There are numerous obstacles that have made it impossible for me to focus on the play as it ended before time. First of all, we have approximately 15 characters who appear in one scene! This is much larger than what my weak concentration can bear. Secondly, the names are of course Russian, which helps in my inability to remember them and know who is speaking. Thirdly, the conversation rotates between more than one group simultaneously. For example, you will find a group of two or three people talking about a certain topic, and at the same time another group is talking about another topic and the conversation shifts between these and those. After a while, I found myself completely unable to focus. The play actually seems good, but I think it would be better if I watched it on the stage floor and not written.

It is a simple description of poor people. Their lives are often filled with hardships and struggles. They face various challenges on a daily basis, yet they manage to carry on. Their thoughts may be different from those of the more privileged. They might focus on the basic necessities of life and how to survive. There is no special plot in this description. It's just a portrayal of ordinary people and their mode of life.

I really liked one character here. It was the old man. Everything he said was full of wisdom. He seemed to have seen and experienced a lot in his life. His words were like pearls of wisdom that made me think deeply. To be honest, I was reading this book mainly because of him. His character added a touch of depth and interest to the otherwise simple narrative.

**Book Review: Lower Depths - Maxim Gorky**

Maxim Gorky, a renowned author, had a limited formal education but his passion for literature led him to become a world-famous writer. Born Aleksey Makimovich Peshkov on 16th March 1868 in Russia, his early life was filled with hardships. His father died when he was five, and he lived with his poor and often offensive grandparents. At eight, he was taken out of school and put to work, but his love for learning led him to study with a fellow cook. At 12, he ran away from home and worked at various places, taking on different jobs. During this time, he adopted the name Maxim Gorky, which means “The Bitter One” in Russian.

His experiences with the lowest class of society, including prostitutes and thieves, influenced his writing. He also got involved with revolutionaries and was jailed several times. His major earnings supported the Marxists. He spent some time in Italy and later returned to Russia, where he was greeted warmly. He died in 1936, and there is some controversy surrounding his death.

“The Lower Depths” is Gorky’s second play, written in 1902. It was very successful and was produced at the Moscow Art Theatre in the same year. The play has no solid plot but consists of a series of sequences that focus on the characters, their thoughts, motives, and actions. The characters, such as Kostoloff, Pepel, Satine, and Luka, are based on Gorky’s encounters with different people. The play protests against inhumanity and explores the theme that all men strive for a better life and work towards becoming better men. Luka is a particularly interesting character, being endlessly optimistic and always eager to question the meaning and purpose of life.

The language in the play is simple, continuous, and descriptive, similar to the writing style of MKGandhi. After reading the book, it stayed with me for three days, making me think about the meaning and purpose of life, the existence of God, and other profound questions. Gorky’s writing style is such that each character and incident gets absorbed deeply within you. If you are looking for sincere writing, truth, real-life characters and incidences, simple English, and answers to life’s questions, then you should read all of Gorky’s books.

The messages it gave were really very beautiful. Only because I had difficulty in reading this kind, my score was 4!

It is a book with too many quotes to be shared, but let me leave one here

“—Wow! I swear there is nothing better than thieves in this world!
-Of course, it is easy for them to make money... They don't work
—Many people find money the easy way, but getting away from money is easy for very few. Working huh? If it gave me pleasure, it would be okay, maybe I would work... Yes! Maybe! If work gives pleasure, life is beautiful! But if work has become a necessity, then life also turns into captivity!”

This passage makes us think deeply about the nature of work and the relationship between money and happiness. It shows that while some people may obtain money easily, the true value lies in finding pleasure and meaning in work.

Poor folk often find themselves oscillating between the grim truth and illusionary hope.

On one hand, they are constantly faced with the harsh realities of poverty, such as lack of basic necessities, limited opportunities for education and employment, and a generally difficult living situation. These hard facts can weigh them down and make them feel hopeless and despondent.

On the other hand, however, they also hold onto illusionary hope. This hope might be in the form of winning the lottery, getting a big break in life, or having a better future suddenly appear out of nowhere. They cling to these dreams, even though the chances of them coming true are often slim.

This oscillation between the two can be a source of great stress and turmoil for poor folk. It can make them feel trapped and unable to break free from their difficult circumstances.

Some nice philosophizing about truth, lies, and human sympathies is all wrapped up in quite ill-fitting theatrical garb.

The number of named characters could have been reduced by about half a dozen without detriment. Act 4 is simply an overlong mess, and it is all the more remarkable for being the shortest of the four. After dispatching Luka at the end of Act 3, Gorky has to give the big Luka speech in Act 4 to the entirely unsuitable Satin. (The Tartar would have been a better choice, except that it's well beyond his linguistic abilities.)

The translation I read (by Hunter-Blair and Brooks, for the Royal Shakespeare Company) seems okay, except for the occasional painfully fake slang (e.g., "'pecks" for kopecks). I'm going to assume that a lot of the beauties and resonances of Gorky's language were lost in translation. Maybe I should try to hack my way through the original.

