With Zosima’s death a deep suffering and anguish gripped Alyosha’s soul. Alyosha wrestled with questions of why God would allow such disgrace upon a holy man, and he almost decided to go ruin himself at Grushenka’s. However, a twist of events results in Alyosha experiencing what the Christian tradition would call the ‘work of grace’ in his life. Although no earthshaking event occurs, Alyosha’s faith is restored. The fact that Alyosha hits rock bottom makes his experience of grace believable.
After Zosima’s dies, Alyosha couldn’t be any lower. He’s struggling with the grief of losing his close mentor, the questions from his brother Ivan, and the rivalry between his father and Dmitri. Alyosha goes with Rakitin to Grushenka’s, and it seems that he is about lose his faith. However, at Grushenka’s Alyosha shows her love and mercy, and she is deeply moved by his words. Grushenka pours out her heart to Alyosha, and his words bring her torment with her conscience but yet renewed hope. Somehow in talking with Grushenka, Alyosha begins to see his own struggle in a new light. Grushenka is about to forgive a man who wronged her, and Alyosha sees in that his need to forgive.
When Alyosha leaves Grushenka’s, he returns to the monastery and once again visits Zosima’s coffin. Tired and worn out, Alyosha considers the events of the day and tries to pray. As he is praying, Alyosha has a dream or vision of some sort, in which he has a vision of Zosima in heaven, enjoying a feast. Zosima tells Alyosha to do the work God gives him. Alyosha is greatly moved by this dream and when he awakens, he is filled with a new sense of purpose, faith, and love. Only when he “fell to the earth a weak youth” was he able to rise “up a fighter, steadfast for the rest of his life” (363).
Alyosha hit rock bottom, and only then was he truly able to turn his eyes upward to understand what it means to “touch other worlds.” Due to the personal characteristics and lack of a huge miracle, Alyosha’s experience of grace is believable. He did not hear a booming voice from God, but instead experienced despair and found in Grushenka the reminder of love and forgiveness he needed to open his own heart to God’s grace.
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Blog 02-06-08
With Zosima’s death a deep suffering and anguish gripped Alyosha’s soul. Alyosha wrestled with questions of why God would allow such disgrace upon a holy man, and he almost decided to go ruin himself at Grushenka’s. However, a twist of events results in Alyosha experiencing what the Christian tradition would call the ‘work of grace’ in his life. Although no earthshaking event occurs, Alyosha’s faith is restored. The fact that Alyosha hits rock bottom makes his experience of grace believable.
After Zosima’s dies, Alyosha couldn’t be any lower. He’s struggling with the grief of losing his close mentor, the questions from his brother Ivan, and the rivalry between his father and Dmitri. Alyosha goes with Rakitin to Grushenka’s, and it seems that he is about lose his faith. However, at Grushenka’s Alyosha shows her love and mercy, and she is deeply moved by his words. Grushenka pours out her heart to Alyosha, and his words bring her torment with her conscience but yet renewed hope. Somehow in talking with Grushenka, Alyosha begins to see his own struggle in a new light. Grushenka is about to forgive a man who wronged her, and Alyosha sees in that his need to forgive.
When Alyosha leaves Grushenka’s, he returns to the monastery and once again visits Zosima’s coffin. Tired and worn out, Alyosha considers the events of the day and tries to pray. As he is praying, Alyosha has a dream or vision of some sort, in which he has a vision of Zosima in heaven, enjoying a feast. Zosima tells Alyosha to do the work God gives him. Alyosha is greatly moved by this dream and when he awakens, he is filled with a new sense of purpose, faith, and love. Only when he “fell to the earth a weak youth” was he able to rise “up a fighter, steadfast for the rest of his life” (363).
Alyosha hit rock bottom, and only then was he truly able to turn his eyes upward to understand what it means to “touch other worlds.” Due to the personal characteristics and lack of a huge miracle, Alyosha’s experience of grace is believable. He did not hear a booming voice from God, but instead experienced despair and found in Grushenka the reminder of love and forgiveness he needed to open his own heart to God’s grace.
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