Resurrection: Lunyang Bookstore

Author: (Russian) Tolstoy
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Prince is a juror at the Moscow District Court. During a trial, he is presiding over a case involving two inn servants who allegedly murdered a prostitute for money. To his astonishment, he recognizes the distinctive eyes of the prostitute, Maslova, as those of Katya, the woman he had deeply loved in his youth. Memories of ten years ago flood his mind: he was a university student living in his aunt's estate during the summer, writing his thesis. Kind, passionate, idealistic, and enthusiastic about Western progressive ideas, he fell in love with Katya, the adopted daughter and maid in his aunt's household. They played and talked together, their relationship pure and innocent. Three years later, after graduating from university, joined the Guards, passed through his aunt's estate, and met Katya again. Amid the solemn atmosphere of Easter, he gazed at her slender figure in a white dress, her flushed cheeks, and her dark, slightly slanted eyes, reliving the joy of pure love. However, after that, worldly notions and desires took over. On the eve of his departure, he took advantage of Katya and abandoned her. Later, when he heard she had fallen into depravity, he completely forgot about her. Now, he realizes his guilt, his conscience tormented, but he fears being recognized by Maslova and exposed in public, his thoughts in turmoil. The other judges and jurors were also absent-minded, offering empty discussions, and the verdict was a wrongful conviction: Maslova was sentenced to four years of hard labor in Siberia. When realizes the consequences of their negligence and sees Maslova weeping and shouting her innocence, he resolves to seek help from the court president and a lawyer to rectify the situation. The renowned lawyer advises him to appeal. With mixed emotions, attends a banquet at Misha's (believed to be his fiancée) home, a place that usually brings him comfort with its luxury and elegance. But today, he seems to see through everyone's true nature, finding everything repulsive: General Korchagin's arrogance, Misha's eagerness to marry, and the Countess's pretense. He makes an excuse to leave early. Upon returning home, he begins to reflect, undergoes "soul purification," and discovers that both he and those around him are "shameful and loathsome." His mother's behavior in life, his relationship with the wife of the nobleman, his opposition to private land ownership yet inheriting his mother's estate to squander—everything happened after he committed the crime against Katya. He decides to change his entire life and the next day announces to the steward: "Pack your belongings, dismiss the servants, and move out of this large house."
visits Maslova in prison, asking about their child. She is initially surprised but unwilling to touch the wound, replying briefly and treating him as a means to an end, asking for ten rubles for tobacco and alcohol to numb herself. On his second visit, he expresses his desire to atone and even proposes marriage. Katya responds with bitter accusation: "You exploited me in this life, and now you want to use me in the next to save yourself!" Later, helps her fellow prisoners and improves her situation, and she also gives up smoking and drinking, striving to better herself. redistributes land and travels to St. Petersburg's elite circles, but the appeal is still rejected. He has no choice but to petition the Tsar and immediately returns to Moscow, preparing to follow Katya to Siberia. Along the way, Katya is deeply moved by the noble sentiments of the political prisoners and forgives. For his happiness, she agrees to marry Simonson, who respects and cares for her. also finds inspiration in the Bible: "Humans should love one another and not hate each other."