Whose Fault?

Author: Herzen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: "Whose Fault Is It?" is one of the representative works of the famous 19th-century Russian writer Herzen. The author depicts a complex love story among three young men—noble Belitov, commoner intellectual Kruzhilovsky, and serf-born Lyubonika—using a unique approach, showcasing the severe conflict between love and the social morals of the time. Through the portrayal of this love tragedy and the people around the three young men, the novel exposes the cruelty and tyranny of the serf owners, reveals the miserable plight of the lower classes, and reflects the weakness and helplessness of intellectuals detached from the people. The portrayal of the noble youth Belitov enriches the gallery of "superfluous men" in Russian literature and makes the novel's anti-serfdom theme even more prominent.