Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment is a psychological novel exploring crime and inner conflict. Was Raskolnikov’s choice justified? Can his crime be forgiven? Crime and Punishment Synopsis Raskolnikov, a young man living in an old boarding house in St. Petersburg, is contemplating murdering an old woman who runs a nearby pawnshop. However, he lacks the courage to carry out the...
What impact did Pushkin’s literature have on later writers?
Pushkin is a giant of Russian literature, and his works profoundly influenced subsequent writers. We examine how his literary legacy was inherited and developed. Studying Russian without reading Pushkin’s works is like entering Treasure Island and returning empty-handed. Thus, Pushkin is like a treasure island in Russian literature. His poetry and prose are that beautiful. Aleksandr...
What is the meaning of life and death learned from The Death of Ivan Ilyich?
In this blog post, I aim to deeply reflect on the essence of life and death through Leo Tolstoy’s ‘The Death of Ivan Ilyich’. I’ve wondered what I would do today if I knew I would die tomorrow. I worried about my parents. I should tell them I love them and thank them. The rest of my family and friends would be sad too. But the most pitiable person was me. Since I am the one who...
Why do we avoid talking about death and only grasp its meaning at life’s end?
In this blog post, we reflect on why we avoid talking about death and only grasp its meaning at life’s end. Facing Death Every human being will eventually face death. Death is as natural and inevitable as growing old. Yet in modern society, discussing death is often considered taboo, and people tend to avoid it intensely. When someone brings up death, most people react uncomfortably...
The Death of Ivan Ilyich (How Can We Find Meaning in Life?)
This blog post explores how we can find meaning in life through ‘The Death of Ivan Ilyich,’ focusing on regret and reflections on life. We all experience many regrets as we live our lives. We often think things like, “I wish I had studied harder for that exam…” or “I wish I had been kinder to my parents…” There is a fundamental difference between these two types of regret...