What is Truth? This question occupies the minds of philosophers, writers, sometimes we also think about this question. For me, the truth is not easy, the truth is the only truth, you cannot argue with it. Regardless of the person, his beliefs and outlook on life, the truth remains the same for everyone. Truth cannot be good or bad, it just is, and it is unshakable. What is compassion? This is a sincere feeling, it is never selfish. Compassion means taking on a part of the suffering of another person, suffering with him.

At first glance, Gorky's work "At the Bottom" does not seem interesting, there are few events, the life of the inhabitants is not beautiful. But if you read it carefully, put yourself in the place of each character, if you feel the characters, it becomes clear how much the author has invested in his heroes.

The monotonous life of a flophouse, it was like a stagnant body of water. They all suffered, but each suffered separately from the other. Once together, they each lived on their own. The appearance of the wanderer Luke woke them up. He did not bring fresh ideas, thoughts, he just paid attention to everyone. Gorky is ambivalent about this character, Luka is described as a kind, cunning old man. That seems to say good words, but unpleasant. Why? And this is unpleasant because Luke did not sympathize, he pitied the inhabitants of the shelter. He did not feel their pain, he spoke kind words, but his heart remained cold.

And yet, Luke changed people, they began to think. The scary thing is that Luke did not give these people hope. Hope makes you not only dream, it sets a goal and awakens the desire for this goal. Luka gave the lodgers an illusion, an illusion is passive, it does not call for itself, it immerses in itself. When Luka left, the inhabitants returned from their illusory worlds and saw how terribly they live, hopelessness, poverty, illness, it would seem that everything is the same as before, but it all became simply unbearable. Luka gave the children a beautiful toy and then took it away, it broke their hearts.

Another protagonist, the lover of truth, Satin. His words are rude, but true, he does not pretend. But is his truth really that good? How did she help at least one of the shelters? Why is he so passionate in a monologue about a person, absolutely indifferent to the death of the Actor?

Reading the play, it becomes scary from the soullessness of people, it becomes bitter and insulting. It is terrible that an inhuman society is killing and maiming human souls. But the main thing in the play, in my opinion, is that Gorky made his contemporaries feel even more acutely the injustice of the social system, which destroys people, destroys them, made them think about man, his freedom.

Which is better, "bitter truth" or "sweet lie"? I dont know. How can you tell this bitter truth to a seriously ill person and extinguish a spark of hope in his eyes? Does he want to hear the words: "You are dying"? I believe that the most important thing is to love a person, then the heart will tell you what to say.

Which is better, truth or compassion? And how can you choose? Truth is not chosen, it is either accepted or not. And compassion is what we must live for. Do not flatter, do not regret, namely, compassion, share suffering with others, take away some of their pain. If we understand this, we will be human.

"Bitter truth" and "sweet lie" always stand side by side, and each person decides for himself what to choose. No matter how much time passes, and the problem of truth and lies remains unresolved, this topic is eternal in literature, therefore various authors often turn to it.

M. Gorky in the play "At the Bottom" raises the problem of truth and falsehood. In the work, two heroes are contrasted - Satin and Luka. The first one believes that it is always necessary to tell the truth, because “truth is the god of a free man”, while people who lie are “weaklings” for Satin. Luke claims that it is necessary to have compassion for people, and compassion, in his understanding, is often a lie - a lie for good. It seems to me that both heroes were somewhat right, each person needed their own approach. Tick \u200b\u200band the Actor, for example, needed a "bitter truth", they needed a push that would provoke changes, could "stir up" them, it was the truth that would initiate their struggle and, perhaps, they would get out of this "pit". Someone needed a sedative, "sweet lie" like Anna.

