6 actions of characters from books that we did not understand as children, but over the years everything became clear

We perceive many things from childhood differently when we become adults. This also applies to books that are reread in a completely different way at a new stage of life. We invite you to take a look at six actions of literary heroes that seemed strange or even shocking to us in childhood. But now we are beginning to understand their motives.

Why do we see the actions of classic heroes differently over time? Photo © Papik.pro

An official dies of fear after accidentally sneezing on a general. For children it looks ridiculous. But Chekhov in his story draws attention to the inhumanity of the bureaucratic machine, where a person becomes a hostage to his own fears and social status. The plot ridicules excessive respect for authority, which can become a real tragedy for a person with a sensitive soul.

How do the perceptions of literary characters change with age: why did Gerasim drown Mumu? Photo © Razrisyika.ru

Gerasim is a deaf-mute serf peasant living in conditions of complete dependence on his mistress. When she demands that his beloved dog Mumu be drowned, Gerasim first tries to hide the dog, but in the end the plan fails, and the hero is forced to carry out the lady’s order. As children, we saw this only as cruelty. It is now clear that this was an act of desperation. Gerasim understood that if he did not drown Mumu, then someone else would take care of the animal, perhaps deciding to deal with the dog more cruelly. This decision became an opportunity for Gerasim to preserve his humanity and at the same time, the most gentle way to free Mumu from potential tormentors.

How are the actions of literary heroes perceived by adults? Orest Kiprensky “Poor Liza”. Photo © Wikipedia

The plot of a young girl who commits suicide on her own after being betrayed by her lover seems overly dramatic in her youth. But, re-reading the story later, we see in it a reflection of the social norms and expectations of that time, when honor and reputation determined a person’s fate. Lisa saw death as the only way out of the situation of a “fallen” woman, which makes her story… tragic, but understandable.

Gerasim, Taras Bulba and others: how the understanding of the heroes’ actions changes with age. Photo © Papik.pro

In the story by N.V. Gogol’s “Taras Bulba” the main character kills his son, who betrayed the Cossacks for the sake of love for a Polish girl. This shocks the children, who do not understand how a father could raise his hand against his own child. Over time, we begin to see in this act not only a desperate adherence to the code of honor, but also the deep tragedy of the father, who lost his son spiritually even before his physical death. Gogol shows us how wartime and Cossack culture placed honor and loyalty above family ties. This is a demonstration of the extreme moral choices that people faced during historically difficult periods.

The deep meaning of the actions of the heroes of classical literature, which was incomprehensible in childhood: a characterization of Ilya Oblomov. Photo © Polymerh.ru

Ilya Ilyich Oblomov is a character who irritates many schoolchildren with his inaction and apathy towards life. Why didn’t he get up from his couch? However, an adult’s view may be different. Oblomov is not just a lazy person or a weakling. He is a symbol of the rejection of the vulgarity and corruption that took over the society of his time. His inaction and detachment from the world is not laziness, but rather an attempt to maintain his purity and honesty.