"Compassion is the highest form human existence" At all times, Russian people have had this spiritual quality like compassion. That is why, over the centuries, people have developed a special attitude towards people who suffer, especially those offended by nature, with physical defects.
Those around them treated them with a certain amount of pity, sympathy and at the same time condescension. From here and almost loving relationship to holy fools, dwarfs, “God’s” old women. Offending such a person was considered a great sin. Moreover, they used to believe that helping the suffering in itself entailed atonement for even the most serious sins. Perhaps this is why in the 19th century many wealthy families kept so-called hangers-on and hangers-on.
The desire to free oneself from sins could even prompt such a stingy soul as the heroine of M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin’s novel “The Golovlevs,” Arina Petrovna, to feed such an unfortunate soul. The attitude of the Russian person towards suffering itself, which is perceived as a test on the path to spiritual purification, is also surprising. Of course, such a character trait of the Russian people could not go unnoticed by writers, since human feelings and spiritual impulses have interested writers at all times. This problem is addressed differently in works of art. Writers had far different understandings and perceptions of the significance of experiences, spiritual torments and torments for the formation of a certain worldview of a person. However, the majority still came to the conclusion that without a certain amount of suffering and the emergence of compassion for living beings, the formation of a normally harmonious personality is generally impossible.
Of course, one of the first researchers of this Russian phenomenon was great writer F. M. Dostoevsky, who in his literary works I tried to draw the attention of readers not to the physical, but to the spiritual suffering of the common man.
In the novel “Crime and Punishment,” the image of Sonechka Marmepadova was wonderfully created. A girl who suffers and at the same time has a pronounced inclination towards compassion is forced to sell her body, live in the dirt, for the sake of a certain well-being of her family. However, despite the physical dirt, she is able to retain the purest thing in herself - her bright soul. Sonya perceives her life as a test that must be passed with humility and with God's word on her lips. Almost all the heroes of Dostoevsky's works are subjected to this great test through suffering. Sometimes one gets the impression that Mikhail Fedorovich simply does not understand and does not notice people who do not know how to suffer and do not themselves feel a craving for compassion, since these two interconnected feelings are a kind of measure of human holiness and meanness. Dostoevsky's heroes, suffering and tormented, each reveal themselves to the reader in their own way. Moreover, not everyone is able to withstand this test. Suffering pushes Raskolnikov to commit a serious crime - the murder of an old money-lender; Marmeladov, unable to bear it, becomes addicted to alcohol. However, more often than not, suffering actually purifies and somehow elevates a person. So, for example, the oppressor and ardent admirer of Dunya Svidrigailovlod, through the action of suffering from unrequited love, on the contrary, begins to perform good deeds that seem to be out of character for him. He deliberately refuses to marry a very young girl, leaving her money and stopping her mother’s desire to “sell” her daughter for a profit. He is actively concerned about the placement of Katerina Ivanovna’s children in decent conditions after the death of their mother. educational institutions and leaves them his money.
As a result, Raskolnikov, through suffering, as well as sympathy and love for Sonya, reconsiders his life attitudes and abandons his destructive theory. Thus, suffering people simply need the compassion of others. Dostoevsky showed in the best possible way that many, falling into difficult situation, are no longer able to correctly assess the situation and protect themselves from the vicissitudes of reality. That's why they're still in to a greater extent must count on the support and understanding of family and friends. Only in this case is their revival and return to normal life. Katerina Ivanovna understands this well when, without hesitation, she rushes to defend Sonya, accused of theft by Luzhin. Her personal tragedy only sharpens her sense of justice and compassion. The stepmother does not believe in Sonya’s guilt, even at the moment when money is found in the girl’s pocket. According to the writer, suffering atones for any guilt and at the same time can touch even the toughest person. This is perfectly demonstrated by the heroes of another Russian writer A.S. Pushkin. Masha's plight, main character novel " Captain's daughter“, even such an embittered and hardened heart as Pugachev’s could not help but touch. He, feeling a sense of compassion for the girl who had lost her parents and was imprisoned by her former admirer, managed to forgive the deception. The chieftain lets her and Grinev go in peace. Compassion and reverent attitude towards the suffering of others can often cool even the most irreconcilable rage and evoke sympathy for the enemy. So this feeling prompted General Mironov to stop the torture of the Bashkir envoy Pugachev. The messenger's plight evokes sympathy among those around him: a pitiful, hunched figure, lack of ears, nose and tongue. On Grineva appearance The Bashkir made a depressing impression. He concludes that whatever crime this man committed, he should not be punished in such a barbaric manner. Often suffering is not only a test for the person in distress, but also for the people around him. At the same time, everyone is able to respond differently to a similar situation of a loved one or acquaintance: someone will try to restore justice, someone will prefer to stay on the sidelines, and someone will not take advantage of the current situation and will derive some benefit for themselves.
