A Confession · Character

Schopenhauer

German philosopher whose pessimistic worldview influences the narrator's crisis.

minor

First appearance: ii

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With Narrator (psychological): The narrator is drawn to Schopenhauer's pessimistic philosophy, which reinforces his own sense of life's futility and suffering. With Solomon (psychological): Schopenhauer's pessimistic worldview is intellectually aligned with Solomon's lamentations on vanity, creating a philosophical resonance. With Buddha (psychological): Schopenhauer's philosophy was heavily influenced by Buddhist concepts of suffering and renunciation, creating an intellectual kinship.

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See Schopenhauer in ii

Character Web

3 connections

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Relationship types

Psychological

Character groups

Voices of Pessimism
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

In this passage, the emotional and psychological peak occurs when Tolstoy fully rejects his former life as a "…

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Relationships

Narrator
psychological · negative
Solomon
psychological · negative
Buddha
psychological · ambivalent

Narrator
The narrator is drawn to Schopenhauer's pessimistic philosophy, which reinforces his own sense of life's futility and suffering.
Solomon
Schopenhauer's pessimistic worldview is intellectually aligned with Solomon's lamentations on vanity, creating a philosophical resonance.
Buddha
Schopenhauer's philosophy was heavily influenced by Buddhist concepts of suffering and renunciation, creating an intellectual kinship.

Relationship notes

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See Schopenhauer in ii

In the story

Schopenhauer appears across 6 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

VI
Quoted extensively on the will to live and the annihilation of the will leading to nothingness.
VII
Mentioned alongside Solomon and Buddha as a thinker who recognized life's absurdity; his philosophy is part of the reasoning the narrator initially accepts.
VIII
Referenced alongside Solomon as a thinker whose rational conclusions led to a denial of life's meaning.
IX
Mentioned as a philosopher whose conclusion that life has no meaning is an indefinite reply.
Chapter X
Mentioned alongside Solomon as a figure whose philosophy did not lead to suicide, but whose perspective is contrasted with the faith of the common people.
XII
Mentioned in the context of arguments against proving the existence of God.

Chapter companion notes

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See Schopenhauer in ii