Resurrection

Author: (Russian) Leo Tolstoy
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: Le Rouge et le Noir is a monumental work in 19th-century French and European literature. The novel revolves around the personal struggles and two love affairs of its protagonist, Julien, revealing the turbulent class battles during the Restoration period, reflecting the political darkness, corruption of the church, reactionary aristocracy, and the greed of the bourgeoisie. Julien's two love motivations ultimately stem from the desire for love and control, aiming to achieve his political goals. Through the literary figure of Julien, on one hand, the novel depicts the panic of the aristocracy and the petty bourgeoisie before the July Revolution in France, as they face the wave of the people's revolution; on the other hand, it portrays an ambitious individual emerging in a period of social upheaval,ing the life and happiness of the bourgeoisie. The novel's structure is rigorous and well-balanced, with concise and fluent language. The characters are closely tied to their environment, and the author excels at revealing the inner conflicts and fleeting changes in their thoughts and emotions, thereby highlighting their individual traits. This is the greatest artistic feature of the book. Leo Tolstoy, a prominent representative of 19th-century Russian critical realism, is best known for works such as War and Peace, Anna Karenina, and the Autobiographical Trilogy. This book is his masterpiece from his later years. Tolstoy makes the female protagonist, Katia Maslova, the central figure of the novel, focusing on shaping this artistic image, which has shone brightly in the gallery of literary figures in Russian and world literature. Katia Maslova is an ordinary commoner, a typical member of the Russian people. She embodies the simplicity, purity, and kindness of the lower classes, while also reflecting the arbitrary oppression and cruel persecution she suffers from an unreasonable society. Her story of blood and tears is a powerful indictment and merciless scolding of the ruling class. Resurrection is indeed a harrowing depiction of the suffering of the people. Here, Tolstoy raises sharp questions: How are the people's hardships caused? Who is to blame? How can the people live a better life? Additionally, the ending of Resurrection quotes extensively from the Bible, reflecting Tolstoy's late stance of completely rejecting the Tsarist regime and breaking away from the upper class. On the other hand, he was spiritually tormented and unable to find a way out, resorting to the solace of his long-standing religious contradictions in despair.