Analysis, Summary, and Remarks of Resurrection by Lev Tolstoi

Hello lovely reader,

I know it has been a while since I posted my first (and also last) post, but I have been quite busy with myself the last weeks and I didn’t manage to blog- but here I am! And I have something really cool for you: our book club!

I am reading this awesome book: Resurrection by Tolstoi- and as I make some remarks as I read it, I thought it would be something nice and interesting to share with you- Lev is amazing! by the way: here I wrote some interesting facts about him, that you probably didn’t know

It works like this:

• a short summary of the chapter, followed by
• some comments and remarks I found interesting about it!

I would like to know what you think! Do you agree or disagree with my notes? Please do let me know! I am so curious about what you felt by reading the book, I am quite sure I am missing a lot of stuff!

Enjoy 🙂

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First Part

Chapter 1

It’s spring in Nijni Novgorod and three of those under arrest in the provincial prison are being taken to the tribunal: 1 man, 2 women.

One of the detainees is Maslova, one of our main characters: she is a crossed-eyed, beautiful and sensual young girl who is supposed to be the most dangerous criminal in this group of three, who by the way, didn’t have any hope in the trial whatsoever.

As she is being walked to the justice committee by two soldiers, she is being watched and judged by the peasants and citizens whose thoughts are as interesting as different:

• A lot of judging: “This is what happens when you have a bad behavior, a behavior that is different than mine”
• others were scared and horrified but they felt safe by seeing the two soldiers next to her knowing she couldn’t harm anybody anymore
• some felt sorry for her and gave her money

Maslova was enjoying the attention,  despite the circumstances, and the fresh air of April, very different than the one she was used in prison.

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Interpretation/Analysis

Since the very beginning, the juxtaposition of two different realities in the same paragraph or sentence appears. This seems to be one of the techniques Tolstoi liked to use while writing this novel. Here are 6 examples:

1. Since the very beginning, the collision starts: men trying to kill the characteristic upgrowing nature of spring (nature to be born / death)
2. nature is beautiful and making the kids happy – men cheat on one another and they only enjoy what they created to dominate each other (nature+happyness / human creation+stress)
3. it seems to be that the most important thing for men is their own laws forgetting nature and God
4. Maslova being presented as most beautiful and sexy but still with crossed-eyes, characteristic mostly known as unsightly.
5.  we see that Maslova is enjoying something I can barely imagine to enjoy: to be being walked to court and being judged by the witnesses in the streets.
6. in the last sentences of the chapter she sees a dove which starts flying very close to her ear as she sighs (freedom / being a prisoner)

This is all I found so far and I am pretty confident that this is just about to get better and to develop in a very unexpected way!

Again: did you read this book? are you reading it? If so, please share with me if you think I’m crazy! I find this very interesting and would enjoy some of your feedback!

Have a nice evening you schöner Mensch.