Luzhin, for example, knows very well that Dunya does not love him, she is marrying only out of a hopeless situation, and even he is guided in his choice not by feelings, but by a certain calculation. However, this does not stop him at all; until the last moment he makes plans to reunite with the girl. Shvabrin, who took advantage troubled times, and the defenselessness of his beloved, locks Masha in the room, forcing her to marry him.
And Porfiry Golovlev, main character novel by M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin “The Golovlevs,” does not feel guilty at all when he takes the money of his brothers and mother. Thus, each of the heroes, taking advantage of someone else’s grief, manifests himself and is far from being the best side. Luzhin is driven by selfishness and the desire for power over the weaker. Shvabrin is trying to take revenge for his wounded pride. Golovlev is overcome by a feeling of greed and money-grubbing. However, no matter how the plot turns, everyone bears a certain responsibility for those who are nearby and experience suffering. Lack of sympathy for such people is certainly punished according to deserts. None of the offenders listed above finds either happiness or peace in their lives. The heaviness of what they have done settles like a heavy burden in their souls. Luzhin is rejected. Shvabrin is brought to justice, and his slander against Grinev is successfully refuted. Porfiry Golovlev is forced to spend the rest of his life alone. Feeling guilty, he tries to get to his mother’s grave at night and freezes on the road.
That is, the lack of compassion for other people makes a person spiritually poorer, destroys his personality and brings all sorts of troubles to him.
Literature is full of examples of both generous and vengeful heroes. Some we, as readers, can take as an example, while others are clear illustrations of what not to do. Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment” also contains such opposite characters capable of atrocities and revenge or goodness and generosity.
- (Revenge is useless and leads to bad consequences ) Raskolnikov’s crime can be called a kind of revenge. He is tormented by social injustice, that the extremely repulsive old money-lender, for all her wealth, is unusually greedy, and poor people live in poverty. Thinking through and analyzing the theory of “trembling creatures with rights,” the hero nevertheless decides to challenge the current situation. However, his means to achieve his goal are robbery and murder, so no good came of his so-called revenge - the hero only conscientiously experienced what he had done, not knowing how not to go crazy. Revenge most often implies cruelty, therefore, even to achieve a fair result, you should not resort to atrocities: the taste of a well-deserved victory will not be so sweet, but rather only spoiled by the bitter taste of revenge.
- (The power of generosity and its role in human relationships) Thanks to positive qualities Other characters in Dostoevsky's novel are painted in light colors. Sonechka Marmeladova, having learned about Rodion Raskolnikov’s act, did not give up on the hero. On the contrary, the girl sincerely wanted to save the soul of the poor young man, so she advised him to repent of his crime. Sonya even reads to Raskolnikov the legend of the resurrection of Lazarus with the hope of the revival of a new life. Realizing that Raskolnikov regrets the murder, she sympathizes with him, not leaving him without support. Sonya's immense love for people and responsiveness were able to pull Rodion out of a terrible abyss. Thus, the author emphasizes the power of generosity, which can save the human soul.
