Whose morality is closer to me: Danko or Lara? Gorky's early romantic stories. IV. Homework

Larra and Danko throughout the story and in general according to the author's plan are irreconcilable antagonists. Their lives are completely opposite: the meaning of one of them lies in eternal service to people, the meaning of the second, it would seem, is basically absent - a fate without a goal, without content, passing without a trace, disappearing like a shadow. Of course, everyone can have a different attitude towards their life and determine the goals for which they live. Some believe that fate is determined from above and nothing depends on us. Others are confident that determining their future life each of us can do it. In M. Gorky's story, Larra and Danko personify these two opposing views. However, despite serious contradictions, the main characters still have common features. First of all, they will be united by common human qualities, such as courage, beauty, intelligence and strength.

The plot of the story is based on the memories of the old woman Izergil about her life, as well as on the legends about Larra and Danko. Danko is a handsome and brave young man whose love for people knows no bounds. His altruism is completely inexhaustible and not conditioned by anything. Danko is a real hero, capable of great feats for the sake of his people. The image of this hero embodies the ideal of humanism, high spirituality and the ability to self-sacrifice. His death does not evoke pity in the reader, since the feat he accomplished, its magnitude and significance are much higher than this kind of feelings. Danko, a courageous and fearless hero, in whose hands his own heart, sparkling with love, burns, evokes respect and admiration from the reader, but in no case pity or compassion.

The author contrasts this bright and sublime image with the negative image of Larra, a selfish and proud person. Larra considers himself chosen and treats the people around him with disdain, just as a master treats his slaves.

Larra's irrepressible pride and arrogance lead him to loneliness and make him experience unbearable melancholy. As the author notes, pride is a wonderful character trait, but in the case when it rises above all other feelings, it brings with it absolute liberation from society, from all moral laws and ethical principles, which ultimately leads to sad consequences.

Thus, Larra, being freed from worldly shackles, dies spiritually for everyone and for himself, including those doomed to eternal life in a physical shell. Danko found his happiness by giving himself to people, and in his immortality he found himself completely free.

Essay Comparative characteristics of Danko and Larra

Maxim Gorky's story "Old Woman Izergil" contains two legends that tell about two young people. The first legend tells about an eagle man named Larra, and the second introduces the reader to a character named Danko. These two images cannot help but be compared, since the characteristics are proportionally different from each other.

First of all, the comparison should concern the characters of young people. Larra is selfish, smug, cruel. He never thought about what people wanted, he only cared about their desires. His selfishness and cruelty once led to the death of a girl: Larra killed her because she did not want to belong to him. Danko is the complete opposite of Larra; in his character everything is exactly the opposite: selflessness, love for people, kindness and other best human qualities. He was ready to do anything to ensure that others found freedom and happiness. Unlike Larra, he was capable of actions that are worthy of respect. Larra acted to please himself, but not harmlessly, but to the detriment of others. Thus, comparing the characters of both heroes, one can understand that they are completely different, and their personal qualities radically opposite.

Particularly interesting is the comparison of the fate of the characters in the legends. In both legends they die, it would seem common feature found, but even this moment in the plot is very different, but not in the nature of death or anything like that, but in the characters’ perception of it, in their condition. Larra was expelled by people; at first it seemed to him that this loneliness was exactly what he needed, because no one ordinary people not worthy of his attention. But over time, his life away from everyone became torture, and he died, useless to anyone. This was not his choice, although at first he perceived loneliness as a gift and showed his pride.

Danko himself chose his fate - his life in exchange for many others. And he did not die in pain, he was happy that he could help other people. He illuminated their path in the darkness with his burning heart. Danko was not proud and sincerely loved people, even when they grumbled at him, afraid of not getting out of the dense forest. Each of the heroes eventually got what they wanted, but this led to different consequences, because everything depends on the origin of the desire: good or evil, selfishness or selflessness.

In conclusion, it only remains to say that the images of Larra and Danko are very contrasting, and this is quite appropriate in the story of Maxim Gorky. With these two, absolutely various heroes, everyone can see and understand the impact of our desires on us, as well as what is truly right.

