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Oblomov
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Oblomov - Week 4) - Part 2, Chapters 8 - 12
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I see it differently. This part is not so much about Oblomov, but more about love, how it is full of changes, instabilities and uncertainties. It is brilliantly written (at least in my translation). We see what Olga saw in Ilya. She enjoyed bringing him to life and she had heard from Stolz how good he was.
When Ilya wrote his letter I could understand him and wondered if not Goncarov had this experience in his own life. It was heartbreaking. I was surprised at how this opened up for a new turning point in the relationship.
I expected there to be not much action in a novel about a person who does nothing, so I can't say there is disappointment there. However, I did expect to find Oblomov's inertness more entertaining than it is. As to his conversations with Olga about love and feelings, even if well-written they seem to amount to not much. Oblomov sure exercises his emotions way more than his body. He's such a drama king.I agree with Charlotte that Olga's attraction to Oblomov is because he is good but inert and she enjoys the challenge and accomplishment in "bringing him to life." Also, he appears to be able to afford his inertness, which helps. However, it still mystifies me how these feeling can serve as a basis for much of a relationship or much of a life. I guess I will see.
Charlotte wrote: "...When Ilya wrote his letter I could understand him and wondered if not Goncarov had this experience in his own life..."Interesting. I thought the same thing.. I felt that Oblomov's thoughts and feelings are so non-made-up that Goncharov must have written them off from somebody in real life, due to many subtle details - most likely from himself.
While reading this section, I was thinking, if even his letter had flaws, the general idea was right, and I was praying to Oblomov, "Stay away from Olga, you are sensitive and intelligent person and you should know yourself enough to realize that staying with Olga will ruin her life, or yours, or most likely both!" That was the camp I was cheering for, anyway. I wonder if anybody else had a similar emotion.. or opposite?
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Theirs is a sweet romance that would lead to a not so sweet marriage.
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As for the effect that Oblomov's laziness will have on their future life, I'm not sure what all the consequences will be. It might depend on the customs, and on how much money he has. Can he afford to pay someone to manage Oblomovka so that it runs smoothly, so that it would be less stress on him? (Since stress seems to overwhelm him and make him "lazier" - not exactly lazier, but more like he's paralyzed.) If that stress was off him, would he be lighthearted enough to enjoy his life and take Olga out for walks, and take her to the city sometimes (did Russia have "Petersburg seasons" like Victorian England had "London seasons," where all rich families moved to the city for a time)? If this is possible, maybe they could be happy. If not, probably not, since he'll eventually go back to his old ways, and (if this was socially acceptable) she would be running the estate. Is this something she would enjoy, or would she get burnt out?
Bigollo wrote: "the camp I was cheering for, anyway. I wonder if anybody else had a similar emotion.. or opposite? an..."Me too. I was alarmed by Olga’s more ambitious and less romantic attitude. I could follow poor Oblomov all the way and was sure they were over.
The parts before, during and after the letter were so full of feelings, doubts and diverging ideas. I feel like reading it all over again, to follow all the details and the drama once again.
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Maybe it is my modern mind, but I thought that Olga's sudden anxieties and overheating were responses to physical attraction without any outlet. It's unfortunate that both characters are so in thrall to Victorian ideals of chastity. Even kissing is too much. I was surprised that no one cared about them being alone together so much.
Did Olga's friends feel Oblomov was beneath her? He is a landed and educated gentleman, for what that is worth. And he was taking the trouble to shave and dress well for her.
Oblomov got his socks on wrong, and his shirt on inside out - what does this mean - does it have a symbolic meaning... LOL. I like these elements. I think the whole story should be read as a fantasy. I am usually very particular with a story being realistic and plausible, but I have abandoned those criteria with this book. I think Goncarov set the frame up for the sake of the content of story (a comment on society, love, etc.), saying “what if...”...
Robin P wrote: " I thought that Olga's sudden anxieties and overheating were responses to physical attraction without any outlet a..."I was just thinking the same... :)
Mod
The romance between Oblomov and Olga was sweet and also like a dream.
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I wondered about that too, but I wasn't sure if Goncharov actually wanted to "go there" and imply sexual tension.
It's interesting how, apparently, our personal life experiences, affect the view on Olga-Ilya relationship. Since long ago I developed this maxim for myself (and others to an extent): Do not try to change another person. It's not up to you. If you can't accept as a whole who (s)he is, stay away.