Anna, after Luke's words, was not afraid of death and “with a light heart” went “into another world”. For another hero of the play, the Actor, the lie turned out to be fatal. He believed with all his heart in the best, in his recovery from addiction, but soon even the ghostly hope for something good was destroyed, and with it the life of the Actor was destroyed. In desperation, he decided to commit suicide. In fact, Luka was not to blame for the death of the Actor, and the deterioration of the situation of the residents of the flophouse. He wholeheartedly tried to help these people, Luke was really worried and compassionate, he thought that with his mercy and pity he would be able to "reach out" to people and their souls. Luke wanted to give them hope and faith, so that they begin to act, to strive for something. His goodness was based on deception, but for Luke it was not a lie, because, in his opinion, what is human is true. Only Satin could understand the "philosophy" of Luke, saying: "Man is the truth!"

Thus, there is a “saving lie”, but it is quite rare. In most cases, the "bitter truth" is better than any deception, because one cannot live in illusions forever. A person who is aware of the criticality of the situation, who knows the true state of affairs, begins to fight and often it is the "bitter truth" that helps him to avoid many problems.

Option 2

Probably, those people who read the work and even thought about it were divided into two types. Some shared the side of truth, while others, on the contrary, were for compassion. But it’s definitely impossible to find out what I think is better. Everything will directly depend on the situation or the consequences of the choice.

This problem was considered by Gorky in his work At the Bottom. Everything happens in one hovel, in which there are no conditions for existence, and never were, but people still lived here. Many people live here only because they have nowhere else to live, and here at least they will not die alone. And among them there is one guy named Luca, who is trying to change the lives of each of the heroes. He tells them that when they die, they will go to a wonderful place where there will be all the conditions for living and there they will definitely find their happiness. The guy understands that he is deceiving everyone who is here, but he has no other way to cheer them up and help them. And he is sure that the lie helps them calmly end their existence here and go to another world. Anna was dying in torment and pain, and he assured her that there she would receive medical assistance and she would never be sick again. One man used to be a great actor, but vodka ruined him, and he was kicked out of work. After that he began to drink, and now death has come for him. And Luka assured him that there was a special hospital in which he would definitely be helped and he would never drink again and he would be taken back to work.

And this is better than the truth, which sometimes does not please a person at all, but on the contrary frightens even more. He even gives hope to people and they leave happy. In addition, he himself believed in this world, where everyone leaves and lives there well and happily, but one day he learned that this world simply does not exist and then he committed suicide.

Many agree with this main character, sometimes a person needs to be told what he wants to hear and it doesn't have to be, really.

Not every person will be able to determine when another person is telling him the truth, and when he is deceiving. Of course, in some situations this can be understood, but there are situations when until the last it is not clear whether a person deceived you or not. Sometimes fiction and truth are very close to each other, and it is very difficult or almost impossible to distinguish one from the other. In this case, a person must learn to weigh truth and lies, and then it will become clear where the fiction is, and where he is telling the truth.

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M. Gorky (real name Alexey Peshkov) is the largest literary figure of the Soviet era. He began to write in the 19th century, even then his works seemed revolutionary and propaganda to everyone. However, the early work of the writer is significantly different from the next. After all, the author began with romantic stories. Gorky's play "At the Bottom" is an example of a realistic drama, in the center of which is the depiction of the oppressed, hopeless life of the lower strata of Russian society. In addition to social issues, the work has an extensive philosophical layer: the characters of the play talk about important questions, in particular, which is better: truth or compassion?

Genre problem

As for the genre of this work, not all researchers are of the same opinion. Some people think that it is fairer to call plays a social drama. After all, the main thing that Gorky shows is the problems of people who have sunk to the bottom of life. The heroes of the play are drunkards, cheaters, prostitutes, thieves ... The action takes place in a godforsaken shelter, where no one is interested in their "neighbor". Others believe that it would be more correct to call the work a philosophical drama. According to this point of view, in the center of the image is a clash of views, a kind of conflict of ideas. The main question that the heroes argue about is which is better - truth or compassion? Of course, everyone answers this question in their own way. And in general, it is not completely clear whether there is a definite answer. One way or another, the philosophical layer in the play is associated with the appearance of Luke in it, which prompts the inhabitants of the flophouse to reflect on their own lives.

