Three months

The three-month period is a decisive temporal unit in Resurrection, marking the interval between Maslova's arrest and her trial, and later the duration of her confinement before the sentence is carried out. This span of time is not merely a chronological detail but a structural and thematic device that concentrates the novel's central crises: Maslova's degradation and despair, Nekhludoff's sudden confrontation with his past, and the beginning of his moral transformation. The narrative repeatedly returns to this period to measure the depth of the characters' suffering and the pace of their inner change.

Imprisonment and the Trial

Maslova spends more than three months in prison before her trial, confined with thieves and murderers in the stifling air of a cell . This period of isolation and squalor precedes the day of judgment, 28 April, when she is taken to court. The three months have left their mark on her appearance: her face has the whiteness peculiar to people who have lived long in confinement, like shoots of potatoes that spring up in a cellar . During this time, she has been subjected to the degrading conditions of prison life, which include the constant threat of molestation from male prisoners and the oppressive atmosphere of the cells. The three months also mark the period during which Nekhludoff, who had forgotten his sin for nine years, is forced to confront it when he sees her in the dock . The temporal gap between his betrayal and this moment is bridged by the three months of her imprisonment, which makes the encounter unavoidable.

The Trial and Its Aftermath

The trial itself, which takes place on 28 April, is the climax of this three-month period. Maslova is sentenced to four years of hard labor in Siberia, a verdict that shocks her and the courtroom . The three months of waiting have not prepared her for this outcome. After the sentence, she is returned to her cell, where she spends the evening in a state of shock, craving tobacco and vodka . The three-month period thus encompasses not only her physical confinement but also the psychological trauma of the trial and the beginning of her acceptance of her fate. For Nekhludoff, the three months after the trial are a time of intense inner struggle. He decides to follow her to Siberia, to marry her if she will have him, and to give up his land to the peasants . This period is marked by his visits to the prison, his conversations with advocates and officials, and his growing awareness of the injustice of the legal system.

The Journey and Transformation

The three-month period also extends into the early part of the journey to Siberia. Maslova marches with the gang of prisoners for two months before joining the political prisoners, a change that improves her condition . During this time, she undergoes a visible transformation: she grows sunburned and thinner, and the coquetry of her former life disappears . The three months of marching and hardship strengthen her physically and introduce her to a new world of ideas and relationships. She meets Simonson, who falls in love with her, and Mary Pavlovna, who becomes her close friend. This period is one of moral and emotional growth for Maslova, as she begins to see herself as something other than a victim. For Nekhludoff, the three months of travel are a time of continuous reflection and exposure to the horrors of the prison system, culminating in his spiritual awakening when he reads the Sermon on the Mount . The three-month period thus serves as a crucible in which both characters are tested and transformed, marking the transition from the old life to the new.