The summary of M. Gorky’s work “At the bottom”


Act 1
The cellar is like a cave. Everywhere on the walls – plank beds. In the middle of the doss house there is a large table, two benches, a stool, everything – unpainted and dirty. The Kvashnya is in charge of the samovar, the Baron chews the black bread, Nastya reads the disheveled book. On the bed Anna coughs. Bubnov on the plank cuts his hat. Kvashnya assures that she is a free woman and will never marry. The Baron mocks over her, Ticks join him. Kvashnya says that the Mite itself “went to his wife half to death”. The quarrel begins. Anna asks not to swear and let her die peacefully. Kvashnya pities her. Satine wakes up, asks who beat him yesterday. Bubnov responds that he was beaten yesterday during a card game. Inhabitants of the doss house begin to argue about who to clean in the room. The actor climbs down from the stove and says that it is harmful for him to breathe dust, as his “organism is poisoned by alcohol.” Satin inopportunely

mumbles the words: “organon, sycambras, macrobiotics, transcendental.” He likes incomprehensible, rare words, because in his childhood he served on the telegraph, read a lot of books and was an educated person. The actor also remembers his past: he played a gravedigger in Hamlet. The actor takes Anna out to breathe, in the door collides with Kostylev who, singing “something divine” under his nose, suspiciously examines the doss house – he is looking for a wife. Kostylev reminds Ticks that he takes up too much space, wants to raise his payment for living, reproaches that Anna withered from his villainy. The actor returns, Kostylev tells him that in the next world his good deeds will be counted. In the same light Kostylev refuses to forgive the actor half of the debt. Kostylev knocking at the door of Vaska Ashes, Ashes from behind the door ask, Kostylev brought him money for the hours he had sold, having learned that he had not brought it, Kostyleva was driving him away. Ashes had an affair with Vasilisa. Satin advises to kill Kostylev and marry Vasilisa. Ashes snap back. Ashes give the actor
loans – he gets money easily, he’s a thief. Satin: “Many people easily get money, but not many with them easily part… Work? Make me work that pleases me – I, maybe, will work… When work is pleasure, life is good! labor is a duty, life is slavery! ” The actor and Satin go to drink. Ashes tell Ticks that he “squeaks in vain.” The tick assures that he is a working man, and he will escape from the doss house, as soon as his wife dies. He is unhappy with people without honor and without conscience. Ashes object that honor and conscience are needed for those who have the power and strength. Bubnov says that he has no conscience, because he is not rich. Natasha brings a new guest – Luka. Natasha reminds Mites of the need to take care of the dying Anna. Ashes declares that he is not afraid to die and suggests that Natasha hit him with a knife in his heart – then he will die with joy, “because of a clean hand.” The ashes clearly sympathize with Natasha, although the dweller of the lodging house warns him that by doing so he will incur Vasilisa’s wrath. Luke humming something, Ash interrupts him. Inhabitants of the doss house in conversations constantly say that they are all equal. Luka: “No matter how you pretend, no matter how you wiggle, but you were born as a human being, you die and…” The Baron from his former life had memories of how he drank coffee and cream in his bed. Luka: “Barstvo is like a smallpox… And the person will recover, but the signs will remain.” Appears drunk Alyosha, who says, that does not want anything – neither money nor that they were commanded. Vasilisa enters, expels Alyoshka, threatens Bubnov, that he will evict him if Alyoshka appears again. Asking Luka’s passport, Vasilisa goes to the door to Ash’s room, cursing at the dwellers for dirt. Vasilisa is wondering whether Natasha was in the doss house and whether she was talking to Ashes. Nastya, who left a book about unhappy love, promises that she will get drunk and again cry. Nastya says that Vasilisa was angry with Alyoshka for saying that Vaska decided to leave Vasilisa and get in touch with Natasha. Medvedev comes in. Medvedev is interested in the relationship between Ash and Vasilisa. Medvedev hints to Kvasha that he has money, and he is strong. Kvashnya ridicules and rejects. Luke introduces Anna, helps her to reach the bed. From the passage, noise and deaf cries are heard.

