Essay Questions

What is the meaning of "Oblomovitis"?

The main character of the novel, Oblomov, struggles with apathy towards his living situation and the desire to improve it. Though young and talented in the beginning of the novel, he struggles with indecision and committing to a path forward for his life. As such, he remains at his homestead where he ages throughout the course of the story.

Near the end of the novel, as he is lying sick in bed, Oblomov himself notes the cause of his death as "Oblomovitis". This acknowledgement proves that Oblomov realized his affliction of apathy, and has purposefully done nothing about it. Instead of working hard to acheive his goals, Oblomov inflicts himself with the painful disease of "Oblomovitis", choosing a relatively easy life of luxury over personal development.

How does Oblomov differ from a typical main character?

In most novels, main characters grow and develop, relating to the reader by highlighting the changes in their lives that push them forward and inspire them to grow as people. Oblomov directly contrasts from this typical narrative in his overall lack of change, growth, or development throughout the novel.

Though we follow his life from young adulthood to death, Oblomov remains the same person to his core throughout. That person is one who despises change and wishes for everything to be granted to them without the need to make their own decisions. In many novels, main characters face struggles that force them to overcome perilous situations that challenge them to learn and grow. Oblomov faces challenges, but his challenges are entirely self-inflicted. Instead of facing his internal struggles as a typical dynamic character would, we see little hint of change in Oblomov's desire to overcome them.

How did the context of mid-19th century Russia influence the novel?

Oblomov's archetype of being young and talented is portrayed frequently in Russian novels of the 1800's. He is rejected by society for not fitting in, and this causes him to remain isolated from much of the real world. This period of Russian history is marked by a large nobility class and general discontent among the working class for people who inherited wealth and squandered their usefulness, as Oblomov does.

The book was quite popular for the time, as such criticisms of the nobility were becoming more mainstream and accepted. The novel was both influenced by and contributed to the growing unsatisfaction with the noble social order, which culminated a half century later in the Russian Revolutions.