Tolstoyism In Resurrection

Resurrection is a work with far-reaching significance. On the one hand, the novel exposes the evils and the decadent reactionary government, law and church system at that time, and is greater in depth and in breadth than any other work. On the other hand, it preaches the ideas of universal love, passive nonresistance to evil and moral self-perfection, which are known as Tolstoyism by people.Lenin highly praises Tolstoy's great literary achievements, and at the same time he also ruthlessly criticizes and bitterly satirizes Tolostoyism. In addition, many scholars think Tolstoyism is too pessimistic and should be completely rejected. But the author of this thesis thinks the complete denial of Tolstoyism is both impartial and biased, for it has some positive significance of its own. And new discoveries may be made when it is restudied today.Firstly, Tolstoyism's universal love is not never to be realized, although it is impossible to be achieved for the time being. Tolstoyism is simply a doctrine of life. With the development of the society and as time goes on, it will definitely become one of the most natural and simplest principles of life, just as we see the family, society, and country. Therefore, Tolstoyism's universal love, that is, loving all the human beings, is the same as the humanistic idea of "Our world will be better if everybody gives his love".Secondly, Tolstoyism's passive nonresistance to evil is not a purely negative concept, but an ideology closely related to hate and resistance. Tolstoy was not a man who was docile and obedient but a man who was always fighting with enthusiasm against evils. This can be seen from the fact that he made too many enemies in his life and from his book Resurrection, in which the resurrection of the two heroes is full of challenges, bitterness and sharp irony. Tolstoy is simply tired of using force, so he does not like a violent revolution. He believes that a violent revolution can overthrow an existing social system, but it can't eliminate social evils, just as imprisonment and punishment can not help those who have done wrong to realize and correct their wrong doings. To resist evils with evils is illogical and ineffective.Finally, the appearance of a theory, which can be used to judge a person's behavior, is one of the symbols of social progress. Tolstoy had always maintained moral self-perfection and moral management of the country. He objected to violence. In fact, his moral self-perfection is a process of self-improvement. Although there is a lot of Utopianism in it, moral self-perfection is not absolutely impossible. It is true that, there are very few people in true life who pursue moral self-perfection as Tolstoy did. However, the gap between reality and ideality makes his pursuit more valuable. The correct attitude should be admiration not ridicule. He had achieved the moral height of selflessness. This can be clearly seen from what he advocated. He advocated giving up land, private property and copyright of income. And he practiced what he advocated. He was in fierce conflict with his wife over the abandonment of private poverty. He left home in misery and died on the way. Tolstoy was not a giant of words and a dwarf of action. He was a man who practiced moral self-perfection sincerely. His pursuit of moral self-perfection is actually his thoughts of human value and human existence and concern of human fate and human suffering. If people have not moral pursuit, they will degenerate, thus being engulfed in the abyss of suffering.It can be said that Tolstoyism is the road sign of life given by Tolstoy after his deep reflections on life. Though it has its limitations at a certain historical stage, with the social and historical development and the progress of time, its positive significance will gradually show up and catch our attention, because of his concern over life and the ultimate goal of human spirit. It is prescription Tolstoy gave to solve social problems after he thought deeply about the ultimate question of mankind. Tolstoy's spirit and aspiration are also our modern values. The author of this thesis gives his personal opinions on Tolstoyism in Resurrection according to his understanding of Tolstoy, Resurrection and Tolstoy's belief.