Millionen; Der Tod des Iwan Lande: Zwei Novellen

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

60353

Title

Millionen; Der Tod des Iwan Lande: Zwei Novellen

Language

de

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A haunting psychological drama exploring the decay of the soul amidst opulence. Mishujew, a wealthy but tormented man, navigates a world of decadence while grappling with guilt over his relationships and the impending death of his friend Iwan Lande, who seeks spiritual redemption in the wilderness.

Summary up to 500 words

Michail Artsybashev's *Millionen; Der Tod des Iwan Lande* presents two contrasting novellas that explore the depths of human existence, morality, and the confrontation with death. The first story centers on Mishujew, a wealthy millionaire living in a city of excess. Amidst the vibrant chaos of the city garden, where music and crowds mask a profound emptiness, Mishujew feels deeply alienated. He views his wife, Maria Sergejewna, as a commodity and his friend Parchomenko as a crude opportunist. Mishujew is tormented by the moral corruption he believes his wealth imposes on everything it touches. He fears his wife will inevitably succumb to a man like Parchomenko, a prospect that fills him with disgust and self-loathing. His internal monologue reveals a man who feels his intellect and sensitivity are wasted on mere physical pleasure, yet he cannot escape his own baser instincts. He encounters the General's daughter, Njurotschka, and feels a pang of guilt regarding his promise to help her, fearing he will turn her into a mistress simply because of his riches. His friend Podgurski represents the unrepentant hedonist, offering Mishujew a stark contrast to his own tortured conscience. The second novella shifts focus to Iwan Lande, a man suffering from a mysterious, wasting illness. Initially, Lande is a figure of deep thought and spiritual yearning, discussing the nature of God and the universe with Marja Nikolajewna. He finds solace in nature, observing a bear and a hare with a sense of profound connection. However, as his physical condition deteriorates, his faith is tested. He visits his dying friend Ssemjonow, who has lost all hope and faith, believing that God is only relevant to the dead. Ssemjonow's despair and physical agony contrast sharply with Lande's lingering hope. As Lande succumbs to fever and delirium in a dark hut, he experiences visions of faces passing by and a sudden, blinding light that splits his life into past and present. He accepts his fate with a mixture of terror and peace. The story concludes with local peasants discovering his body in the forest. They are repulsed by the smell of decay but ultimately treat him with a strange, solemn reverence, crossing themselves before leaving him to the elements, highlighting the tension between the sacred and the grotesque in the face of death.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Classics
• Fiction