Goncharov - Oblomov

[bazarov]

After seeing name Oblomov on several places on this forum, I've searched for that book and I do not regret. Actually, I enjoyed it! :thumbs_up

After 150 quite boring pages, book became incredibly good and smart. End was something I expected it to be...

On several places I've seen that this book is about fall of man. I don't see how can that be; I see it as a fall of the stupidest character I've ever seen! His Oblomovism destroyed him totally.

What do you think about Olga? Could she or should she stay with Oblomov and make a man from him once and forever or do you approve her leaving poor Oblomov?

Stolz? Could he be more determined in decision to send Oblomov on trip and to his house, where anarchy ruled?

Is there a possibility that, considering Olga's history; Stolz maybe saw Oblomov as a threat? Maybe not Oblomov as him self, more Olga's feelings toward Oblomov?

Stolz once said something really interesting to Olga. He asked her who is her former love, and when she said it's Oblomov; he was shocked! Then she asked him: '' How is it possible for him to be your best friend and yet impossible that I love him?''
What do you think about that or have you experienced anything like that?

Sorry, couldn't find original quote :(

[Julian Koller]

very good novel, one of my top 15 Russian favorites. Once I have more free time I'll post my opinions/answers to your questions.

[Quark]

What do you think about Olga? Could she or should she stay with Oblomov and make a man from him once and forever or do you approve her leaving poor Oblomov?

Stolz? Could he be more determined in decision to send Oblomov on trip and to his house, where anarchy ruled?

Is there a possibility that, considering Olga's history; Stolz maybe saw Oblomov as a threat? Maybe not Oblomov as him self, more Olga's feelings toward Oblomov?

Stolz once said something really interesting to Olga. He asked her who is her former love, and when she said it's Oblomov; he was shocked! Then she asked him: '' How is it possible for him to be your best friend and yet impossible that I love him?''
What do you think about that or have you experienced anything like that?

Wow, you came out with a lot of questions. How can we approve of her leaving Oblomov? He's the protagonist, and we see everything from his perspective. I certainly wanted them to stay together. It was helping Oblomov get out of his sluggishness, and Olga appeared to really care for him. As for Stulz, I don't see him as acting selfishly and trying to get rid of Oblomov? For whatever reason, he was determined to try to improve Oblomov.

I can find pretty easy answers for those questions, but I think the real difficult one has to do with Oblomov's laziness. Do you think Oblomov refuses to act because he doesn't believe he's good enough for the world, or because he believes the world isn't good enough for him?

[Etienne]

After 150 quite boring pages, book became incredibly good and smart. End was something I expected it to be...

Really? I found the beginning extremely funny! 150 pages corresponds to the time he takes to finally get up from bed, is that it? I think it was also a vital part.


On several places I've seen that this book is about fall of man. I don't see how can that be; I see it as a fall of the stupidest character I've ever seen! His Oblomovism destroyed him totally.

I'm not sure about calling him stupid, I don't think he was meant to be portrayed as stupid so much as a lonely, tranquil and quiet dreamer.


Stolz once said something really interesting to Olga. He asked her who is her former love, and when she said it's Oblomov; he was shocked! Then she asked him: '' How is it possible for him to be your best friend and yet impossible that I love him?''
What do you think about that or have you experienced anything like that?

I think that's an interesting reflexion, but somewhat more appropriate to "platonic" loves, in my opinion...

[mortalterror]

I still have another hundred pages to go, but I had the opposite reaction to this book that the original poster had. I loved the first hundred and fifty pages. I thought I was in for a comedy the likes of which I'd never known, and was disappointed that it turned into a predictable love story, however well written.

[bazarov]

Wow, you came out with a lot of questions. How can we approve of her leaving Oblomov? He's the protagonist, and we see everything from his perspective. I certainly wanted them to stay together. It was helping Oblomov get out of his sluggishness, and Olga appeared to really care for him. As for Stulz, I don't see him as acting selfishly and trying to get rid of Oblomov? For whatever reason, he was determined to try to improve Oblomov.

Good story always make a lot of questions. :)
Considering his behavior, how would their marriage look like? With husband who is totally incompetent to take care at least for him self? What about Olga and kids? No, she realized it would be disaster and she left him. If he doesn't want to change anything in order of having happy future, then it really makes no sense. She would suffer even more and she didn't want that. She didn't ask nothing for herself, she just wanted him to make something from his life and be part of it.
Agree about Stolz; was just interested what others think about that.


I can find pretty easy answers for those questions, but I think the real difficult one has to do with Oblomov's laziness. Do you think Oblomov refuses to act because he doesn't believe he's good enough for the world, or because he believes the world isn't good enough for him?

