Spiritual man

The spiritual man is the inner, moral, and divine self within every person, which Nekhludoff must awaken to overcome his animal self and achieve genuine moral resurrection.

Identity and Nature

The spiritual man is the inner, divine self that exists in every human being, distinct from the animal self that seeks only personal gratification. In Nekhludoff, as in every man, there are two beings: one the spiritual, seeking only that kind of happiness for himself which should tend towards the happiness of all; the other, the animal man, seeking only his own happiness, and ready to sacrifice to it the happiness of the rest of the world. The spiritual man is the free, powerful, and eternal being that, once awakened, cannot be denied. It is the voice of conscience that demands truth and righteousness, and it is the source of genuine joy and peace.

The Struggle with the Animal Self

Throughout Nekhludoff's life, the spiritual man and the animal man are in constant conflict. During his youth, when he first stayed with his aunts and fell in love with Katusha, the spiritual man was dominant. He was pure, honest, and full of noble aspirations, believing in the possibility of unlimited advance towards perfection. However, after he entered the army and adopted the dissolute life of his aristocratic companions, the animal man gained supremacy. He ceased to believe himself and began to believe others, leading a life of selfishness and depravity. This period of his life is described as a "mania of selfishness," where he looked on his healthy, strong animal self as his true I. The spiritual man was crushed, but not destroyed.

Awakening and Cleansing

The spiritual man in Nekhludoff is awakened by the shock of seeing Katusha in the prisoners' dock. This event forces him to confront the enormity of his sin and the hypocrisy of his entire life. The awakening is a painful but necessary process, described as a "cleansing of the soul." This cleansing involves clearing out all the rubbish that has accumulated in the soul, which is the cause of the cessation of true life. Nekhludoff had experienced such awakenings before, but each time the temptations of the world had entrapped him again. This time, however, the awakening is more profound and lasting. He realizes that the aversion he felt for everyone else was actually an aversion for himself, and this acknowledgment, though painful, brings a strange, quieting joy.

The Path to Resurrection

The ultimate goal of the spiritual man is to achieve "resurrection"—a new life lived in accordance with God's will. This involves confessing his sins, making amends, and dedicating himself to serving others. Nekhludoff resolves to break the lies that bind him, to tell the truth to everyone, and to act truthfully. He decides to marry Katusha, to give up his land, and to follow her to Siberia. This path is not easy; it is filled with doubt, temptation, and suffering. Yet, the spiritual man provides the strength to persevere. Nekhludoff comes to understand that the only reasonable meaning of life is to fulfill the laws of God, which are summed up in the commandment to forgive and love one another. He realizes that the only certain means of salvation from the terrible evil in the world is for men to acknowledge themselves as sinners before God, and therefore unable to punish or correct others. This insight, drawn from the Gospels, becomes the foundation of his new life. The spiritual man, once awakened, leads him not to a life of ease, but to a life of service, sacrifice, and inner peace.