Act 2
The same situation. Satin, Baron, Krivoy Zob and Tatar play cards. Mite and Actor watch the game. Bubnov plays drafts with Medvedev. Luka sits on a stool near Anna’s bedside. Bubnov and Krivoy Zob sing a prison song. Anna complains to Luka for her life: “Poboys… insults… nothing but… I did not see… I do not remember when I was full… I’ve been walking all my life in rags.” She is afraid that she will have to suffer in the next world. Luke comforts her, persuades him to suffer. During their conversation, the players in the cards cheat. The Tatar is indignant. Curve Zob: “If they honestly start living, they will starve to death in three days.” The actor tries to read poems to Luka, but he can not remember anything, he repents that he has drunk his soul. Luke advises him to be treated for drunkenness in the hospital, but for now abstain. Luke: “A man can do anything… If only he wanted to…” Anna asks Luka to talk to her. He comforts the woman, assuring that the rest is not far off, that the Lord will forgive her and she will go to heaven. Anna still hopes to recover and live a little. Luka says that in this life she does not expect anything except torment. Ash comes, asks Medvedev whether Vasilisa beat Natasha heavily, threatens to take the girl away and tell the police that Kos-tyvlev and his wife are buying stolen goods. Enraged, Medvedev leaves. Luka persuades Ashes to leave for Siberia. Ashes refuses, as he waits for him to be sent to Siberia to a state account, as his father did in his time. Ash asks Luke if there is a god. Luke: “If you believe, there is, you do not believe,” no… What you believe in, it is… “Vasilisa enters” on business “to Ashes. Ash tells Vasilisa that she is bored with him, because she has “no soul”. Vasilisa responds that you can not force a love, thank you for the truth, and suggests that you match Natasha. Asks Ash to release her from her husband. Ashes: “It’s you who invented it cleverly: a husband, zatschat, in a coffin, a lover – in hard labor, and herself…” Vasilisa promises to give him money, to give his sister for him and arrange their departure. Appears Kostylev – he screams, stomps his feet, reproaches Vasilis: “Oil in the lamps forgot to pour… U, you! Beggar! .. Pig! ..” Ashes rushes to Kostylev. On the stove Luke moves, and Ashes lets go Kostylev. Ashes guess that Luke heard his conversation with Vasilisa. Luka advises Peple to get rid of Vasilisa more quickly, take Natasha and leave with her if she really likes him. Anna is dying. The Actor appears, reciting the poem: “Gentlemen, if the road to the holy world does not know the way, – Honor the madman, which will bring Mankind a dream of gold! “The actor tells Natasha that he is going to be treated for drunkenness in a bright and clean hospital.” He laments that in the doss house nobody knows his real name: “Do you understand how offensive it is to lose the name? Even the dogs have the nicknames… No name – no person… “Natasha waits for Ashes, notices that Anna has died, Luke, Tatar, Crooked Zob and Mite appear, who looks at his wife over the shoulders of others. Natasha is horrified that no one, even her husband, does not regret Anna, the mite admits that he does not have money for burial, and people promise to lend him. Natasha says that bna is afraid of the dead, and Luke advises her to fear the living. The drunk actor appears, asks Luke, where the city is located, in which a free clinic for alcoholics is located Satin: “Fata Morgana! The old man lied to you: there is nothing! There are no cities, no people… nothing! “

Act 3
A shepherd behind the Kostylev’s doss house. Natasha and Nastya are sitting on the log, Luke and Baron are on the logs. The tick lies on a heap of branches. Nastya tells a fictional story about her romance with a student. Others convict her of lies, except for Luke, who pities Nastya: “If you believe, you had real love… it means – it was.” Natasha says that the lie is more pleasant than the truth, admits that she herself likes to dream and is waiting for something unusual. Natasha says that it’s bad for everyone to live, and the tick is indignant: “If everyone were to live badly, then it would not be so offensive.” Bubnov and Baron argue that people lie out of the desire to “tint the soul.” Luke advises the Baron to caress Nastya, says that one must be kind: “Christ – he pitied everyone and told us so.” Tells a story from his life about how he raised robbers, and then gave them bread. If he had not regretted them then, they would have killed him and ended up in jail or Siberia, where they could hardly have been taught good. The tick screams that there is no truth, there is no work and there is no power. He does not understand what he is to blame, he insists that he hates everyone and curses his life. Appears Ashes. He does not like the tick for anger and pride: “If people appreciate work… then the horse is better than any man… Carries and – is silent!” Luke tells the parable of the righteous earth. One poor man was going to go looking for a righteous land. Despite the fact that he lived very badly, he did not lose heart, endured and dreamed of abandoning this life and going to the righteous land. He lived in Siberia. There he became acquainted with an exiled scientist and asked him to show on the map a righteous land, which, naturally, was not on the map. A man does not believe, he is angry: he suffered so much – and all in vain. Beats scientist, and then leaves and hangs. Luka is going to go to Ukraine, where they opened a new faith. Ashes calls Natasha to leave with him, promises to quit theft, start working. He does not repent because he does not believe in conscience, but feels that one must live differently. He was never called in any other life unless he was a thief. He asks Natasha to stay with him and believe him. Natasha responds that she does not like him and that he has treated her sister badly. Ash says that in life he had nothing to grasp: “Vasilisa is greedy for money”, which she needs to corrupt. Natasha, in his words, will be able to keep him. Luke advises Natasha to go beyond Ashes, because she has nowhere else to go, and more often remind him that he is a good person. Natasha agrees, but only until the first beating, and then promises to hammer. Appears Vasilisa and ” blesses “the young:” Do not be afraid, Natalia! He will not beat you… He can not beat or love… I know! He entered the samovar more than words… “The entered Kostylyov sends Natasha to put the samovar in. Ashes tell Natasha that she no longer obeys Kostylev, Vasilisa encourages Ashes, confronting him with her husband, but Luke reassures Ashes.” Kostylev tells Luka that a person should be on one place to live, “and not to be confused in vain on the ground.” In his opinion, a person must work in order to benefit from it. A person does not need every truth, he must be able to keep silent, live righteously, not to disturb anyone, not to condemn anyone, Luke answers with a riddle: “I say – there is a land unsuitable for sowing… and there is a fertile land… whatever you sow – will give birth. “Vasilisa drives Luke out, suspecting that he is a runaway. Entered Bubnov tells his story: his wife met with the master, they wanted to poison Bubnov, he was angry and beat his wife, and the master was angry and beat Bubnov. The workshop was recorded on his wife, Bubnov drank heavily and as a result remained with nothing. The Actor appears. He boasts that today he did not drink, but worked and earned money for the journey. Satin recites Pushkin’s poetry aloud – “Tell me, magician, favorite of the gods, what will come to pass in life with me?” Then he talks about himself: in his youth he danced well, played on stage, mixed people, but defending the honor of his sister, killed a man, got to prison, which completely changed him. Mite appears, saddened by the fact that I had to sell all the tools: I needed money for Anna’s funeral. Now it can not work. Satin advises him not to do anything: “People are not ashamed of the fact that you are worse than a dog… Think – you will not work, I will not… even hundreds… thousands, that’s all! – you understand? Everybody stops working! Nobody wants to do anything – what will happen then? “The tick responds that everyone will then die of hunger.” Natasha’s cries are heard, the turmoil is rising, Kvashnya and Nastya are being led to Natasha, who was beaten and boiled her legs with boiling water. “Medvedev, who Kostylev asked to be arrested Vasilissa-thief, Ash appears, Kostylev strikes and kills him, Vasilisa shouts in a triumphant voice that Ashes killed her husband and calls the police, ashes wants to kill her, but he is held in. Satin