24 pages • 48 minutes read
Leo TolstoyGod Sees the Truth, but Waits
Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1872A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Literary Devices
Parable
A parable is a story—usually a short story—that presents a moral lesson at the end. Tolstoy’s “God Sees the Truth, but Waits” is generally interpreted as a parable about forgiveness. The story unfolds in the simple and straightforward style characteristic of parables, using the unjust conviction of Aksenov to teach a lesson on the divine source of all justice and forgiveness. Like many parables, it utilizes symbolism to elucidate its meaning: For instance, the dream of Aksenov’s wife foreshadows what will happen to Aksenov, and Aksenov’s physical transformation reflects the internal, spiritual transformation he undergoes while in Siberia. Tolstoy’s moral lesson becomes clear at the end of the parable. When Aksenov recognizes himself as a sinner and abandons his earthly attachment to his family, he is able to grasp that forgiveness comes from God alone.
Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition refers to the side-by-side comparison of opposing concepts or entities. Tolstoy’s story explores and reflects the central thematic juxtaposition of human judgment versus divine justice through various other juxtapositions. Thus, the flawed human judicial system bases itself upon appearances, while divine justice operates according to the truth. The police, the courts, and even Aksenov’s wife believe Aksenov to be guilty of murdering the merchant, but God alone knows that he did not do so. Also important is the juxtaposition of innocence and guilt. The innocence of Aksenov contrasts with the guilt of Makar, whose violent, remorseless character is a foil for the gentle, pious Aksenov. On a deeper level, the sinfulness of human beings is juxtaposed with the perfection of God, with Aksenov realizing at the end of the story that even he is a sinner (just like Makar) and that God alone is truly just and good.
Internal Conflict
Internal conflict is a literary element involving a struggle between two opposing forces in a single character. Tolstoy uses internal conflict to highlight the climax of Aksenov’s spiritual journey in “God Sees the Truth, but Waits.” When Aksenov comes to suspect that Makar was the man who actually committed the crime of which he was convicted, he becomes internally conflicted. He is consumed by anger and bitterness towards Makar, who caused him to lose everything he had in his previous life, and these feelings inspire in him a desire for revenge. Vengeance, however, is inconsistent with Aksenov’s devotion to God as the source of justice, truth, and mercy. In the end, Aksenov’s internal conflict is resolved when he lets go of his earthly attachments and acknowledges that only God can judge or forgive.
Catharsis
Catharsis, derived from the ancient Greek word meaning “cleansing” or “purging,” is a literary device involving an emotional release in which one achieves moral or spiritual renewal or liberation from anxiety. Both literary characters and the consumers of a literary work may experience catharsis.
In “God Sees the Truth, but Waits,” Aksenov achieves catharsis at the very end of the story—at the moment that marks the completion of his spiritual journey. When Makar begs Aksenov for his forgiveness, the two men weep together, “purging” their emotions. As soon as Aksenov proclaims that God will forgive Makar, his heart feels lightened and he can finally give up all earthly attachments, including his attachment to his family. In recognizing himself as a sinner and fully devoting himself to God, Aksenov is freed of all his negative emotions—his anger, his resentment, and his unhappiness—and longs only for death. The totality of Aksenov’s catharsis is punctuated by the fact that he dies shortly after achieving it, having made peace with himself and with his life.
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