The play "Vassa Zheleznova" is one of the most striking works in Russian literature of the 20th century, created by the great classicist, master of the Russian word, writer Maxim Gorky. The theme of motherhood, the role of mother in raising children, in the family presented in the play is relevant today.
The story of the creation of the play "Vassa Zheleznova"
Maxim Gorky, a Russian writer, composed the dramatic play "Vassa Zheleznova" in 1910, which was included in all published collections of his works entitled "Mother". The first production of Vassa Zheleznova was presented to the audience on the stage of the Korsch Theater before the revolution. M. Gorky himself called the first version a "play about the mother." In the author’s essay, a family drama is shown in which there are neither right nor guilty. This is a story about a tragedy in a family where profit, deception, betrayal, murder reigns.
According to legend, the prototype of the main character was the widow of a merchant and a steamer in Nizhny Novgorod, Maria Kashinov (1857-1916). After 25 years, Maxim Gorky rewrote the play, where the emphasis of motherhood was muffled by the theme of political realism and the class struggle between the young revolutionary Rachelle and the wealthy industrialist Vassa. In the second version, the plot and characters were slightly changed, but the idea of motherhood is still the main thing in the play. A new version of "Vassa Zheleznova" was published in 1935 and gained popularity. Both versions of the play are interesting, because the author managed to create two artistic images of mothers, which reflected the realities of the time taking place in Russian society.
A brief retelling of the play "Vassa Zheleznova"
The characters in the play:
- Vassa Borisovna Zheleznova - girlhood Khrapova, owner of a shipping company, mother of three children, 42 years old, but looks younger than her years.
- Sergei Petrovich Zheleznov - Vassa’s husband, 60, a former captain, sailed in the Black Sea, then on river ships, retired, abuses alcohol, drags around young girls.
- Prokhor Borisovich Khrapov - Vassa's brother, 57 years old, a carefree playboy.
- Natalia, Lyudmila - the daughter of Vassa and Sergei Petrovich, they are 18 and 16 years old.
- Rachelle - Vassa’s daughter-in-law, about 30 years old, the wife of her son Fedor, an active social revolutionary.
- Kolya is the little grandson of Vassa Zheleznova, the son of Rachel and Fedor.
- Anna Onoshenkova - secretary and assistant Vassa in business, 30 years.
- Lisa, Fields - maids in the house of Vassa.
- Guriy Krotkikh - manager of the Vassa shipping company.
- Pyaterkin - sailor, Anna's boyfriend, looking 27-30 years old.
- Melnikov, a member of the district court, Eugene, his son - the tenants of Vassa Zheleznova.
The action takes place in a private house of the Zheleznovs on the banks of the Volga River. The author introduces readers to the main character and the inhabitants of the house. At first glance, life is calm and measured. Vassa Borisovna is the mother and main hostess not only in the house, but also in the family business. Vassa is a domineering, intelligent, prudent person. She gives orders to her manager Guriy Krotkikh, which concern the work of the company and profit. Vassa Borisovna likes to humiliate, taunt those who are lower than her in "rank".
The girl Anna, who spies and reports to the landlady about everything, helps herself in your affairs, while at the same time she is not averse to making money at her expense.
Her husband, Sergei Petrovich, a drunkard and a libertine, long ago retired and became a burden on his family. His behavior is considered in court in the case of seduction of a young girl. He faces imprisonment, and this will lead to a deterioration in the situation of the Zheleznovs in society and will become an obstacle to the extradition of daughters. Vassa is trying in every possible way to get his spouse out of this scandal, acting through his landlord Melnikov, a member of the district court, and offers a bribe to an investigator of three thousand rubles, but this does not help. Vassa decides to talk with her husband so that he takes poison and does not disgrace the family, he thought about the future of his daughters.
Her brother, Prokhor Borisovich Khrapov, a careless man and a drinker. On the sly, addicted to drinking Vassa's daughters. He is especially friendly with the elder Natalia. She likes Uncle’s cheerful disposition. He seduced the maid Lisa, who is expecting a child from him.
Unable to stand the shame, Lisa hanged herself in the bathhouse. In a conversation with Natalia, Prokhor condemns Vassa’s husband and says: “Oh, there will be shame!
.Not so much will Captain Zheleznov be judged, as we, Khrapovs."
The youngest daughter, Lyudmila, because of the depraved behavior of her father, his passion to bring walking girls to the house, was slightly moved by the mind. She is the only one who sincerely loves her loved ones. Elder Natalya is very similar to her mother. She is just as calculating and firm in character, but she despises her mother. Vassa understands all this, she motherly loves her children, this is felt in her conversations, but she loves prudence and money more. Step by step, the author reveals the essence of each family member. Tragedy follows tragedy.
Somewhere abroad lives the terminally ill son Fedor. His wife, Rachelle, unexpectedly arrives at the house and wants to pick up little Kolya, whom Vassa is raising. Zheleznova hopes that he will become her heir, because there is no one else to transfer the work of her whole life to. Rachelle is an active social revolutionary. She is a brave and decisive person. Knowing that the police are hunting her and can be turned over to the Vassa authorities, she appears in the house and wants to take her son away. Rachelle and Vassa have a lot in common: strong character, perseverance, goal achievement. They are irreconcilable class enemies, defending their opposite positions, but respect each other. Vassa orders Anna, her secretary, to bring Rachelle to the police. The main reason is not a politician, but the fact that her grandson will be taken from her.
The ending of the play is unexpected: Vassa dies of a heart attack. Everyone in the house is trying to take profit and steal. Anna steals part of the mistress’s money, the other part will go to the bastard’s brother, who will drink and let everything go in the wind. The body of Vassa Zheleznova lies in the room, nobody cares. One foolish Lyudmila mourns her.
Conclusions from the play "Vassa Zheleznova"
The drama of Maxim Gorkov "Vassa Zheleznova" is one of the best works in Russian literature. The author realistically told the story of a well-to-do family in beautiful Russian. He showed the basics of family members: permissiveness, an abominable attitude towards people not in their circle, bribery, child molestation, thirst for profit at all costs, murders, treason, separation of mother and child, theft and more. For what? Old as the world: money! All for the money. Vassa saved up all her life, humiliated herself, then humiliated others herself, after her death all the characters are obsessed with a thirst for profit.
M. Gorky created the image of the imperious and self-infallible Vassu-capitalist, naively believing that such a alignment is impossible in the proletarian family. This is a story about the spiritual degeneration of light maternal feelings. Maternal qualities, such as love, care, protection, compassion, Vassa traded for money. Her children, surrounded by profit, grew up as losers, loafers. The main theme of the play is the spiritual heritage that is lost.
