GUILT AND GOODNESS AS POSITIVE MORAL TEACHINGS IN GOD SEES THE TRUTH BUT WAITS

BY

DIANA KATHERINE GONZALEZ OCAMPO 4309032

ENGLISH VII

PROFESSOR GERMAN PEREZ

UNIDAD CENTRAL DEL VALLE UCEVA BACHELOR DEGREE IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES 2012

GUILT AND GOODNESS AS POSITIVE MORAL TEACHINGS IN GOD SEES THE TRUTH BUT WAITS

The illusion of guilt is necessary for an animal that cannot enjoy life, in order to organize a life of non-enjoyment. (Brown 1961) In order to maintain a social organization, values and behaviors agreements are created and obeyed by the society members with a hierarchy conception, in the same way those rules bring themselves implicit punishments which are applied to people who do not accomplish them. Emotional Feelings people suffer when they do something they judge, by the moral code, to be wrong; that is known as guilty. Thus, it can be said guilt has been inherent to human existence and as a human state it can be seen positively or negatively. Many guilt states become evident In Tolstoys story, God see the truth but waits. Aksionov and Semyonich both live under complex mental guilt expressions what take them to a deep reflection of what life means and which gives to the story an interesting perception about the role of guilty and moral in society. So, it is necessary to quote the guilt experienced by
Aksionov and Semyonich developed a dramatic climax which gives a moral perspective to the story. This will be solved by a deep examination Leo Tolstoy story mentioned above under psychology perspective and finally this will be analyzed in social terms, by using contextual elements of the story and his relationship with authors life. Concerning to guilt, the story shows remarkable aspects and events where the characters experienced culpability. Although guilt is considered as a negative feeling, which in some cases bring self-revulsion feelings and a strongly need for punishment Carveth (2004) , fisher (2010) holds guilt like regret, causes us to reflect on our decision-making and to avoid making poor decisions in the future and in that sense Authentic guilt moves beyond narcissism toward object love. When Aksionov realized Makar had killed the merchant, he felt himself guilt because he did not fight enough for gaining his freedom, and this accomplished him regret feelings. For instance, when the narrator mentions He felt terribly unhappy, and all sorts of images rose in his mind his wife and kids images gave to him guilt feelings like desperation and anger and his need for punishment made him think he deserved to die.

Although Aksionovs guilt brings itself revenge thoughts against Makar, there is a solid moral perspective in the story. Opposite to what should be a regular reaction based on those events, Ivan put his wrath against Semyonich in Gods hands by manifesting what, Paulik (2007) says guilty feelings can actually induce positive changes. Guilty feelings and shame both revolve around self-evaluation about actions or behavior. When our actions conflict with our values or beliefs, we have appropriate guilty feelings. Guilt can motivate us to apologize and make amends. These were the exact actions Aksionov did when he discovered what the murder had done to him, these goodness actions are showed when he began to weep. "God will forgive you!" said he. "Maybe I am a hundred times worse than you in those phrases he describes the pain he feels but at the

