At the bottom. Plays

One of the main themes of Maxim Gorky's (1868-1936) work is philosophical reflections on man and his path. And the plays included in this collection are united by this very theme.
'The Lower Depths' is a significant work for the entire writer's oeuvre. For the first time in Russian drama, the life of the social bottom is shown. Gorky himself defined the meaning of the play as follows: 'The main question I wanted to pose is - what is better: truth or compassion? What is more necessary? Is it necessary to bring compassion to the point of using lies?' The author makes the reader think not only about the heroes of the play, but also about oneself: do you have faith in yourself? Can one be reborn without this faith? Is goodness the same as truth for you?
The play 'The Summer Residents', conceived as a play about the intelligentsia, continues the theme of reflections on what a person is. Is the intelligentsia, which took on the role of the nation's conscience, really what it seems? Or is it just its role, not its essence? What is preferable: 'to be' or 'to seem', to live one's life openly and honestly, creating, or to pretend, 'to play a role'?
What Gorky wrote at the beginning of the 20th century remains as relevant as ever in the 21st century. The author poses many questions, and everyone will have their own answers.
Suitable for older high school students.