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Oblomov
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Oblomov - Week 3 - Part 2, Chapters 1 - 7
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Mod
Oblomov does admit that he has a problem and allows Stolz to take him out. He is further energized by love but it's not yet clear exactly how Olga feels about him. Maybe she is attracted to him precisely because he needs help and she thinks she can rescue him. It's unclear how Olga really feels about Stolz, if she really sees him just as a friend. She says she feels like his daughter, but Oblomov and Stolz are the same age.
Mod
Mod
It seems like it actually took very little to convince Oblomov to go out and even to go abroad (before he met Olga, anyway), but that Stolz was the only one who could get him to do it. I guess there's a lot of trust there since they grew up together.
I got the idea that Olga had been kind of overlooked by the men of her own age, in favor of the other ladies who "played the game" better, so I wasn't terribly surprised she was spending time with Stolz and Oblomov.
I think Robin might have a point, too. Olga has seen how Stolz has been taking care of Oblomov. Maybe she wanted to take over looking after him. And we've seen (and she's seen) that Oblomov has good qualities and, as long as she doesn't mind him being a worrier and lazy. Maybe she likes sensitive guys.
Mod
In this section, we learn about at least one good quality of Oblomov: He can't be phoney.
The difference between Oblomov and Stoltz is even more striking in their respective reactions toward the current society. When Stoltz takes it as is, psychologically – effortlessly, he moves within it as fish in the water with the major goal – to succeed; Oblomov, on the other hand, is harshly criticizing it, expressing almost physiological disgust to participate in its deeds and talks. I don’t know how to express it yet, but I think It’s more than just laziness. Maybe it’s a matter of values? Poorly or not so much, Oblomov, growing in his family estate, developed curtain set of ethical and aesthetical values, and he can’t (and does not want to - they're dear to him) just discard them in the face of St Petersburg society.
Oblomov went over to the dusty table, sat down and took a pen, dipped it into the ink stand, but there was no ink in it, looked around for some paper - but there was no paper either. LOL - this keeps on happening! I love it. But what does it mean? Is there any other (symbolic) meaning to the will to draft a document, but there are no means to do it...
Bigollo wrote: " Oblomov, on the other hand, is harshly criticizing it, expressing almost physiological disgust to participate in its deeds and talks. Maybe it’s a matter of values?..."Could it be anything other than his values? I am absolutely with him on these thoughts.
We feel nature resonate within us... without knowing we reach the creek and the fields... Sitting with nothing in your hands, perhaps only a handkerchief... Isn’t that what life is supposed to be? Stoltz does not agree with Oblomov’s view of what is important.
Today we call it “mindfulness” and there are even experts in it, who have studied it and can teach the unfortunate souls of the modern world how to practice, in case they are disconnected.
Gem wrote: "In this week's read, there are some changes in Oblomov's life due to a good friend and a girl. This week's read starts with a lot of background information about Stolz. What do you make of the em..."
I'd been told by many professors that this is a novel not to be missed, and several decades later, I've finallyt read it and loved it. I kept thinking of it as a sweet Russian novel.
There are a number of questions in the first message; I'll address the one regarding the differences in the way Stolz and Oblomov were raised. Oblomov was raised by an old elite family who really wanted to count on life being the same everyday. They sent Oblomov to a school run by Stolz's father, but kept him at home for any reason that might present itself--holidays, half-weeks, illness or pretend illness--just to keep him at home and safe from things they feared in the wider world. His father did nothing but pace back and forth across the rooms everyday. His mother babied Oblomov, did everything for him that the servants didn't do. The boy never had to put his own socks on. His mother emphasized the fear of the unknown outside of their home. The father had no interest in his estate beyond keeping it the same; money was tucked away in a box rather than invested; no repairs were ever done on the house as it aged, so the balcony falls down and is propped up by a plank. Oblomov learns helplessness in this family, learns to ignore basic upkeep of business/estate, and learns to fear the dangerous wider world. There is also a reliance on fantasy stories told to him, and from this he learns to amuse himself idly, and seems to expect everything will turn out. Stolz is thrown into the world by his father who wants the boy to learn survival, which he does. He learns business, the various trades his father takes him to see in action, the workings of the city, how to talk to people, rich and poor alike, and how to take hold of his life. Stolz learns the meaning of order and industry from his father; his mother is a softer person who would like to enjoy more of her son's company. Stolz becomes a well-rounded person with traits from both parents. He helps Oblomov because he understands how Russian people can be and has the knowledge to solve problems Oblomov ignores. Both nature and nurture are at work in the upbringing of these men.
Robin P wrote: " it's not yet clear exactly how Olga feels about him. Maybe she is attracted to him precisely because he needs help and she thinks she can rescue him s..."I was wondering about this too. Is he her charity-case? (Well, this is just a story, after all.) What does Oblomov have to give her? Did Stolz tell her about Oblomov’s values and is that what she is attracted to? Their personalities are alike.
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Oblomov’s slow realization of love and his reactions are so cute!
Mod
I think Oblomov is still an example the Russian ruling class in a world of serfdom, and Stolz an example of a new class believing in the developing capitalism. The abolition of serfdom was in 1861, diminishing the power if the landlords over the peasants. It was finally realized that Serfdom is bad fir the economy. Oblomov was published in 1859. I think the author gives us an idea about the problems with Serfdom. Oblomov himself seems to be aware of a lot of issues with the „leisure class“, but he is unable to act upon it (at least so far).At least Olga gets him out of his dreamworld. It will be interesting to see how this develops.
Mod
That's some great background, Detlef! So Oblomov will have to make some changes within a couple of years, whether he likes it or not (and we know changes are always a "not" for him, though I can see his introspective/philosophical side empathizing with his peasants if their plight is brought right under his nose).
Mod
I'm glad to read this. I adore the Russian authors but know precious little about the society and how the writings are commentary about what is happening at the time.
This week's read starts with a lot of background information about Stolz. What do you make of the emphasis on his half-German half-Russian parentage? Do you think the way they raised him was a more important factor in his development, or rather the ethnic makeup of his parents? In other words, the nature vs. nurture argument. Is his influence on Oblmov added to or hindered by the way Stolz was raised?
What do you make of Stolz's his mother's prejudice against Germans?
Stolz has a plan to rouse Oblomov, one in which Oblomov is resistant, do you think this plan is sound? Why or Why not? One of the elements in his plan was to get Oblomov to remember his passion for the things he (Oblomov) allowed to fall to the wayside. Why do you think that roused him when so many other arguments did not? When Slotz left to go to England, do you think he was subconsciously sabotaging his own plan?
Stolz introduces Oblomov to Olga and tells her good things about Oblomov. Given his physical appearance and how young and pretty she is, do you think it's realistic that she would be attracted to him? When Olga sang Oblomov felt alive for the first time in a long time. Why do you think Olga's singing affected him the way it did? Both Oblomov and Olga seem to struggle with the budding feelings that are developing, why do you think this is so?