The dual image of Luke in the play "At the Bottom" by M. Gorky
Luke is a traveler, it is not clear where he came from, and where he is heading. He is courteous and polite, he has his own approach to each night lodge, and is gentle in speech. He gives hope in life situations when there seems to be no way out.
His nature is dual. On the one hand, his name corresponds to one of the evangelists, which means the word "bright", on the other hand, he inspires hope, preaches a lie, believing that it is more necessary than the humiliating truth. Truth can destroy anyone who does not see the perspective of life.
Once in the shelter, he bypasses questions that are inconvenient for him, solves all the problems of the people who are there, makes an indelible impression on their psyche. He burst into the life of the shelter with faith and hope for a successful outcome of any problem. Luke sees people thrown to the bottom of life, men and women, who are doomed to a miserable existence, and do not see a way out of this situation. Many of them understand the meaning of such an existence, but not all are ready to make a radical decision and change their lives.
There are two great forces opposed - falsehood and truth. Luke tends to lie, although he understands what the truth is.
On the other hand, Luke is crafty, with a cunning old man, reflecting on the meaning of life, which is difficult and unpredictable. When a fight breaks out between the inhabitants of the flophouse, he discreetly disappears just as he appears.
Each visitor to the overnight stay remains at his own opinion, confused in his feelings, the spark of awakening of which Luke gave birth.
