What Men Live By. Human existence in the world - Essay Example

........ ..... 07 April What Men Live By Each of the days brings in our life new experience and impressions. Trapped by current events, we can’t stop in the bustle of everyday routine and give thought to the spirit of our life. It’s not a secret that an average man prefers existence solely in the pursuit of material comfort; even so, humankind has been setting its mind on the moral sense of human life for centuries. Scientific achievements and technological progress changed our world beyond recognition: the level life of past generations seems for us as inexcusable wasting of time in changeable actuality.  Yet, everybody reflects upon one’s sense of values at least once in life. Our education and experience are the foremost factors governing our intellectual development and forming our unique attitude towards the world and other people. As the essential component of personal introspection, expanding the exalted tendency of human mind, the philosophical thesis, what men live by, never loses its topicality. The most outstanding examination of the subject, revealing the intensity of philosophical thought, was represented by the Russian Literature. Distinctive in its shape and unique in the diversity of its content, the Russian Literature always attracts readership with its lofty aspiring. Particularly, the most genial reflection of the belief in the exclusive spiritual mission of a human being refers to the samples of the Russian literature of the XIX century. The great affluence of the advanced ideas of social reconstruction from Western Europe along with the development of science and production had led to the generation of new philosophical thoughts, sometimes clashing with the norms of Christian moral acutely. The political situation in Russia, in which the development of the progressive literature sprang, was tough enough. Serfdom left its mark on all of the areas of Russian life. The reign and its censors suppressed any free speech and freethinking mercilessly. The greatest figures of the Russian literature were persecuted; many of them finished their lives tragically. The savagery of the feudal regime raised the discontent of peasant masses. A powerful democratic revolution had been maturing in Russia throughout the XIX century. The best examples of the Russian literature and art came into being on the crest of the democratic upsurge. They reflected the wrath of the oppressed serfs and poor folk indirectly or, sometimes, even directly. Literature played the leading role in the development of innovative ideas and political movements. It was the only sphere of social life that was able to express the progressive thought vigorously.  Despite of the raging censorship (in the reign of Nicolai I Russia was considered as a police state in general), the XIX century was called as the "Golden age" of the Russian Literature. Pushkin, Gogol, Lermontov, Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, and many other famous writers and poets created that time. The Russian literature expanded amazingly and brightly in the XIX century, taking one of the first places in European culture. The philosophical reflection of inner quest and the meaning of moral values in human life were the inevitable result of the social contradictions, which found response in the minds of the most progressive part of the Russian intelligentsia of the XIX century. The great Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy (1828 - 1910), who put the thesis What man live by in the title of his story, occupies the distinguished place among the leaders of the world culture. Tolstoy came from the highest nobility, but he refused the title and acted as the spokesman, who expressed the indignation of Russian peasants. After reading Tolstoy's What men live by, there are ambivalent feelings. It seems a bit unusual that being the representative of critical realism in literature, suddenly, the writer took the position of a preacher composing the story. Created mostly for folk’s reading and absorbed all of the beauty and simplicity of the Russian folk speech, What men live by fascinates with its fairy epic. Nevertheless, the story cannot withstand the attacks of the critics, who often disapprove the writer's retreat from the foundations of critical realism. As Dr. Mark noticed, “For my taste, Tolstoy’s story is a bit too didactic to be completely pleasing.” The main character, Simon, is described as the man of unbelievably strong faith and generosity. The author used the image of a poor shoemaker to reveal the inner purity of a simple man struggling for surviving in cruel earthly reality day after day.  Tolstoy expressed the idea that just Simon’s experience of suffering and humiliations gave him the ability to be imbued with the pain of a fellow creature in the person of Michael. From the trivial point of view, it seemed unrealistic enough that the indigent shoemaker could be possessed by the intention of helping to the stranger, who had appeared in the same distress. The image of shoemaker’s wife appears to be down-to-earth in her way of thinking mostly about the needs of her family. Nevertheless, ashamed by Simon, his wife takes the position of Christian humility and self-denial as well. Obviously, there is author’s endeavor to escape the collision between the inner purity of his characters and their natural wants, trying to find the solution of the conflict in the patience and self-renunciation of the heroes. Seeing just God’s blessing in Michael’s appearance in his home, Simon is perfect in his altruistic love to the stranger. Shoemaker’s generosity seems even surpassing the spiritual mightiness of Michael, the angel.  