The Lower Depths

Style and Technique

The play "The Lower Depths" by Maxim Gorky is characterized by a realistic style that conveys the lives of the flophouse residents, their thoughts, feelings, and conversations through dialogues and monologues. The language of the work is diverse: from colloquialisms and slang to philosophical reflections, which helps create unique images of each character. Gorky employs literary devices such as irony and sarcasm to critique social orders and express social injustice. The structure of the play is four-act, with each act revealing new aspects of the characters' lives, their past, and dreams for the future, contributing to a deep psychological analysis and social significance of the work.