people like to lie?”; “In my opinion, bring down the whole truth as it is!” He openly, without hesitation, expresses his opinion, without looking back at others. Bubnov’s philosophy is truthful and ruthless to man; he does not see the point of helping his neighbor and caring for him.
Luke
For Luke, the main thing is not truth, but comfort. Seeking to bring at least some sense to the hopelessness of the daily life of the dwellers, he gives them false hope. His help lies. Luke understands people well and knows what everyone needs based on this and makes promises. So, he tells the dying Anna that after death she will be at peace, the Actor inspires hope for a cure for alcoholism, Peplu promises a better life in Siberia.
Luke appears as one of the key figures in such a problem as the debate about the truth in the play “At the Bottom”. His remarks are full of sympathy, reassurance, but they do not have a word of truth. This image is one of the most controversial in the drama. For a long time, literary scholars evaluated him only from the negative side, but today many see Luke’s actions as positive. His lie consoles the weak, unable to resist the cruelty of the surrounding reality. The philosophy of this character is in kindness: "A person can teach goodness ... As long as a person believed, he lived, but lost faith - and strangled himself." Indicative in this regard is the story of how an old man saved two thieves when he treated them kindly. True, Luke is in pity for the person and the desire to give him hope, albeit illusory, for the possibility of a better one that would help him live.
Satin
Satin is considered the main opponent of Luke. It is these two characters who lead the main debate about the truth in the play “At the Bottom”. Sateen’s quotes contrast sharply with Luke’s statements: “Lies are the religion of slaves”, “Truth is the god of a free man!”
For Sateen, a lie is unacceptable, because in a person he sees strength, perseverance and the ability to change everything. Pity and compassion are meaningless; people do not need them. It is this character who pronounces the famous monologue about man-god: “There is only man, all the rest is the work of his hands and his brain! It's great! It sounds proud! ”
Unlike Bubnov, who also recognizes only truth and denies lies, Sateen respects people, believes in them.
Output
Thus, the debate about the truth in the play “At the Bottom” is plot-forming. Gorky does not give a clear resolution to this conflict, to determine who is right, each viewer should for himself. However, it should be noted that the final monologue of Satin is heard simultaneously by a hymn to man and a call to action aimed at changing terrifying reality.