Resurrection
Summary
Published in 1899, Resurrection was Leo Tolstoy's final novel and a powerful indictment of the injustices in Russian society. The story follows a nobleman's journey of moral awakening as he seeks to atone for past misdeeds, exposing corruption in the legal system and Orthodox Church along the way. Though less renowned than Tolstoy's earlier masterpieces, Resurrection was hugely popular upon release and remains an important work exploring themes of redemption, morality, and social reform.
Plot
Resurrection begins when Prince Dmitri Nekhludov, a nobleman, is called for jury duty on a murder case. He recognizes the accused, a prostitute named Katusha, as a young woman he had seduced and abandoned years earlier. Overcome with guilt, Nekhludov realizes his actions led to Katusha's life of degradation. Despite her innocence, Katusha is convicted and sentenced to prison in Siberia.
Determined to make amends, Nekhludov follows Katusha into exile, planning to marry her. He visits her in prison, meets other inmates, and becomes aware of the widespread cruelty and injustice in the Russian penal system. As he attempts to help Katusha, Nekhludov undergoes a profound moral and spiritual transformation. He decides to give up his property, passing ownership to his peasants.
During their long journey to Siberia, Katusha falls in love with another man. Nekhludov, having achieved a level of personal redemption, gives the couple his blessing. He chooses to remain in the penal community, continuing his quest for spiritual renewal and social justice.
Themes
• Moral and spiritual redemption
• Critique of social injustice and inequality
• Hypocrisy of institutionalized religion
• Personal responsibility and conscience
• Transformative power of love and compassion
• Corruption of the justice system
• Class divides
Setting
Set in late 19th-century Russia, Resurrection unfolds against the backdrop of a society in transition. The novel portrays a nation grappling with the stark inequalities between its aristocratic elite and the impoverished masses. Tolstoy vividly depicts the contrast between the opulent lifestyles of the nobility and the harsh realities faced by peasants and prisoners.
The story primarily takes place in Moscow and St. Petersburg, centers of Russian power and culture. Tolstoy's narrative also extends to the rural countryside, where the protagonist owns an estate, providing a glimpse into the agrarian life that still dominated much of Russia. As the plot progresses, the setting shifts dramatically to the Siberian wilderness, where convicts are exiled.
Throughout the novel, Tolstoy paints a detailed picture of various institutions that shaped Russian society at the time. From courtrooms and prisons to churches and aristocratic salons, the author provides a panoramic view of a nation on the cusp of major social and political upheavals.
Characters
• Prince Dmitri Nekhludov: The protagonist, a wealthy nobleman who seeks redemption for his past misdeeds.
• Katerina Mikhailovna Maslova (Katusha): A maid turned prostitute and Nekhludov's former love interest, who is wrongly convicted of murder.
• Sophia Ivanovna: Nekhludov's aunt, who raised Katusha as her ward.
• Maria Ivanovna: Nekhludov's other aunt, who treated Katusha poorly.
• Missy Korchagin: Nekhludov's fiancée at the beginning of the novel.
• Toporov: A high-ranking government official, based on a real person.
• Simonson: A political prisoner who falls in love with Katusha during her exile.
• Kryltsov: Another political prisoner Nekhludov meets during his journey.
• Vera Bogodukhovsky: A revolutionary whom Nekhludov encounters in prison.
• Selenin: Nekhludov's childhood friend, now a prosecutor.
Quick facts
• Resurrection was Leo Tolstoy's last major work of fiction published in his lifetime.
• Tolstoy was inspired to write the novel after hearing about a real-life court case from his friend Anatoly Koni.
• The book's publication led to Tolstoy's excommunication from the Russian Orthodox Church in 1901.
• Tolstoy rushed to finish the novel to raise funds for the emigration of persecuted Dukhobors from Russia to Canada.
• The complete text was not published in Russia until 1936, long after Tolstoy's death.
• One of the characters, Toporov, is a caricature of a real Russian official named Konstantin Pobedonostsev.
• The novel explores Georgism, an economic philosophy Tolstoy strongly advocated late in life.
• Resurrection initially outsold Tolstoy's more famous works Anna Karenina and War and Peace.
• The novel has inspired numerous screen adaptations, most notably Samuel Goldwyn's 1934 film We Live Again starring Fredric March.
• Resurrection has been adapted into operas, including works by Franco Alfano and Tod Machover.
About the author
Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) was one of the most influential Russian writers of the 19th century. He is best known for his monumental novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, which are considered masterpieces of realist fiction. Tolstoy's works explored complex themes of morality, family, and social issues in Russian society with remarkable psychological insight and vivid characterization.
Beyond his literary achievements, Tolstoy was a prominent moral and religious thinker. In his later years, he developed a radical form of Christian anarchist philosophy that emphasized nonviolence, asceticism, and rejection of state and church authority. Tolstoy's ethical and spiritual ideas had a profound influence on figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., particularly his concept of nonviolent resistance.
Tolstoy came from an aristocratic background but grew increasingly critical of social inequality and injustice. He advocated for land reform, education for the peasantry, and simplified living. On his family estate of Yasnaya Polyana, he attempted to put his ideals into practice by opening schools for peasant children and laboring alongside the serfs. Tolstoy's unconventional beliefs and lifestyle choices often put him at odds with his family and Russian authorities.
Though he rejected many of his earlier works as frivolous, Tolstoy continued writing until the end of his life. His later fiction and essays focused heavily on moral and spiritual themes. Works like The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Resurrection powerfully convey Tolstoy's religious philosophy and critique of modern society. More than a century after his death, Tolstoy remains one of the most widely read and discussed authors in world literature, valued for both his artistic mastery and profound insights into the human condition.