Self-Deception, Above All

To Dan’s helpful and ever-growing list of recurring themes I would like to add one more: self-deception. It is important enough that Father Zossima stresses—on two occasions—that it must be avoided “above all” else. First, in “The Old Buffoon,” Book II, Ch. II, the elder advises Fyodor Pavlovitch:

“You have known for a long time what you must do. You have sense enough: don’t give way to drunkenness and incontinence of speech; don’t give way to sensual lust; and, above all, to the love of money. … And, above all—don’t lie.”

[…]

“…Above all, don’t lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to such a pass that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love…” (48)

Later, in “A Lady of Little Faith,” Book II, Ch. IV, Zossima emphasizes the same to Madame Hohlakov:

“Above all, avoid falsehood, every kind of falsehood, especially to yourself. Watch over your deceitfulness and look into it every hour, every minute.” (63)

We have been told that Fyodor Pavlovitch often “plays a part.” Now Zossima's words seem prophetic when the patriarch rails against the monastery during “The Unfortunate Gathering,” Book II, Ch. VIII:

But he was so carried away by his simulated emotion, that he was for one moment almost believing it himself. He was so touched he was almost weeping. (101)

Father Zossima says that shame is the "root of it all" (that is, Fyodor's buffoonery). But there are many ways from one's shame, and not all lead to embarrassing, public antics. That's just one branch. Withdrawal and hypocrisy and suicide and wearing fig leaves are others. (Apparently we're growing a metaphorical tree.) How does Fyodor Pavlovitch arrive at buffoonery? A person who is ashamed and recognizes his vice might normally try to conceal it from others. But if he rejects his true self, denies his shame, then he will begin to believe anything, and he will lose control of his thoughts and actions. Of course, Fyodor Pavlovitch is quite aware of his own ridiculous behavior, and perhaps even his self-deceit, which only makes him more complex.

Roots: what a deceptively simple metaphor! Like roots, shame is often invisible—but when you see a trunk you have a pretty good idea what's below. The thing about roots is that the longer you wait, the more difficult they are to unearth. And according to Zossima's worldview, shame has been around since the time of Eden. How does he expect anyone, much less an old man like Fyodor Pavlovitch, to dig up what's buried so deep?