The long exile summary (bsc sem 2)

The Long Exile is a short story by Leo Tolstoy. It is a story of human suffering and pain, and how we can still be thankful for what we have in life.

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Aksionov is a merchant who is jolly and happy fellow. He sings, a lovely wife and two children. One day he decides to go to a fair but his wife stops him as she had seen a bad dream. Aksionov ignores it and goes anyway. He meets a fellow merchant in the way. They decide to stay night at an inn. Aksionov continues next morning. As he halts at another place, a police officer comes with two soldiers and asks Aksionov questions about who he was and whence he had come. He declares that the merchant who had stayed with Aksionov had been found murdered. Soldiers search Aksionov's luggage and find a blood stained knife. This makes Aksionov fearful and as he can not explain the knife i his bag, he is arrested for murder and stealing money.

His life changes from that moment. First he is taken to a jail. His wife visits him and tells him that Czar(emperor of Russia) had declined her petition for pardon. His wife doubts that he might have killed that merchant. This makes him sad knowing that he alone knows that he is innocent. He starts praying to God. He gets punishments to be flogged and then to be sent to Siberia.

Author jumped through time and takes reader to twenty-six years ahead. Aksionov is still in prison in Siberia. He has become a serious man. His hair has turned white. He prays and is respected among other convicts and jail authority alike. One day, several new prisoners came and one of them, Semyonich is telling others how he came to be there. He had taken someone's horse and had returned also, but authorities considered it stealing. So, he had been sent here. However, he agrees that same punishment could have been justified if one of his past crime would have discovered.

He tells people that he is from Vladimir, which is Aksionov's village. He asks Semyonich about his family and receives good news that they are doing well. After that Semyonich almost insults Aksionov as he comes to know his identity. That stirs psyche of Aksionov and he becomes sure that this is the man that had murdered other merchants. That makes him hate Semyonich.

One night Aksionov notices that Semyonich is digging a tunnel to escape. He doesn't say anything and walks away, but sEmyonich comes and warns him not to tell about it to anybody. This makes Aksionov more furious and he goes away. Next day some soldier has suspicion and authorities find the tunnel. Everyone is brought up for questioning but no one is ready to tell as authorities would beat Semyonich so much. At last, Governer asks Aksionov to tell the truth, but he doesn't. He thinks that he should not let Semyonich have pin just because he hates him based on a loose suspicion.

This changes Semyonich's heart and he comes to Aksionov that night. He tells confesses that it was him who had killed the merchant and begs Aksionov's forgiveness. He also tales that he could have also killed Aksionov if he had not heard a noise and ran away. This brings a new light to the whole twenty six years of suffering. Aksionov could have been dead for long but he could lived all these years. He is still silent. Semyonich weeps and begs for forgiveness, Aksionov tells him that God will forgive him.

After that Aksionov's heart becomes light and he becomes free from any longings in the world. Semyonich confesses his crime to authorities and petitions for Aksionov's release. But when release orders come, Aksionov is already dead. This story can be seen as a fable for human suffering and power of forgiveness.