Grade-11 (English) 1.3 God Sees the Truth But Waits- by Leo Tolstoy (Short Stories) Part-2

 Grade-11 (English)  1.3 God Sees the Truth But Waits- by Leo Tolstoy (Short Stories) Part-2

About the author…
Ø A Russian writer and a master of realistic fiction.
Ø He was born in a wealthy family.
Ø He was grown up by his elder brothers and relatives as his parents died when he was a child.
Ø After completion of his degree, he took military training and became an Army officer.
Ø He wrote his first novel “Childhood” (1852) which became a success.
Ø He is best known for his novels ‘War and Peace’(1859) and ‘Anna Karenina’(1877).
Ø He was also renown world figure as a moral and religious teacher.

Characters
1.     Ivan Dmitrich Aksionov: the protagonist-  a handsome young merchant who had 2 shops and a house who plans to visit the Nazhny Fair.
2.     His wife- the merchant’s beloved wife who dreamt of his cap and grey hair. She had small children with one at her breast. She also suspected on him regarding murder.
3.     A merchant- a person  with whom he had tea and  stayed in adjoining rooms of the inn.
4.     Two soldiers: the government officials who inquired and arrested him in the charge of  murder of the merchant and robbing his 20,000 rubbles with whom he shared the tea and night.
5.     Makar Semyonich: another merchant from Vladimir who was the real killer of the merchant.
6.     Soldiers of the Jail: who found tunnel and questioned about it to all prisoners.

About the story “God Sees the Truth but Waits” : Summary
Ø Tolstoy’s “God Sees the Truth but Waits” is a short story first published in 1872 is about the false conviction and imprisonment of a man for a murder he did not commit, and it takes the form of a parable for forgiveness.
—  In the Russian town of Vladimir, Ivan Dmitrich Aksionov lives as a successful merchant with his wife and young children. One summer, as Aksionov sets off for Nizhy Fair to sell his goods, Aksionov's wife warns him not to go, for she has had a nightmare in which he returned with grey hair. Aksionov laughs off her concern that the nightmare was a premotion (previous excitement) and interprets the dream as a sign of luck.
—  Halfway to the town, Aksionov encounters a fellow merchant, with whom he stops for the night at an inn. The men have tea together and sleep in adjoining rooms. Aksionov rises before dawn and sets off with his horses and coachman while the air is cool. After twenty-five miles, he stops to feed his horses.
—  During this break, two soldiers and an official arrive and begin questioning Aksionov about his relationship with the man he had tea with the night before. The merchant was found dead with his throat slit. Since the two rooms were next to each other, it seems only natural that Aksionov might know something. Aksionov trembles in fear when the official searches his belongings and removes a knife streaked with blood.
—  The men bind and arrest Aksionov. His wife visits him in jail and faints at the sight of him dressed as a criminal. He says they must petition the czar(Russian emperor), to which she says she has already tried to no avail(use/benefit) . She asks him if he committed the murder, and Aksionov weeps. If even his wife suspects him, he thinks after she leaves, then only God knows the truth and it is only to God that he should appeal.
—  He puts his faith in God and accepts his sentencing. He is sent to work in the Siberian mines. Over twenty-six years in Siberia, Aksionov transforms into a pious(sage) old man. His hair turns white, his beard grows long, he walks with difficulty, and he never laughs. He prays often and, among other prisoners, he develops a reputation as a meek and fair man.
—  One day a newly arrived inmate named Makar Semyonich, who is about the same age as Aksionov and from the same hometown, gives an account of what brought him to Siberia. He was suspected of stealing a horse when in reality he had only borrowed it. Nevertheless, he was convicted and imprisoned. The irony is that he had gotten away with doing something much worse earlier in his life.
—  Aksionov suspects the man is responsible for framing him. He questions Semyonich, who cryptically responds in a way that confirms Aksionov's suspicion.  After two weeks, unable to sleep, Aksionov takes a walk near the prison to discover Semyonich digging a tunnel under his sleeping shelf. Semyonich angrily offers Aksionov escape and threatens to kill him should he tell the authorities about the tunnel. Aksionov says Semyonich has already taken his life, and he shall do as God directs him.
—  Soldiers discover the tunnel the next day. The governor arrives to question prisoners, none of whom admit to knowing anything about the tunnel. After wrestling with his desire for vengeance,  Aksionov declines(refuses) to say what he knows about Semyonich's involvement, even if it means that he will be punished himself.
—  That night,  Aksionov is about to nod off (bend head) in his bunk when Semyonich sits down beside him. Semyonich bends over and whispers a plea for forgiveness. He confesses that it was he who killed the other merchant and stole his money; he then planted the knife so that Aksionov would become the suspect. He falls to his knees and begs for forgiveness, promising to confess to the crimes so that Aksionov will go free. The old man replies that his life is already over and he has nowhere to go.
—  At the sight of Semyonich's tears, Aksionov weeps himself. Semyonich begs again for forgiveness. Aksionov tells him that God will forgive him, and that perhaps he himself is a hundred times worse. Having said this, Aksionov feels a lightness enter his body. He no longer desires to go home or leave the prison; he wants only to die.
—  The story ends with Semyonich confessing to the governor. By the time the officials arrange Aksionov's release, Aksionov has already died.

