Questions on "The Kreutzer Sonata" by Tolstoy:

What is the cause of Pozdnyshev's dislike for doctors and science?
Why are do all marital relations (in his class) lead to hatred between spouses, in P's view?
What comes after "so-called love" in a marriage?
Who is more to blame for the degradation of marriage, in P's view--men, or women?
What, in P's view, is the source of modern economic activity? How persuasive do you find his view?
What role does Evolution play in P's argument?
What role does education play in society, in P's view?
What is the danger of (powerful) music, according to P?
When is it appropriate to listen to music? When inappropriate?

Listen to the Kreutzer Sonata on line via the music library
http://internal.utk.classical.com.proxy.lib.utk.edu:90/reference/composerrecordings.php?id=54
(It is Violin Sonata in A minor, op. 47)
Be Careful!!!


What is the cause of P's jealousy and fury?
Was P's wife doing anything wrong?
How should we interpret P's jealousy? Was he justified in this envy? Where did it come from? What is Tolstoy's point in portraying such an extreme?