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In my opinion, of all the early works of Maxim Gorky, the story “Old Woman Izergil” is the most romantic and poetic. His heroes are brave, strong-willed people. Using their example, the writer talks about good and evil, the meaning and wisdom of life. The construction of the story is also very interesting. The story of the life of the old woman Izergil is framed by two legends - about Larra and Danko. Before us are several human destinies - choose! Judge for yourself the meaning of life! What does it consist of? In Larra’s individualism or in the selfless service to people to which Danko devoted himself? Or maybe we should strive to live a free, adventurous life? The old woman Izergil experienced a lot of grief and joy, different people she met on her duty life path. The images of those she loved remained forever in her memory. This is an arrogant nobleman, and a “worthy gentleman with a hacked-up face,” and a young man - “a pale and fragile flower of the east, poisoned by kisses.”

The years have robbed Izergil of her former beauty, extinguished the sparkle of her eyes, hunched her slender figure, but gave her wisdom, knowledge of life and true spirituality.

It is no coincidence that Gorky puts the legends about Larra and Danko into the mouth of this particular woman. She has something in common with both heroes. Izergil had to sacrifice herself for the sake of her lovers, show selflessness, and at the same time she lived her life for herself, free from any responsibilities and obligations. The writer does not condemn her: ideal people really only found in fairy tales, but in the living, real people Both good and bad can come together.

However, it is unlikely that the legend of Danko could have come from the lips of a spiritually wretched, cowardly and vile person.

In the legend of Larra, Gorky debunks the individualism of those who reject people and do not want to reckon with universal human laws. Someone might argue that this is precisely what true freedom consists of - to do what you want, to go wherever you want, not to take anyone into account, that is, to “keep yourself whole.” However, whoever chooses this path will face a tragic and sad fate - loneliness. Indeed, “for everything a person takes, he pays with himself: with his mind and strength, sometimes with his life.” In other words, you cannot just consume without giving anything in return. Larra neglected this law, and a terrible punishment awaited him. It would seem that he lacked nothing: “he kidnapped cattle, girls - everything he wanted,” and at the same time he was free as a bird. Then why, in the end, did he begin to dream of death and “there was so much melancholy in his eyes that it would be possible to poison all the people of the world with it?” Apparently, it is difficult for someone who does not know how to give, to give warmth, who “sees nothing but himself,” to be happy and to walk the path of life with dignity.

The romantic antipode of Larra is Danko - a brave, handsome man whose heart burned with great love for people. In his image, Gorky embodied his idea of ​​true heroes, of those in whom he saw the ideal. It is no coincidence that even the landscape creates in the reader a feeling of something unusual and fantastic. He helps us move from real life(Izergil’s story about herself) into the romantic world of legend: “And in the distance of the steppe, now black and terrible, as if lurking, hiding something within itself, small blue lights flashed. Here and there they appeared for a moment and went out, as if several people, scattered across the steppe far from each other, were looking for something in it, lighting matches, which the wind immediately extinguished. These were very strange blue tongues of fire, hinting at something fabulous.” Just as blue sparks enliven the black steppe, as if hiding something evil within itself, so people like Danko are able to bring goodness and light into life.

Danko is beautiful both externally and internally: “They looked at him and saw that he was the best of all, because a lot of strength and living fire shone in his eyes.”

Danko's energy and strength are contrasted with the lack of will and cowardice of the crowd. Tired and evil people, irritated by their powerlessness, lose their human appearance: “Danko looked at those for whom he had labored, and saw that they were like animals. Many people stood around him, but there was no nobility on their faces, and he could not expect mercy from them.” But Danko managed to overcome the indignation that flared up in him, because pity and love for people turned out to be stronger in him. To save them, he performs a spiritual feat. “What will I do for people?” - Danko shouted louder than thunder. And suddenly he tore his chest with his hands and tore out his heart from it and raised it high above his head. It burned as bright as the sun and brighter than the sun, and the whole forest fell silent, illuminated by this torch great love to people-.” Danko's burning heart is a symbol of sacrificial service to people, and the hero himself is the embodiment of all the best in a person. And how pitiful and low against his background the “cautious man” seems, who, “fearing something, stepped on his proud heart with his foot...”

