Mother (Maxim Gorky Collected Works, Volume 3)

THIS REVIEW WAS FIRST WRITTEN FOR BERTOLT BRECHT'S STAGE VERSION OF GORKY'S WORK. THE MAIN POLITICAL POINTS MADE THERE APPLY HERE AS WELL. IN ANY CASE READ BOTH WORKS IF YOU WANT TO GET A FEEL FOR SOCIALIST PROPAGANDA AT ITS LITERARY BEST IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY. More than one socialist commentator has noted that a revolution is made at the base of society by a combination of experiences that cause the masses to throw of their former servitude, indifference or fear and just go for it. Needless to say those times are few and far between so that it is important to study the mechanics of those changes even if, as here, they are changes in an overwhelmingly agrarian Russia that was just entering the capitalist mode in the early 20th century. I believe, as Brecht obviously did when he brought it to the theater in highly industrialized Germany, that those same sentiments would also be expressed in more developed capitalist societies when tensions reached the breaking point. Brecht has adapted for the stage this story written by the great Russian writer, and sometime revolutionary, Maxim Gorky. The story line in both cases is fairly straight forward. A working class mother not far removed from the farm is fearful that her son's Bolshevik revolutionary activities will bring disaster on him and the family. As the story unfolds and the son's commitment grows in line with the government's repressive policies the mother starts, slowly, very slowly, to get the point of his work. Along the way her own `politics' change and by the end she is as committed to the cause as her son. Her banner is now red. On the stage this story gets told amid banners and music that add to the dramatic effect. In either format this is a powerful story and good piece of socialist propaganda. I remember an old German Communist Party member once telling me that in his youth he was actually recruited to the Communist Youth League by this play. Apparently the German CP set up literature tables in the lobby of the theater and at intermission and the end would sign up theater patrons after they had experienced the play. The book probably had the same effect.

necesito un analisis de la obra de maximo gorki "la madre"

Can be considered as one of the classics of the world literature, and magnum opus of the literary gaint of Russia Maxim Gorky "The Mother" shows how common soviet proletariat inspired and participated in the war against the autocratic czar and the capitalists of the country which eventually ended with the great October Revolution. Pelageya Nelovna - wife of a petty factory worker Vlassov stays away from social consciousness and revolutionery movements because of the burden of her life itself. She is a representative of hundreds and thousands of workers who can only think about their work and hard ways of relaxation out of it. The change she shows with her son Pavel Vlassov who takes a different direction when compared to other people living in the workers townships and moves in the path of revolution and eventually becoming a complete part of the revolution itself inspired thousands of soviet workers lived under the capatilist society of the then soviet union. The moral charecter and support Gorky extended for the revolution was manifested in "The Mother". She became representative mother country calling and supporting her children fighting for their rights. Running under the backdrop of workers township where men work till their bodies are completely tired, drink and beatup their wives and children to sublimate their frustration - mother represent the life of working class people in soviet union of later half of 19th century and early stages of 20th century. Away from political movements and social portrayal "The Mother" is also an excellant lyrical beauty. The events created and the detailed explanation of the backdrop in which the events occur represents creative and poetic story telling capabilities of Gorky. This is not a book to pass your time. If you like to read serious literature, if you want to read how to portray the social history in a contemporary literary work -this should be the first to read.

This is one really good book by one of my favorite writers Maxim Gorkij. Not the best but just read it, I know I will again.

five star