God Sees The Truth But Waits Analysis

In Merriam Webster, karma is defined as, the force created by a person's actions that some people believe causes good or bad things to happen to that person, but in, God Sees the Truth, But Waits by Leo Tolstoy, karma is seen as everything happens for a reason. This story is about a man named Aksyonof who is falsely accused for a murder. While in prison, he meets Makar, someone who could change his fate. The plot of, God Sees the Truth, But Waits, illustrates the theme of karma in the story through a man’s wrongful conviction, transformation during imprisonment, and confessions of an inmate.

Aksyonof first comes face to face with karma when he leaves his wife, and a day later is wrongfully accused for a murder he didn’t commit. Aksyonof is

leaving to go to the fair, and his wife warns him to not start drinking again. Aksyonof had a drinking problem and has tried to keep it under control, but hasn’t always been successful. He commits these sins, but never is punished or at least not at that moment. This quote from the text is said by his wife as he leaves, “One summer Aksyonof was going to the Nizhny Fair, and as he bade good-bye to his family his wife said to him, ‘Ivan Dmitrich, do not start today; I have had a bad dream about you.’” Aksyonof’s wife is foreshadowing that something dreadful will happen to him because of his drinking habits. A day later, Aksyonof is accused of murdering a man he stayed with before the fair. The authorities found a bloody knife in his luggage and took him to jail. Even though it looks as though Aksyonof has committed this crime, he is the only one who knows the truth, and he did not do it. Aksyonof wonders why he is being punished for a crime he didn’t commit, but could his earlier mistakes in life be finally catching up to him?

When Aksyonof is jailed, and the sentence is final, he starts to change his miserable attitude towards everything and wondering if this has happened for a reason. Aksyonof goes in and out of spells of being angry, sad, miserable, and frustrated during his initial imprisonment. He tries to get a petition from the Tsar, but no response ever comes back. After a while, Aksyonof decides that being angry all the time won’t fix anything, realizing maybe this is a chance to change himself. This quote from the text is Aksyonof thinking to himself,“ ‘It seems as that only God can know the truth, it is to Him alone we must appeal, and from Him only expect mercy.’ “ Aksyonof believes that himself and God are the only ones who know the real truth, and if God intends for him to be imprisoned anyway, there must be a reason. Once Aksyonof thinks it through, he starts changing his attitude and becoming a respectable man.
Aksyonof finally realized that maybe his karma isn’t bad at all, but a new opportunity.

Aksyonof is at a high point in his life now, but a new inmate, Makar comes and changes his whole life.

A new inmate comes to prison named, Makar, and begins a conversation with Aksyonof. Once Aksyonof told Makar what he was accused of and how he didn’t do it, Makar began to question him. Makar starts questioning and almost arguing with Aksyonof about the murder and right then, Aksyonof knew Makar had committed his murder. Days go by and Aksyonof doesn’t tell, but he is building up a lot of anger. One night, Aksyonof sees Makar digging a tunnel, and Makar begs him not to tell. Aksyonof still doesn’t tell on Makar, but one day the guards find the tunnel and start questioning all of the prisoners. This quote from the text is said by Aksyonof while he is being interrogated, “Aksyonof glanced at Makar Semyonitch and said, ‘I cannot say, your honor. It is not God’s will that I should tell! Do what you like with me; I am in your hands.’ “Even though Aksyonof was so furious with Makar, he still didn’t tell on him about the tunnels or the murder. Aksyonof could have told on him and been set free after all of these years, but instead of letting Makar get the best of him, Aksyonof realizes he was much happier before just living life how God intended. If God wanted him to lead this life, he was going to make the best of it because he knows that everything has happened for a

reason

In conclusion, throughout the whole story, the theme of karma is represented in various ways.
Aksyonof finally figures out towards the end that everything must happen for a reason. He might not have lived the life he always dreamed of, but he did live a great life. He made the best of his situation and learned to enjoy himself. The theme of karma also helps to build the suspense and excitement of the plot, creating for a well-written and mysterious story.