I think that the legend about Danko's burning heart expresses author's position on the question of the meaning of life. In other words, the whole meaning of life, according to Gorky, is in sacrificial, selfless service to people. True, at present such a position is unlikely to be popular. It seems to me that most of us are like “ careful person”, who stepped on the flaming heart. Is this why we have to experience a painful crisis, both moral and material.

Of course, you cannot force sacrifices from people, and not everyone can achieve great feats. But if we try to become kinder, more sympathetic, and help those who need it, then the world will certainly change for the better. And the life of a person who gives people warmth can be called beautiful and meaningful.

Larra Danko
Character Brave, decisive, strong, proud and too selfish, cruel, arrogant. Incapable of love, compassion. Strong, proud, but capable of sacrificing his life for the people he loves. Courageous, fearless, merciful.
Appearance Nice young man. Young and handsome.
Sight Cold and proud like the king of beasts. Illuminates with strength and vital fire.
Family connections Son of an eagle and a woman Representative of an ancient tribe
Life position Doesn't want to share with others. Wants to take the best. He believes that since he is different from others, he can do whatever he wants. I dreamed of being free Sacrifices himself in order to save his fellow tribesmen. I dreamed of giving them freedom. He loved people and wanted to help everyone.
The attitude of fellow tribesmen towards the hero They hated him for his great pride, although they understood that he was no worse than them. They considered him better than everyone else, respected his strong spirit, faith and courage. Even when they turned their backs on him, he sacrificed himself to save them.
The meaning of the image confident condemnation of selfishness and confidence in one’s excessive importance. Tribute, give, giver. What will I give to people? What will I do for people?
Reasons for "punishment" He despises all people. Considers them slaves. Too proud a heart.
Perfect actions He committed a crime - he killed a girl. Evil actions. He accomplished a feat - he illuminated the path for people with his heart. Good deeds.
True happiness Death Live for others.
In the end Loneliness
Hero with the crowd Conflict
General Outwardly beautiful, brave and strong in spirit.
Legend in modern words Turns into shadow (darkness, cold) Blue sparks (light, heat)
Key Idea Pride is a wonderful part of character. It makes a person an individual and ignores the generally accepted. Self-sacrifice.
Conclusion Anti-ideal, expressing contempt for people. The ideal that expresses highest degree love for people.
Quotes
  • “he was no better than them, only his eyes were cold and proud, like those of the king of birds”
  • “She pushed him away and walked away, and he hit her and when she fell, he put his foot on her chest.”
  • “I killed her because I think she pushed me away.”
  • “he is the best of all, because a lot of strength and living fire shone in his eyes”
  • “and suddenly he tore his chest with his hands and tore his heart out of it”
  • “it burned as brightly as the sun, and brighter than the sun, and the whole forest fell silent, illuminated by this torch.”
    • The story “Old Woman Izergil” (1894) is one of the masterpieces of M. Gorky’s early work. The composition of this work is more complex than the composition of others early stories writer. The story of Izergil, who has seen a lot in her life, is divided into three independent parts: the legend of Larra, Izergil’s story about her life, and the legend of Danko. At the same time, all three parts are united by a common idea, the author’s desire to reveal the value of human life. The legends about Larra and Danko reveal two concepts of life, two […]
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    • The revival of the name of Maxim Gorky after reconsidering the place of his work in Russian literature and renaming everything that bore the name of this writer must definitely happen. It seems that the most famous play from Gorky’s dramatic heritage, “At the Lower Depths,” will play a significant role in this. The genre of drama itself presupposes the relevance of the work in a society where there are many unresolved social problems, where people know what it’s like to spend the night and be homeless. M. Gorky's play “At the Lower Depths” is defined as a socio-philosophical drama. […]
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  • Composition

    The heroes of Gorky's early works are proud, strong, brave people who alone enter into the fight against dark forces. One of these works is the story “Old Woman Izergil”.

