Abstract of Tolstoy’s RESURRECTION

Tolstoy is an outstanding writer , a philosopher and an excellent creator of the characters inhabiting the descriptions of their lives , depicting the pathetic situations prevailed in Russia in those days . He introduced the moral values and the love of God in his epic “Resurrection” as the ultimate solution for the reforming of vice that had deep rooted in the people. These preachings stand the times over. It is said that Mahatma Gandhi was inspired by writings of Tolstoy. If you read the novel , you cannot forget the characters -Katyusha Maslova and Nekhlyudov. Katyusha was born to a poor unmarried lady working in a dairy farm. In those days these maids , if they conceive, used to leave the new born babies to starve and die. But this baby was taken up by two maiden ladies, owners of a dairy farm, when one of them happened to see her. Katyusha Maslova, actually named as Katerina was thus brought up under the care of those maids and later worked as housemaid in their house. It so happens that on one day , Mr. Nekhlyudov, a prince , and nephew of the old ladies comes to spend some time with his aunts. He was attracted by the beauty of Katyusha and she falls in love with him. Nekhlyudov spends a day with her and leaves her. The story starts with a Court case where Nekhlyudov was on the Jury. There he recognizes Katyusha Maslova brought for trial for killing one Mr.Smelkov for money. Katyusha was sent out of the house of her godmothers when she was found to conceive after meeting Nekhlyudov. She suffers a lot trying to live like any normal lady but everywhere she encounters persons beginning to beset her and making amorous advances to seduce her. She reaches a brothel house where she spends time in orgies every night. She changes from one brothel to another thus living in this way for more than six years. At the instance of the mistress of a brothel house one day she goes to a hotel where Mr. Smelkov stays. It is alleged that Maslova poisoned him in the hotel for money. From here onwards her trials and turbulations are shared by the repenting Nekhlyudov . He tries to get her punishment reduced. But he was not successful. She was sent to Syberia as a prisoner. This was a capital punishment for the prisoners in those days. Nekhlyudov, sells away his properties and he also goes with the prisoners party. Katyusha first dislikes him when she was reminded of their first meet. She realises how she was wronged. But when she understands the struggles Nekhlyudov faced to get her punishment reduced, the property and the royal life that he renounced, she slowly finds a soft corner in her heart. Yet she refuses to live with him even when the term of punishment is reduced due to his efforts. She did not like to live with the haunting memory of her previous life. On the part of Nekhlyudov , first he feels it was he duty to uplift her from the pathetic life she is living to efface the memory of his sin. Later he admires his own remorse and feels self –admiration. When he understands that Katyusha did not like to live with him, he feels unwanted and ashamed. His concern now is shifted to the prisoners who are suffering in the prisons without any basic amenities. He thinks of the corrupt administration , the horrible life led by the prisoners, the silly reasons in many cases where people are imprisoned for no fault . He tries to find out philosophically what was the reason for all this. He feels that the people who preach morality and righteousness are really evil. Vicious men were trying to reform other vicious men and that too by using mechanical means. The persons in the profession of punishment and reformation of the guilty, themselves became corrupt and went on corrupting those whom they tormented. That is why things could not be set right. But still theorder in the society existed not because of these lawful criminals who judged and punished others, but because men still pitied and loved one another. Ultimately he finds his solace and also his goal from Bible. People should abide by the five laws of Bible preached by Christ- One that man should not kill and not even be angry with his fellow men. Secondly he should not commit adultery nor enjoy in the beauty of woman. If once he comes close with a woman he should not be faithless to her. The third is that man should not bind himself by oath. The fourth law is that man should forgive for any wrong done to him and should bear it humbly. He should not refuse service that is desired of him. The fifth one is that man should not hate his enemies but love them , help them and serve them. If man starts obeying these laws the kingdom of God will be established on earth. The message Tolstoy gives is very valuable even in these present day circumstances. Humanity existed only because of love and not hatred.