- (Generous people often become victims of rigidity; this quality does not bring happiness) Unfortunately, even kind and compassionate people can face unfair revenge and cruelty. Often they become innocent victims of the situation, as happened with Sonya Marmeladova. At her father's wake, Luzhin, Dunya Raskolnikova's failed fiancé, put a hundred rubles in the girl's pocket in order to later accuse her of theft. Luzhin had nothing specifically against Sonya: thus, he only wanted to take revenge on Raskolnikov for kicking him out of the apartment. Knowing that Rodion had a great attitude towards Sonya, Luzhin took advantage of the situation, but Lebezyatnikov saved Marmeladov’s daughter from slander. The hero's revenge was not successful; everyone was only convinced of his immorality.
- You can fight for justice without revenge. Investigator Porfiry Petrovich is very talented in his field, and he guessed about Raskolnikov’s crime long before his confession. Having no evidence against the main character, he tried to psychologically lead Rodion to clean water. After reading Raskolnikov’s article, his fainting and indignation that the investigator is playing with him instead of acting according to form, Porfiry Petrovich is only convinced of his intuition: “It’s no longer possible to give yourself away.” However, Porfiry pushed Raskolnikov to confess not in order to make his work easier, or to somehow take revenge on the criminal with real punishment. On the contrary, he did this out of deep generosity and compassion, because turning himself in could mitigate the hero’s punishment. Porfiry Petrovich is a man for whom justice is not an empty phrase, but in his work he compassionately shows generosity towards the suffering Raskolnikov.
- (The price of generosity, an example of a generous person) Showing generosity is not an easy task; sometimes you have to give up what you want and make concessions. The Raskolnikov family lived very poorly, and in order to get out of their difficult situation, Rodion’s sister Dunya was going to marry the calculating businessman Luzhin. Raskolnikov understood that his sister was doing this not out of love, but out of a desire to help their mother and Rodion himself. Not resigning himself to this situation, the main character insists on terminating the engagement: he understood that it would be in Luzhin’s interests to reproach Dunya and command his future wife, because he saved her from poverty. Dunya was ready to do this, which speaks of her care and desire to help her family. But, fortunately, Rodion here also turns out to be not stingy with generosity, and does not allow his sister to ruin her life. Being generous is not so easy; for this you need to be ready for self-sacrifice. In addition, it is equally important that the people for whom man walking to make concessions, they appreciated it.
- (Can revenge be fair? Revenge of fate) Svidrigailov is the embodiment of Raskolnikov’s theory. At first glance, he is not bothered by pangs of conscience, but he is guilty of more than one death. But, if judicial punishments never overtook the hero, this does not mean that Svidrigailov was not avenged by fate. Arkady Ivanovich himself admits to Raskolnikov that ghosts come to him, which means that the character feels his own guilt. Revenge can be fair and committed not by man, but by fate, this is exactly what Svidrigailov expected. For everything he had done, the hero was avenged by an unfortunate fate - he was left without support, as a result of which he could not stand it and committed suicide.
- The generosity of friends can help anyone out in difficult times. Having committed the long-awaited crime, Raskolnikov can no longer behave as usual, although he tries to avert any suspicion from himself. The murder of the old pawnbroker did not save him from poverty, because the hero, in the pangs of conscience and fear, got rid of everything stolen. His friend Razumikhin repeatedly comes to Rodion’s aid, noticing that something strange is happening to his friend. Comrade is not limited to material assistance. When Raskolnikov realizes that he is ashamed to be with his mother and sister, he asks Razumikhin to be with them and support his family. Rodion could completely rely on his friend, and he generously supported Raskolnikov as best he could.
