Can someone lose their faith? If so, what does that look like? After Zosima’s death a great change occurs in Alyosha. It is almost as if he has lost his faith. However, I do not think he has lost his faith completely. He is simultaneously wrestling with Zosima’s death, Ivan’s questions, Dmitri’s life, and uncertainties of his own life.
Zosima passes away and something happens to everyone’s amazement. This supposedly holy man’s deceased body produces a horrendous odor as it lays in an open coffin. Those who envied Zosima or simply disliked him point to the odor as proof of his corruptness and sin. Many bring accusations against Zosima, commenting that God’s judgment is not the same as God’s judgment.
Alyosha is greatly troubled by Zosima’s death and the issue of the stench. The one being that Alyosha had lived to please and learn everything from was being degraded and accused. Alyosha wants justice. Why did God allow this to happen? Alyosha feels questions stirring within him, and he begins to listen to thoughts from his conversation with Ivan the day before.
As doubts creep upon him, Rakitin approaches Alyosha. Rakitin asks Alyosha what’s wrong and when Alyosha snaps back at Rakitin, Rakitin recognizes a change in Alyosha. As Rakitin questions and prods Alyosha, Alyosha proclaims that he still believes and will believe, yet he does not accept this world. At this point it seems to be that Alyosha is just struggling with the grief of losing his mentor and questions of his discussion with Ivan.
However, when Rakitin invites Alyosha to a sausage, to vodka, and then to Grushenka’s, and Alyosha accepts all three, it is evident that a major transformation is taking place within Alyosha. Alyosha does not seem to care. It appears that his doubts, questions, and griefs are so great that he cannot bear to face them. I would conclude that Alyosha has not lost his faith but he has started to lose his faith.
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Blog 02-05-08
Can someone lose their faith? If so, what does that look like? After Zosima’s death a great change occurs in Alyosha. It is almost as if he has lost his faith. However, I do not think he has lost his faith completely. He is simultaneously wrestling with Zosima’s death, Ivan’s questions, Dmitri’s life, and uncertainties of his own life.
Zosima passes away and something happens to everyone’s amazement. This supposedly holy man’s deceased body produces a horrendous odor as it lays in an open coffin. Those who envied Zosima or simply disliked him point to the odor as proof of his corruptness and sin. Many bring accusations against Zosima, commenting that God’s judgment is not the same as God’s judgment.
Alyosha is greatly troubled by Zosima’s death and the issue of the stench. The one being that Alyosha had lived to please and learn everything from was being degraded and accused. Alyosha wants justice. Why did God allow this to happen? Alyosha feels questions stirring within him, and he begins to listen to thoughts from his conversation with Ivan the day before.
As doubts creep upon him, Rakitin approaches Alyosha. Rakitin asks Alyosha what’s wrong and when Alyosha snaps back at Rakitin, Rakitin recognizes a change in Alyosha. As Rakitin questions and prods Alyosha, Alyosha proclaims that he still believes and will believe, yet he does not accept this world. At this point it seems to be that Alyosha is just struggling with the grief of losing his mentor and questions of his discussion with Ivan.
However, when Rakitin invites Alyosha to a sausage, to vodka, and then to Grushenka’s, and Alyosha accepts all three, it is evident that a major transformation is taking place within Alyosha. Alyosha does not seem to care. It appears that his doubts, questions, and griefs are so great that he cannot bear to face them. I would conclude that Alyosha has not lost his faith but he has started to lose his faith.
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