The Diary of a Superfluous Man, and Other Stories

The Diary of a Superfluous Man, and Other Stories

"In 'The Diary of a Superfluous Man,'" says one well-known Russian critic, "we have to deal with the end of the pathological process upon the body of Russian society. In Turgnieff's productions which followed it we have to deal with a crisis in Russian life, with the growth of a new order of things. Apart from the fundamental profundity of its tendency, the 'Diary' is extremely noteworthy for its artistic workmanship. In spite of a certain monotony of tone in its exposition, it produces a very strong impression by its abundance of poetical beauties, which are perfectly suited to the melancholy mood of the whole story... In creating his 'Superfluous Man' the author, evidently, aimed at making as powerful an impression as possible, and therefore employed the most brilliant pigments in depicting Tchulkatrin. He attained his object. Russian society started back in horror at this portrait of itself, which was somewhat distorted yet a good likeness, and in its strong excitement vigorously repelled all community with the sickly figure of Tchulkatrin. This horror showed that the time was ripe in Russian society for a different order of things,[Pg vi] that it was tired of inertness and was seeking a wider field of activity in which it might freely develop its real forces." Another critic, comparing the "Diary" with "Hamlet of Shshtchgry County," says that what the latter expressed with a convulsive laugh Tchulkatrin gave vent to in sickly, complaining shrieks, both productions being a bitter confession of moral impotence, of mental insolvency. "There is one passage in the 'Diary,'" he says, "whichespecially if one comes upon it after perusing all that precedes itit is impossible to read without a strong nervous shock, if not without tearsa passage which always has the same identical effect; and it contains the key to the comprehension of Turgnieff's relations toward Nature. It is the end of the 'Diary.' This passage is noteworthy. The predominant characteristic of Turgnieff's talent is here revealed in a particularly brilliant manner: a profound impregnation with Nature,an impregnation which reached the point almost of fusion with it. The breath of spring blows upon the reader, there is a scent of the upturned soil,and nowhere else, possibly save in that chapter of Tolsty's 'Youth,' which describes the removal of the double windows, and the reader is suddenly enveloped in the keen, fresh air of spring, is there anything which can be compared with this passage." Still another critic says: "The ironical analysis[Pg vii] of the moral feebleness of the Russian intellectual class, which constitutes the ruling motive of 'Hamlet of Shshtchgry County,' is converted into sickly complaint in 'The Diary of a Superfluous Man,' one of the most original and best-sustained of Turgnieff's stories, and one which is most profoundly imbued with feeling. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 41201
Author: Turgenev, Ivan Sergeevich
Release Date: Oct 27, 2012
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Translator: Hapgood, Isabel Florence, 1850-1928