Tolstoy finds the clearance from the self-contradictions of his characters and their dissatisfaction with the life just in bringing Christian altruistic love in the world and self-devotion to other people for the general weal. Angel’s revelation in the end of the story proves Tolstoy’s point of view one more time, "I have now understood that though it seems to men that they live by care for themselves, in truth, it is love alone by which they live. He, who has love, is in God, and God is in him, for God is love" (XII). The idea of ??Christian love, bringing the grace of God as the reward for man’s patience, is the fundamental thought of Tolstoy’s story. The writer was sure of man’s ability to bring the light of divine love through the life as the only true way for a man to live by, despite of any trials and circumstances. Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821 -1881) had the very similar attitude towards the problem of the way of human existence in the world, «Only through pity, love and mercy can man be saved” (Magarshack XXVII). The artist of an enormous talent, Dostoevsky was a perspicacious controversial writer. He created the patterns of human suffering under the yoke of the ruling regime of that time. Rejecting revolution as the way of the solution of social problems, the writer had been involving in a bitter struggle against the ideas of democratic camp in Russia for many years. He was disappointed with the inhumane ideas of social outrage, which were promoted by revolutionaries. So, Dostoyevsky declared them as people, who were too far from the real needs of plebs and poor folk. The characters of Dostoyevsky’s stories are unparalleled with their extreme intensity. As well as Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky remained the adherent of the Christian virtues, imprinted in Bible and consisted in humility, patience, and profound belief in God’s Love and Absolution. Dostoevsky’s story The honest thief is penetrated with love and excruciating compassion for a human being in all of his expressions, as spiritual power as sinful weakness. The writer tries to protect the dignity of a simple-hearted person, never believing in “little man’s” ability to struggle for himself. The abject lamblike image of Emelyan Ilyitch awakes deep pity for his shiftlessness and humility for the destiny. The man of downtrodden dignity, nevertheless, he suffers a lot after stealing of Astafy Ivanovich’s breeches. Deep repentance torments Emelyan cruelly, bringing him to the agonizing conflict between his conscience and the shame of saying the truth. He punishes himself more than Astafy Ivanovich could expect, "In the morning, when I awoke, I found him (Emelyan) sleeping on the bare floor, wrapped up in his cloak; he felt his humiliation so strongly that he had no heart to go and lie down on the bed”( Magarshack 86). The remorse, which Emelyan experiences after the thievery, leads to his death, notwithstanding the kindness and generosity of Astafy Ivanovitch. In the image of Emelyan, Dostoyevsky revealed his own belief in the inner purity and the sense of absolute values in the nature even an abject man. From other side, Astafy Ivanovitch’s all-forgiveness enraptures with his humanity and generosity towards his fellow creature. He never gets square with Emelyan. Even suspecting his lie, Astafy Ivanovich continues taking care of his poor mate as before. The story impresses with the appealing description of deep mutual understanding between two people so rare to be find in actuality. As the unexceptionable anatomist of human soul, Dostoyevsky, once again, revealed the extreme degree of human generosity, which was able to overcome pride and the sense of sinfulness in a man.  Trying to approach the understanding of the divine part of human inwardness, the writer discovered the sparkles of God's love in the soul of every person, regardless of one’s visible imperfection. There is similarity in the main ideas of The honest thief and Tolstoy’s What men live by. Both stories are the kind of narrative, based on the idea of the imperishable importance of love and compassion in human life. Nevertheless, Dostoyevsky’s story seemed more realistic, depicturing the tragic destiny of the poor man, who got just the forgiveness of his mate before death, but not the God’s Absolution as Michael, the angel, from Tolstoy’s story. It brings to the conclusion; Dostoevsky along with Tolstoy saw the way of living for a man just by keeping God’s sacred laws as the requirement to remain the True Human Being on the Earth. Alexander Pushkin (1799 - 1837) is the greatest Russian genius, the creator of the poetic works of unsurpassable beauty and perfection. As an artist, he began his career, passing through the influence of romantic poetry. Being enriched with its artistic achievements, Pushkin rose to the high level of realism in the literature of the XIX century. As Timothy John Binyon noticed in Pushkin’s biography, citing the words of Dostoyevsky about the Russian poet, «In art at least, in artistic creation he (Pushkin) undeniably manifested this universality of the aspiration of Russian spirit” (540). Being a true noble man and a Russian patriot, the poet and writer honored dedication to the ideals of service for the benefit of Fatherland and Russian nation. Having used the artistic principles of Sir Walter Scott, Pushkin wrote The Captain's Daughter (1836), a historical novel with the classical clarity of plot and the depth of psychological characteristics of his heroes.  In The Captain’s Daughter Pushkin showed not only the spontaneous peasant movement, but its poetry, and its doom.  