Heroes of the play

The main characters in the play are residents of the flophouse. The owner of the shelter Kostylev, his wife Vasilisa, the Actor (former actor of the provincial theater), Satin, Klesh (locksmith), Natasha, Vasilisa's sister, the thief Vaska Ash, Bubnov and Baron, take part in the action. One of the heroes is a "stranger", Luke, who appeared out of nowhere and went nowhere after the third act. It is these characters that appear throughout the play. There are other characters, but their roles are auxiliary. The Kostylevs are a married couple who hardly digest each other. They are both rude and scandalous, and also cruel. Vasilisa is in love with Vaska Ash and persuades him to kill her elderly husband. But Vaska does not want to, because he knows her, and knows that she wants to send him to natorg in order to separate Natalya from her set. The actor and Satin have a special role in the drama. The actor drank himself a long time ago, his dreams of a big stage are not destined to come true. He, like the man in Luke's story who believed in a righteous land, commits suicide at the end of the play. Satin's monologues are important. Semantic load, he opposes Luke, although at the same time, he does not blame him for lying, unlike other residents of the flophouse. It is Satin who answers the question: which is better - truth or compassion. Several deaths occur. Anna, Tick's wife, dies at the very beginning of the play. Her role, although not long, is very important. The death of Anna against the background of a game of cards makes the situation tragic. In the third act, Kostylev dies in a fight, which further exacerbates the situation of the residents of the shelter. And at the very end, the Actor's suicide occurs, to which, however, almost no one pays attention.

Philosophical content of the play

The philosophical content of the drama falls into two layers. The first is the question of the truth. The second is the answer to the central question in the drama: which is better - truth or compassion?

Truth in the play

The hero Luke, an old man, comes to the shelter and begins to promise all the heroes a bright future. He tells Anna that after death she will go to heaven, where peace awaits her, there will be no troubles and torments. Luca tells the actor that in some city (he forgot the name) there are hospitals for drunkards, where you can get rid of alcoholism absolutely free. but the reader immediately understands that Luke has not forgotten the name of the city, because what he is talking about is simply not there. Ashes Luka advises to go to Siberia and take Natasha with them, only there they will be able to improve their lives. Each of the residents of the shelter understands that Luke is deceiving them. But what is the truth? This is what the dispute is about. according to Luke, truth can not always heal, but a lie that is spoken for good is not a sin. Tambourines and Ashes declare that the truth is better bitter, even if it is unbearable, than a lie. But the Tick is so confused in his life that he is no longer interested in anything. The truth is, there is no job, no money, and no hope for a more dignified existence. The hero hates this truth as much as Luke's false promises.

Which is better: truth or compassion (based on Gorky's play "At the Bottom")

This is the main question. Luke decides it in one way: it is better to lie to a person than to bring him pain. As an example, he cites a man who believed in the righteous land, he lived and hoped that someday he would get there. But when he learned that there was no such land, there was no hope left, and the man hanged himself. Ash and Bubnov deny this position, they are sharply negative towards Luka. Satin adheres to a slightly different position. He believes that Luka cannot be accused of lying. After all, he lies because of pity and mercy. However, Satin himself does not accept this: a person sounds proudly, and one cannot humiliate him with pity. The question "which is better - truth or compassion" in the play "At the Bottom" turns out to be unresolved. Is there an answer at all to such a complex and vital question? Perhaps, there can be no definite answer. Each hero decides it in his own way, and each person has the right to choose which is better - truth or compassion.

They write essays based on Gorky's play "At the Bottom" and write on various topics, but one of the most popular concerns precisely this problem, the problem of lying "for salvation."

How to write an essay?

