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Interesting. I have not seen the film, so will need to check it out. I think an active role in life is always the best, although it is all too easy to slip into passivity. Let life happen to you.

The loss of a sense of autonomy is a kind of death, so the strength of Ivan and the real people he was probably based upon is impressive. A life saver in such an environment. It is tempting to wonder how any of us would fare in a gulag ourselves. We all like to think we'd be the tough ones. But the deep sense of despair would be difficult to survive.

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I’ve often considered exactly how well I might do in such a situation. I strongly suspect that there’s a large gap between how I’d like to think of myself responding and how it would actually go.

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If you read Viktor Frankl he tells you it is about hope. You need something to live for.

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Apr 12Liked by The Obsolete Man

This was very interesting, thank you. I have not read the book or seen the movie but now I want to. Much to think about in regard to “Why me” situations.

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Thanks for reading, Jenn. I definitely recommend both!

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I’m just gonna disagree with Eric. Larry had every opportunity to respond to his circumstances. Love his wife, keep her from straying, and the kids? Really? I had to live with that indifference myself. That’s how kids are. But sometimes you have to fight for that. So whilst ivan made the best possible of an impossible situation, Larry made the worst of a good situation. Interesting read!

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What I was trying to get at was more that Larry thinks of the problems in his life as external forces over which he has no control, when in fact he does have at least some degree of control. Then the phone rings. Now we see what a truly unavoidable problem looks like and it puts our own agency into perspective. I think Erik and I are getting at the same thing but maybe in a different light.

Either way, thanks for reading and providing your take on the story!

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Apr 11Liked by The Obsolete Man

I loved both! Excellent analysis! I’ve heard some people say that Larry and his story were a modern retelling of the Book of Job.

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The film is definitely trying to draw that connection, though with several important differences. Now that you mention it, a rereading of Job may be in order. Having just watched the film I may see it in a different light. Thanks for reading!

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Denisovitch rocked Russia when Khrushchev allowed its publication to go forward. Interesting that in the final edit Sohlzenitzen removed the saved crust of bread that Ivan took to bed with him.

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Great writing and succinct analysis. Thanks.

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I once had the opportunity to speak with David Byrne for a few moments (at an art event) and asked him 1) if he'd seen "A Serious Man" (yes) and 2) if he thought, as I do, that it's in homage to Talking Heads that the movie and their song "Once in a Lifetime" both end the same way: after an existential reëxamination of suburban life, "A twister's coming/Here comes the twister."

(He politely appreciated the concept but denied that he'd had any awareness of the connection.)

Asking the Coens the same question is definitely on my bucket list.

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Good essay and interesting comments. Per Simon Tanner's comment: I happen to have read Job a few weeks ago and I watched A Serious Man when it came out. Job has three friends who come to him in his troubles and go through a cycle of 3 speeches each, commiserating with him, blaming him, forgiving him, explaining God. After their speeches a fourth speaker, Elihu, holds forth that their words are themselves sinful and their attempts to divine God's purpose vain and presumptuous. Then God speaks to Job (Ch 38-41): Where were you when I founded the earth? (38:4). In the end Job repents his questioning, and God gives him everything back, and doubles it.

So is Larry Gopnik Job? Dunno. But maybe Gopnik is not guilty of doing nothing, as you say (but not forgetting that he took the bribe) but of accusing God of being unjust. As to Ivan Denisovich - I read that back in the 1980s, but I don't remember Ivan cursing God (but I read it a long time ago). So, yeah, you should read Job again.

Anyway, Mr. Man, thanks for a great read. Thought lives, eh?

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Also, I just re-watched A Serious Man and here's the message of the film, from the first frame: "Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you. - Rashi"

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“One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.” Words from the great Abraham Maslow. If we aren't pushing for something better, we're bound to settle for something worse. Great read. Thanks for your work

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deletedApr 11
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I’ve had Kolyma Stories on my list for some time, I will definitely be reading it in the near future.

If you have the time, I’m Interested to hear your thoughts on A Serious Man. Thanks for reading.

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