Many Russian writers, when creating their works, examined in them the pressing problems of our time, exposing the vices of their time. Each era was marked by a new galaxy of questions to the thinking of which more than one generation of poets and writers devoted their work. With the development of society, literature also developed, topical topics changed, creative people new tasks arose, but one theme remained unchanged, perhaps in all centuries and times - exposing social injustice, protecting dignity " little man" This question was raised in the works of Gogol, Pushkin, Nekrasov. This theme also occupies one of the leading places in the works of Dostoevsky. A striking example This is the novel “Crime and Punishment”, where the protest against the social and moral humiliation of the individual is associated with the search for a force that could lead a person out of the spiritual and social crisis, from the calculating world of profit into the opposing world of kindness and truth.
Human suffering and injustice reigning in the world prompted the writer to search for various ways to save humanity, but Dostoevsky clearly rejects violent and revolutionary methods of influence, he does not accept the right of one person to interfere in the destinies of other people, to decide them at his own discretion, for a good purpose justify illicit means. Universal happiness, which is based on the sacrifices of individual people, according to the great writer, is the same evil, ennobled by lofty words. The idea of the inadmissibility of this “good” is fully revealed by the great writer in the novel about the “poor” student Raskolnikov. After all, the main character of the novel justifies his crime - murder, with compassion for all the “humiliated and offended”, allowing him to “bleed according to his conscience.” But is this true? What is compassion? Co-suffer means “to suffer together.” And Raskolnikov’s suffering is directed exclusively deep into himself. What he experiences can be called rather sympathy. The thought of murder matured in his head gradually. Half a year before the events described in the novel, Raskolnikov writes an article “On Crime,” where he “examined psychological state criminal during the entire course of the crime,” and at the same time raised the question of such a crime, which is resolved according to conscience, and therefore is not a crime as such. Subsequently, he creates a theory about two categories of people: “trembling creatures” and “those who have the right.” And, naturally, he wonders about his own membership in one category or another. This is the motive for the murder. But no one recognizes himself as a criminal. Everyone is a fighter and sufferer for the truth. Raskolnikov follows the same path. At first, he hides the wrongness of his goals from himself, convincing himself that he kills only in order to “later dedicate himself to the service of all humanity and the common cause.” But from the very beginning he anticipates his self-deception. “We invent our own casuistry, we will learn from the Jesuits... we will convince ourselves that this is necessary, really necessary for a good purpose,” this is how he speaks about his sister’s decision to marry Luzhin, but these words can also be applied to his own internal state. The words heard in the tavern that “dozens of families saved from poverty, from decay, from death” are worth killing and robbing “an insignificant, evil old woman” are perceived by him as salvation, as a justification for his terrible plan. “I didn’t even want to lie to myself about this...”, but still he “lies.” He is trying to replace one goal - “self-affirmation” with another - “universal happiness”. “I myself wanted good for people,” Raskolnikov says to Dunya. “I killed for myself, one thing for myself,” he admits to Sonya. And this self-deception only intensifies the hero’s subsequent suffering. “To suffer together,” but Raskolnikov “as if with scissors, cut himself off from everything and everyone,” opposing everyone else. And his suffering is greater because he could not get over himself, that “he is a trembling creature.” Although he convinces himself that the suffering of a criminal is an indispensable sign of his rightness and greatness.
The complete opposite of Raskolnikov is Sonya Marmeladova. It is she, according to the author’s plan, who is the embodiment of true mercy and compassion. Trying to save her family from starvation, she goes out onto the street to sell her own body. Raised according to Christian commandments, she realizes that by committing such a sin, she dooms her soul to eternal torment. But compassion for hungry children, a sick stepmother, and an unhappy father turns out to be stronger than the desire to save one’s soul. At the same time, Sonechka remains true to her convictions, maintaining endless love for humanity, faith in herself and in people. “You also overstepped... You laid hands on yourself, you ruined your life... yours (it’s all the same!)...,” Raskolnikov tells her. But he himself feels that it’s not “all the same.” She is for the sake of others, and he is for the sake of himself. Her “crime” did not touch her soul. In essence, Sonino’s “crime” is a feat, while Raskolnikov wants to pass off his crime as a “feat”. Sonya is having a hard time experiencing her fall, and she is also visited by thoughts of suicide, which could save her from shame. But the images of hungry, helpless children make you forget about your suffering.