First of all, you need to remember about the correct composition. In addition, in an essay-reasoning, as an example, you need to cite not only episodes from the work, but also support what has been said with examples from life or other books. The theme "Which is better: truth or compassion" does not allow for one-sided interpretation. it must be said that in each situation one should act differently. Sometimes the truth can kill a person, then the question is: did the person say this, being afraid of sin, or, on the contrary, decided to harm his neighbor and act cruelly. However, not everyone wants to be deceived either. If a person has a chance to fix something, start life differently, then wouldn't it be better to know the truth? But if there is no other way, and the truth turns out to be destructive, then you can lie. Which is better: truth or compassion, which is more necessary - everyone decides in his own way at a certain moment in his life. One should always remember about philanthropy and mercy.

So, the play is a complex piece with a two-level conflict. At the philosophical level, this is the question: which is better - truth or compassion. At the bottom of their lives, the heroes of Gorky's play turned out to be, perhaps, Luka's lie for them is the only bright moment in life, so is it possible then to consider what the hero says a lie?

Maxim Gorky is a famous Russian writer and humanist. He went through a long school of life and did not write for the entertainment of the public, but reflected in his works the truth and love for man. Even in the play At the Bottom, which is so tragic and sad, this love can be traced. If this were not so, then the playwright would hardly have posed the question "Which is better - truth or compassion?"

Getting started writing

School essay "Which is better - truth or compassion?" not easy. When asked which is better, true or false, students will no doubt answer - true. But the concepts of truth and compassion cannot be made mutually exclusive. This is the difficulty of the essay "Which is better - truth or compassion?"

For people who find themselves at the very bottom of society in Gorky's play, both compassion and truth can become destructive. The false hope given by Luke, on the one hand, and the reality saturated with hopeless pain, on the other, cannot coexist with each other. Therefore, when starting to write an essay, it is worth understanding that first you need to tell a person the truth, and then offer sincere compassion not burdened with lies. What does it mean? This is written in the play. It is possible, proceeding from good intentions, to praise Luke and despise the bearer of the truth of Satin, but did the author want to say this about this ?! It is true that he said something quite different.

Sound

The entire play by M. Gorky "At the Bottom" is a hymn to the truth about man. Here the bearer of the truth is Satin - a gambler and sharper, who is very far from the ideal of a person, but it is he who sincerely proclaims: “A person is wonderful! It sounds proud! " In contrast to him, Luke appears in the shelter - a kind, compassionate liar, which deliberately inspires a "golden dream" for the sufferers. But next to them there is another person who wants to understand that truth or compassion is better - it is the author himself.

It is Maxim Gorky who is the bearer of these two characteristics. This can be seen in the play itself and in how enthusiastically it was received by the audience. This work was read in shelters, people who sank to the very bottom of society shouted: "We are worse!", And praised the playwright of their time. This play even now sounds modern, because in our time people began to speak the bitter truth, but they forgot about mercy and compassion.

Heroes and hopes

Before writing the essay "Which is More Important - Truth or Compassion?" it is worth getting to know the heroes of the play and the world in which they have to live. The cave-like basement, where the prison's twilight reigns, sheltered under its vault people who were mercilessly thrown out by society.

Once someone wrote that "At the Bottom" is not just a play, but a picture of a cemetery where people who are valuable for their inclinations are buried alive. In this world of poverty, anger and lawlessness, people live who have lost their past. Rather, they do not live, but exist. But some of them still have a faint spark of hope. The tick firmly believes that it will get out of this stinking place. “I'll rip off the skin, but I'll get out of here,” he says. The thief hopes that he will have a different life with Natasha. Prostitute Nastya dreams of true love. The rest, however, have long lost hope and realized their uselessness.

The drunken Actor has long forgotten his name. Crushed under the yoke of a hard life, Anna is sick and patiently awaits her death. No one needs her, even her husband is waiting for her death as a release. Former telegraph operator Satin cynically and maliciously looks at the world. The Baron understands that everything is in the past for him, so he does not expect anything, and Bubnov is a vivid example of indifference both to himself and to others. For these “former people,” which is better: truth or compassion? What is more necessary for them?