    The plot is based on the memories of the old woman Izergil about her life and the legends she told about Larra and Danko. The legend tells about a brave and handsome young man Danko, who loves people more than himself - selflessly and with all his heart. Danko is a real hero - courageous and fearless, in the name of a noble goal - helping his people - he is capable of a feat. When the tribe, gripped by fear and exhausted by a long journey through the impenetrable forest, already wanted to go to the enemy and bring him their freedom as a gift, Danko appeared. Energy and living fire shone in his eyes, the people believed in him and followed him. But tired of the difficult path, people again lost heart and stopped believing Danko, and at this turning point, when the embittered crowd began to surround him more closely to kill him, Danko tore his heart out of his chest, illuminating the path to salvation for them.

    The image of Danko embodies a high ideal - a humanist, a person of great spiritual beauty, capable of self-sacrifice for the sake of saving other people. This hero, despite his painful death, does not evoke a feeling of pity in the reader, because his feat is higher than this kind of feeling. Respect, delight, admiration - this is what the reader feels when imagining in his imagination a young man with a fiery gaze, holding a heart sparkling with love in his hand.

    Gorky contrasts the positive, sublime image of Danko with the “negative” image of Larra - a proud and selfish Larra considers himself chosen and looks at the people around him as miserable slaves. When asked why he killed the girl, Larra replies: “Do you only use yours? I see that every person has only speech, arms and legs, but he owns animals, women, land... and much more.”

    His logic is simple and terrible; if everyone followed it, then a miserable handful of people would soon remain on earth, fighting for survival and hunting each other. Understanding the depth of Larra’s wrongness, unable to forgive and forget the crime he committed, the tribe condemns him to eternal loneliness. Life outside society gives rise to a feeling of inexpressible melancholy in Larra. “In his eyes,” says Izergil, “there was so much melancholy that one could poison all the people of the world with it.”

    Pride, according to the author, is the most wonderful character trait. It makes the slave free, the weak - strong, the insignificance turns into a person. Pride does not tolerate anything philistine and “generally accepted.” But hypertrophied pride gives rise to absolute freedom, freedom from society, freedom from all moral principles and principles, which ultimately leads to terrible consequences.

    It is this idea of ​​Gorky that is key in the old woman Izergil’s story about Larra, who, being just such an absolutely free individual, dies spiritually for everyone (and above all for himself), remaining to live forever in his physical shell. The hero has found death in immortality. Gorky reminds us of the eternal truth: you cannot live in society and be free from it. Larra was doomed to loneliness and considered death to be his true happiness. True happiness, according to Gorky, lies in giving oneself to people, as Danko did.

    Distinctive feature This story is a sharp contrast, the opposition of good and bad, kind and evil, light and dark.

    Ideological meaning The story is complemented by a depiction of the image of the narrator - the old woman Izergil. Her memories of her life's journey are also a kind of legend about a brave and proud woman. Old woman Izergil values ​​freedom most of all; she proudly declares that she has never been a slave. Izergil speaks with admiration about his love for feats: “When a person loves feats, he always knows how to do them and will find where it is possible.”

    In the story “Old Woman Izergil,” Gorky draws exceptional characters, exalts the proud and strong in spirit people for whom freedom is above all. For him, Izergil, Danko and Larra, despite the extreme contradictions in the nature of the first, the seeming uselessness of the feat of the second and the endless distance from all living things of the third, are genuine heroes, people who bring into the world the idea of ​​freedom in its various manifestations.

    However, in order to truly live life, it is not enough to “burn”, it is not enough to be free and proud, feeling and restless. You need to have the main thing - a goal. A goal that would justify a person’s existence, because “a person’s price is his business.” “There is always a place for heroic deeds in life.” "Forward! - higher! everyone - forward! and - above - this is the credo of a real Man.”

