Doctor Zhivago
Boris Pasternak's Nobel Prize winning novel, Doctor Zhivago, is exceedingly successful due to its strong characterization and profound believability. The historical period matches flawlessly with the serious mood evident throughout Pasternak's work. The tone of this novel bleeds into the style and flow of Doctor Zhivago. Exceptional development of these traits makes Zhivago a triumphant effort.
The book begins with the introduction of several primary characters. Introduced as a child, Yurii A. Zhivago, lives his life in front of the reader. The long period covered gives the reader a variety of life experiences to identify with. As more of Yura's family life is revealed, a link between the story and the reader is constructed. Conversations in the story illustrate the feelings and ideals of the characters in Zhivago. One such conversation is between Nikolai Nikolaievich and Ivan Ivanovich. The two discuss philosophy, relating to their ideals and not those of the state or past theorists such as Solovi_v and Marx. The ideals expressed in this discussion are not just the characters', but an idea held by the author. Nikolaievich states "that man does not live in a state of nature but in history...It is the...exploration of death with a view to overcome it." (13) Pasternak's belief is people create to overcome their mortality; Pasternak has done so by creating Zhivago. The author lives on in the characters that he created. Through the story, different types of life are lived by the characters and the reader. Exploring the life of the rich and the poor, living while at peace and in war causes a variety of characters and emotions to be evoked. This vast array causes a few problems. The primary difficulty i...
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...chnique creates a fully developed world in which the characters exist. The book opens with a funeral, that of Zhivago's mother, and it ends with a funeral for Zhivago. The story is assembled in a balanced manner. The symmetry in the novel adds another unique element to its style. The method in which Zhivago is told is at times annoying but overall it is a part of why the book as a whole succeeds.
In following the life of Zhivago, the effects of the Russian revolution on Russia's society are made evident. The strong characterization, believability, powerful imagery, and writing style all help construct a link between the story and the reader. The successful development of this bond draws the reader in the lives of the characters. This union that Pasternak creates is the basis of a universally readable novel, a union that makes Doctor Zhivago a success.
Leo Tolstoy as one of Russia’s great writers, wrote marvelous pieces looking at societal questions and playing with the minds of his readers. The Death of Ivan Ilych is one of Tolstoy’s best written short stories and a popular story for the world on the topic of death and the process of dying. This story is about a man confronting death and in a way bringing life to him during the process of his death. Ivan Ilych fell onto the inevitable trail of death and had realized the true meaning of living along the way. The concept of writing about death is not in any way a new concept nor was it obscure to read in Tolstoy’s era; what makes this short story special is the way that Tolstoy illustrates his character. Ivan Ilych goes through a journey of discovery while he is dying. This story attempts to tackle the questions that cannot be answered; what makes a man happy in life, what makes life worth living?
The short story, “Ivan Fyodorovich Shponka and His Aunt”, explicates the life of a man named Ivan Fyodorovich Shponka. We see him briefly in his young years, followed by his life in the army, and his return to the farm where his strong characterized aunt resides. We can see immediately that this man lives in constant cleanliness and dutiful paranoia; these are some of his desires that he wishes to exhibit to others. We can also see his fears, which reside in the confiscation of his masculinity and independence. This short story has many elements that resemble others in the Nikolai Gogol collection.
then prepares its reports. If a change to the law is decided on then a
It is important that everyone lives their lives according to God’s purpose for them. Many people in today’s society fear death. Those who fear death have little to no knowledge about what God has planned for all of his children. On the other hand, some people fear death because they feel as though they have not fully completed their life’s purpose; or lived accordingly. This work brings about many real-life situations. There will always be people who use others to advance their own lives. Then there will be people who want the best for others. Continuing a study of this work will allow readers to make a connection to his or her current society. The Death of Ivan Ilyich is an easy read, that will automatically catch the reader’s
Being one of the greatest Russian writers of 20th century, Aleksander Solzhenitsyn had a unique talent that he used to truthfully depict the realities of life of ordinary people living in Soviet era. Unlike many other writers, instead of writing about “bright future of communism”, he chose to write about everyday hardships that common people had to endure in Soviet realm. In “Matryona’s Home”, the story focuses on life of an old peasant woman living in an impoverished collectivized village after World War 2 . In the light of Soviet’s propaganda of creating a new Soviet Nation, the reader can observe that Matryona’s personality and way of life drastically contradicted the desired archetype of New Soviet Man. Like most of the people in her village,
Though throughout the novel, the only consistent nihilist is Bazarov, a reader notes how both the generation of the fathers and the generation of the sons are affected by his influence and by nihilistic views. With examination, one can attribute the profundity of
Rodion Raskolnikov is a murderer, a damning criminal. Yet, he also has a warm heart that no one can equal. This character of paradox, of contradictions, of irony, is the true Raskolnikov. He is the Jekyll, and he is the Hyde; the zenith and the nadir. This hallowed literature of human nature provides us with important moral lessons, and at the same time helps the reader understand Dostoevsky’s philosophy on society better. Raskolnikov is not entirely a cold-blooded murderer, since he still has a feeling of love: The love towards Sofya Marmeladov. In this paper, we will go in-depth of how Sofya has an impact on Raskolnikov, by discussing their similarities and differences.
