Description and summary of "Thomas Gordeev" M. Gorky

"Foma Gordeev," a brief summary, analysis and protagonists of which we will present in this article, - a tale in which he talks about a growing bourgeoisie, describes how she gradually gained strength. Mayakin, her ideologist, not without reason believes that life is becoming more interesting. However, the story of Alexei Maximovich shows not only the growth of the Russian bourgeoisie. Her main idea was how in this reality she had to fight a healthy, energetic person, who was looking for a cause for himself and space for his energy.

Anatoly Shchurov and Yakov Mayakin

Gorky's work presents a whole gallery of people's images, which can be called "masters of life." This, for example, is a large wood merchant Shurov Anatoly Savvich. This man is the reaper of the merchant world. Mayakin speaks of him as a "cunning old devil." However, Jacob Mayakin himself is not in the least cynical about anything. Merchants call him "a brain man." Jacob is an ideologist of the merchant class. He teaches his "philosophy" of his godson Thomas. Yakov says that in the state the merchant is the first force, since millions are with him. That is why, he notes, officials and nobles should step aside in order to give scope to the merchants so that they can invest their capital and use their forces.

The representative of the patriarchal merchant class, old and wild, is Anatoly Shchurov. This person is against all kinds of innovations, against life-saving machines. He viciously predicts that a person is killed by freedom. Let us note that Yakov Mayakin is also a representative of the old merchant class. However, he is able to adapt to the changed conditions.

Taras and African Smolin

Taras (son of Yakov), as well as African Smolin (son-in-law) continue the work of the fathers. However, they act more soberly, more prudently, give their occupation a European gloss. These people are rushing to power. They seek to transform the domestic industry into a European manner.

Ignat Gordeev

Nevertheless, already in the older generation, already in the ranks of those who founded the state, there are people who have inwardly protested against the unjust orders of this world. However, they could not change the economic relations that were taking shape at that time. This, for example, is Ignat Gordeyev. He is an intelligent and gifted man of the people. Ignat is greedy for life, he works with an indomitable passion. Once he served as a water man, but now he is rich. Ignat Gordeyev owns a dozen barges and three steamships. The author notes that his life did not flow in a direct way, like many people like him. She, rebelliously rebelling, tried to get out of the rut, tried to get away from profit. But the profit for merchants is the main goal of existence, as Maxim Gorky points out.

Foma Gordeyev

The brief content below will introduce you in detail to the events in the life of this hero. Now we will dwell on his inner world. Thomas does not want to follow the path of money-grubbing and accumulation. Instinctively, this hero is drawn to beauty, he does not know how and does not want to fake. For him, prison is the world of proprietary relations. Foma says that he is "stuffy", that his soul hurts. This is the very "healthy man" who is hungry for freedom in life. He is cramped in this reality. Thomas tries hard to leave the world of hosts, and the author sees in this an indicator of the instability of the present, that it is time to change it.

This hero can not fully understand the structure of life. He does not know the methods and ways to change it. Foma Gordeyev is far from both the people and the advanced intelligentsia. The brief content presented below shows that he does not find a common language with either one or the other, although he is drawn to them in the shower. Gordeev thinks a lot about life, but he does not have a craving for books and knowledge. Foma is scared away by the society of educated and intelligent people. He does not feel the need to have friends. The world of property, rejected by the hero, the merchant way of life left a mark on his soul. Thomas learned early on what kind of condescending pity for the hungry the well-fed man shows. This hero at the end of the story is humiliated and defeated. The Mayak world is triumphant over the rebel.

However, this is a victory over an entangled and weak person, and not over the reader. All the unsightliness of the realm of lighthouses and shchurovs was revealed by M. Gorky ("Foma Gordeev"). The brief content of the work will acquaint you with this kingdom. After reading the story, perhaps you better understand the main character.

First chapter

The summary of "Foma Gordeev" begins with a description of the appearance and life of Ignat Gordeev. He is a lucky, intelligent and handsome man. He is one of those who managed to make a million fortune on the Volga. This man already by the age of 40 was the owner of a dozen barges and three steamships. He was considered an intelligent and rich man. However, he was given the nickname "Shali", because his life flowed not measured, but all the time exploded in upheavals. Ignat Gordeyev dreams of his son. And his dream is fulfilled - the second wife finally gives him a boy. Unfortunately, a woman dies in childbirth. Ignat, having arranged the funeral of the wife and baptizing his son Thomas, gives him a reluctant heart to be raised in the family of Mayakin, the godfather. The author notes that the death of his wife added a lot of gray hairs to his beard, but in the brilliance of Ignat's eyes appeared something new - affectionate and soft.

