The obedience and binding nature of the institution of elders is surrounded by controversy. Many claim that the elders are granted too much unlimited power. When one entrusts his soul to an elder, he is never free from obedience to his elder, unless that particular elder frees him. The persecution of the institution of elders involves the binding nature of obedience to elders and the sometimes-resulting satanic pride.
Zosima is depicted as an old, feeble, weak man, inflicted with some kind of sickness. The very fact that Alyosha has such high respect for him creates in the reader a positive link to Zosima. The narrator describes Zosima saying, “No doubt he struck Alyosha by some special quality of his soul,” (p29). From the people’s perspective, Zosima is almost some type of savior. He is viewed as a saint and a “keeper of God’s truth,” (p30). When Zosima meets with Fyodor and the others, the narrator portrays Zosima to reveal antipathy toward Fyodor. Instead of chewing out Fyodor for his irreverent behavior, Zosima earnestly begs Fyodor not to worry or be uncomfortable. Clearly, however, Fyodor’s actions, outbursts, and speeches thus far reveal he is completely at home and not at all concerned with showing the elder respect and reverence. The replies that Zosima gives to Fyodor are so kind they seem to be sarcastic. It is not that Zosima blatantly directs disgust towards Zosima, but that his words carry a degree of sarcastic antipathy.
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The obedience and binding nature of the institution of elders is surrounded by controversy. Many claim that the elders are granted too much unlimited power. When one entrusts his soul to an elder, he is never free from obedience to his elder, unless that particular elder frees him. The persecution of the institution of elders involves the binding nature of obedience to elders and the sometimes-resulting satanic pride.
Zosima is depicted as an old, feeble, weak man, inflicted with some kind of sickness. The very fact that Alyosha has such high respect for him creates in the reader a positive link to Zosima. The narrator describes Zosima saying, “No doubt he struck Alyosha by some special quality of his soul,” (p29). From the people’s perspective, Zosima is almost some type of savior. He is viewed as a saint and a “keeper of God’s truth,” (p30). When Zosima meets with Fyodor and the others, the narrator portrays Zosima to reveal antipathy toward Fyodor. Instead of chewing out Fyodor for his irreverent behavior, Zosima earnestly begs Fyodor not to worry or be uncomfortable. Clearly, however, Fyodor’s actions, outbursts, and speeches thus far reveal he is completely at home and not at all concerned with showing the elder respect and reverence. The replies that Zosima gives to Fyodor are so kind they seem to be sarcastic. It is not that Zosima blatantly directs disgust towards Zosima, but that his words carry a degree of sarcastic antipathy.
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