Just want to note that we should always end class by learning something Russian like a song or something. It's good to end on a good note. Not that anything about class is bad, but you know the subject matter in the book is sometimes intense with murders and duels and such.
Speaking of the duel. The way Zosima explained his reasoning to his friends about the duel reminded me of the way Alyosha explained the incident with the second captain and the money to Lise. They both seem to take responsibility for the events and interpret the actions of the other party involved. They seem to believe they can read the other party well enough to know how they would react even though they barely know them at all. I mean because they are important and well though of should they be allowed to act like they know what will happen? I'm not sure if there is anything here and I know the similarities with Ivan are more prominent, but when I read this I actually thought of Alyosha first.
Normally I get somewhat annoyed when we divert from the present happenings to go into a character description several sections long. This time I actually didn't mind so much. I'm still unsure of what the true purpose of Zosima is in this story other than being so high in the heart of Alyosha, but I was glad to get to know him better. I can't tell you how happy i am that we were told why Zosima bowed to Dmitry. Well we don't know what this terrible future for him is, but that was always at the back of my mind. Just one of those symbolic things that you are supposed to delve deep into and then slowly the realization develops. But no I couldn't figure it out. There is all this bowing going on anyways. Bowing and kissing.
People getting frisky in this book. Fiances kissing, brothers kissing, monks kissing floors... you name it it's getting kissed. It's almost acting as a connection of sorts. Like the brothers kissing. I know that Alyosha stole it from the Grand Inquisitor, but I kinda see it as Alyosha making a connection with a brother that was previously out of his reach. As if to seal that moment, that conversation they shared. It could not be denied. The same thing with Zosima. He kneeled and kissed the floor almost to seal his existence in this world. To make that final connection so that even if the people didn't know, the world God created knew. Not to make it trivial, but it's like when people write on desks or bathroom walls, "I was here," or, "so-and-so was here," only deeper. People want to be remembered.
Duels, bows, and kisses oh my!
Author: Katarina /
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
It is interesting that you mentioned that kissing was a way of sealing 'the deal' so to speak. I viewed it as an opening to what is to come. Alyosha kisses his brother to show that they will have a new relationship from here on out, and Zosima also kisses the floor as if to say, my new (eternal) life begins. In many cultures is is observed that kissing is a way of saying hello and/or goodbye. It is possible that they are meaning both when they perform the kisses. They could be saying goodbye to their old ways, and hello to their new adventures and beginnings.
That’s interesting to me that you believe Zosima kissed the floor in order to seal his existence. I feel like it is more because he loves the world. I think he just wants to show his love to the world. I don’t think Zosima is about being remembered. He seems more interested in spiritual things than things of this world to want to be remembered on Earth.
I think only Zosima will truly know the meaning of that kiss. For me, I would like to think the kiss could have been Zosima's way of greeting the afterlife. But we'll never know for sure.
Post a Comment