"Creatures That Once Were Men" (russian: Бывшие люди, literally, "former people") is a 1897
novella
A novella is a narrative prose fiction whose length is shorter than most novels, but longer than most short stories. The English word ''novella'' derives from the Italian ''novella'' meaning a short story related to true (or apparently so) fact ...
by the Russian writer
Maxim Gorky
Alexei Maximovich Peshkov (russian: link=no, Алексе́й Макси́мович Пешко́в; – 18 June 1936), popularly known as Maxim Gorky (russian: Макси́м Го́рький, link=no), was a Russian writer and social ...
. It is regarded as a work of
social realism
Social realism is the term used for work produced by painters, printmakers, photographers, writers and filmmakers that aims to draw attention to the real socio-political conditions of the working class as a means to critique the power structure ...
, and it depicts the bottom of Russian society (like Gorky's other early works, including his most famous play ''
The Lower Depths'')
The novella was included in Gorky's collection ''
Sketches and Stories'' (1899).
The term "
former people" developed other meanings, relating to Russian society.
Plot
''Creatures that Once Were Men'' is a novella about residents of a
doss house who start a conflict with their landlord, which leads to an
inhumane
Cruelty is the pleasure in inflicting suffering or inaction towards another's suffering when a clear remedy is readily available. Sadism can also be related to this form of action or concept. Cruel ways of inflicting suffering may involve vi ...
outcome.
At the end, there's a notable dialogue between the two main characters:
"What are you? Who are you?" shouted Petunikov.
"A man . . ." he answered in a hoarse voice.
Reception
See also
*
The Lower Depths
References
External links
*
Creatures That Once Were Men, in several formatsCreatures That Once Were Men, via Gutenberg
Short stories by Maxim Gorky
1897 short stories
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