Interesting! I hadn't thought of love being missing, but it certainly is. This chapter made me think of a trap I have fallen into, which is ... "I don't have to do X if I don't want to." Until this chapter I had the impression that Oblomov was doing what he enjoyed. Then there is the line where it says Tarantiev drew Oblomov out of his lethargy and boredom. Boredom doesn't sound like he's enjoying himself, even though he's not doing all those things he doesn't want to do. So what does he want to do, if he is bored? (And who does he want to do it with?) It seems he hasn't begun to answer that question yet. I am also working on that question in my life! Thank you for the thoughtful commentary.
The duties of a jobber sound like a paralegal to me, but the word jobber itself sounds a bit more like freelance, not a permanent position with one firm, perhaps. I picture him riding around on a motorbike, delivering writs.
“There are still those idle rich who need to surround themselves with such hangers-on to relieve the tedium of their lives.” This sentence could have been written today. Every celebrity has their entourage who are there to free them from drudgery and tell them how wonderful they are. Oblomov may need a wife, but it would be such a heavy task to be his wife. At least his hangers-on can leave when they have had their fill.
Interesting! I hadn't thought of love being missing, but it certainly is. This chapter made me think of a trap I have fallen into, which is ... "I don't have to do X if I don't want to." Until this chapter I had the impression that Oblomov was doing what he enjoyed. Then there is the line where it says Tarantiev drew Oblomov out of his lethargy and boredom. Boredom doesn't sound like he's enjoying himself, even though he's not doing all those things he doesn't want to do. So what does he want to do, if he is bored? (And who does he want to do it with?) It seems he hasn't begun to answer that question yet. I am also working on that question in my life! Thank you for the thoughtful commentary.
The duties of a jobber sound like a paralegal to me, but the word jobber itself sounds a bit more like freelance, not a permanent position with one firm, perhaps. I picture him riding around on a motorbike, delivering writs.
“There are still those idle rich who need to surround themselves with such hangers-on to relieve the tedium of their lives.” This sentence could have been written today. Every celebrity has their entourage who are there to free them from drudgery and tell them how wonderful they are. Oblomov may need a wife, but it would be such a heavy task to be his wife. At least his hangers-on can leave when they have had their fill.