Oblomov
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Oblomov
Ivan Goncharov
Literature
James Mustich
Jul 31, 2018
Goncharov’s novel, originally published serially, had such an effect in its time that it inspired a new Russian word: oblomovshchina, or “Oblomov-itis,” a fake clinical diagnosis of the paralysis of privilege. Although the book’s satire of Russian nobility is trenchant and funny, the author knows that his protagonist suffers from something more insidious than mere laziness, for Oblomov isn’t empty or corrupt: He’s intelligent, perceptive, and capable of deep friendship and passionate attachments. Indeed, the psychological inertia that Goncharov depicts, which seems to be strangely fostered by the very talents and advantages Oblomov possesses, retains its relevance today, and not just in terms of “couch potatoes.”
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roppenhe
Feb 18, 2019
Funny and sad - about the consequences of not quite fitting into your own times.
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