Wanderer

Once the wanderer Luke comes to this gloomy abode. He addresses them, rejected by society, and renounced human morality, politely and affably. Gorky in relation to this character is very unambiguous: "All the words of these people are charity, which they serve with hidden disgust."

At first glance, Luka's appearance did not bring any good to the inhabitants of the shelter. He imperceptibly disappears, and the illusions that he left behind make people's lives even more hopeless. The last spark of hope disappears, and tormented souls plunge into darkness. With the appearance of Luke, hope settled in the shelter, he was sensitive and kind, he found words of comfort for everyone. But it was not out of self-interest that he did this, Luca was not a swindler or a charlatan, he really was a kind person. But his compassion was built on lies. He firmly believed that the truth can not always heal the soul. And if it’s impossible to change life, you can at least change your attitude towards it.

So which is better - truth or compassion? There are many arguments from the story, and this was one of them.

From the author

The author's contemporaries say that he was best able to describe the scene at the bedside of the dying Anna, where Luke spoke. This old man was a part of Gorky's soul, just like the author, the hero knew a feeling of compassion. Gorky is not against consolations, however, he is also tormented by the question, which is better: truth or compassion? And is it necessary to empathize to such an extent that words of consolation become a lie?

Its truth

Tick \u200b\u200bhad its own truth: “You can't live - that's the truth,” he said. To which Luke replied that this truth cannot be healed, and a person must be pitied. The Wanderer believes in the saving power of pity. He perceives the truth as a cruel oppression of inhuman circumstances. Luke's words were unusually life-affirming, and at first, the residents of the shelter did not believe in them. But the wanderer only wanted to breathe faith and hope into them.

Luke carries within himself the saving human faith. He believes that words, compassion and mercy can inspire a person. For Luke, there is no question "Which is better - truth or compassion?", He believes: the truth is that which is human.

Satin also believes that everything that is done should be for the sake of man. But this hero does not understand Luke's lies. Satin is sure that this is a sign of a weak person and this is wrong. Everyone should have the courage to face the truth, and not hide behind illusions. It is the truth that makes a person strong and capable of doing things. Although he does not fulfill his own commandments. Satin can only talk about lofty matters, remaining at the bottom. Which is better - truth or compassion? Everyone should answer this question after the final episode.

The tragedy of the finale

The end of the play is tragic. Luca, although he inspired Satin to make a fiery speech about human dignity, but by virtue of his character, this hero only knew how to control words. He remains indifferent to himself and his surroundings. In particular, Satin's terrible reaction to the death of the Actor: "Fool, ruined the song!".

An inhuman society tends to kill and maim souls. And this play allows you to feel the injustice of the social structure, which leads people to death. And yet the question remains: "Which is better - truth or compassion?" There are many examples in the work of M. Gorky "At the Bottom" both for the first and for the second case, you just need to draw your own conclusion.

Truth and compassion

It is impossible to give an unambiguous statement on this question. Probably it is worth looking at the situation the person is facing. Satin preached the truth. Yes, truth is a good decision in many cases, but it must be active. Having realized the roots of their misfortunes, a person must accept the truth and do things that will help him to correct the situation. Truth should be a signal for action. This is the real value that makes a person a person.

On the other hand, you cannot destroy a person in yourself who can be kind, loving, and be able to sympathize. People often need consolation than show it, only the chains of lies take away a person's freedom. People need real hope, but not a comforting lie, even if it's for salvation.

Yes, the concepts of truth and compassion are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, they should complement each other. It's not hard to spice up the bitter reality with a pinch of empathy. And it is very prudent to say words of support that are based on the real state of affairs. As Aristotle said: "There should be a golden mean in everything, it is it that is good." And in a specific case, the words of the ancient philosopher are the very truth based on compassion.

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