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Mother by Maxim Gorky

                                                                   Mother

                                                                             By Maxim Gorky

Maxim Gorky's Mother is the landmark in the history of English literature. Although this book was written ten years before the establishment of Soviet power in Russia, we count it the first stone laid in the foundations of Soviet Literature. Mother was first published in Russia in 1907. When Gorky wrote it, he was a mature craftsman, fully aware of his historical mission. During the Russian revolution of 1905 that is, two years before, Mother came out in Russia- he first met Vladimir Lenin, who was to become his great friend. The Russian revolution of 1905 was a turning point in Gorky's development as a writer.

The revolution was defeated, but it proved to the proletariat that they were capable of enjoying victory rather than suffering defeat. The plot of the novel is based on true events: the May Day demonstration of workers in Sormovo in 1902 Mother is considered as a pamphlet in the history of English literature. We see that Maxim Gorky continued the finest traditions of Russian classical literature. Mother was the first novel in Russian literature about working class. Maxim Gorky introduced a new hero in Russian literature. Gorky's working man who is considered with the fate of the whole world, not only with the fate of his own class in his own country. He is an intellectual in acts as a representative of the masses. He acts in the name of the loftiest and most human ideals/ Mother confirmed the working class as the leader of the struggle for Russia's better future. It is a book for the working class, enabling them to see their own worth as well as their political and ideological immaturity.

Nilovna is the central character of this novel. She is a simple working women, who gives the book the name of Mother. At the outset of the novel Nilovna in no way differs from hundreds of other working-class mothers who work in mills and factories. Yet when her son Pavel becomes a revolutionary she supports him and advances with him side by side. Pavel's comrades also called her mother. Gorky's moral position is expressed in Mother through the character of his heroine, Nilovna. Mother is a book about the working class, about the role of working class in improving human relations. That means it is a book not for the working class alone, but for all people throughout the world.

Pavel joins the factory after the death of his father and there he learns the collective power of the proletariat. He discovers that the working class is the true representative of changing the society. The hero concentrates to his study. He starts reading the books of socialism, Marxism, existentialism, Lelin. Gradually Pavel becomes politically aware reading several books. the hero of this novel is a well-read, young factory worker who, besides being a intellectual, is also a man of action.

After industrial revolution, Dialectical materialism appeared. The name of Karl Marx (1818-1883) is closely related to Dialectical materialism. Karl Marx is the pioneer of Dialectical materialism. He wanted to establish socialism. His philosophy was the inspiration of deprived, exploited and laborer class people. According to him, economic structure of society influences all things. Customs, religion, philosophy, culture, tradition and ideas are dominated by the economic structure. If the laborer class becomes free so that they will take the economic power. As a result, capitalism will be destroyed and communism will be established. Through a revolution the laborer class will establish "Dictatorship of the Proletariat". His mission was to establish a classless society. According to him, "Dictatorship of the Proletariat" is a temporary matter. After establishing communism, "Dictatorship of the Proletariat" will not be needed. The laborer class will achieve their rights through bloody struggle. Karl Marx has focused a new economic structure in his famous book Das Capital. Pavel is greatly influenced by the theory of value, theory of surplus value, and the law of the negation etc are fundamental contribution of Marx's "Dictatorship of the Proletariat" theory. Pavel believes that through a revolution the laborer class will establish "Dictatorship of the Proletariat".

Pavel realizes that the working class is the puppet in the hands of bourgeois nothing else. So he decides to lead the working class. At first Pavel makes aware of the factory workers about their rights and how they  are exploited by the capitals. The factory workers become aware and decide to join revolution under the command of Pavel. Now Pavel embraces socialism and starts bringing books to home. Pavel's mother initially worried and suspicious of her leadership quality. So she supports her son and takes part in revolution. Pavel's house becomes the central of revolution. The comrades of Pavel frequently visit Pavel's house becomes the central of revolution. The comrades of Pavel frequently visit Pavel's house and his upon a plan how to make revolution against the bourgeois. Pavel and Nilovna are two important characters in the novel Mother. Both are brave and courageous. Besides Nilovna Gogorky has given accounts of many other courageous and brave female characters in the novel like Natasha, Sasha, Ludmilla and Sophia. Natasha and Sasha leave their peaceful lives to join the revolutionary struggle for the establishment of a socialist society. The character of Natasha is particularly appealing as she is the daughter of a rich businessman who owns a lot of property. But she leaves her father assets. We see the sound love relation between Sasha and Pavel. Sasha's father is a landlord and rural administrator who, in her words, "robs the peasants".

Pavel is unpromising with the injustice and exploitation. He protested the domination of the rich over the poor. For his fiery voice against tyranny he had to face hardship. He has been arrested several times and tortured by the tyrants. Pavel believes in collective power. So he makes a team of comrades against the tyrants. Pavel knows how to weaken the powerful bourgeois. He knows that a law cannot ensure the rights of the working class. For establishing the rights of the poor there is no alternative of revolution. Sasha always helps Pavel for establishing peace in the society by ensuring the rights of all classes of people. Pavel leads a trade union in his factory. The factory authority goes dead against this trade union. Anyhow the authority decides to destroy the trade union. Pavel bravely puts up a strong resistance and leads the worker's agitation against the factory management. At time Pavel was arrested and handbills and pamphlets are distributed against Pavel's arrest. The authority releases Pavel. Then comes the crucial May Day when Pavel hits upon a plan to carry the banner at the head of the column. However Pavel is arrested and taken to the custody. Pavel delivers an impressive speech in the favor of the working class in the courtroom. The court exciles Pavel. Outside the courtroom, the mother is surrounded by the workers. Mother says heroically " Not even an ocean of blood can drawn the truth." So through this novel we see the moral victory of the working class.  

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