Cphe wrote: "Do you see the relationship as passionate? As a sustainable relationship."It could be. Depends on what they encounter from now on.
I am still apprehensive of what other impulses Olga might meet on her way and whether her ambitions will take flight.
Robin P wrote: " I thought that Olga's sudden anxieties and overheating were responses to physical attraction without any outlet a..... :)"I have just reread the passage and it definitely is! Actually very beautiful. How would a male author know this in such detail... And how would a woman at that time be so bold and describe it to him that way...
I think that Olga is somewhere between a girl having phantasies about a romantic relationship and playing with her and Oblomov,s feelings, and a maturing woman, knowing what she wants. It goes back an forth. She does not really believe in the constraints that society puts on her relationship with Oblomov. I am not sure where this is going, it depends how much she will mature. The anxieties and uncertainties of both of the characters are very well characterized by the author. Oblomov’s letter spells out a lot of truths, it is a last attempt to get his emotions under control and see things in a rational way. It does not work in the end.And, I agree, this whole section is beautifully written. I compared my translation to an older one. What a difference. This might make it difficult to get a real good idea what is going on for a lot of readers (maybe I am wrong, but I got the feeling when I read some of the comments). Oblomov is certainly becoming a different person, if this will be sustained and result in his shedding of his ongoing procrastination remains to be seen.
I forgot to mention in my previous post that this reminded me a little bit of Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin. What do you think?
Mod
The young and innocent woman with romantic notions fits.
Detlef wrote: "Let’s hope it does not end like this. https://youtube.com/watch?v=t02R0suV-..."
Sorry, I am chuckling over this. 😀
But did you mean it seriously?
It is very dramatic and the couple are singing their hearts out in agony, I don’t understand a word and I think about our poor Oblomov singing opera!
Not really seriously, but then again. Who knows...
I thought there were subtitles. Sorry
Detlef wrote: "I thought there were subtitles. Sorry"I watched another with subtitles now. Ugh, hope we will not witness such painful drama for Olga and Ilya.
I guess I put this up because my Russian friends are very partial to Russian literature and music. The emotions put on display here and in a lot of Russian literature and music are very dear to Russian people. Let’s think about that for a bit. Why? What is the difference in thinking here? We might think differently about Oblomov than Russians. Why is that? Oblomov is considered one of the pinnacles of Russian literature! Why? That’s really worth considering.
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I think Russian novel characters do go "through some very dramatic spaces" even while little seems to be happening, and often seem operatic. It reminds me that in a GR read of Dosty's The Idiot. I said this:"At the end, I could picture the novel as an opera, with great emotional singing in such epic scenes as: (SPOILERS)
(view spoiler)
I'm not sure how I would stage an Oblomov opera, though, but I haven't finished the book. As someone else said earlier, the first scene is easy to stage, with Oblomov in his bed as various people come in to visit.
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I felt that way about Oblomov's laziness. I hate putting things off, if there is a task at hand I want to get it done. His constant procrastination irks me.
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I've noticed this on multiple occasions. Sometimes Olga comes across as with those adolescent ideals and seems very immature. Other times she seems to be the adult in the relationship in spite of their 10 yearish difference in ages.
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I haven't read that book yet... it's on my tbr list. I think I need to get to it sooner rather than later.
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I know, I didn't participate. 😥
What purpose do you think the author has for Olga's aunt and the Baron? Are these characters just an aside to the story? Or do you think there is/will be something more important about them?
We learn a lot about how Oblomov and Olga feel for each other, love but also fear, trepidation, uncertainty. The love developed in these chapters but not much else happens. Do you think the author got "stuck" here? Is he still establishing the character of Oblomov? If you think he is still developing Oblomov, what do we know about the character now that we did not know in previous chapters?
As much as we learn about the relationship between Oblomov and Olga, Oblomov doesn't really accomplish anything. He reads, spends time with Olga, they take strolls, all of which are a vast improvement from the way he lived previously. However, he does not mind after his estate or even reply when a neighbor writes to him regarding putting a road in. Do you think his relationship with Olga will encourage him to get things done? Or are we going to see more of the same (him doing nothing of importance) going forward? What do you see happening with his business matters?