Chapter Two

We proceed to the second chapter, describing the summary of "Foma Gordeev." It tells about the house in which Yakov Mayakin lives. It is very large, two-story. This house is surrounded by old lime trees. The Mayakin family consists of Jacob, his daughter and his wife, as well as five relatives. In addition, he has a son, Taras, but Mayakin denied him, since he acted against his will by marrying some girl in Moscow. By occupation Yakov Mayakin is a merchant. He owns a cable factory, and also holds a bench near the pier. Six years he lived in the family of Yakov Foma Gordeev. Very brief content does not allow us to dwell on his life here. Let's just say that this time was, in general, not bad.

Foma looked older in his years, both internally and externally. After a while, Ignat took his son home. Attached to him, Jacob asked to leave him. However, Gordeev retorted that he had not given birth to Thomas for him. After returning home for our hero began to look after Anfisa. Foma has since fallen asleep every day to the sounds of the old woman's voice. The boy was eight years old, when his father told him that it was time to start learning. After he studied the winter, Ignat promised to take him in the spring on a voyage. My father kept his promise, and in the spring he went to the "Ermak" together with his son. Ignat reminded the boy that they are masters, and the sailors should be treated as servants. The child heard the dissatisfied whispering of the team members about his father. The case with the drowned man is described by the author at the end of this chapter. Sailors push the dead from the sides so that the drowned man does not get into the wheel. The boy is frightened, but his father explains that it is necessary. The dead do not care what will happen to his body, and the steamer does not need unnecessary problems with the authorities. All this is recorded in his memory by Thomas Gordeyev. The summary of the chapters continues with the events of the third chapter.

The third chapter

Thomas comes to the school. Here he meets Smolin, who was the son of a rich breeder. In addition, he is friends with the usual poor guy Yezhov. Thomas together with them is engaged in childishness - he drives pigeons and steals apples in gardens. When he turns 19, he goes on his first independent voyage. Yefim is the captain of the leading ship. This is an experienced sailor whom Thomas knows well. This person enlightens him "on women's affairs," and also introduces Pelagia. At this time, Ignat begins to drink heavily from boredom. When his son returns from swimming, he is already bad and after a while dies.

The fourth chapter

Ignat is buried, in honor of him they arrange a memorial dinner. Foma meets on the bookmark of a doss house with Sofya Medynskaya, who invites him to dinner. Fome does not like the gathered society. He talks about life with Anyone, and seems to understand her.

Fifth Chapter

The main character has a double impression of Yakov. Mayakin helps Thomas in business, but the young man thinks that he wants to marry him to Lyuba. Yakov, having learned that Thomas spent a lot of time in the company of Sophia, warns him. The young man is recognized by Medynskaya in love.

Meeting with Shchurov and Ukhtishchev

Mayakin once sent Foma to Shurov Anany Savich on business. This man is a wood merchant. There are terrible rumors about him. He allegedly sheltered in his bath of a convict who made fake money for him, and then killed him and burned him in a bath. In addition, he outlived his two wives, and then beat off his wife from his own son. During the meeting, Shchurov speaks ill of Mayakin.

Then Foma goes to the club, where he meets Ukhtishchev. He learns from him that Sofia leaves tomorrow for the whole country abroad. Someone (as it turned out, the son-in-law of the vice-governor) interferes with the conversation and does not respond well to Medynskaya. Foma grabs him by the hair. This arouses interest in Ukhtishchev.

The Crowds of Thomas Gordeyev

After 3 days, Thomas is boozing on the forest pier. His lady is Alexandra. Foma writes about disgraces in the newspaper. Mayakin scolds him, but he can not stop. Sasha alone is amiable and calm among the bustle of carousing. Thomas is attracted to the mystery hidden in her. However, he feels that he does not like this woman.

Sasha warns him that Foma Gordeyev will surely be lost. The summary (Chapter 9 concludes) continues with the fact that the main character can not find his place in life. He walks with women, laughs at them, but never raises his hand on them.

Soon Foma learns that Mayakin let out a rumor that he is out of his mind and needs custody. Our hero reconciled to this and continued to carouse. Eventually there was a scene on the ship. Foma looked at the listeners with hatred and said that they made a prison, not life, forged chains for a man. Gordeyev remembered all the merchants present who knew about them the criminal.

Final Events

Three years have passed, as Gorky notes ("Foma Gordeev"). The summary of the final events is as follows. Mayakin died after a painful agony, leaving his son, daughter and Afanas Smolin, his son-in-law, all his fortune. Yezhov was deported for something from the city. A trading house appeared in the city, the sign on which read "Taras Mayakin and Afrik Smolin". Nothing was heard about Gordeev. It was said that Mayakin sent him to his mother's relatives for the Urals.

Once he appears in the city. Thomas, almost always drunk, sometimes gloomy, then smiles with the sad and pathetic smile of the blessed one. He now lives in the outbuildings in the court of the godfather. The townspeople and merchants often laugh at him. Foma avoids people and rarely comes to the caller.

This concludes the summary of "Foma Gordeev" (the author's photo is presented above). Note that we have described only the main events. This story is quite voluminous, therefore the summary of "Thomas Gordeev", presented above, gives only the most general idea of it.