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    "Old Woman Izergil" Author and narrator in M. Gorky's story "Old Woman Izergil" Analysis of the legend of Danko from M. Gorky’s story “Old Woman Izergil” Analysis of the legend of Larra (from the story of M. Gorky “Old Woman Izergil”) Analysis of M. Gorky's story “Old Woman Izergil” What is the meaning of life? (based on the story “Old Woman Izergil” by M. Gorky) What is the meaning of the contrast between Danko and Larra (based on M. Gorky’s story “The Old Woman Izergil”) Heroes of M. Gorky's early romantic prose Pride and selfless love for people (Larra and Danko in M. Gorky’s story “Old Woman Izergil”) Pride and selfless love for the people of Larra and Danko (based on the story of M. Gorky “Old Woman Izergil”) Ideological and artistic features of the legend of Danko (based on the story of M. Gorky “The Old Woman Izergil”) Ideological and artistic features of the legend of Larra (based on the story of M. Gorky “Old Woman Izergil”) The ideological meaning and artistic diversity of the early romantic works of M. Gorky The idea of ​​a feat in the name of universal happiness (based on the story of M. Gorky “The Old Woman Izergil”). Everyone is their own destiny (based on Gorky's story "Old Woman Izergil") How do dreams and reality coexist in M. Gorky’s works “Old Woman Izergil” and “At the Depths”? Legends and reality in M. Gorky’s story “Old Woman Izergil” Dreams of the heroic and beautiful in M. Gorky’s story “Old Woman Izergil”. The image of a heroic man in M. Gorky’s story “Old Woman Izergil” Features of the composition of M. Gorky’s story “Old Woman Izergil” The positive ideal of a person in M. Gorky’s story “Old Woman Izergil” Why is the story called “Old Woman Izergil”? Reflections on M. Gorky’s story “Old Woman Izergil” Realism and romanticism in the early works of M. Gorky The role of composition in revealing the main idea of ​​the story “Old Woman Izergil” Romantic works of M. Gorky For what purpose does M. Gorky contrast the concepts of “pride” and “arrogance” in the story “Old Woman Izergil”? The originality of M. Gorky’s romanticism in the stories “Makar Chudra” and “Old Woman Izergnl” The strength and weakness of man in the understanding of M. Gorky (“Old Woman Izergil”, “At the Depth”) The system of images and symbolism in Maxim Gorky’s work “Old Woman Izergil” Essay based on the work of M. Gorky "Old Woman Izergil" The rescue of Arcadek from captivity (analysis of an episode from M. Gorky’s story “Old Woman Izergil”). Man in the works of M. Gorky Legend and reality in the story “Old Woman Izergil” Comparative characteristics of Larra and Danko What role does the image of the old woman Izergil play in the story of the same name? The romantic ideal of Man in the story “Old Woman Izergil” Analysis of the legend of Larra from M. Gorky's story "Old Woman Izergil" Heroes of romantic stories by M. Gorky. (Using the example of “Old Woman Izergil”) The main characters of Gorky's story "Old Woman Izergil" Danko's image "Old Woman Izergil"

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    Larra had been walking for three days already. The scorching sun, hunger and thirst exhausted his body, his bare feet were worn into blood, his vision was double. The rustling of the grass was not heard, and she herself, like Larra, bent over the ground, as if it could save her from the heat. The heat was unbearable even at night. The young man walked, overcoming himself. He desperately searched for food, but nothing grew nearby and there was not a single tribe from whom he could steal anything. Larra could not ask. My legs were bleeding. It seemed to him that the grass should serve as a pillow for them, but its dried and hardened roots stuck out, tearing the skin like a knife. Now he was unlike the birds that proudly flew above him. When his father weakened, he threw himself onto the rocks: what should Larra do? He had no weapons, no wings, nothing. But he didn't need it before. He felt like his mind was going haywire. My legs gave way and everything went dark before my eyes.

    Life-giving moisture was the first thing Larra felt after waking up. It clogged his throat, and he spat it out, afraid of choking. But someone very close said, “Hush, hush,” and the young man realized that this was not a dream. He greedily took a sip of the waterskin offered by the stranger, and sighed in disappointment when it was taken away. - It's hard, right? - said the invisible one. He couldn't discern the intonation with which the man said these words, but he didn't care. Larra is used to humiliation. What else should you expect from people? Perhaps he got the young man drunk precisely in order to continue his torment, in order to mock his unfortunate lot. And Larra was overcome by a feeling of hatred, he wanted to look this man in the eyes and then tear him apart. He opened his eyes with difficulty, and when his gaze cleared, he looked angrily at the speaker. Larra froze in amazement. In front of him stood a young man his age, brown hair framed him beautiful face, A blue eyes beamed...with kindness. Larra was embarrassed that he wanted to kill him. -Are you alone? - Larra wheezed out of habit. - No, my tribe is behind me. I was sent on reconnaissance as a young and sighted person. And I found you in the middle of the steppe. - the young man smiled at him, as if he had found a treasure. The thought flashed through his head whether he would have time to rob this young man and run away, but for the first time Larra could not bring himself to do this - his hand did not rise. - Do you want to eat? - As if he heard Larra’s thoughts, the young man asked. Larra nodded slightly. The young man opened his knapsack and took out food. After having a snack, Larra gained strength. -Can you get up? - the stranger asked again. Larra pushed himself off the ground with his hands and quickly jumped to his feet, but his legs responded with monstrous pain, and he collapsed back. It seemed that after the break they would not be able to go at all. “Lie here, I’ll be right back,” he heard the stranger’s retreating cry. Turning around, Larra saw that he was rushing in the direction from which his tribe was supposed to come.

    People. There are a lot of people, and everyone is looking at him strangely. He didn't want to be among people he despised them. Larra’s legs were still aching, and so he was now riding in a cart that was intended for the old and the poor. The cart was pulled by the stranger who found it in the steppe. Larra didn't even bother to ask his name. The people following the cart laughed at him, and the fire of indignation lit up in Larra’s soul. What funny did they see? And the answer was immediate: even the elders and women go, but he cannot. - Stop. - Larra said to the young man. He turned over his shoulder as if he wanted to say something, but still stopped. - I want to go. - said the eagle's son. - Have the wounds on your legs healed? - the young man asked. - No, but... - he was interrupted by the roar of the wheels spinning again. - But this is humiliating! - Larra said with feeling. “Help is not humiliating,” the young man answered, “but this is yes.” - And with these words, he lifted up the handrails of the cart, which he was holding on to, so that Larra flew off it like a sack of potatoes. He felt unpleasant, and the stranger was already standing on him, and a question sparkled in his eyes: “ Do you understand the difference?" And Larra really understood, so he lowered his gaze, no longer able to look into the blue eyes of the young man, like the sky above them. He looked down and noticed his savior's legs. They were wounded just like his own, but he never complained about it. Larra would not have noticed if he had not seen it with his own eyes. “Your legs...” Larra said after they set off again. - Why didn’t you tell me, didn’t ask me for anything? - Help should be selfless. And if I asked you for something in return, what kind of help would it be? - answered the young man. Larra thought about what was said for a long time, but firmly decided that someday he himself would help this young man for dragging him, despite the pain, as if not noticing it. For the first time he wanted to help a person. He felt calm with this young man, there was a firm confidence that he would not do anything bad to him. They were completely different, and although Larra did not want to admit it, he was beginning to like this strange young man with eternally shining eyes.

    The sun was rolling towards the horizon. Having walked around all the old and infirm, Danko stopped at the young man he found, clutching a blanket in his hands. He slept, occasionally shuddering in his sleep. His chest heaved evenly, his jet-black hair was blown by an almost weightless wind. Despite all their differences, Danko seemed to have something in common. He approached the young man and covered him with a blanket. He was glad that he found him then, in the steppe. No one deserves to die forgotten by everyone. He walked away and stopped, still looking at the young man. - When he gets better, he will have to leave. - the voice of one of the elders was heard nearby. - Let him survive on his own, we did everything we could for him. Coming hard times, and the extra mouth will be a problem for us. - Will extra hands really hinder us? He can help us. - Danko answered. - He's an outcast. How can he help those he despises? He only talks to you. - He is the same person as us. Why should we drive him away? - Outcasts are cursed by the Gods, and this is not something to joke about. It will affect the entire tribe if we shelter him. “The elder fell silent, and then, looking at Danko, muttered, “Don’t sacrifice yourself, he will destroy you.” Think about what your parents would say about this. - You know they would do the same. - the depressed Danko said dully, leaving. Approaching the young man sleeping in the cart, he sat down next to him, leaning his back against the wall of the cart. Danko was overcome by sadness that he would have to kick him out. It seemed unthinkable to him to save a person only to abandon him again. He could not even imagine how the young man would react to this news.

