The Forged Coupon | Book Review

The whole story is revolved around a coupon which is forged by a kid, Mitya, who was persuaded by one his friend to repay the money which Mitya had borrowed from a some other friend. But he did not know that it will lead many people to commit the gravest of crime including murder.

This book as I found later, presents many of Tolstoy's own beliefs on good and evil, his moral preoccupations, and his view on Christianity. This was written in his last years of life, which makes it more insightful about what he thought in his dying years.

Its quite disturbing to understand from the book that how little desperate actions which seem harmless when committed, but later lead to crime of such heinous degrees. In the book we exposed to many characters which are morally sound at first but slowly and gradually they turn into raging monsters and descent into the abyss of depravity just because their circumstances. Good and evil is not that black and white situation where, good people do good since they want to, and evil ones do evil because they chosen it. Its not that straightforward, as its seems.

Talking specifically about book, it is relatively short novella, with the usual Tolstoy's way of dealing with questioning human nature more by characterization than the plot. The characters are realistic, we may relate them some way or other, and it is special achievement because of given short length of the book.

While writing these review I am stuck on Tolstoy's Anna Karenina right now, it might take more time to complete. But this short book can be referred to get used to Tolstoy and his writings.

Comments

Maqbool | Movie Review

Maqbool - 2003 Directed by : Vishal Bhardwaj Maqbool is a clever character study of a man's gradual descent from loyalty to betrayal; from respect to rage; from reason to madness; from life to eventual and tragic death. Vishal Bhardwaj's Maqbool is powerful adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth, which deals with themes of loyalty, betrayal, love, guilt and death. Set in underworld of Mumbai, Maqbool is realistic portrait of world of gangsters' and their psyche. It is oftentimes dark, serious, repressed and at unexpected times wickedly funny. Jahagir Khan aka Abba ji(Pankaj Kapoor with his Brando-esque mannerisms), is an aging don of Mumbai, who runs the crime world, with the help of his loyal lieutenant, Maqbool(Irrfan Khan) and Kaka, his loyal(underrated Piyush Mishra). Purohit and Pundit, are two utterly corrupt cops who help them fight their rivals(played charmingly by Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri respectively). They are film's charm and wit. ...

Has Babasaheb Ambedkar's Vision Come True?

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, fondly known as Babasaheb, remains an iconic figure in Indian history, celebrated for his relentless fight against social injustices and his pivotal role in framing the Indian Constitution. Soon India will mark the completion of 75th years of our constitution. It becomes imperative therefore, to scrutinize whether the dreams harmonised by Babasaheb have indeed been materialised or not. The present landscape of the country sees a resurgence of the ideas of Ambedkar for multiple reasons. And his ideas do supply a solid framework - still, for many of the contemporary issues, which even now seem insurmountable. Central to his philosophical vision for the country was the establishment of a society grounded in equality and justice. His work "Annihilation of Caste" remains a seminal treatise on the subject, where he critiques the rigid and dehumanizing caste hierarchies. For him, the exploitation of Dalits was the major problem that sprouted from this rigid caste ...

untitled

Lying as he is - Oblivious, on a dusty road of Fractured Earth, I see in him a look that is Not human. For he seems worried not About things he had not done Or regrets about his youth. Nor there is a choice, a hesitation, Etched into every fabric of his being. Amidst this burden of thoughts, These echoes of guilt and memories Like restless, unkind ghosts Haunts the corridors of my mind, There blooms an innocence, Like the fleeting grace of God, Unaware of his Purity. He being only a pup, afterall. Looking at him, it seems Universe revealed its secrets To me. But the world weeps Alone, still. ---------- SECOND VERSION Lying as he is - Oblivious, on a dusty road of Fractured Earth, I see in him a look that is Not human. For he seems worried not About things he had not done Or regrets about his Youth. Nor there is a choice, a hesitation, Etched int...

SUVISO

Search This Blog