Sonechka also selflessly rushes to save Raskolnikov’s soul. There is no condemnation of his evil deed; boundless mercy is manifested in her in relation to his moral suffering. And here it is just appropriate to remember that compassion means “suffering together.” Sonya sincerely suffers along with Raskolnikov, trying to find a way to save his soul. And only thanks to her efforts Raskolnikov comes to the conclusion that his theory is untenable. It is Sonya who awakens him to life and leads him to the salvation of his soul. In the epilogue, Raskolnikov kneels before the girl: “... he was resurrected, and he knew it, felt it with his entire renewed being, and she - after all, she lived only his life!” Not a single theory in the world is capable of defeating true human mercy and compassion. This is what life is all about.
Raskolnikov Rodion Romanovich - a poor and humiliated student, main character novel "Crime and Punishment". The author of the work is Dostoevsky Fyodor Mikhailovich. To provide a psychological counterbalance to the theory of Rodion Romanovich, the writer created the image of Sonya Marmeladova. Both characters are at a young age. Raskolnikov and Sonya Marmeladova, faced with a difficult life situation, don't know what to do next.
The image of Raskolnikov
At the beginning of the story, the reader notices Raskolnikov’s inappropriate behavior. The hero is nervous all the time, he is constantly anxious, and his behavior seems suspicious. In the course of events, one can understand that Rodion is a man who is obsessed with his idea. All his thoughts are about the fact that people are divided into two types. The first type is the “higher” society, and this is where he also includes his personality. And the second type is “trembling creatures”. He first published this theory in a newspaper article called “On Crime.” From the article it becomes clear that the “higher ones” have the right to ignore moral laws and destroy “trembling creatures” to achieve their personal goals. According to Raskolnikov's description, these poor people need biblical commandments and morals. The new legislators who will govern the gray masses can be considered “higher”; Bonaparte is an example for such legislators. But Raskolnikov himself, on the way to the “highest”, commits actions on a completely different level, without even noticing it.
The life story of Sonya Marmeladova
The reader learns about the heroine from the story of her father, which was addressed to Rodion Romanovich. Semyon Zakharovich Marmeladov is an alcoholic, lives with his wife (Katerina Ivanovna), and has three small children. His wife and children are starving, Sonya is Marmeladov’s daughter from his first wife, she rents an apartment “after Semyon Zakharovich tells Raskolnikov that her daughter went to such a life because of her stepmother, who reproached her for “drinking, eating and using warmth ", that is, a parasite. This is how the Marmeladov family lives. The truth is that she herself is an unrequited girl, does not hold a grudge, “bends every effort” to help her sick stepmother and hungry stepbrothers and sisters, not to mention my own father who is sick with alcoholism. Semyon Zakharovich shares his memories of how he found and lost his job, how he drank away the uniform that his daughter bought with her earned money, and how he has the conscience to ask his daughter for money “for a hangover.” Sonya gave him the last, never reproaching him for it.
The tragedy of the heroine
The fate of Sonya Marmeladova is in many ways similar to the situation of Rodion. They play the same role in society. Rodion Romanovich lives in the attic in a squalid little room. How the author sees this room: the cell is small, about 6 steps, and has a poor appearance. Tall man feels uncomfortable in such a room. Raskolnikov is so poor that it is no longer possible, but to the surprise of the reader he feels well, his spirit has not fallen. The same poverty forced Sonya to go out into the streets in order to earn money. The girl is unhappy. Her fate is cruel to her. But the heroine’s moral spirit is not broken. On the contrary, in seemingly inhuman conditions, Sonya Marmeladova finds the only way out worthy of a person. She chooses the path of religion and self-sacrifice. The author shows us the heroine as a person who is capable of empathizing with the pain and suffering of others, while being unhappy. A girl can not only understand another, but also direct him towards the right way, forgive, accept someone else's suffering. So, we see how the heroine shows pity for Katerina Ivanovna, calls her “fair, child,” and unhappy. Sonya saves her children, then takes pity on her dying father. This, like other scenes, inspires both sympathy and respect for the girl. And it is not at all surprising that Rodion would then share his mental anguish with Sophia.
