tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114017400123549331.post1016920716250096985..comments2022-11-01T01:20:44.440-07:00Comments on Classics & the Bible: Anna Karenina: Part V, Chapter 22Adriana@ClassicalQuesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06718229975590311860noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114017400123549331.post-30805047599502293542013-02-24T20:33:20.193-08:002013-02-24T20:33:20.193-08:00Excellent background, thanks!Excellent background, thanks!Timhttp://timfall.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114017400123549331.post-55496864662204300652013-02-24T19:14:34.018-08:002013-02-24T19:14:34.018-08:00For reference. This quote belongs with this post:
...For reference. This quote belongs with this post:<br /><br />"[Lydia Ivanovna] gave Aleksey Aleksandrovich moral support in the consciousness of her love and respect for him, and still more, as it was soothing for her to believe, in that she almost turned him to Christianity -- that is, from an indifferent and apathetic believer she turned him into an ardent and steadfast adherent of the new interpretation of Christian doctrine, which had been gaining ground of late in Petersburg. It was easy for Aleksey Aleksandrovich to believe in this teaching. Aleksey Aleksandrovich, like Lydia Ivanovna, and others who shared their views, was completely devoid of that depth of imaginative faculty, that spiritual faculty in virtue of which the conceptions evoked by the imagination become so vivid that they demand being brought into harmony with other conceptions, and with actual fact. He saw nothing impossible and inconceivable in the idea that death, though existing for unbelievers, did not exist for him, and that, as he was possessed of the most perfect faith, of the measure of which he was himself the judge, therefore there was no sin in his soul, and he was experiencing complete salvation here on earth.<br /><br />"It is true that the erroneousness and shallowness of the conception of his faith was dimly perceptible to Aleksey Aleksandrovich, and he knew that when, without the slightest idea that his forgiveness was the action of a higher power, he had surrendered directly to the feeling of forgiveness, he had felt more happiness than now when he was thinking every instant that Christ was in his heart, and that in signing official papers he was doing His will. But for Aleksey Aleksandrovich it was a necessity to think that way; it was such a necessity for him in his humiliation to have at least some elevation, however imaginary, from which, looked down upon by all, he could look down on others, that he clung to his mock salvation as if it were genuine."Adriana@ClassicalQuesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06718229975590311860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114017400123549331.post-5669847954648940332013-02-24T18:41:29.348-08:002013-02-24T18:41:29.348-08:00There is big question mark in my margin here! Thou...There is big question mark in my margin here! Though I haven't yet found the specifics, I do know that Russia was in the midst of a slow, painful process of modernization during this time. Tolstoy was skeptical about all Western influence on his culture. <br /><br />I added that paragraph about the "new mystical fervor" to this post at the last minute because I wanted to be true to Tolstoy's portrayal of this scene. <br /><br />The Countess Lydia Ivanovna is depicted as a shallow, overly dramatic, overly emotional woman. Though she urges Karenin to trust in Jesus, she also has her own designs on him. Desperate for support and friendship, He soon grants her the management of his household. Later, when Anna pleads for access to her son, the Countess manipulates Karenin into prohibiting Anna from seeing him. The Countess also tells Anna's son that his mother is dead to him.<br /><br />From this I get the impression that if there was a revival happening in St. Petersburg, Tolstoy wasn't thrilled about it.<br /><br />He later refers to Karenin's experience of "asking Christ in to his heart" as shallow and erroneous -- a "mock salvation."<br /><br />Anna Karenina has been referred to as Tolstoy's "spiritual autobiography". While reading it, I sometimes felt as though he was working through his spiritual questions and venting as he went along.<br />Adriana@ClassicalQuesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06718229975590311860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114017400123549331.post-61176855256023435252013-02-24T13:54:46.249-08:002013-02-24T13:54:46.249-08:00Now you've got me wondering about "that n...Now you've got me wondering about "that new mystical fervor which had lately gained ground in Petersburg". A revival in St. Petersburg? Was this historical, or something made up for the novel?Timhttp://timfall.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com