condition of the people in the factory settlement in general and the condition of mothers in specific.
Furthermore, she feels more afraid when the authority starts to make some arrests to Pavel’s comrades. She is perfectly assured that Pavel’s turn would be the
next. Pavel says to his mother, after the khokhol and Vesovschikov’s arrest, “You’ll have to get used to it” 59. Her motherly instinct responds, “Do they torture people?
Tear their bodies and break their bones? Whenever I think of that—it’s so awful…” 59.
However, to a greater extent, Pelagea’s fear of losing Pavel demonstrates that she loves him so much. Conversations with other characters play a highly important
part to reveal the personality of Pelagea. In the proceedings of the story, Pelagea’s fear of losing Pavel is shown when she recalls her past life in a conversation with
Andrei Nakhodka or the khokhol: “My husband died,” she went on, leaning forward and lowering her
voice, “and I turned to my son, but he was taken up with this business. That was hard to bear; I was dreadfully afraid for him. How
could I go on living if anything happened to him? What tortures I went through My heart fairly burst when I thought of what might happen to
him.” 97
And this quotation also hints about her next kind of personality, namely, loving.
4.1.5. Loving
In the novel, the power of love manifests in the character of Pelagea Nilovna. Maxim Gorky exceptionally explores the loving personality of mother as unchanging
and permanent. A mother’s love to her children seems uniquely infinite. Pelagea, too, PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
devotes her love and caring to her only son, Pavel. Whatever radical and different Pavel’s stance is, the mother has a firm faith in him, as a consequence of her
intellectual and mental efforts to grasp Pavel’s ideas—to pursue justice for working people and unshackle them from tyranny.
Love of a mother for children is seemingly natural. Interestingly, a mother’s love seems divine and unending. A mother will devote her love to her children at all
cost. Pelagea, too, finds that Pavel highly needs her love, caring, attention and support after years of being neglected. During her marriage with Mikhail, she barely
notices the grow of Pavel. She even does not notice the existence of Pavel since her life is merely to serve her brute husband.
Gorky also portrays that Pelagea is a mother with the highest morale. It is shown in the beginning of the novel, after Mikhail’s death, when she, singled out,
prays for Mikhail’s soul to rest in peace 28. Pelagea has forgiven her husband’s mistakes, even though he has incredibly done a lot of harm to the mother and to the
family. This is again an exceptional personality which is likely had only by simple mothers. A kind of personality that is hardly achieved by average people. Pelagea is a
simple in fact, ignorant mother whose love is her primary source of power in her miserable condition.
In the most part of the novel, she also devotes her love and deep affection not only to Pavel, but also to his friends or comrades. As I mentioned above, Pelagea’s
fear of losing Pavel shows her deep love. It is especially shown in the time when Pavel gets home drunk and feels sick after it, a deliberate act to show to his mother
that he is full-grown and normal, that is, being able to get drunk like every one else in the settlement. Yet, instead of succeeding, his mother is able to make him realize that
he has to support Pelagea and stop drinking and hurting his mother’s heart. Her passionate love and true caring to Pavel makes him succumb to Pelagea’s will.
She herself knew that the tavern was the only place where people could squeeze out a drop of happiness. “But you mustn’t,” She said.
“Your father drank more than enough for both of you. Didn’t I suffer enough at his hands? Couldn’t you take a little pity on your mother?”
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Her love to Pavel is simple as can be seen in the first part of the novel, when, for example, she even feels uneasy and annoyed when Pavel is rebutted in the
discussion with his friends. She naively asks the khokhol not to shout at Pavel and asks his promise to guard him in the May Day demonstration 167. Her deep concern
about Pavel is revealed when Pelagea urges Pavel not to hold the banner at the May Day demonstration, since the authority might well arrest him. Pavel dismisses her
advice and he is arrested. Pelagea’s love is also devoted to Pavel’s friends, specifically to Andrei or the
khokhol . She is impressed by the simplicity of a comradeship shown by Pavel and his
friends. During the hard times of oppression, Pavel’s comrades find comfort and caring from Pelagea. Her caring, love, attention and support to Pavel’s friends
somehow encourage their struggle and give them strength. They also find a symbol of mother in Pelagea, a symbol that disappear from their lives.
4.1.6. Brave
