on the weekends. He becomes thinner and begins to be more serious. Her motherly instinct is alert to these changes and this makes her feel rather confused.
The clues of Pelagea’s characterization in the novel are dominated by Gorky’s narration, as in the following passage showing the reaction of the mother to the
differences in Pavel: His mother was glad her son was not like the rest of the young people
at the factory, but vague fears stirred within her as she saw the stubborn efforts he was making to steer his course away from the dark
stream of the common life. 18 The mother notices that Pavel begins to talk less and less and begins to read books in
the evenings, and at the same time he grows cleaner, simpler and more helpful. “She was worried by these inexplicable changes …[since] [n]obody else in the settlement
ever did that” 19. In short, the changes in Pavel make the mother somewhat confused; she is both pleased and worry because she senses something positive in
Pavel, but, at the same time, she also senses something inexplicable.
4.2.1.3. Pelagea Senses Something Positive about Pavel’s Idea
As time goes by, Pelagea further observes Pavel’s activity of reading forbidden books by which she is considerably shocked and frightened. At this period,
Pelagea is puzzled about why Pavel does such an odd thing. As revealed by Maxim Gorky, Pavel is a would-be revolutionary leader. He longs for the justice for working
people—sensible working conditions, the opportunity to ease tensions caused by overworking, the fair distribution of wealth, and meaningful participation of workers
in the industrial policies. The hardship caused by the prevailing oppressive authority arouses his curiosity and instinct of freedom. The explanation of Pavel brings the
mother’s memories back to her condition during her time with Mikhail, which was unquestionably hard and miserable.
This idea of pursuing the truth for workingmen touches Pelagea, yet she still feels conflict between feeling proud of her son and terrified. But some positive
development has happened as she starts to dive into the idea. The mother feels proud to see the development of Pavel whose ideas somewhat introduce her to a wonderful
dream—to liberate working people. The mother is happy to see Pavel’s notice of her and others’ sufferings. But at the same time, she senses something dangerous in her
son’s activity that somehow makes her suspicious and alert. Gorky’s narration gives a full impression about the mother’s feeling:
She was torn between a feeling of pride in her son, who saw the bitterness of life [of his mother and the working people] so well, and
her realization that he was still young and that he spoke unlike anyone else, and that all alone he had undertaken to struggle against a life that
everyone else, including herself, took for granted. 22-3
4.2.1.4. Pelagea is Attracted by Pavel’s Friends and Their Ideas
Further progress in Pelagea can be shown in the period of Pavel’s association with his friends in the movement. In view of the fact that Pavel and his friends often
hold discussions in his house, Pelagea inevitably little by little gets closer to Pavel’s friends and accustomed to what they are talking about. At first, Pelagea is still
occupied with fears particularly when knowing that Nikolai Vesovshchikov, an PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
antisocial man whose father is a thief, joins the movement 30. But after some time, she is touched by the topics of discussions, namely the suffering of working people.
She is especially fond of Andrei Nakhodkha or the khokhol who is very affectionate to the mother—as shown by his calling her nenko, an affectionate term
used to refer to mother 27. The mother senses simple relationship or comradeship among them by which she is impressed.
As a mother, Pelagea senses the suffering of Pavel’s comrades too. She knows that they long for something that they cannot achieve. She admires Pavel’s friends
because of their benevolence and friendliness. She finds comforts in her acquaintance with them and reacts positively by avoiding suspicions. The following passage is
Gorky’s direct description about what Pelagea thinks about them, specifically the appearance of the character Andrei Nakhodkha, or the khokhol:
She was reassured by his calmness and his soft voice and his plain face. His look was frank and friendly, and sparks of mirth danced in
the depths of his clear eyes. There was something winning about his whole figure… She wanted to ask who he was and where he came
from and whether he had known her so long, but all of a sudden he swung forward and was himself the first to speak. 27
Pelagea’s impression of Andrei is the same as her impression of Natasha, another friend of Pavel. She becomes close to Pavel’s friends as if they have known
each other for a long time. She provides them with foods, tea and even making socks. She gives considerable attention to Pavel’s friends. Deep in her heart she is touched
and impressed by their dreams and little by little she loves them as her own children. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
Her suspicions are gone and replaced by warm positive feelings—proud, impressed and loving.
4.2.1.5. Pelagea Accepts the Movement and for the First Time is Involved in It
