Tolstoys Three Hermits Essay -- essays research papers fc

Between 1875 and 1877, Leo Tolstoy, nobility by birth, wrote installments of Anna K benina. While report Anna K atomic number 18nina, he became obsessed with the heart and soul and purpose of life. This led Tolstoy to compose the es check out, My Confession, particularisation his agonizing religious and moral self-examination, published in 1882. He pr unity a nonher three years to the discovery of the meaning and purpose of life. At the close of the seven years of only non-fiction essays, Tolstoy resumed writing and publishing fictive works. However, he did write two more essays devoted to the meaning of life, What because Must We Do (1886) and The Kingdom of deity is Within You (1892). Tolstoy, in 1886 wrote a particularly intriguing tale of a bishop and three old men, The third Hermits, which reflects Tolstoys search for purpose and the meaning of life.The lead Hermits is a journey, both(prenominal) physical and spiritual, similar to Tolstoys faith journey. A bishop was sa iling from garden angelica to the Solovetsk Monastery, and on the same vessel were a number of pilgrims on their dash to visit the shrine at that place (Tolstoy, p. 1). The story goes on to say that a fisherman on board relayed the tale of the three hermits who expire on an island near where they currently were sailing. The Bishop becomes very curious, and insists upon meeting the hermits. The other pilgrims stand firm at the idea of stopping. The captain also objects and informs the bishop, The old men are not worth your pains. I have heard said that they are foolish old fellows, who understand nothing, and never speak a word, whatever more than the fish in the sea (Tolstoy, p.3). This passage makes an ironic point. The pilgrims move around to Solovetsk, home of a monastery considered one of the holy places in Russia, to pay homage and receive Gods favor, yet they are unwilling to charter from people close to God, much like the people of Tolstoys time, alike wrapped up in t he churchs doctrine to believe the way to God. Tolstoy wrote in Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand, a chapter of The Kingdom of God is Within You that Christians must aspire to the Kingdom of God, not the kingdoms of the world, meaning that the idols and relics of the church are worthless, people should instead visit God through meaningful prayer, good deeds, and work. The tale continues on to say, the cable was chop-chop let out, the anchor cast and the sails furled Then... ...rought to life in a fable. The Three Hermits span time in understanding the journey to the meaning of life. To this day, the puzzle never has been solved and may never be solved. In the immortal words of Tolstoy, If you are content with the old world, try to husband it, it is very sick and cannot hold out much longer. But if you cannot splay to live in everlasting dissonance between your beliefs and your life, thinking one thing and doing another, get out of the medieval witted sepulchers, a nd face your fears. I live on very well it is not easy (The Anarchist Library, p.1).Works CitedTolstoy, Leo. The Three Hermits. Democritus University of Thrace. 8 January 2000 .Leo Tolstoy. The Anarchist Library. 12 January 2000 .Forster, Stephen. The Gulags Archipelago. 12 January 2000 .Crosswalk.com Bible topic Tools. Crosswalk.com Network. 14 January 2000 .Tolstoy, Leo. World Book. Chicago World Book Inc., 1998.