"Untimely Thoughts": Gorky's reflections on the duality of the Russian soul

The end of the 20th century is a turning point in history and human thoughts. We realized that the entire long period, lasting the last 75 years, had a concrete meaning. And this sense was best expressed by the theorists of socialism. To truly convey the turbulent, restless atmosphere of the beginning of the century was able to "petrel" of that time Maxim Gorky in his notes entitled "Untimely thoughts."

This work is not without reason called the living document of the revolution. In the book without intermediaries and notes, the author's position is expressed in relation to the October Revolution, its prerequisites, consequences and the arrival of the new Bolshevik power. "Untimely thoughts" were a forbidden work right up to perestroika. For the first time the article was published by Novaya Zhizn, which was also closed under the pretext of the opposition character of the press.

Gorky associated his "Untimely Thoughts" with the revolution, as the embodiment of all the high hopes of the people. He considered it to be the harbinger of the revival of spirituality, the cause of the return of the long-lost sense of the homeland, and the act by which the people will finally be able to participate independently in their own history.

So it was in the first articles of the cycle (there were 58 in all). But already after the beginning of the October events, Gorky realized that the revolution was not going at all the same pace as he had expected. He appeals to the proletariat, who won, with the question of whether this victory will bring change to the "bestial Russian way of life", whether light will shine in the darkness of the life of the people. In other words, here already the ideals with which the writer loudly called for revolution are beginning to be contrasted with the reality of coup days, which no one could foresee, even Maxim Gorky.

"Untimely thoughts" express the expressionism of the writer particularly expressively, their style qualities give the right to call notes one of his best works. There are a lot of rhetorical questions, clear decisive conclusions, emotional appeals. The final idea of most articles is the fundamental divergence of Gorky's views with Bolshevik slogans. And the main reason for this is the opposing viewpoints of the people and fundamentally different attitudes towards it. Gorky notes the passivity and at the same time the cruelty of the people, with the unlimited power falling into his hands. This writer justifies the conditions of a long life, in which there was nothing light: no respect for the individual, neither equality, nor freedom.

However, the revolution, as the "Untimely Thoughts" pointed out to us, was nevertheless necessary. Another thing is the combination of its liberation ideas with bloody bacchanalia, which invariably accompanies all coups d'état. Here "Thoughts" carry out an interesting experience of national self-criticism. Gorky showed us the dual nature of the personality of a Russian person. This person is incapable of daily manifestations of generally accepted norms of morality, but, nevertheless, can perform a feat and even self-sacrifice.

As a result, the reason for the failure, according to Gorky, is not what the overwhelming majority sees it. Not "sloths" or counter-revolutionaries are guilty of unhappiness - but the usual Russian stupidity, lack of culture and sensitivity to historical changes. According to the author, the people still have to struggle for a long time with their hard work to comprehend their own personality, to be cleansed of the slavery that has sprouted in it, the bright fire of culture.