By Korlenko.
This one was very unlike the others I've read so far. It doesn't deal with Russian life at all. Its about the last days of Socrates' life and his journey in the Underworld. Of course this is all a dream of his follower, Ctesippus, but its thought-provoking nonetheless.
Parts of it remind me of the Book of Job in the Old Testament. Where he questions God and gets an answer of epic proportions. And it also reminds of the saying "If you meet Buddha in the road, kill him" (I could be paraphrasing).
Socrates has the cajones to be dead and in front of the Olympians and still question their morality and divinity. He sees Truth as his ultimate goal, judge and deity. He doesn't let the magnificence of Zeus and his lightning and his rage veer him away from what he feels to be the righteous path. And by standing firm, he essentially unmakes the Olympians (or at least sends them away) and his glorified in the Truth, personified by the coming of the dawn. His fellow shade, Elpidias, is still willing to cling to what he is comfortable with. I wonder how many of us form our beliefs based on habit rather than the truth we feel within us? Ah... deep thoughts....
I am sure someone out there can analyze this more sensibly than I, but its almost 4am and I haven't slept yet and my nose is running. I'm going to bed now. I'll resume in a few hours.
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