...he destitution and demoralization of the citizens of Petrograd. Andrei, the character with the most honor and virtue, still finds ruin because of his affiliation with the immoral politic. All morality is beaten out of the characters with the most potential for it by the dire circumstances of their lives. An excellent, emotionally moving story, this novel leaves no doubt as to the author's feelings about the path of destruction down which socialism leads.
To many individuals the word “progress” has a positive meaning behind it. It suggests improvement, something humans have been obsessed with since the dawn of society. However, if closely examined, progress can also have a negative connotation as well. While bringing improvement, progress can simultaneously spark conformity, dependency, and the obsession of perfection within the individuals caught in its midst. It is this aspect of progress within modern society that negatively affects Ivan Ilych, Leo Tolstoy’s main character in The Death of Ivan Ilych. Ivan’s attempt to conform to modern society’s view of perfection takes away his life long before he dies. Furthermore, his fear of death and reactions towards it reflects modern society’s inability to cope with the ever present reminder that humans still suffer and die, despite all attempts to make life painless, perfect, and immortal.
Although the novel depicts a variety of characters, it mainly revolves around one figure – a young man, named Benedikt. From the beginning he seems to be rather naïve and comparable to the traditional Russian character – Ivanushka Durachok (Иванушка Дурачок). He does not ask questions, he goes with the system and, in general, is quite ignorant of the world. However, he does experience a major character transformation once he encounters the “joy” of books. Although, what is supposed to bring happiness and knowledge, to him becomes a physical addiction without the mental benefits – he reads just to read, not to understand. Besides Benedikt, there are other characters that seem to stay in the background. They are very strictly divided in to the social groups, as the Golubchiks, the naïve and easily controllable commoners; the Olderners, people who survived the Blast, do not get older and resemble the intelligentsia; the Murzas, ...
As a result of Dostoevsky’s diligence and commitment to making this effort effective the special things about Russia that are good and dear to the heart were saved. The faith in the common man is surprising and a typical of Dostoevsky.
In describing the setting, the general locale is the prison in the coldest part of Russia- Siberia, geographically but socially depicting the social circumstances in the prison, but draws analogies to the general social, political and economic circumstances of Russia during the Stalinist era (form 1917 revolution up to 1955). The symbolic significance of the novel and the film (genres) reflects experiences, values and attitudes of the Russian society. The genres reflect the origins of the Russian social disorders and massive counts of political misgivings which watered down real communism in Russia. We are constantly reminded of the social and cultural heritage and originality of Russian ethnic groups through those different levels of meanings
After inferring from the rationality of Raskolnikov’s hypothesis on illness that the rest of his working theory would too be correct, the reader is led down a path of definite expectations for his/her “extraordinary” narrator. This path would have been one whereby Raskolnikov was able to implement widespread well being as a result of his murders. Furthermore, he would have been able to avoid submission to the common law of the “ordinary” people in order to preserve his greatness.
As enticing, captivating, and entertaining as it is, Dead Souls both frankly and meticulously brings clarity upon the flaws and faults of Russian class, noblemen, and society as a whole. Nikolai Gogol passionately and powerfully calls for change and, with his unblemished skill over satire, is able to comically, yet effectively convey his message. Through his endeavor to correct Russian society, he left an impact in Russian prospect, as well as a message for the world to take heed. Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol’s stunning success, Dead Souls, will forever leave a mark as not only a resolve to further better a nation, but also as an epitome of satire for the world.
“Mother” is a masterpiece of Maxim Gorky where he depicts a revolution against the bourgeois society. Being greatly influenced by the thoughts and philosophy of Lenin, Maxim Gorky is greatly shocked and frustrated by the ignorance, poverty and sufferings of his country people. He wants to establish the equal rights of the people in the society. In this novel Pavel is a character portrayed with a revolutionary spirit and Maxim Gorky shows his philosophy and dreams through the character of Pavel in this novel.