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Иуда Искариот

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В прозе Леонида Андреева причудливо переплелись трепетная эмоциональность, дотошный интерес к повседневности русской жизни и подчас иррациональный страх перед кошмарами `железного века`. Любовь и смерть, жестокосердие и духовная стойкость человека - вот главные темы его повестей и рассказов, ставших одним из высших достижений русской литературы начала XX столетия. В этом томе представлены его лучшие повести и рассказы.

Содержание:
Автобиографическая справка c. 5-10
Жизнь Василия Фивейского Повесть c. 11-91
Иуда Искариот Повесть c. 92-160
Красный смех Повесть c. 161-226
Рассказ о семи повешенных Повесть c. 227-307
Мысль Повесть c. 308-355
Жили-были Повесть c. 356-379
Так было Повесть c. 380-412
Баргамот и Гараська Рассказ c. 413-422
Петька на даче Рассказ c. 423-433
Полет Рассказ c. 434-453
Мельком Рассказ c. 454-462
У окна Рассказ c. 463-487
Большой шлем Рассказ c. 488-499
Случай Рассказ c. 500-508
Город Рассказ c. 509-515
Нет прощения Рассказ c. 516-536
Христиане Рассказ c. 537-557
Иван Иванович Рассказ c. 558-568
Правила добра Рассказ c. 569-597
Он (Рассказ неизвестного) Рассказ c. 598-641
Ослы Новелла c. 642-654

112 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1910

33 people are currently reading
1103 people want to read

About the author

Leonid Andreyev

677 books412 followers
Leonid Nikolayevich Andreyev (Russian: Леонид Николаевич Андреев; 1871-1919) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who led the Expressionist movement in the national literature. He was active between the revolution of 1905 and the Communist revolution which finally overthrew the Tsarist government. His first story published was About a Poor Student, a narrative based upon his own experiences. It was not, however, until Gorky discovered him by stories appearing in the Moscow Courier and elsewhere that Andreyevs literary career really began. His first collection of stories appeared in 1901, and sold a quarter-million copies in short time. He was hailed as a new star in Russia, where his name soon became a byword. He published his short story, In the Fog in 1902. Although he started out in the Russian vein he soon startled his readers by his eccentricities, which grew even faster than his fame. His two best known stories may be The Red Laugh (1904) and The Seven Who Were Hanged (1908). His dramas include the Symbolist plays The Life of Man (1906), Tsar Hunger (1907), Black Masks (1908), Anathema (1909) and He Who Gets Slapped (1915).

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
Profile Image for Vit Babenco.
1,793 reviews5,850 followers
August 16, 2025
Leonid Andreyev’s Biblical Trilogy comprises Judas Iscariot, Eleazar and Ben Tobit… Vivid and apocryphal tales…
None of the disciples had noticed when it was that this ugly, foxy-haired Jew first appeared in the company of Christ: but he had for a long time haunted their path, joined in their conversations, performed little acts of service, bowing and smiling and currying favour.

The story isn’t just about Judas, it also portrays apostles and Jesus… And Judas also tells his own parables…
“When a strong wind blows it raises the dust, and foolish people look at the dust and say: ‘Look at the wind!’ But it is only dust, my good Thomas, ass’s dung trodden underfoot. The dust meets a wall and lies down gently at its foot, but the wind flies farther and farther, my good Thomas.”

Jesus is being led to Golgotha but routinous day-to-day life in Jerusalem continues…
On that terrible day when the world’s act of injustice was consummated, and Jesus Christ was crucified at Golgotha between two thieves, on that day from the earliest morning Ben Tobit, a merchant of Jerusalem, had been suffering from an unendurable toothache.

And the tale of Lazarus is one more proof that the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry… And even divine intentions may go that way too…
When Eleazar left the grave, where he had spent three days and three nights in the mysterious power of death, and returned alive to his house, for a long time those ominous peculiarities in him, which afterwards caused his very name to be dreaded by his contemporaries, passed unnoticed.

What is wisdom and what is foolishness? How can one separate the wheat from the chaff?
Profile Image for Sidharth Vardhan.
Author 23 books770 followers
April 6, 2017
Most underrated book I have ever read!


"if any one in this world was ever deceived, it was Judas"

Judas is one of my favorite characters in Bible. There is always that assumption in religious books that what is divine must also be beautiful and persuasive. Jesus, for example, just tells total strangers to follow him and, without any questions or need for proofs, they do. There must be something very convincing in very persona of Jesus. But than how come Judas, one of twelve hand-picked by Mr. Christ himself betrays him? How does he remain unimpressed by all that should be good and beautiful in Jesus? Of course, religious folks will blame the poor Devil and be done with it.

Andreyev does better. Judas, here, actually loves Jesus:

"You wish to buy Jesus for thirty pieces of silver? And you think that Jesus can be betrayed to you for thirty pieces of silver?"

It is his character that makes him do such a thing:

"Judas was an habitual liar, but they became used to this, when they found that his lies were not followed by any evil conduct; nay, they added a special piquancy to his conversation and tales, and made life seem like a comic, and sometimes a tragic, tales."

A lot of people are misled to believe that my lies are of similar nature. But anyways,

"what is a lie, my clever Thomas? Would not the death of Jesus be the greatest lie of all?"

Judas, as you might have guessed by now, is a cynic. Now, people are often cynical in their opinions on cynics. Cynicism is just a way of looking at the world, which doesn't in itself harm anyone, and is often developed by a person who haven't received much good from the world.

Judas' bad looks, double face, were probably enough to give him a terrible childhood in a heavily prejudiced society. He lives in continous impression that everybody, everything is mocking him and thus while once alone in mountains, when in an accident, he "suddenly rolled down in a grey ball, rubbing off his skin against the stones" his response was somewhat simlar to betrayed Ceasor, "he jumped up and angrily threatened the mountain with his fist—“You too, damn you!"

And, so, he felt betrayed by the whole world and, like Frankenstein's monster, became what society expected him to be.

Still, his cynicism didn't extend to Jesus, whom he loved and believed in. He saves His life and that of His apostles but since it is done by lying - he only gets everybody's disapproval. Including His. Those who refuse to show their anger on their loved ones from time to time, often end up destroying all their love and are left with a feeling of indifference which is often crueler to the beloved. Jesus too turns indifferent towards Judas, though like most disappointed parents, he still refuses to throw Judas out.

Having failed to regain Christ's affections any other way, despite his best efforts, he betrays him in frustration, somehow believing he might be doing Christ a service - he asks Jesus to stop him before doing so through telepathy but Jesus is our of reach so he thinks Later approves.

"Judas! Is it with a kiss you betray the Son of Man?"

He comes to regret it quickly, tries to protect Jesus in every way possible but fails to.

But here is the strongest part of the book. His cynic views about others come out to be true. