(319 words) Maxim Gorky is one of the most famous writers of the 19th and 20th centuries. His works were especially popular at that time, since he was not shy in his work to depict the life of ordinary people belonging to the lower class of society, with all their hardships and tribulations. This can be clearly seen in his famous play “At the Bottom”. The main problem underlying the work is the clash of truth and lies. The heroes face the question, and what is more preferable to them: a lie that gives hope or truth, leading to despair?
At the beginning of the action, readers appear to be mired in poverty and humiliation, who themselves have come to such a life. However, despite this, each of them is trying to get out of this state, encouraging himself with words that it is temporary, that everything is possible to change. Everything really changes when the old man Luke comes to the rooming house. He shows compassion, makes them believe in what they want, see clearly and see a ray of light that can lead them out of the pit. He colorfully painted them the other side of life. For example, she helped the dying Anna believe in a fair reward after death - the peace that awaits her, and she dies happy, ready to get into the described world. He also indicated the way of recovery for the Actor to cure his sin. Luke becomes a support for the inhabitants of the rooming house, trying to brighten up their life and make them believe in fate and their strength. Only Satin, the gambler and former convict, actively objected to him. His concept is different - to bring down the whole truth about people themselves, to make them horrified by their own insignificance. This insight will give them sufficient motivation to develop.
But it all ends sadly: Anna dies, Ashes are sent to Siberia as a convict for the murder of Kostylev, and the Actor hangs himself. At the end of the work, the characters remain the same, with the same life, but at the same time they lose hope of climbing the social ladder. Lying for the good led to the fact that they were just waiting for a miracle, but did nothing for him. As a result, disappointment swallowed them. That is why Satin was right: a person can be elevated only by encountering the truth of life. Only in this way he realizes the need for change and goes forward.
