God Sees the Truth, But Waits
Encyclopedia
"God Sees the Truth, But Waits" is a short story
by Russia
n author Leo Tolstoy
first published in 1872. The story, about a man sent to prison for a murder he didn't commit, takes the form of a parable
of forgiveness. English translations were also published under titles "The Confessed Crime" and "Exiled to Siberia". The concept of the story of a man wrongfully accused of murder and banished to Siberia also appears in one of Tolstoy's previous works, "War and Peace", during a philosophical discussion among two characters who relate the story and argue how the protagonist of their story deals with injustice and fate.
. Although Aksenov is prone to drinking, he is not violent, and he is responsible and well liked by people that know him. One day he decides to go to a fair as a business venture, but his wife pleads for him not to go because of a nightmare
she had the previous night. Aksenov doesn't consider his wife's dream and leaves for the fair.
Aksenov meets another merchant on his way, and the two decide to travel together. They check into an inn and have a good time drinking, then they retire separately. Aksenov wakes early in the next morning to get to the fair and leaves without the other merchant. Not far down the road, Aksenov is stopped by some policemen. They explain a merchant was just murdered and robbed, and then they search Aksenov's bag. They find a bloody knife, and despite Aksenov's claims that he is not the murderer, he is sentenced and sent to Siberia
. After his trial flogging, his wife can finally visit him, and she sees that Aksenov's hair has begun to go gray from the stress.
Aksenov spends twenty-six years in Siberia, and, resigned to his fate, he dedicates his life to God. He becomes a mediator of sorts in the prison, and he is well respected by the other prisoners and also guards alike. One day some new prisoners, one of them being Makar Semyonich, are transferred to the prison. After overhearing several conversations, Aksenov is convinced that Makar Semyonich is the man who committed the murder for which Aksenov was blamed. Eventually Aksenov confronts Makar Semyonich, but he denies committing the murder.
One day the guards notice that someone had been strewing dirt around the grounds, and they search the prison and find a tunnel. Aksenov had found out earlier that it was Makar Semyonich that was digging the hole, but after being questioned by the police, Aksenov declares that it is not his place to speak about the matter. Makar Semyonich approaches Aksenov later that day in a terrible state, and he eventually admits to Aksenov that it was he who killed the merchant. Aksenov forgives Semyonich, and he feels as if a terrible weight had been lifted. Makar Semyonich confesses to the authorities, and the process for Aksenov to be cleared is begun. Unfortunately, Aksenov dies before he can reach home, but he dies in peace.
(1986) directed by Shyam Benegal
.
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n author Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy
Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy was a Russian writer who primarily wrote novels and short stories. Later in life, he also wrote plays and essays. His two most famous works, the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, are acknowledged as two of the greatest novels of all time and a pinnacle of realist...
first published in 1872. The story, about a man sent to prison for a murder he didn't commit, takes the form of a parable
Parable
A parable is a succinct story, in prose or verse, which illustrates one or more instructive principles, or lessons, or a normative principle. It differs from a fable in that fables use animals, plants, inanimate objects, and forces of nature as characters, while parables generally feature human...
of forgiveness. English translations were also published under titles "The Confessed Crime" and "Exiled to Siberia". The concept of the story of a man wrongfully accused of murder and banished to Siberia also appears in one of Tolstoy's previous works, "War and Peace", during a philosophical discussion among two characters who relate the story and argue how the protagonist of their story deals with injustice and fate.
Synopsis
Ivan Dmitrich Aksenov is a merchant living in a town in Russia, VladimirVladimir
Vladimir is a city and the administrative center of Vladimir Oblast, Russia, located on the Klyazma River, to the east of Moscow along the M7 motorway. Population:...
. Although Aksenov is prone to drinking, he is not violent, and he is responsible and well liked by people that know him. One day he decides to go to a fair as a business venture, but his wife pleads for him not to go because of a nightmare
Nightmare
A nightmare is an unpleasant dream that can cause a strong negative emotional response from the mind, typically fear or horror, but also despair, anxiety and great sadness. The dream may contain situations of danger, discomfort, psychological or physical terror...
she had the previous night. Aksenov doesn't consider his wife's dream and leaves for the fair.
Aksenov meets another merchant on his way, and the two decide to travel together. They check into an inn and have a good time drinking, then they retire separately. Aksenov wakes early in the next morning to get to the fair and leaves without the other merchant. Not far down the road, Aksenov is stopped by some policemen. They explain a merchant was just murdered and robbed, and then they search Aksenov's bag. They find a bloody knife, and despite Aksenov's claims that he is not the murderer, he is sentenced and sent to Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
. After his trial flogging, his wife can finally visit him, and she sees that Aksenov's hair has begun to go gray from the stress.
Aksenov spends twenty-six years in Siberia, and, resigned to his fate, he dedicates his life to God. He becomes a mediator of sorts in the prison, and he is well respected by the other prisoners and also guards alike. One day some new prisoners, one of them being Makar Semyonich, are transferred to the prison. After overhearing several conversations, Aksenov is convinced that Makar Semyonich is the man who committed the murder for which Aksenov was blamed. Eventually Aksenov confronts Makar Semyonich, but he denies committing the murder.
One day the guards notice that someone had been strewing dirt around the grounds, and they search the prison and find a tunnel. Aksenov had found out earlier that it was Makar Semyonich that was digging the hole, but after being questioned by the police, Aksenov declares that it is not his place to speak about the matter. Makar Semyonich approaches Aksenov later that day in a terrible state, and he eventually admits to Aksenov that it was he who killed the merchant. Aksenov forgives Semyonich, and he feels as if a terrible weight had been lifted. Makar Semyonich confesses to the authorities, and the process for Aksenov to be cleared is begun. Unfortunately, Aksenov dies before he can reach home, but he dies in peace.
Adaptations
It was adapted into television series, Katha SagarKatha Sagar
Katha Sagar was a popular Indian television series that aired on DD National in 1986. The series was directed by Shyam Benegal along with many renowned directors. The series featured a collection of stories by world famous short story writers such as Guy De Maupassant, Rabindranath Tagore, Leo...
(1986) directed by Shyam Benegal
Shyam Benegal
Shyam Benegal is a prolific Indian director and screenwriter. With his first four feature films Ankur , Nishant Manthan and Bhumika he created a new genre, which has now come to be called the "middle cinema" in India although he himself has expressed dislike in the term preferring his work to...
.