Creatures That Once Were Men

"Creatures That Once Were Men" by Maksim Gorky recounts the lives of people living in a run-down boarding house. The story follows Captain Aristid Kuvalda and the other residents as they deal with the hardships and sadness of being poor. Gorky's story discusses themes of poverty and unfairness, with him being honest about the tough parts of life. The story starts by describing the gloomy setting and the tired people who live there. The reader meets Captain Kuvalda, who is in charge of the house, and the renters with their sad pasts and forgotten hopes. The readers learns how they deal with each other and form a sense of community. The difficult reality is shown with dark jokes and a negative attitude, capturing the idea of people becoming something less than they once were.