Raskolnikov and Sonya Marmeladova
Rodion decided to tell his secret to Sophia, but not to Porfiry Petrovich. She, in his opinion, was, like no one else, capable of judging him according to her conscience. Moreover, her opinion will differ significantly from Porfiry’s court. Raskolnikov, despite his crime, longed for human understanding, love, and sensitivity. He wanted to see that one" high society", who is able to bring him out of darkness and support him. Raskolnikov's hopes for understanding from Sophia were justified. Rodion Romanovich cannot make contact with people. It begins to seem to him that everyone is mocking him and knows that it was he who did it. The exact opposite His vision is true to Sonya Marmeladova. The girl stands for humanity, philanthropy, and forgiveness. Having learned about his crime, she does not reject him, but, on the contrary, hugs, kisses and says in unconsciousness that “there is no one more merciless in the world now.”
Real life
Despite all this, periodically Rodion Romanovich returns to earth and notices everything that is happening in real world. On one of these days, he witnesses a drunken official Semyon Marmeladov being run over by a horse. During his last words, the author describes Sofya Semyonovna for the first time. Sonya was short, she was about eighteen. The girl was thin, but pretty, blonde, with attractive blue eyes. Sonya comes to the scene of the accident. on her lap. She sends her younger sister to find out where Raskolnikov lives in order to return him the money he gave for his father's funeral. After a while, Sophia goes to Rodion Romanovich to invite him to the wake. This is how she shows her gratitude to him.
Father's wake
At the event, a scandal arises due to the fact that Sonya is accused of theft. Everything was resolved peacefully, but Katerina Ivanovna and her children were evicted from the apartment. Now everyone is doomed to death. Raskolnikov tries to find out from Sophia, if it were her will, if she could kill Luzhin, the man who unfairly slandered her, saying that she was a thief. Sophia gave a philosophical answer to this question. Rodion Romanovich finds something familiar in Sonya, probably the fact that they were both rejected.
He tries to see understanding in her, because his theory is wrong. Now Rodion is ready for self-destruction, and Sonya is “a daughter who was evil and consumptive to her stepmother, who betrayed herself to strangers and minors.” Sofya Semyonovna relies on her moral guideline, which is important and clear for her - this is wisdom, which is described in the Bible as cleansing suffering. Raskolnikov, of course, shared with Marmeladova a story about his action, listening to him, she did not turn away from him. Here the truth of Sonya Marmeladova is in the manifestation of feelings of pity and sympathy for Rodion. The heroine convinced him to go and repent of what he had done, based on the parable that she studied in the Bible about the resurrection of Lazarus. Sonya agrees to share the hard everyday life of hard labor with Rodion Romanovich. This is not only how Sonya Marmeladova’s mercy is manifested. She does this in order to cleanse herself, because she believes that she is violating the biblical commandments.
What unites Sophia and Rodion
How can you characterize Marmeladova and Raskolnikov at the same time? For example, the convicts who serve time in the same cell with Rodion Romanovich adore Sonya, who regularly visits him, but treat him with contempt. They want to kill Raskolnikov and constantly make fun of him that it is not the king’s business to “carry an ax in his bosom.” Sofya Semyonovna has had her own ideas about people since childhood and adheres to them throughout her life. She never looks down on people and has respect and regret for them.