    Noon is a time of strong sunshine. The tribe settled down near a high forest, in its shadow. Danko was returning from the council of elders. No matter how he tried to dissuade them, nothing worked. They decided to expel the young man and ordered Danko to inform him about this. One of the people slandered him, saying that he saw him stealing supplies at night. But Danko knew that at night he slept next to him. And he told the elders about this, but they did not want to believe him. They asked if he knew why the young man was expelled, and Danko had no answer to this question. Therefore, the elders decided to abandon the young man, saying that they were doing him a favor, because something terrible awaits them in the dense forest, and any tribe would be afraid to touch the outcast. Danko was offended by this attitude towards the young man he saved: it’s not his fault that the tribe expelled him, he doesn’t have to pay for it all his life, everyone has a second chance. But no one listened to him. The young man sat cross-legged, distant from all other people. Danko slowly approached, smiling forcedly. - Tell me, what were you doing alone in the steppe then? Why did your tribe abandon you? - he asked quietly. - What difference does it make to you? Human? - the young man said rudely, glaring at Danko with the gaze of an eagle driven into a corner. He seemed to sense danger. Danko was offended by rudeness, from the mouth of the young man the word Human it sounded so insignificant. - I see in front of me a person like me. Whatever you think you are, you don’t have wings behind your back, just like me. - he said. The young man stopped burning it and, looking down, stared at the grass. And Danko thought that maybe he called him a man simply because he didn’t know his name. - I'm Danko. - he suddenly blurted out. The young man raised his black eyes to him and, after thinking for a second, said: “They called me Larra.” And after these words, it became even more difficult for Danko to inform about the decision of the elders. He sat down next to Larra and, looking at him, said: “You have to leave, your legs are already fine, and you can’t stay here anymore.” - He wanted to say this, looking into his eyes, but when faced with Larra’s gaze, full of pain, he discarded this idea in powerlessness, feeling so insignificant and pathetic. How difficult it was for him to say these words and how he did not want to let him go. Danko managed to become attached to Larra. But now his greatest fear was that the young man would think that he, too, wanted him to leave. Danko expected anything - that Larra would refuse to leave, that he would carry out a massacre, that he would try to convince the elders to leave him. But none of this followed. “Okay, I’ll leave,” Larra said indifferently, “If You ask me this, I'll leave. Larra was hurt; people rejected him again. But what hurt was that with this decision it was Danko who was sent to him, the man who cared about him, the man who did not abandon him. Larra easily rose to his feet and wandered away. - What about supplies? - Danko shouted after him. “I came here with nothing and I’m leaving with nothing.” I don't need anything from you. - said Larra. And Danko watched as the silhouette of the man whom he did not want to lose receded towards the horizon, and tears welled up in his eyes.