is called to be a witness – to protect Ashes. that Ash and Vasilisa conspired and removed the people who disturbed them, her and Kostylev, and curses her sister and Ash. As long as Ashes tries to calm her down, the police appear. I will not… even hundreds… thousands, that’s all! – you understand? Everybody stops working! Nobody wants to do anything – what will happen then? “The tick responds that everyone will then die of hunger.” Natasha’s cries are heard, the turmoil is rising, Kvashnya and Nastya are being led to Natasha, who was beaten and boiled her legs with boiling water. “Medvedev, who Kostylev asked to be arrested Vasilissa-thief, Ash appears, Kostylev strikes and kills him, Vasilisa shouts in a triumphant voice that Ashes killed her husband and calls the police, ashes wants to kill her, but he is held in. Satin is called to be a witness – to protect Ashes. that Ash and Vasilisa conspired and removed the people who disturbed them, her and Kostylev, and curses her sister and Ash. As long as Ashes tries to calm her down, the police appear. I will not… even hundreds… thousands, that’s all! – you understand? Everybody stops working! Nobody wants to do anything – what will happen then? “The tick responds that everyone will then die of hunger.” Natasha’s cries are heard, the turmoil is rising, Kvashnya and Nastya are being led to Natasha, who was beaten and boiled her legs with boiling water. “Medvedev, who Kostylev asked to be arrested Vasilissa-thief, Ash appears, Kostylev strikes and kills him, Vasilisa shouts in a triumphant voice that Ashes killed her husband and calls the police, ashes wants to kill her, but he is held in. Satin is called to be a witness – to protect Ashes. that Ash and Vasilisa conspired and removed the people who disturbed them, her and Kostylev, and curses her sister and Ash. As long as Ashes tries to calm her down, the police appear. – you understand? Everybody stops working! Nobody wants to do anything – what will happen then? “The tick responds that everyone will then die of hunger.” Natasha’s cries are heard, the turmoil is rising, Kvashnya and Nastya are being led to Natasha, who was beaten and boiled her legs with boiling water. “Medvedev, who Kostylev asked to be arrested Vasilissa-thief, Ash appears, Kostylev strikes and kills him, Vasilisa shouts in a triumphant voice that Ashes killed her husband and calls the police, ashes wants to kill her, but he is held in. Satin is called to be a witness – to protect Ashes. that Ash and Vasilisa conspired and removed the people who disturbed them, her and Kostylev, and curses her sister and Ash. As long as Ashes tries to calm her down, the police appear. – you understand? Everybody stops working! Nobody wants to do anything – what will happen then? “The tick responds that everyone will then die of hunger.” Natasha’s cries are heard, the turmoil is rising, Kvashnya and Nastya are being led to Natasha, who was beaten and boiled her legs with boiling water. “Medvedev, who Kostylev asked to be arrested Vasilissa-thief, Ash appears, Kostylev strikes and kills him, Vasilisa shouts in a triumphant voice that Ashes killed her husband and calls the police, ashes wants to kill her, but he is held in. Satin is called to be a witness – to protect Ashes. that Ash and Vasilisa conspired and removed the people who disturbed them, her and Kostylev, and curses her sister and Ash. As long as Ashes tries to calm her down, the police appear. that then everyone would die of hunger. Natasha’s screams are heard, the turmoil rises, Kvashnya and Nastya lead Natasha, whom Vasilisa has beaten and boiled her legs with boiling water. Medvedev resorted, whom Kostylev asked to arrest Vaska-thief. Ashes appear, Kostylev strikes and kills him. Vasilisa shouts in a triumphant voice that Ashes killed her husband and calls the police. Ashes wants to kill her, but they hold him. Satin is called to be a witness – to protect the Ashes. Unexpectedly, Natasha declares that Ash and Vasilisa conspired and removed the people who disturbed them, her and Kostylev, and curses her sister and Ash. While the Ashes tries to calm her down, the police appear. that then everyone would die of hunger. Natasha’s screams are heard, the turmoil rises, Kvashnya and Nastya lead Natasha, whom Vasilisa has beaten and boiled her legs with boiling water. Medvedev