"God Sees the Truth, but W

aits" ~.

Lucinda Kryter

T

his story by Tolstoi is different in many ways from those

of the present-day masters of the short story. There are

no stylistic innovations and no such fast pace and in-

tensity as are found in so many modern short stories. And

yet the story has that essence which makes it a great and

lasting short story.

It

has a simplicity and realism that, while

nothing like Hemingway's, is actually more effective in my

opinion. The reader doesn't have the feeling in this story of

any conscious and direct effort on the part of the author to

achieve simplicity through words or style. The emphasis here

is on the story to be told and the theme to be presented, not

on the manner in which this is achieved.

The story is written as a narration, just as someone might

tell it, and in somewhat formal language. In the first two

paragraphs we are told whom the story is about, where he

lives, what he does, what he looks like, something of his past

history and present status in life. The third paragraph pre-

pares us for the rest of the story and we proceed from there.

Thus, in three short paragraphs the author has given us the

description of the main character, has set the stage in terms of

place and circumstance, and the words of Aksionov's wife -

"Ivan Dmitrich, do 110t start today; I have had a bad dream

about you" - prepared us for the story to follow. This method

of presentation would be considered amateurish and lacking

in style or imagination if used by a present-day writer. Yet

I think this very straightforwardness contributes greatly to

the depth and sincerity of the story.

One factor is rather obviously omitted in the introductory

material - that of time. Perhaps this is done to emphasize

the. element of universality in the story. Much of To1stoi's

la?tIng popuarity is, of course, due to the fact that he dealt

with universality. It is almost as if To1stoi, instead of taking

a small, rather insignificant theme to fit the brevity of his

story, has broken off a small piece of a larger universal theme.

Aksionov sought vengeance against Makar Semzonich and

though he prayed for peace he could get none - he was un-

happy and wretched. Yet when his opportunity to wreak

vengeance came, he passed it by and forgave Makar - and

with forgiveness, peace came to him.

There is irony in the ending of the story. Makar. confesses