“The best books are those that makes you think the most.”
Initially published in 1906, the novel “MOTHER” unveils the revolutionary Marxist ideology which emphasizes on the critiques of capitalism, vision of socialist society, heavily influences the goals and themes socialist realism and emphasis on class struggle. Among the important novels by Maxim Gorky, the novel MOTHER contributed as a significant literary classic for the generation of soviet citizens. The novel was narrated on the trip to US in 1906 as it was ban in Russia due to its revolutionary themes. Gorky himself was deeply involved in the revolutionary movement so his work deeply influenced this masterpiece. This book delves into awakening the working men into political consciousness.
The character mother known as Nilvana portrays the story of an uneducated woman. This novel is a real life based story of a May Day in 1902 in Samovar. Coming to the character of the mother, she basically portrays the life of an ordinary, poor, oppressed and sick typical Russian woman who, through this deliberate metamorphosis, rose as a revolutionary female.
Initially the book shows that Nilvana’s husband used to drink, physically abused and brutally treated her. He died early leaving Nilavana alone to rise their only son Pavel who would probably adapt the same nature as his father when grown, but luckily Pavel was entirely different, not only from his father but from every unintelligent, corrupt and dumb man of Russia. He never drank. He used to bring home books and was busy whole day reading them. He was drawn in a revolutionary circle.
Initially his mother, uneducated, self-oppressed and cognitively restricted, was concerned about Pavel’s life but curiosity and enthusiasm materialize me when she herself appeared supporting him and his circle in revolutionary activities. The message from the book is clear: if an uneducated, mentally constrained and an ordinary woman can rise to sacrifice her everything for the sake of revolution, so what is restricting me and you to tackle from this comfort zone and rise to bring some changes?
While the main character is played by Pavel, at the same time Gorky made Nilvana a protagonist. These two mother and son were not only joined by their blood bandage but importantly by their common revolutionary ideas and activities. While reading the book, I was entirely involved within the character of mother as her prolonged metamorphosis did not only transfer an old ordinary woman into a revolutionary one, but all readers into an amazement about the essence of favoring truth and not only to rise voice but to take proper action.
While exposing the rulers and greedy men of Russia, the characters of Pavel revolutionary circle adapted convincing methodologies that somehow even made me feel to hate money. What consistently bothered me inside was how can people drained the blood, brutally traumatize a man and can do every thing painful to him for the sake of pieces of papers? This book reinforces the unconditional and unwavering love and support of a mother for her son. Altruism, motherhood, valiant and humanity are most ornamental factors of this piece.
In evaluations, while the book was entirely bombastic, the writer used many complex and difficult words which made it time-consuming to read. I want to recommend this book to all those who wants to be involved in ground realities.