resorted, whom Kostylev asked to arrest Vaska-thief. Ashes appear, Kostylev strikes and kills him. Vasilisa shouts in a triumphant voice that Ashes killed her husband and calls the police. Ashes wants to kill her, too, but they hold him back. Satin is called to be a witness – to protect the Ashes. Unexpectedly, Natasha declares that Ash and Vasilisa conspired and removed the people who disturbed them, her and Kostylev, and curses her sister and Ash. While the Ashes tries to calm her down, the police appear. Ashes appear, Kostylev strikes and kills him. Vasilisa shouts in a triumphant voice that Ashes killed her husband and calls the police. Ashes wants to kill her, too, but they hold him back. Satin is called to be a witness – to protect the Ashes. Unexpectedly, Natasha declares that Ash and Vasilisa conspired and removed the people who disturbed them, her and Kostylev, and curses her sister and Ash. While the Ashes tries to calm her down, the police appear. Ashes appear, Kostylev strikes and kills him. Vasilisa shouts in a triumphant voice that Ashes killed her husband and calls the police. Ashes wants to kill her, too, but they hold him back. Satin is called to be a witness – to protect the Ashes. Unexpectedly, Natasha declares that Ash and Vasilisa conspired and removed the people who disturbed them, her and Kostylev, and curses her sister and Ash. While the Ashes tries to calm her down, the police appear.

Act 4
The situation of the first act. In the corner, the Tatar is groaning, at the table, Ticks repair the accordion, Satin, Baron and Nastya are sitting next to each other, the Actor coughs on the stove. Everyone is discussing the sudden disappearance of Luke during the turmoil. The Tatar says that the old man was a good man, “he had a law in his heart,” and did not offend people. Nastya is going to go to the end of the world, her cohabitant Baron is making fun of her, and Satin advises to take with him the actor, who became aware that “half a verst from the edge of the world there is a clinic for organonov.” The tick remembers that Luke did not like the truth. Satin objected that the old man was not a charlatan and he knew his truth: “The person is the truth! He understood this… you are not… He was lying… but it’s out of pity for you… There is a comforting lie, a reconciling lie… Who is weak in soul, and who lives by other people’s juices – the lies are needed… some she supports, others are covered by it. And who is his own master… who is independent and does not eat the stranger – why should that lie? The lie is the religion of slaves and masters… The truth is the god of a free man! “Satin says that Luke acted on him like an acid on an old dirty coin and offers to drink for his health. The Baron remembers his origins. Nastya mocks him, says that nothing of this happened. Nastya says that Natasha was treated in a hospital, but she left there and disappeared. The participants are discussing how the process of Asp and Vasilisa will end. Nastya claims that Vasilisa will turn around and Ashes will be sent to penal servitude, leaves himself, adds that it would be good for everyone the inhabitants of the doss house are sent to penal servitude, says that the Baron lives at her expense, although he boasts of his high birth, against the backdrop of all this, Satin continues his reasoning about the man: Man is free… he pays for everything himself: for faith, for unbelief, for love, for the mind… Everything is in man, everything is for man! There is only a man, yet the rest is the work of his hands and his brain! Human! It’s great! It sounds… proud! Human! It is necessary to respect a person! Do not regret, do not humiliate him with pity… Work? For what? To be full? I always despised people who care too much about being fed… This is not the point! The person is higher! Man is above satiety! “Bubnov and Medvedev appear, both tipsy: Medvedev is dressed in Kvashni’s blouse, which took him to his roommates, Bubnov is treating the dwellers of the doss house and giving all his money to Satin, because he feels his disposition.” Alyoshka comes running, sings, dances, zuboskalit. M Men sing the prison song, the Baron appears and screams that actor was stranded in the wasteland. Satin: “


1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

The summary of M. Gorky’s work “At the bottom”