    Dozens of people were killed in the forest for several days. They fell dead right before Danko’s eyes, and he could do nothing to help them. The young man concentrated on finding a way out of the forest. He woke up and went to bed with this thought. Danko knew that there had to be a way out, but he did not know how long it would take to get to it and how many people would have to be sacrificed. They stopped for the night. People huddled in fear of the shadows that danced from the fire. The foliage suddenly rustled next to Danko, and he decided to check what was there. Taking the torch, he walked past the spreading roots, which seemed alive and ready to be grabbed at any moment, and went around the trees, the trunk of which could not be grasped with his hands. And among the trees it seemed to him that he saw someone’s silhouette. Moving away from his tribe, he shouted: “Come out!” The leaves rustled again. Danko couldn't believe his luck. He just smiled madly when he saw the man who came out to meet him. - You said you would leave. - he said. - I couldn't. - Larra admitted, smiling, approaching Danko. The latter thought that this was the first time he saw him smile. - I came for you. - Follow me? - Danko asked. - I realized that my freedom is not nice to me. My freedom is now yours. And I would be the biggest fool in the world if I missed you. - Blue eyes opposite black ones. Illuminated only by a torch, Larra looked truly magical and enchanting. Pale skin contrasted with black eyes and hair. “I had a lot of girls, but they came and went as if they weren’t there at all.” No one lingered in my heart... Except you. And obeying an impulse, Larra kissed Danko’s parted lips, burying his hands in his brown hair. But he soon pulled away, whispering: “Come with me.” Don't sacrifice yourself for people, they don't deserve it. - They touched their foreheads. “I’ll go with you wherever you want, just let me save these people.” They will die without me, I am their only hope. - Noticing Larra’s incredulous look, Danko added, “and then you and I will go to the ends of the earth.” But Larra seemed to be looking at someone standing behind him, and, turning around, Danko saw the elder. He looked sideways at them with undisguised anger. Larra was nevertheless allowed to stay, which left the rest of the people unhappy. And that night the eagle's son slept, clinging to to the person I loved, listening to Danko's heartbeat and feeling its warmth.

    They wandered through the forest, and it seemed to everyone except Danko that their days were numbered. Danko walked ahead of everyone, showing the way. Larra heard the discontent of the people following them. And then one day the elders blamed them for everything. - I was initially against you, Danko, bringing this outcast. He is cursed, and so are you. That's why the Gods punish us, that's why they kill us one by one. Therefore, we cannot leave this forest, because you are leading us. - said the elder who saw them in the forest. Angry people began to approach them and began to surround the young men. – You said: “Lead!” - and I drove! - Danko shouted. - I have the courage to lead, that’s why I led you! What about you? What did you do to help yourself? You just walked and didn’t know how to save your strength for a longer journey! You just walked and walked like a flock of sheep! The ranks of people around them began to close in. People screamed that they were going to die. And it flashed through Larra’s head that if they even touched Danko, he would tear them to shreds. He looked at the young man and saw how he was tearing his chest and pulling out his burning heart. Something broke in Larra. Danko rushed forward, and the amazed crowd running after him pushed Larra back. He knew it was his last moments in life, he realized that he was losing the most important thing. Because of the people, he practically did not see Danko, he saw only his heart, illuminating the path. He ran faster, pushing people aside, and did not immediately realize that the light was no longer coming from Danko’s heart, but from the sun shining over the steppe where they had gone. Danko stood in front, admiring the view. When Larra caught up with him, Danko turned to him and smiled warmly, and then his eyes glazed over and he fell dead. Larra knelt in front of the lifeless body. It became unbearable for him to hear the joyful exclamations of people. He held back his tears at all costs. They won't see his weakness. And then he noticed how the elder stepped on Danko’s heart, and it shattered into fragments. In despair, Larra rushed to the fragments, collecting them with his hands, as if his heart could be assembled from them again, but strong impulse the wind blew them from his palms, scattering them on the ground.

    He walked towards the tribe. Seeing him, people became wary, preparing for battle. " My freedom is now his- he repeated to himself, - but now he is gone, which means there is no freedom. I must die to be free again and reunite with him.“People put spears in front of him, but he continued walking, wanting to run into them. But people understood his plan and removed the weapons. They stood and laughed, and Larra trembled with despair. He thought that he could tear his flesh like Danko, and began to tear the skin with his nails, but the skin was like stone and did not give in at all, no matter how hard he tried. Then Larra rushed at the people in the hope that they would accidentally kill him, but they dodged him. He saw someone drop a knife, grabbed it and hit himself in the chest, but the knife did him no harm. And then he understood. This is his curse. The gods laugh at him. As soon as he found happiness, they took it away, and he could not be returned. Now, when a lot of time has passed since then, and the sun has dried up his body, he no longer remembers anything except one name. He searches and searches all over the earth for the fragments of Danko's heart, hoping to put them back together, as if this could bring his love back to life. * - You teach an eagle to fly (lat.)