Chops Dow Tolstoy Character Analysis

Sergey lives in a collectivist society with cultural morals and values and he is constantly being reminded by his friends, his wife and other acquaintances that he must find a gravestone for his uncle (Tolstoy). Everyone in Sergey’s life sees his procrastination in this case to be wrong. The cook calls it sinful not to buy a headstone, and he threatens Sergey with the cultural supernatural belief by telling Sergey that Fyodor would come back and choke him if he did not find a headstone soon (Tolstoy). It is Sergey’s duty, not only as a loved one, but because he promised Fyodor his word and the only way his uncle’s soul may rest is if he is given a proper burial with a grave marker. Sergey eventually does complete the task with the motivation drawn from the constant pressure being placed on him by his community. Rather than allowing finances to dictate him keeping his promise, Sergey listens to the cook and rather than letting the expense stop him Sergey enters into the woods and chops …show more content…
The use of lessons such self sacrifice, responsibility, acceptance of our human shortcomings and physical limitations, and finding purpose in life, are all intended to be a model of how those who have experienced the death of another, can live their lives to its greatest potential. Tolstoy uses the examples in his writings as a way to convey his own beliefs and experiences for the betterment of humankind. The loss of loved ones we see in his characters like Sergey, or the change in life purpose like Olenin, or the confusion and fear in death are all emotions and experiences Tolstoy attempts to impart on his audience and provide insight before we reach that point in our own lives. Tolstoy continues to serve us through his literary works even after he has departed from this world. “The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity” -Tolstoy