Maddy Kirkwood

July 6th, 2022

Reading Reflection #7 – Laurus 

Novel and Spirituality

Please post a minimum 400-word blog on how one or more of the four elements of the novelistic tradition may be related symbolically to the readings in Laurus.

In the novel Laurus, there are many elements of overlay landscape, for example, the supernatural dimensions of this world and the afterlife are recognized by Arseny in his everyday, normal life. In the first chapter of “The Book of Renunciation,” we can see that the veil between life and death appears thin for Arseny and he talks to his dead wife Ustina and claims that their life is his mutual hope and that even in death they are still united (4). Ustina is a major source of comfort for Arseny and he continuously talks to her as if she is there. The dimensions of the “afterlife” are present and common in many religious traditions. In the medieval Christian time period of Laurus, it would not have been uncommon to ask those who have moved on for help or for prayers, particularly those who died innocent deaths. However, Arseny’s constant communication with his dead wife may make him seem more like a holy fool than a trustworthy and skilled doctor. His communication with Ustina stops him from wanting to interact with other real-life people because he knows he is guilty for her death and their child’s death, therefore, when he feels any joy he feels ashamed and wants to remove himself from the situation. 

 Another example of overlay landscape is how the author overlays time and dreams. In chapter nineteen of “The Book of Renunciation,” Arseny has a near-death experience when he encounters a splendid young man who had a sunbeam surrounding him that hits him with a branch. Arseny thinks he’s an angel from another dimension (137). The person tells him “O Arseny, take invincible life for your whole body and the cleansing and the ceasing of your sufferings from this great bitter cold” (137).  After this encounter Arseny claims that time seems very different to him now (138). Arseny noted that he “noticed that events had, in some strange way, diverged from time and no longer depended on time” (138). This could be an example of natural time intermingling with human time as we discussed in class. Furthermore, this could also mean that nature is hidden and appears to Arseny at the same time which would be another example of the author using the theme of overlay landscape.