Well, I doubt he ever even thought about that. World could be exact like he wanted it to be ( that would probably mean that the world wasn't good enough for him ), but maybe he was little afraid of failure so he just let life to take him. He made plans so it looks to me he had desire but he never made it real. Pity!


Really? I found the beginning extremely funny! 150 pages corresponds to the time he takes to finally get up from bed, is that it? I think it was also a vital part.
I'm not sure about calling him stupid, I don't think he was meant to be portrayed as stupid so much as a lonely, tranquil and quiet dreamer.



Yes, that's that part. Well, I've realized his ''problem'' in 50 pages, 100 more were little unnecessary.
Well, I didn't mean he is stupid like he is dumb; but his laziness, inertia and total iresponsibility for life forced me to call him stupid. Lonely and quiet dreamer? He wasn't lonely; with woman like Olga and friend like Stolz he really had everything and why would he dream when his dreams became real? But no, he let them go away... He had everything and then he choose not to have it. Yes, he was stupid! I really don't have understanding for that behavior.

[Etienne]

Lonely and quiet dreamer? He wasn't lonely; with woman like Olga and friend like Stolz he really had everything

That doesn't change the fact that he is a lonely person, he wouldn't stand many people, an intimacy with a few people is all he can do.


and why would he dream when his dreams became real?

Because he is a dreamer! And not a man of action, simply...


Yes, he was stupid! I really don't have understanding for that behavior.

Different characters, call him stupid, he called stupid people who did all kind of things for nothing... while HE slept, and was happy with it.

Of course the character is caricatural, and someone like him in real life would be quite a waste, but you have to look what's behind the caricature too.

[loe]

I really love this book, but I have to confess that reading it frightened me.
I'm/was also not a very active person and that narrative of wasting your life due to sluggishness woke me up.

I agree with bazarov. To leave Oblomov was the best Olga could do. She tried hard to help him out of his drowsiness but the will of Oblomov wasn't strong enough. And without a will of his own and an effort no friend was able to help.
You can't expect that others always take off your life so that you can stay in your own small world or so.

[Quark]

Well, I doubt he ever even thought about that. World could be exact like he wanted it to be ( that would probably mean that the world wasn't good enough for him ), but maybe he was little afraid of failure so he just let life to take him. He made plans so it looks to me he had desire but he never made it real. Pity!

No, Oblomov probably didn't think about it consciously, but he still may have been making decisions about the world and his place in it. The first seventy or so pages show how bleak the situation around Oblomov is. He may be refusing to participate in society because he doesn't think it will amount to anything. I'll admit this is a radically pro-Oblomov reading of the story, but I think Goncharov does leave room for this interpretation. After all, what is all of that stuff about Oblomov's good heart supposed to mean anyway? If Oblomov is genuinely kind-hearted and compassionate why would he spend all day in bed? Some part of it must be a criticism of society.

[bazarov]

He may be refusing to participate in society because he doesn't think it will amount to anything. I'll admit this is a radically pro-Oblomov reading of the story, but I think Goncharov does leave room for this interpretation. After all, what is all of that stuff about Oblomov's good heart supposed to mean anyway? If Oblomov is genuinely kind-hearted and compassionate why would he spend all day in bed? Some part of it must be a criticism of society.

You mean that even with participating, he couldn't find any joy in it? I could agree with that. He was good and smart, but had some other desires except normal social aspirations like money, status etc. He thought that his desires cannot be achieved so he decided to fail without even trying. Laying in bad and dreaming made him happy so I guess he rather stayed in bed without any intention of dealing with ugly environment; it was much easier. And yes, it must be criticism of society, especially of nobility.

Ettiene, sorry; my computer is dead so I can't come here whenever I want. I understand what you mean. So, does dreamer have to try to make his dreams real sometimes or he is achieving it just by dreaming? Where is the limes between dreams and reality? It's bit philosophical, but you like that!:D

[bazarov]

He may be refusing to participate in society because he doesn't think it will amount to anything. I'll admit this is a radically pro-Oblomov reading of the story, but I think Goncharov does leave room for this interpretation. After all, what is all of that stuff about Oblomov's good heart supposed to mean anyway? If Oblomov is genuinely kind-hearted and compassionate why would he spend all day in bed? Some part of it must be a criticism of society.

You mean that even with participating, he couldn't find any joy in it? I could agree with that. He was good and smart, but had some other desires except normal social aspirations like money, status etc. He thought that his desires cannot be achieved so he decided to fail without even trying. Laying in bad and dreaming made him happy so I guess he rather stayed in bed without any intention of dealing with ugly environment; it was much easier. And yes, it must be criticism of society, especially of nobility.

Ettiene, sorry; my computer is dead so I can't come here whenever I want. I understand what you mean. So, does dreamer have to try to make his dreams real sometimes or he is achieving it just by dreaming? Where is the limes between dreams and reality? It's bit philosophical, but you like that!:D