Understanding the text…
a.     What bad habits did Aksionov have before his marriage?
Ø Drinking wine.
b.     What can be the meaning of his wife’s dream?
Ø The meaning of his wife’s dream can be bad omen which converted Aksionov’s hair grey as he took off his cap.
c.      Why did Aksionov think of killing himself?
Ø Aksionov had no desire to go home or leave prison as his life was already over. Therefore, he thought of killing himself.
d.     Why did Makar disclose that he had killed the merchant?
Ø Makar disclosed that he had killed the merchant because he realized his crime or guilty as  Aksionov declined to say his involvement in the tunnel making to the government even after everything was known to him.
e.     Why did not Aksionov wish to return to his family at the end of the story?
Ø Aksionov did not wish to return to his family at the end of the story because his life was already over and was very near to death.
a.     “Well, old man,” repeated the Governor, “tell the truth: who has been digging under the wall?”
        i.            Who is the old man? - Ivan Dmitrich Aksionov.
      ii.            Which truth is the speaker asking about? - the tunnel.
    iii.            Which wall does the speaker mean? - the wall of the prison.

b.     Describe Aksionov’s character.
            Character of Aksionov
Ø Aksionov is the protagonist of the story and a man who seems to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. He is unlucky, mentally strong, and religious. He is unlucky because he is sentenced to prison for 26 years for a murder that he did not commit. He is also mentally strong because he is able to endure many unfortunate events, such as losing his home and his business. Finally, he displays a strong religious devotion by growing closer to God during difficult times.

c.      What is the theme of the story?
Ø  The central idea or theme of the story “God Sees the Truth but Waits” is that-

 Forgiveness is the best form of revenge. 

Ø Aksionov lived with his wife and children in Vladimir. He decided to make a trip to the fair.  His wife tried to stop him because she had a bad dream. On his way, Aksionov met a merchant. But the merchant was killed. So the local police officer arrested and charged against Aksionov. He was sent to work in the mines of Siberia. He grew old there. Aksionov frequently prayed to God. Aksionov was respected by all the inmates due to his gentle behaviour.
Ø One day he met Makar Semeyonich.  Aksionov found out the truth that Makar was the real killer. He saved Makar from the officials, when he tried to escape. Eventually Makar admitted his crime. Aksionov forgave Makar.
Ø Thus forgiving Makar, Aksionov accepted the truth, attained self-realization and died in peace. Really Forgiveness is the best form of revenge.
Ø Furthermore,  we can say that Ivan lost everything after he is charged with murder and sent to prison in Siberia. He could have completely given up, but he instead leans on his faith with God. Thus, Faith in God is the best idea the story teaches to the readers.

d.     Which symbols are used in the story and what do they indicate?
        i.            ‘God Sees the Truth but Waits’- The title itself is symbolic. It represents God is almighty who punishes every criminals.
      ii.            Ivan Dmitrich Aksionov- Symbolizes a righteous person who has deep faith in God.
    iii.            His Wife’s dream- symbolizes bad omen that may take place in her husband’s  life.
   iv.            The merchant- represents innocent business man.
     v.            Two soldiers- symbolizes government officials who catch Aksionov in the charge of the murder and robbery.
   vi.            The governor- refers to high security or government officials who ask with the prisoners about the responsible person who digs the tunnel in the prison.
 vii.            Blood-stained knife- represents thing which proves Aksionov as guilty.
viii.            The Czar- indicates the emperor/ the king/supreme power of the nation 
    ix.            Semyonich- symbolizes antagonist in the story who realizes the fact at the end and confesses crime but it was too late at the time.
      x.            Aksionov’s faith in God-  symbolizes the real power of the god and a righteous man who leaves everything for the God to be happen.
           
Reference beyond the text…
a.     What role does religion play in Aksionov’s life? How does he undergo a spiritual transformation in the story?
Ø In the story “God Sees the Truth but Waits”, religion plays significant role in Aksionov’s life. Though he didn’t commit any crime, he was imprisoned for 26 years in the prison. At the time, he lost hope and just trusted God.
Ø When Makar revealed the truth that he was the real murderer, Aksionov forgave him for accepting the truth and attained self-realization. But when the order of his release came, Aksionov was already dead. The title means that every decisions of God needs enough time. This story is for all the people who loses hope and don’t believe in God. We should wait for the truth to win with a faith in God gives us the answer to all our problems, as the title says GOD SEES THE TRUTH BUT WAITS. At the end of the story there is a shift from materialism to spiritualism.

b.     What does the story tell us about the existence of unfair system of justice?
Ø Justice is a concept on ethics and law that means that people behave in a way that is fair, equal and balanced for everyone.
Ø But in the story, “God Sees the Truth but Waits”, the unfair system of justice is found as Aksionov is made culprit though he did not commit the crime. He was sent to prison for 26 years for the crime he had not committed which was revealed in the story by Makar at the end. Justice is to be acted being fair and just but it ruins the life of a middle class merchant and makes him away from his wife and small children one even at breast. Thus, the government should eradicate unfair system of justice from the nation for peace, prosperity, equality, fair, justice and equity.  Justice is to be given to all equally and it should be same in the eyes of poor or rich citizens.
 

Describe the life of Aksionov in prison.
·        Aksionov was imprisoned, since he was suspected for killing a merchant. But the actual murderer of the merchant was Semyonich. Even his wife suspected him for the murder. This thought made him even sadder. He gave up all hope and told himself that God only knew the truth. For twenty-six years as a convict in Siberia, he grew old. In prison, Aksionov learnt to make boots, and earned a little money with which he bought the book ‘The Lives of the Saints’. He used to read this book. On Sundays, in the prison-church he read the lessons and sang on the choir. The prison authorities liked him for his meekness. His fellow-prisoners respected and called him “Grandfather” and “The Saint.” He was the spokesman among the prisoners. After 26 years, Semyonich was imprisoned for his sin. Even if Aksionov realized Semyonich was the real murderer, he saved Semyonich from the Governor in an incident. Semyonich realized his mistake and confessed his guilt. But when the order of his release came, Aksionov was already dead.

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