I just finished reading The Lower Depths (translated by David Magarshack), a play written by Maxim Gorky in 1902. It brutally depicts the lives of several poor Russians who are living in the cramped basement of a boarding house.

The characters are superbly drawn. Through the dialogue, Gorky is able to ask profound questions regarding life and suffering, reality and hope. I’m left still wondering about the thoughts and actions of Luka, the pilgrim, and to what degree his views are justified and useful, or misguided and harmful.

This was an excellent reading experience.

“Well, you see, there’s a moral to it. It shows that however much you paint yourself, it’ll all come off in the end. Yes, sir, it will all come off.”