Conclusion
I would like to draw a conclusion based on the mutual relationships of the main characters in the novel. What was the significance of Sonya Marmeladova’s truth? If Sofya Semyonovna had not appeared on the path of Rodion Romanovich with her life values and ideals, then he would have ended very soon in the painful agony of self-destruction. This is the truth of Sonya Marmeladova. Due to such a plot in the middle of the novel, the author has the opportunity to logically complete the images of the main characters. Two different views and two analyzes of the same situation give the novel credibility. The truth of Sonya Marmeladova is contrasted with the theory of Rodion and his worldview. The famous Russian writer was able to breathe life into the main characters and safely resolve all the worst things that happened in their lives. Such completeness of the novel puts “Crime and Punishment” next to the greatest works that are on the list of world literature. Every schoolchild, every student should read this novel.
What is better - truth or compassion?" Man - that's the truth! We must respect man! M. Gorky It is unlikely that anyone will argue that Gorky is a humanist and a great writer who has gone through a great school of life. His works were not written to please the reading public - they reflect the truth of life, attention and love for people. And this can rightfully be attributed to his play “At the Lower Depths,” written in 1902. It still worries us with the questions posed in it by the playwright. Indeed, what is better is the truth. or compassion? If the question were formulated a little differently - truth or falsehood, I would answer unequivocally: truth. But truth and compassion cannot be made mutually exclusive concepts, contrasting one with the other; on the contrary, the whole play is pain for a person, it is the truth about a person. Another thing is that the bearer of truth is Satin, a gambler, a sharpie, himself far from the ideal of a person that he sincerely and with pathos proclaims: “Man! This is great! It sounds... proud!" He is contrasted with Luka - kind, compassionate and "evil", deliberately invoking a "golden dream" to the suffering night shelters. And next to Luka and Satin there is another person who also argues about truth and compassion, - M. Gorky himself. It seems to me that he is the bearer of the truth of compassion. This follows from the play itself, from the way it was enthusiastically received by the audience. The play was read in the night shelter, the tramps cried, shouted: “We are worse! "They kissed and hugged Gorky. It still sounds modern now, when they began to tell the truth, but forgot what mercy and compassion are. So, the action takes place in the Kostylevs' rooming house, which is a "basement like a cave," under the “heavy stone arches”, where the prison twilight reigns. Here tramps who have fallen “to the bottom of life” eke out a miserable existence, where they were mercilessly thrown out by a criminal society. Someone very accurately said: “At the bottom” - this is amazing. a picture of a cemetery where valuable people are buried alive." It is impossible without an internal shudder to see the world of poverty and lawlessness drawn by the playwright, the world of anger, disunity, the world of alienation and loneliness, to hear screams, threats, ridicule. The heroes of the play have lost their past, they have no present, only Kleshch believes that he will break out of here: “I’ll get out... I’ll rip off my skin, but I’ll get out...” The thief, “the thief’s son,” has a faint hope for another life with Natasha "Vaska Ashes, dreams of pure love prostitute Nastya, however, her dreams evoke malicious ridicule from those around her. The rest have resigned themselves, submitted, do not think about the future, have lost all hope and have finally realized their uselessness. But in fact, all the inhabitants are buried here alive. The actor who drank himself to death and forgot his name is pitiful and tragic; crushed by life, patiently suffering Anna, who is near death, is not needed by anyone (her husband awaits her death as liberation); smart Satin, a former telegraph operator, is cynical and embittered; the Baron is insignificant, who “expects nothing”, “everything is already in the past” for him; Bubnov is indifferent to himself and others. Gorky paints his heroes mercilessly and truthfully, " former people", writes about them with pain and anger, sympathizes with them, who have found themselves in a dead end in life. Mite declares in despair: "There is no work... no strength! That's the truth! Shelter... there is no shelter! We must breathe out... this is the truth!..” It is to these people, it seems, indifferent to life and themselves, that the wanderer Luke comes, addressing with the greeting: “Good health, honest people!” It is to them, the rejected, the renounced from all human morality! Gorky’s