The Lower Depths

Interesting Facts

• The play was written in 1902 and became one of the most significant works in Russian drama of the early 20th century.
• The work was originally titled "Without the Sun," but Gorky changed it to "The Lower Depths" on the advice of Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko.
• The play depicts the lives of flophouse residents, portraying them as people who have hit rock bottom in society.
• The play raises important social and philosophical questions, such as the meaning of life, human dignity, and hope.
• One of the central characters is Luka, a wanderer who brings comfort and hope to the flophouse residents, but his character evokes mixed feelings among other characters and the audience.
• The play was first staged at the Moscow Art Theatre in 1902 and was a huge success.
• "The Lower Depths" had a significant impact on the development of Russian and world theater, becoming a classic of dramaturgy.