Resurrection ends with yet another moment of startling insight for Nekhlyudov, and a promise of more to come: How this new chapter of his life will end, the future will show. Tolstoy didn't make good on this particular promise, but it's the perfect ending as we sense that this is what Nekhlyudov/Tolstoy will keep doing for the rest of his life - discovering answers that call into question the whole of his existence, and then find out that as answers they are inadequate to the complexity of the human condition. Isn't this just what Pierre does, and Levin?
The final sections of the novel were superb, by the way; they have an almost hallucinogenic power rare in Tolstoy - much more like something out of Dostoyevsky.
And as Ramadhan comes to a close I'm reminded of the fact that it represents the possibility of a new beginning, but one grounded in the practicalities of life moving on in largely the same old way. You change, but gradually, imperceptibly. And when you stop changing I guess that's a sign things have pretty much come to an end for you.
It must be strange to arrive.
2 comments:
Hello, Mr Connor! Eid Mubarak / Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to you! :)
Terima Kasih, banyak, banyak!
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