attitude towards the passportless Luka is unambiguous: “And all the philosophy, all the preaching of such people is alms, given by them with hidden disgust, and under this preaching the words also sound beggarly, pitiful. And yet I want to understand.” Is he so poor, and what motivates him when he preaches his comforting lies, does he himself believe in what he calls for, is he a swindler, a charlatan, a scoundrel, or a person sincerely thirsting for good? The play has been read, and, at first glance? , the appearance of Luke brought only harm, evil, misfortune, death to the shelters. He disappears, disappears unnoticed, but the illusions that he planted in the devastated hearts of people make their life even more bleak and terrible, deprive them of hope, plunge them into darkness. tormented souls. Let's once again see what motivates Luke when, looking closely at the tramps, he finds words of consolation for everyone. He is empathetic, kind to those who need help, and gives them hope. Yes, with his appearance under the arches of the gloomy shelter, hope settles in, previously almost imperceptible against the background of swearing, coughing, growling, groans. And a hospital for drunkards at Actor, and saving Siberia for the thief Ash, and true love for Nastya. “People are looking for everything, everyone wants what’s best... give them, Lord, patience!” - Luka says sincerely and adds: “Whoever seeks will find... You just need to help them...” No, it is not self-interest that drives Luka, he is not a swindler or a charlatan. Even the cynical Bubnov, who doesn’t trust anyone, understands this: “Luka... he lies a lot... and without any benefit for himself...” Ash, unaccustomed to sympathy, asks: “No, tell me - why are you doing all this. ..” Natasha asks him: “Why are you so kind?” And Anna simply asks: “Talk to me, honey... I feel sick.” And it becomes clear that Luka is a kind person who sincerely wants to help and instill hope. But the trouble is that this good is built on lies and deception. Sincerely wanting good, he resorts to lies, believes that earthly life there cannot be another, therefore it takes a person into the world of illusions, into a non-existent righteous land, believing that “it is not always possible to cure a soul with truth.” And if it is impossible to change life, then you can at least change a person’s attitude towards life. I wonder what Gorky’s attitude is towards his hero in the play? Contemporaries recall that the writer was best able to read the role of Luke, and the scene at the bedside of the dying Anna brought tears to his eyes and delight from his listeners. Both tears and delight are the result of the merger of the author and the hero in a fit of compassion. And wasn’t it because Gorky argued so fiercely with Luka because the old man was part of his soul?! But Gorky is not against consolation in itself: “The main question that I wanted to pose is: what is better: truth or compassion? Is it necessary to bring compassion to the point of using lies, like Luke?” That is, truth and compassion are concepts that are not mutually exclusive. Luka leads away from the truth that Kleshch realizes: “To live is a devil - you can’t live... here it is - the truth! heal with a butt? The old man thinks: “...You need to feel sorry for people!.. I’ll tell you - it’s time to feel sorry for a person... it can be good!” And he tells how he pitied and saved the night robbers. Bubnov opposes Luke’s stubborn, bright faith in man, in the saving power of pity, compassion, kindness: “In my opinion, I’ll give the whole truth as it is! Why be ashamed?” For him, the truth is a cruel, murderous oppression of inhumane circumstances, and Luka’s truth is so unusually life-affirming that the downtrodden, humiliated night shelters do not believe in it, taking it for a lie. But Luke wanted to inspire faith and hope in his listeners: “What you believe in, that is...” Luke brings to people the true, saving, human faith, the meaning of which was captured and expressed in the famous words of Satin: “Man is the truth! " Luke thinks that with words, pity, compassion, mercy, attention to a person, you can raise his soul, so that the lowest thief understands: “You have to live better! You have to live like that... so that you can... respect yourself...” Thus, for Luke there is no question: “Which is better - truth or compassion?” For him, what is human is true. Then why is the ending of the play so hopelessly tragic? Although we hear that they say about Luke, he inspired Satin to make a fiery speech about a beautiful and proud man, but the same Satin indifferently tells the Actor to his request to pray for him: “Pray yourself...” And to him, leaving forever, after his a passionate monologue about a person shouts: “Hey, you sicambre! Where?" His reaction to the death of the Actor seems eerie: "Eh.
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