Brief Summary
This video introduces Leo Tolstoy's short story collection, "What Men Live By," and discusses the key themes of love, detachment, and the importance of sharing with others. It summarizes two stories from the collection: "What Men Live By" and "The Fool's Mouth," highlighting Tolstoy's messages about human nature, greed, and the true values in life.
- Love and detachment are important factors in life.
- Sharing with others and maintaining humanity are essential.
- True values are not in material wealth but in compassion and connection.
『사람은 무엇으로 사는가』 책 소개
The video introduces Leo Tolstoy's "What Men Live By" as a collection of short stories that offer comfort and meaning in life. The book addresses feelings of betrayal and questions about the purpose of living. Different versions of the book exist depending on the publisher, with varying short stories included. The version presented in the video is from Modern Intellect, which includes "The Fool's Mouth" in addition to "What Men Live By".
단편 『사람은 무엇으로 사는가』 줄거리
The story "What Men Live By" begins with Semyon, a poor shoemaker who cannot afford new clothes. He goes to the market to buy sheep fur but fails. On his way back, he finds a naked young man, Mikhail, lying against a church wall. Semyon takes Mikhail home, where his wife is initially unhappy but eventually accepts him due to his gentle nature. Mikhail, who possesses exceptional skill in shoemaking, lives with Semyon's family and brings them good fortune. One day, a wealthy nobleman orders durable boots, but Mikhail cuts the leather to make shoes instead. The nobleman dies unexpectedly, and the shoes are used for his burial.
미하일의 진짜 모습
Mikhail reveals that he is an angel who descended from heaven and was tasked by God with answering three questions to return: What is inherent in man? What is not permitted for humans? What do humans live by? Mikhail explains that he found the answers through his experiences with Semyon and the nobleman. He learned that love exists within people, humans cannot see the future, and people live by loving those around them. After revealing this, Mikhail bids farewell and returns to heaven.
낭독 1
Mikhail's last words emphasize that everyone lives by love, not by self-concern. People do not know their own needs or what the future holds. What sustains them is the love and compassion of others. Survival is not due to personal plans but the love in the hearts of those who show pity and care.
단편 『바보 이반』 줄거리
The video introduces "The Fool's Mouth," a story about a farmer named Ivan and his two brothers. Ivan's brothers have distinct personalities: one seeks power, and the other pursues wealth. Ivan, however, is simple-minded and helps others without expecting anything in return, leading people to see him as an idiot. Demons appear in heaven and decide to ruin Ivan's life by exploiting his brothers' greed and anger. While the demons succeed in ruining Ivan's brothers, their tricks do not work on Ivan because he is not interested in power or wealth.
낭독 2
The devil transforms into a gentleman and enters Ivan's kingdom, intending to corrupt it with money. He offers to build houses and conduct business, paying in gold. The people, who previously bartered, are amazed by the gold and work for it. However, once everyone has plenty of gold, they stop working. The gentleman, suffering from hunger, tries to buy food with gold, but no one accepts it, as they already have enough. People are willing to offer things for Christ's sake, which terrifies the devil.
톨스토이의 메시지
In Ivan's kingdom, people are not interested in gold except for play or decoration. This reflects on society's excessive greed and waste in consumerism. Tolstoy's story suggests that what people truly need is a small part of what they desire. The story encourages sharing and maintaining humanity. Both "What Men Live By" and "The Fool's Mouth" explore the importance of love and detachment. Tolstoy's stories remind readers of the significance of sharing with others and maintaining humanity.
