God Sees the Truth but Waits
Summary
Ivan Dmitrich Aksionov is a young merchant from the town of Vladimir who is accused of murdering and robbing a fellow merchant. The story begins with Aksionov preparing to travel to the Nizhny Fair, and his wife having a dream that foreshadows trouble. Aksionov meets a merchant he knows on the way to the fair and they stay at the same inn for the night. The next morning, Aksionov is stopped by an official who tells him that the other merchant has been found with his throat cut, and Aksionov is accused of the crime. Despite denying his guilt and providing an alibi, Aksionov is arrested and his possessions are searched, during which a blood-stained knife is found in his bag. Aksionov is sentenced to prison for the murder and spends 26 years in captivity before the real murderer, Semyonich, confesses to the crime. Aksionov is ultimately released and returns home, but is unable to reconnect with his family and dies shortly after his release.
The theme of the story is the idea of truth and justice, and how they can be elusive and difficult to attain, especially in the face of corruption and injustice. It also explores themes of faith, forgiveness, and the human capacity for resilience and hope in difficult circumstances.
Answer these questions.
a. What bad habits did Aksionov have before his marriage?
Before his marriage, Aksionov liked to drink and would become riotous when he drank too much.
b. What can be the meaning of his wife's dream?
The meaning of his wife's dream can be the bad fortune or unlock.
c. Why did Aksionov think of killing himself?
When Aksionov encountered the true murderer of the businessman, he had lost everything.He was also not receiving support from family members; he had been imprisoned for 26 years, and he felt he had grown old too fast. So he thought of killing himself.
d. Why did Makar disclose that he had killed the merchant?
Maker disclosed that he had killed the merchant because he realized his mistake and thought that he should not let others be punished for his crime. He did it out of sympathy for Aksionov.
e. Why doesn't Aksionov wish to return to his family at the end of the story?
Aksionov doesn't wish to return his family because his wife was dead, he didn't know about his children, and he lived in the name of God at the end of the story.
a. "Well, old man," repeated the Governor, "tell me the truth: who has been digging under the wall?"
i. Who is that old man?
The old man is Aksionov.
ii. Which truth is the speaker asking about?
The speaker is asking about the truth of digging an escape hole.
iii. Which wall does the speaker mean?
The speaker means the wall of the prison.
b. Describe Aksionov's character.
Aksionov is the protagonist of the story "God sees the truth but waits," written by Leo Tolstoy. He is a young merchant. He is a handsome, fair-haired, curly-headed fellow, full of fun, and very fond of singing. He used to drink a lot before marriage, but he changed and became a good man. He had virtuous qualities such as faith, forgiveness, freedom, and acceptance. His comfortable life is disrupted when he is framed for a murder he didn't commit and is sent to a Siberian prison camp. He earns a reputation as a good person among the prison officials and fellow prisoners. After finding himself imprisoned with the man who framed him, Aksionov is ready to kill himself. However, at the end of the story, he is able to forgive Semyonich. He dies shortly before the authorities order him to be released.
c. What is the theme of the story?
The theme of the story "God Sees the Truth, but Waits" by Leo Tolstoy is the consequences of wrongful conviction and the impact it can have on a person's life. The story follows Aksionov, a young merchant who is falsely accused and imprisoned for a murder he did not commit. Despite maintaining his innocence and being a model prisoner, Aksionov spends 26 years in prison, experiencing physical and emotional suffering, before the truth is finally revealed and he is granted freedom. The story highlights the injustice of the criminal justice system and the devastating effects it can have on an individual and their loved ones. It also explores themes of forgiveness and the power of faith in difficult circumstances.
d. Which symbols are used in the story and what do they indicate?
The most important symbols in this short story are Aksionov's house (and two shops) and the Siberian prison mine where he is sentenced to hard labor. His house and two shops represent his family, his material possessions, and his earthly affairs. The prison itself is a symbol of his suffering and his eventual spiritual transformation.
What role does religion play in Aksionov's life? How does he undergo a spiritual transformation in the story?
In the story, religion plays a significant role in Aksionov's life. Aksionov is a deeply religious man and throughout the story, he turns to God for strength and comfort.
At the beginning of the story, Aksionov is a normal man with no spiritual inclination. However, after he is falsely accused of murder and sent to a Siberian prison camp, he undergoes a spiritual transformation. In prison, Aksionov finds solace in his faith and begins to pray regularly. He finds meaning in his suffering and believes that God is testing him.
As the years pass, Aksionov becomes more and more devout, and his faith becomes the central focus of his life. He finds peace in his belief that God sees the truth and that everything happens for a reason.
In the end, Aksionov's faith sustains him through his long years in prison and helps him to find forgiveness and peace. His spiritual transformation serves as a reminder of the power of faith and the enduring human capacity for forgiveness and redemption.
What does the story tell us about the existence of unfair system of justice?
The story of "God Sees the Truth But Waits" by Leo Tolstoy highlights the existence of an unfair system of justice in which innocent people can be wrongly convicted and punished. Aksionov, the protagonist of the story, is falsely accused and imprisoned for a murder he did not commit. Despite his protests of innocence, he is unable to clear his name and is forced to serve a sentence of 26 years in a Siberian prison camp.
Throughout the story, Aksionov maintains his faith in God and turns to religion for comfort and guidance. He undergoes a spiritual transformation as he learns to forgive those who have wronged him and find peace in the face of his suffering.
The story serves as a commentary on the fallibility of the justice system and the inherent injustice of imprisoning an innocent man for such a long period of time. It also highlights the importance of faith and forgiveness in the face of difficult circumstances and the transformative power of suffering.