same time, he shows a peaceful life vision when he mentions they will probably flog the life out of him, and maybe I suspect him wrongly. And, after all, what good would it be to me?" his moral influence shows how Aksionov can manage in an easier way with sadness and hate he feels, certainly it can be said the author puts Aksionov as an example of moral behavior and forgiveness. On the other hand, Semyonich manifested another variation of guilt, in his case; the experienced culpability was extremely related to conscience development. At first, Makar did not show any remorse by the crime he had committed and for Aksionov as well. Nonetheless, when Semyonich analyses Ivans good behavior he understands he had made a mistake and he should be honest to get free from guilt. According to Anxiety care magazine (2012) conscience has tree levels: first, the ability to know the difference between right and wrong; second, the act of conscience when we decide if something is morally good or bad, when we apply our intelligence to our and other peoples experiences and beliefs. The third level is the decision of conscience itself, when the person takes a moral stance. This is recognized as the act of being true to oneself. With regards to the last mentioned, the story shows the stages Makar faces, for instance the begging act he made in front of Ivan, forgive me! For the love of God, forgive me it can be argued Makar reach stage 3 of consciousness when said to Aksionov I will confess that it was I who killed the merchant, and you will be released and can go to your home." Then after he finally made the decision of telling the truth that can be considered as a moral thought, in the sense moral standards are by definition those standards that a person is warranted in feeling guilty for violating. Harman and his guilt took place because he knew he had acted in a wrong way concerning to Aksionov. Furthermore, those guilt analyses introduce the prominent aspects to understand the climax of the story. It is already observed the guilt position both characters assume generated distinctive emotions from pain, to anger, disappointment, among others. Precisely such emotions where the main conflict and the matter which led the moralistic aspect to the story, due to the moral implicit aspect in the story induces to the self -evaluation of both characters and finally a resignation conduct lived by Aksionov and an honesty attitude achieved by Makar. And finally brings consideration about the importance of the truth. In addition, Leo Tolstoy was extremely influenced by Schopenhauer philosophy. even when he was not agreed with orthodox Christianity he shared religious conceptions and principles which according to him provides happiness and welfare to people Tolstoy posited that genuine happiness is associated with becoming better than before. Eguishi 2009 those assumptions can be reflected at the ending of the story when despite all the difficulties Aksionov went through, he always kept the faith and never lost his moral perceptions. Indeed, Tolstoys anarchist philosophy points out Anarchy can be instituted by a revolution. But it will be instituted only by there being more and more people who do not require the protection of governmental power ... There can be only one permanent revolutiona moral one: the regeneration of the inner man." Tolstoy wanted to show the

regeneration of men with respect to moral order, Aksionov was an example of his human conception, and how the people can live peacefully on earth, yet he had lost part of his life1. He no longer had any desire to leave the prison, but only hoped for his last hour to come. In agreement with the last information, it is necessary to explain the story deals with different guilt stages; first of all, it provides a well culpability perspective based on prosocial behavior experienced by Aksionov. Second of all it can be appreciated Makars needs of punishment which let him a conscious exam of his own guilt and which gave him the possibility of making a good decision at the end of the story. This reflects itself also a good perspective of guilt, with which self-evaluation and emotional growing is improved. Likewise the philosophical and psychological Tolstoys precepts conditioned the climax and the ending of the story by concluding forgiveness is ideal for dealing with injustice. Summarizing, the story God sees the truth but waits has itself high levels of morality, rather than religiosity, Aksionov beliefs are taken similarly Kants categorical imperative2 by virtue of his actions became in an example for Makars regret, the prisoners and even with the governor who considered him a truthful man. Tolstoy showed the role of moral as a practical method for evaluating particular human actions of several distinct varieties by telling a set of misfortune events suffered by a regular man in a Russian town who despite all the deep troubles he gained the internal peace he was looking for in the first place. Even though guilt its taken under a negative vision based on the pursuit of punishment and selfcompassion, its important to consider moral provides to societies the possibility of an organization and order maintance. (Otherwise how would be Aksionovs reaction after he discovered the murder?) This story also teaches justice always come, even if it takes longer than human expectation. In Aksionovs case, he had to wait for twenty six years to gain his calm and Makar finally found his own peace by confessing the truth. That, definitely shows God always sees the truth, but he prefers to wait

a religion that does not promise happiness in heaven or in the after-life but ensures that people attain happiness on earth Tolstoy (1910) 2 "Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law."
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BIBLIOGRAPHY

See Brown, Norman (1961) Life Against Death: The Psychoanalytic Meaning of History (New York: Vintage) p. 118 and passim. Gilbert Harman, Guilt Free Morality http://www.princeton.edu/~harman/Papers/Guilt.pdf
Anxiety Care UK http://www.anxietycare.org.uk/docs/guilt.asp

Carveth, Donald L. The Unconscious Need for Punishment: Expression or Evasion of the Sense of Guilt? http://www.yorku.ca/dcarveth/guilt.html Baron, David P. A Positive Theory of Moral Management, Social Pressure, and Corporate Social Performance. http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/research/fordcenter/conferences/ethics06/baron.pdf