Maxim Gorky wrote many wonderful works. But the story “Old Woman Isergil” is one of his most sad, melodic and beautiful works. His story is Gorky's romantic ideal, with the help of Danko, the writer tells us about his vision of the true destiny of man on earth.
The legend of Danko is extremely symbolic, it is full of symbolism and mysticism. The main character is a young man who was not afraid to take responsibility for himself but his whole tribe. They do not understand him, reproach, devalue, but he still selflessly fights for the life of not only his own, but all the people of his tribe. He leads the escape from the invaders through the thicket of the forest, through pitch-black, impenetrable darkness to a brighter future. But the crowd is impatient, weak. Wandering through the dark forest in the darkness, people were tired, embittered, and ceased to believe in a happy ending. The tribe embraces the fear that they will never go out into the light and they begin to blame the conductor, the leader - the young Danko. They insult him, they call him insignificance and a pest. They condemn him for not resembling them, and reproach in all their troubles. This is done by everyone, even the closest and most trusted Danko people. The discontent of the crowd goes wild, and she begins to demand his death.
Danko does not fully understand why people hate him so much, because he was the only one who had the courage to lead people through the thicket of the forest. And even in such conditions of universal hatred and bitterness, the young man’s heart does not become stale, does not become a hostage to revenge, rage and anger. He performs an amazing, selfless feat - tears his chest and takes out his flaming heart out to illuminate the pitch darkness of the impenetrable forest. In front of the amazed fellow tribesmen, Danko carries a heart high above his head and shows people the way. This act becomes a symbol of hope. The heart of the youth is like a guiding star that leads us all to a brighter future. And each of us believes that it is. Danko took his tribe for a long time through the forest and finally led to a suitable place for life. As soon as this happened, the youth’s strength ran out, he fell to the ground without a word. None of the people he saved came to his aid. Everyone is occupied only with himself. Moreover, one of Danko's companions accidentally tramples on his dying heart and it dies away forever.
The story “The Old Woman Isergil” touches on many important topics, including the theme of true heroism. I think that according to Gorky, true heroism is always associated with self-sacrifice in the name of a common idea or a common good. In the legend of Danko, the author talks about an example of leadership feat when, at the time of difficult trials, a tribe or people get a leader who is ready to save everyone else at the cost of his life. But for life in a peaceful, quiet time, the people have completely different priorities and, accordingly, leaders. Former heroes are left out of the story. And this is a very sad part of this narrative, because the hero of Danko actually turned out to be thrown out, forgotten.
It is thanks to leaders such as Danko that history does not stand still. Reading this legend, we simultaneously admire his compassion and compassion. He is completely alone, despite the pitch darkness, knows what needs to be done. His faithful companion and guiding star is his heart, which he follows and which illuminates the path to him and all his fellow tribesmen. They also die in an instant, both forgotten and unnecessary. Undoubtedly, Danko is a true hero who accomplished the feat. And thanks to this story told by Gorky, the future has a chance to break this chain of forgotten, trampled hearts. This legend teaches us to value more people who do selfless acts, in the name of our life and our prosperity.
