Animal man

The "animal man" is a central concept in Leo Tolstoy's "Resurrection," representing the selfish, instinct-driven aspect of human nature that Dmitri Nekhludoff must overcome to achieve moral and spiritual awakening. It stands in direct opposition to the "spiritual man," and the novel charts Nekhludoff's struggle as he oscillates between these two selves, ultimately finding redemption by subduing his animalistic impulses.

Definition and Opposition to the Spiritual Man

The novel explicitly defines the "animal man" as the part of a person that "seeks only his own happiness, and ready to sacrifice to it the happiness of the rest of the world." This is contrasted with the "spiritual man," who seeks "that kind of happiness for himself which should tend towards the happiness of all." The two are presented as warring entities within every individual, and the narrative traces Nekhludoff's internal conflict as he shifts between them. The concept is introduced during Nekhludoff's second visit to his aunts' estate, when he is torn between his pure love for Katusha and the predatory desires of his newly awakened animal self. The text states that in Nekhludoff, "as in every man, there were two beings: one the spiritual... the other, the animal man." This duality is not a static condition but a dynamic struggle, with one self gaining dominance over the other at different periods of life.

Nekhludoff's Transformation and the Rise of the Animal Man

Nekhludoff's descent into the "animal man" is charted as a gradual corruption, accelerated by his entry into military life. After joining the army, he undergoes a "terrible change" where he "ceased to believe himself and had taken to believing others." This shift is marked by a redefinition of his core identity: "Then he had looked on his spirit as the I; now it was his healthy strong animal I that he looked upon as himself." The novel attributes this change to the depraving influence of military service, which places men in "conditions of complete idleness" and gives them "absolute power over other men." This environment fosters a "perfect mania of selfishness," which Nekhludoff fully embraces. The culmination of this phase is his betrayal of Katusha, an act driven entirely by the "animal man" that had "completely crushed the spiritual man in him." During his second stay with his aunts, the "animal man inside him had now not only lifted its head, but had succeeded in trampling under foot the spiritual man of the days of his first visit." This internal victory is what allows him to commit the act that sets the entire plot in motion.

The Awakening and the Struggle for Supremacy

The trial of Katerina Maslova serves as the catalyst for Nekhludoff's moral awakening, forcing him to confront the "animal man" he had become. The sight of her in the prisoners' dock triggers a "complicated and fierce struggle" in his soul. He begins to feel the "cruelty, cowardice and baseness, not only of this particular action of his but of his whole self-willed, depraved, cruel, idle life." This recognition is the first step in the re-emergence of the "spiritual man." The novel describes this process as a "cleansing of the soul," a state where he begins to "clear out all the rubbish that had accumulated in his soul." This awakening is not a single event but a recurring pattern in Nekhludoff's life, as he had previously experienced similar "awakenings" during his youth and after leaving the army, only to fall back into the grip of the "animal man." The difference this time is the depth of his self-loathing and the concrete actions he resolves to take, such as confessing his sin to Maslova and giving up his land.

Thematic Significance and Resolution

The concept of the "animal man" is central to the novel's exploration of sin, redemption, and the possibility of moral transformation. Nekhludoff's journey is not simply about feeling remorse but about actively subduing his selfish instincts and learning to live for others. The novel suggests that this is a continuous, difficult process, not a permanent state. Even after his awakening, Nekhludoff is tempted by the "animal man," particularly in his interactions with the beautiful and worldly Mariette, where he feels the pull of the "sex-feeling" that draws him back into the corrupt aristocratic life. The ultimate victory of the "spiritual man" is not fully achieved until the novel's end, when Nekhludoff, after reading the Sermon on the Mount, finds a new purpose and a new understanding of life. The "animal man" is not eradicated but is subordinated to a higher law, allowing Nekhludoff to experience a "perfectly new life" that dawns with a "new and quite different significance."