From: S1.MBM@isumvs.iastate.edu (michael mcdonald)
Subject: Re: Pancharathna Krithis (was Re: Some questions (was: MDR))
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 06:12:39 GMT

In article <LITERARY%92072907530118@UCF1VM.BITNET>,
Tim Johnson <PH408014@BROWNVM.BITNET> writes:
>>I would say, therefore, before we shall be able to truly
>>judge Levin's call to God and whether and whither it be
>>answerable, there must be among us at least one who has
xity!veI've been gonenforiweeks,aandnthisothreadsist*still* being spunn
>
ditIoffspect I have been unclear, since several people
>have given a similar sort of answer to my remarks on
>Levin - answers which lead me to believe I have been
>misinterpreted.
>
>  Thesis:  Levin is not an intellectual.
>  Supporting arguments:  apart from the others detailed,
>    I offered what *he* considered to be a reasoned approach
>    to God.  It is not a well reasoned approach, an intellectual
>    approach, but rather, as naomi pointed out, an intuitive
>    approach.  Similarly, in all rhetorical confrontations,
>    Levin relies on his intuition, and seems unable to approach
>    his answer strictly through reason.  (Other arguments
>    included the difficulty with which he grasped the procedure
>    of politics and wedding ceremonies, the contrast between
>    him and his fellows when engaged in a little rhetorical
>    sparring, and the slow, quiet and excessively deliberate
>    way he approached all interactions.  See also the struggle
>    he has with the incident in which Oblonsky sells off the
>    forest.  His intuition leads him straight, but he is unable
>    to express this to Oblonsky, and he this puts him in a
>    sour mood.  He blurts out his anger at Oblonsky after the
>    fact, but could not approach Oblonsky in a simple and
>    convincing manner to block the sale, or force a higher
>    price.  Vronsky, in Levin's shoes, would have easily demon-
>    strated to Oblonsky his ability to drive a harder bargain,
>    and likely maneuvered the buyer into completing the sale
>    more to Oblonsky's advantage.  If I need to add more to
>    this parenthetic digression, one can contrast Levin with
>    Prince Mishkin (or Alyosha).  These were more of the same
>    temperament than Ivan was, certainly, but despite their
>    thoughtful and considerate ways, they didn't seem to have
>    the same difficulties that Levin did.  Levin certainly
>    would never have handled the punks who came trying to
>    bully Mishkin out of his rubles in the way Mishkin did.
>    Though, in fairness, Levin would not likely have been
>    bullied into acquiescence, either.)
>
>  Thesis:  Dostoevsky is a deeper thinker than Tolstoy
>  Supporting argument:  the contrast between the discussions
>    about the nature and possible existence of God made by
>    Levin and those made by Ivan; both of whom likely echo
>    the author's thoughts on the matter.  Ivan goes beyond
>    the recognition of some "intuitive" sense of a Deity,
>    and goes on to the terrible and unanswerable question
>    about how a God of goodness can allow for a creation
>    such as we experience (in addition to the now stale
>    condemnation of the abuses of organized religion).
>    Levin, and by extension, Tolstoy, seems content to accept
>    all the rest, the omnis and the benevolant, Christ and
>    Kingdom Come, all on the basis of this intuitive sense
>    of "goodness" without addressing the terrible paradoxes
>    that arise from such a God in such a Universe.  (Additional
>    supporting arguments included Dostoevsky's ability to
>    get inside the head of characters in a way Tolstoy never
>    managed.  While Tolstoy made his characters act convincingly,
>    he couldn't, or, certainly, didn't provide the same insightful
>    and profound dissections of character which are such a central
>    part of Dostoevsky's fiction.)
>
>  Not A Thesis:  Levin's sense of God is invalid.
>
>  Does this make matters more clear?
>
>                                    -Tim