I'll be curious to see what Renoir and Kurosawa made of this. It would be interesting to observe how these two great filmmakers interpreted and brought to life the complex themes and characters in Gorky's work. Their unique artistic visions and directorial styles could potentially add new dimensions and perspectives to the story, making it even more engaging and thought-provoking. I'm looking forward to seeing their interpretations and comparing them to my own understanding of the play.

It is simply incredible how in such a small work the author managed to look so deeply and show us the problems of so many and completely different characters in the play.

Just one such seemingly不起眼 character as the stranger Luka and his life wisdom, advice, sobriety of views, mind and prudence are worth gold.

Everyone has their own bottom. People come to it by different paths, but getting out of its quagmire is sometimes very difficult and not everyone is capable of it. Some choose easy paths, some try to get out of it at the expense of others, some simply give up, and some don't even try. Many drown their grief in alcohol, but for some reason no one wants to choose the difficult and just path...

Here, the world has no honor, no conscience... What use is honor and conscience? If you don't have shoes, you won't be able to step with honor or conscience... Those who need honor and conscience are the gentlemen, the great and the powerful...”

“Look, as I told you, you will die and you will find peace... You won't need anything anymore, you won't be afraid of anyone anymore. Only peace and tranquility... Keep sleeping! Death alleviates all pain... She is good to us... They say that only after death do you rest... Because, where can the poor man rest in this world?”

This passage presents a rather pessimistic view of the world. It seems to suggest that in this harsh reality, honor and conscience are of little value. The mention of death as a source of peace and rest implies a sense of weariness and longing for an escape from the hardships of life. However, it also makes one question whether such a bleak perspective is the only way to look at things. Maybe there are still glimmers of hope and moments of beauty and meaning that can be found even in the midst of difficulties.

This was the second play written by Maxim Gorky.

Perhaps his hard childhood gave him a special sensitivity in the way he looks at human beings, especially those in a state of misfortune and misery.

This material misery can be extended to human misery. Although, at times, this may happen, poverty and social rejection do not always destroy moral values, hope, dignity, solidarity, and empathy.

In the middle of the mud, fragments shine.

Here, realism is mixed with comedy and tragedy, the abject with the noble, the trivial with the profound.

Each character has more in them than initially suggested, and this is revealed as the scenes progress.

Gorky's works often explore the complex and often harsh realities of life, yet also find glimmers of hope and humanity within them. His ability to blend different emotions and themes creates a rich and engaging theatrical experience.

Through his plays, he invites the audience to reflect on the human condition and to consider the importance of holding onto our values and showing compassion even in the face of adversity.

Overall, this play is a testament to Gorky's talent as a playwright and his deep understanding of the human spirit.

Maxim Gorky has written a play that successfully depicts the situation of the Russian people during the times of unemployment, helplessness, and the Tsarist era. This play provides a vivid portrayal of the hardships and struggles that the Russian people endured during that difficult period.

Although this book may not be the best play I have ever read, it is undoubtedly the best Russian play I have come across. It offers a unique perspective on Russian history and society, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of the country's past.

The play's characters are well-developed and complex, and their stories are both heart-wrenching and inspiring. Gorky's writing style is engaging and accessible, making the play a pleasure to read.

Overall, I would highly recommend this play to anyone interested in Russian literature or history. It is a powerful and moving work that will leave a lasting impression on its readers.

Keşke bir oyun değil roman olsaymış. This simple sentence holds a world of imagination. It makes one wonder about the possibilities that could have unfolded if it were a novel instead of a game. The characters within this context seem to have the potential to bring to life a truly remarkable story.

Just think about it. With these characters, a beautiful Gorki novel could have been created. The depth and complexity that Gorki was known for could have been explored. The characters' emotions, struggles, and triumphs could have been vividly described, drawing the reader in and making them feel as if they were a part of the story.

We can envision the detailed settings, the rich dialogues, and the profound themes that would have emerged. It would have been a literary masterpiece, captivating audiences and leaving a lasting impression. The potential for greatness is truly limitless when we consider the idea of these characters in the form of a Gorki novel.

I just finished reading "The Lower Depths" by Maxim Gorky. Even though the sense of despair that pervaded the story didn't bother me as much as it might have before, I still found great enjoyment in reading it, especially when Luka entered the narrative. It was my first encounter with Gorky's work, so I took the time to learn about the playwright's background and how it manifested in this particular piece.

It provided a fascinating glimpse into the lives of Russians prior to the Russian Revolution. I was so intrigued that I've decided to continue exploring this era through further reading.

The man simply couldn't believe it. "It must exist," he insisted. "Look carefully. Otherwise," he argued, "your books and maps are worthless if there's no land of righteousness." The learned man was affronted. "My plans," he declared, "are accurate. But there is no land of righteousness anywhere." At this, the other man became enraged.

He had lived a long and difficult life, enduring much suffering, all the while believing in the existence of this fabled land. And now, according to the learned man's plans, it didn't exist at all. He felt cheated! In a fit of anger, he lashed out at the learned man, calling him "a scum of the earth" and "a damned cheat!" He then proceeded to give him a couple of good wallops in the eye. [After a moment's silence] And then, defeated and despondent, he went home and hanged himself.