Oblomov - Week 6 - Part 4, Chapters 1 - 6

[Gem , Moderator]

This week's reading takes us forward a year where much has happened around Oblomov but he seems to be thoroughly content to remain the same.

His agent, Zatyorty, has indeed been swindling Oblomov. The narrative states, "In short, the information and the money received were satisfactory, and, seeing no need for going himself to the country, Oblomov was reassured on that score till the next year." What do you think will be the impetus that will finally force him to look after his own affairs at least to the point where he is not being cheated?

The relationship between Oblomov and the landlady has grown closer. Even though Oblomov joked about marrying her, "... the thought of love never entered his head..." and she, "... made no demands oh him, nor did she coax him to do anything." What do you make of this friendship/relationship (however you would label it)? They both seem to have their heads buried in the sand and are not viewing their lives with any reality. Do you think anything can develop between them this way? Or will something change? Will this arrangement fall apart the way Oblomov's relationship with Olga did?

Tarantyev & the landlady's brother, Matveyevich extend their scheming and cheating of Oblomov. An IOU from Oblomov to the landlady and another from the landlady to her brother seal the deal. We see that Oblomov, his servants, the landlady, and her children are all living hand to mouth down to the point where the landlady is pawning the last items she has of any value in order to make Oblomov comfortable because of the way she feels about him. How do you think he can sit by and watch what is happening and not take any action at all? It appears to me he is, maybe not maliciously or intentionally, using her. Do you see the same thing? How do you feel about this?

Stolz visits and is stunned to see the condition of Oblomov's surroundings. He also informs Oblomov that he and Olga have married. Oblomov seems genuinely happy for them, Olga especially. Stolz digs deeper into Oblomov's financial situation, including discussing the situation with the landlady. He knows something is not right. Do you think he is going to be able to unearth the situation in its entirety? Do you think whatever it is he finds will help Oblomov? If so will Oblomov finally start taking some responsibility for his own affairs?

[Rosemarie, Moderator]

Thank goodness for Stolz, since I don't think Oblomov will ever be able to look after his own affairs.

[Robin P, Moderator]

So the question is - what is love? Is it the churning, dramatic reversals that Oblomov suffered with Olga? Or is it the quiet devotion of the landlady? It certainly seems the latter makes a better match at this point in Oblomov's life. He doesn't seem to miss the intellectual discussions with Olga.

[Lori, Moderator]

Olga and Stolz seem like a good match; they are similar in a lot of ways.

It was a bit odd that Stolz assumed Olga couldn't really have loved Oblomov.

[Charlotte]

End of Chapter I:
Phew! I haven’t read anything so sensual in other contemporary authors, like the Victorians: the warm breath, the mortar, dripping holy lamp (holy s! :) ), the famous door and the whining hinges! (Wooh, I need a fan!)

[Charlotte]

Still at Chapter III:

About
The relationship between Oblomov and the landlady that has grown closer:

I don’t see their relationship as part of any life plans, I think it is just an intermezzo. I don’t read the book as having a definite plot, more as a string of paintings, moods.

[Robin P, Moderator]

Charlotte wrote: "Still at Chapter III:

About
The relationship between Oblomov and the landlady that has grown closer:

I don’t see their relationship as part of any life plans, I think it is just an intermezzo. I..."

I think you are right about the series of moods. I went ahead and finished the book and it does feel episodic rather than one plot-driven narrative.

[Detlef]

It seems to me that Oblomov genuinely wanted to escape his sedentary lifestyle, wanted to build a life with Olga. But he realized that this is way too stressful for him. The quiet devotion of the landlady seems to suit him much better. He will never be able to take care of his own affairs, he needs someone to make his life „comfortable“. Olga was not that person. Nobody (not even Stolz at times) seems to be really able to talk freely of their desires and innermost feelings. This is infuriating at times; but has so much changed since then? We think we are much more open these days, but there is still plenty of this going around.

[Robin P, Moderator]

Good point, there is a word in Japanese for young people who aren't in school or work and don't leave their homes. This may be a reaction to a culture of hard work and achievement. With Oblomov, he actually fit in fine with his original family and if he had stayed in the country might have been content doing nothing as his father did.