God Sees the Truth, But Waits
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God Sees the Truth, But Waits (also translated as The Confessed Crime) is a short story written by Russian author Leo Tolstoy. The story, about a man sent to prison for a murder he didn't commit, takes the form of a parable of forgiveness.
[edit] Synopsis
Ivan Demetrievich Aksenov was a merchant living in the town of Vladimir. Even though Aksenov was prone to drinking, he was not a violent man, and her was very responsible and well liked by everyone that knew him. One day her plans to go to a fair as a business venture, but his wife pleads for him not to go because of a nightmare she had the previous night. She said that all his hair had gone gray when he returned from the fair. Aksenov ignored his wife's dream and left for the fair.
Aksenoff meets another merchant on his way, and the two decide to travel together. They check into an inn and have a good time drinking, then they retire separately. Aksenov wakes early the next morning to get to the fair and leaves without the other merchant. Not far down the road, Aksenov is stopped by the police. They explain that a merchant was just murdered and robbed in the town, and they search Aksenov's bag. They find a bloody knife, and despite Aksenov's claims of innocence, he is sentenced to be flogged and sent to Siberia. After his trial and flogging, his wife can finally visit him, and she sees that Aksenov's hair has begun to go gray from the stress.
Aksenov spends twenty-six years in Siberia, and, resigned to his fate, he dedicates his life to God. He becomes a mediator of sorts in the prison, and he is well respected by the other prisoners and guards alike. One day a new prisoner, Makar Semonovich, is transferred to the prison. After overhearing several conversations, Aksenov is convinced that Makar Semonovich is the man who committed the murder for which Aksenov was blamed. Eventually Aksenov confronts Makar Semonovich, but he denies committing the murder.
One day the prison guards notice that someone had been strewing dirt around the grounds, and the search the prison and find a tunnel. Aksenov had found out earlier that it was Makar Semonovich that was digging the whole, but even after being questioned by the police, Aksenov declares that it is not his place to speak about the matter. Makar Semonovich approaches Aksenov later that day in a terrible state, and he eventually confesses to Aksenov that it was he that killed the merchant. Aksenov forgives Makar Semonovich, and he feels as if a terrible weight had been lifted. Makar Semonovich goes on to confess to the authorities, and the process is begun for Aksenov to be cleared. Aksenov, however, dies before he can reach home, but he dies in peace.
[edit] References
- "The Works of Tolstoi." Black's Readers Service Company: Roslyn, New York. 1928.
