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A review by milami
Diary of a Superfluous Man by Ivan Turgenev
4.0
This short story, despite its limited length, allows readers to deeply understand a man's character and life choices. It's ideal for fans of narratives focused on the complexity of human nature. While the author doesn't necessarily take us on an adventure, he gives us a glimpse of the narrator’s mind.
One key character, other than the dying man, is a Prince, who initially appears charming and flawless—an apparent opposite to Chulkaturin, the narrator. Paradoxically, this is what makes Chulkaturin so likable—because he isn’t. He’s full of flaws: overbearingly jealous, unjustifiably angry at the world, and deeply insecure.
He clings to a foolish, almost childlike hope that Liza might somehow return his feelings. But as that hope begins to bloom, it is soon caught in a storm, battered by the harsh winds of reality, until it withers and dies, leaving his heart in ruins. After all, why would Liza ever waste her sympathy on a man so utterly superfluous?
Yet, we come to understand why he acts and feels this way, and how he ends up on his deathbed with no one by his side. His jealousy stems from his deep-seated sense of worthlessness, compounded by the fact that no one has ever truly wanted him. His anger is born from constantly being seen as insignificant—a belief he eventually internalizes. His inability to maintain any self-respect is a result of the way he’s been treated throughout his life.
Overall, it's a decent representation of a lonely, melancholy character whose life has been a series of disappointments, leading up to his tragic end. Definitely engaging and worth the read.
One key character, other than the dying man, is a Prince, who initially appears charming and flawless—an apparent opposite to Chulkaturin, the narrator. Paradoxically, this is what makes Chulkaturin so likable—because he isn’t. He’s full of flaws: overbearingly jealous, unjustifiably angry at the world, and deeply insecure.
He clings to a foolish, almost childlike hope that Liza might somehow return his feelings. But as that hope begins to bloom, it is soon caught in a storm, battered by the harsh winds of reality, until it withers and dies, leaving his heart in ruins. After all, why would Liza ever waste her sympathy on a man so utterly superfluous?
Yet, we come to understand why he acts and feels this way, and how he ends up on his deathbed with no one by his side. His jealousy stems from his deep-seated sense of worthlessness, compounded by the fact that no one has ever truly wanted him. His anger is born from constantly being seen as insignificant—a belief he eventually internalizes. His inability to maintain any self-respect is a result of the way he’s been treated throughout his life.
Overall, it's a decent representation of a lonely, melancholy character whose life has been a series of disappointments, leading up to his tragic end. Definitely engaging and worth the read.