The ideals of honor and faithfulness, as the greatest virtues of human nature, are imbedded in the images of the main characters of the novel. The epigraph of the story is represented with a Russian proverb, “Watch over your honor while you are young" (Pushkin 1). The events of Pugachev’s rebellion are woven into the life story of a Russian nobleman, Peter Grinev. Described with the fair amount of realism, the events of the novel serve to reveal the inner world of Emelyan Pugachev, Peter Grinev and Maria Mironova, as men of courage, who are faithful for their moral certainty. They appreciate the same noble features in others, even in their enemies. Each of the characters goes through some trials, which test the strength of their creed. Grinev is reckoned among the best people by the author, because of his outstanding moral qualities rather than his social status. Despite of the inescapable difficulties and mistakes, Peter fulfilled the precept of his father to keep his dignity of a noble man since his youth. Grinev finds himself at the mercy of Pugachev many times. Nevertheless, even getting the protection of the fugitive Cossack, Peter never violates his military oath, including also the cases, when such a contact threatens his life. The hero never changes his moral certainty, and he never betrays the people, who depend on him. While Grinev's father spoke of honor, particularly, meaning the generous feature and the sense of duty of a nobleman and an officer, Grinev-son extended the concept of honor to its human and civil values. However, even the image of Emelyan Pugachev, the leader of rebels, despite of his unattractive role in the story, evokes deep respect, because of his devotion to his belief.  He stands up for the oppressed and bereaved people always, demonstrating the greatest features of generous nature. In contrast with Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky, Pushkin does not appreciate Christian humility. Just the other way about, his characters are the people of action, who never allow trampling on their dignity. But from other side, Pushkin’s conception of honor implied the same altruistic love as the most important quality in the range of human virtues, as well as it was exalted in the stories of the mentioned above writers. Pushkin’s attitude towards the subject of the way of human existence in the world is clear enough: honor, self-devotion to the highest moral values and absolute fairness what is men live by. Lofty ideals of unconditional love, compassion, and self-devotion, as the basic Christian virtues, were reflected in the best pieces of the Russian Literature of the “Golden Age”. Along with Bible, the masterpieces are the unique method of strengthening of man’s spirit, guiding it in the eternal quest of harmony and the true sense of human life. The literary works of Russian authors put an indelible imprint in the mind of everyone, who has ever discovered the treasury of their profound spirituality. For me, as for a writer, the theme, what men live by seems appealing with its deep philosophical meaning and inspiring impulse for creativity. The disclosing of the subject assists in the elicitation of the main contradictions of human nature. Absolute moral values are always drawn in the polemic, which may appear about the thesis. In my opinion, the sense of the values, as the kind of a spiritual lighthouse, ??does not allow a person to lose one’s integrity in the turbulent flow of life, regardless of the influence of reality, which provokes human mind to be focused on everyday routine more than indulging in some abstract musing about the unattainable inner perfection. From this point of view, the analysis of the paramount virtues as the guiding lines in man’s life is the inspirational impulse, being able to motivate a writer for creating the range of psychologically impressive images, which are unique with their spiritual impact on human mind. The Russian literature of the “Golden Age” is the vivid example of such creativity. As it was accurately noted by the Russian language and literature expert, author, and actor, Professor Andy Kaufman, «The works of Russian literature show us that, in art--and perhaps only in art--life's dualities can be made whole and impurities made perfect.” It is not superfluous to note the importance of studying of the theme what men live by for the formation of personal civil belief in the necessity of taking care of poor and bereaved members of society, because “there are many in the world, who are dying for a piece of bread, but there are many more dying for a little love" (Mother Teresa).  Making efforts to build and maintain the society, which is rooted in the ideals of humanism and democracy, it is primary to draw readers' attention to the most glaring examples of goodness, revealing the inexhaustible potential of human inner purity and ability to love.  Belonging to the fundamental philosophical issues, which go along with the spiritual development of a personality, the theme what men live by will be recalled in literature and art always, as far as there is no limit for human longing for individual perfection and improving of society.  Ceaseless struggle for spiritual purity and the inner maturing of a human is one of the main goals of the writer, who selects the thesis what men live by as the method of influence readers’ inwardness, purposing to clear their trivial mind from inner confusion and indifference to the suffering of fellow creatures.  Only the ability to live for others, bringing love and care in everyday life is the way to escape constant dissatisfaction and self- contradictions, never losing the deepest sense of human life on the Earth. Works Cited Binyon, T. J. Pushkin: A Biography. New York: Knopf, 2003 Print “Leo Tolstoy—What Men Live By”. A Noble Theme. Literature and Christianity Musing. Posted in Realism, Russian Literature by Dr. Mark, 16 February 2008 Web Magarshack, David. The Best Short Stories of Fyodor Dostoevsky. New York: The Modern Library, 2001 Print “Mother Teresa quotes”. www.goodreads.com, 4 April 2011 Web Pushkin, Alexander. The Captain's Daughter and Other Stories. Chamblee:Vintage Books, 1957 Print “The Great Russian Books and My Spiritual Quest: A Personal Reflection Essay by Professor Andy Kaufman.”  Enlightment through literature. Dr.Andy Kaufman personal wedsite. 2003 Web Tolstoy, Leo. What Men Live By. www.on-line-literature.com. 6 April 2011 Web Read More