In Maxim Gorky's play "At the bottom" the question of truth and lies is the key. The work was written in 1902 just before the revolutionary events. It fully covers the psychological and social truth about the "bottoms" of society. Every hero who sinks to the very bottom has his own story, a sad present and a tragic future.
How to hide from real life?
The image of Luke in Gorky's play "At the bottom" is considered ambiguous, some writers characterize this hero from a negative point of view, while others find positive features in it. Satin, Actor, Mite, Nastya are all desperate people who do not have a future. The past brought them to the very bottom, and they are forced to drag out a miserable existence. All heroes do not believe in their strength, they hide from life realities, because they do not see anything good in them. Each of them came up with a beautiful fairy tale in which he prefers to stay.
All the inhabitants of the doss house are happy to meet the new guest, who brings them a "saving" lie. The image of Luke in Gorky's play "At the bottom" is the image of an elderly wanderer with a rich life experience. The hero refers to all people as pathetic beings who need sympathy, but who can not stand up for themselves. Luke is a comforter, a sower of illusions, he is lying, but this is a lie for good.
A light in the end of a tunnel
Which is better: a bitter truth or a sweet lie? It is this question that the author of the play "At the bottom" is asked. Luke's image evokes a double impression, all the heroes greet him with joy, because the wanderer gives them hope for a happy future, and everyone believes him. Actor, he gave hope to get rid of alcohol dependence. Lethally ill Anna Luke tells how she will be happy in paradise. Vaska Pepl, a traveler says that in Siberia he can start life from scratch. The image of Luke in Gorky's play "At the bottom" can not be called negative, because he gave hope to so many desperate people, but he can not be called a positive one either.
Which is better: to live in ignorance or know the truth?
Everyone is drawn to a wanderer, because his lies help people to escape from the harsh truth of life, plunge headlong into the world of illusions. The image of Luke in Gorky's play "At the bottom" distracts the characters, allowing them to at least briefly believe in a better future. The wanderer himself does not believe that one can change one's life, he only inspires the thought of reconciling himself with slavish humiliation, they say, the world is arranged that way, and nothing can be done about it. As a result, the play "At the bottom" ended tragically.
The image of Luke is ambiguous, and this hero did not bring happiness to any of the residents of the doss house. Their hopes were quickly and abruptly cut short. Ashes fell into prison, the actor hanged himself, Anna, who wanted to stay longer in this world, died in torment. The name of Luke indicates his cunning, he is the bearer of wisdom and truth, but certain, one that is profitable for him. The unexpected disappearance of the hero speaks only of his defeat. "Lies for salvation" did not work, because it only humiliated people, but did not raise them. By faith in something, you can replace any truth, but is the immersion in the world of illusions the only way out of a difficult situation?