The Lower DepthsThe first of Russia's great proletarian writers, Alexey Maximovich Peshkov (1868–1936) adopted the pen name of Gorky, meaning "bitter." Drawing on his own experiences in the lowest social echelon, Gorky portrayed the wretched lives of down-and-outers, instilling his tales with heartfelt protest against a world that both tolerated and fostered the miseries of the underclass. In The Lower Depths, his dramatic masterpiece of 1902, Gorky presents a grimly realistic view of a desperate circle of lost souls. The play unfolds in a derelict boarding house, where a cast of despairing characters argue, play cards, tell stories, and debate the merits of two opposite worldviews: a self-reliant existence free of illusions, or a romanticized outlook that softens the pain of daily life. A revealing look at the atmosphere that led to the 1917 Russian Revolution, the drama abounds in shrewd observations, lifelike characters, and compelling dialog that make it a work of enduring vitality. |
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ACTOR afraid ALYOSHKA ANNA BARON beat believe better bring brother BUBNOFF bunk comes crossing damned dead dear devil don't door drink drunk enters everything Exits feel fellow fool girl give goes Gorky Gorky's grandfather hallway hand head heard hope human husband I'll It's jumping keep killed kitchen KLESHTCH kopecks KOSTILYOFF KVASHNYA land laughing Leave lies listen live looks LUKA matter mean MIEDVIEDIEFF mind NASTYA NATASHA never night once Pause PEPEL pity play prison respect rises SATINE shakes Shut silent sing sister sits sort soul speak stand Stop stove TARTAR tell That's there's thief thing thought true truth turn understand Vaska VASSILISA Vassily voice Wait wall What's whistle whole wife window You're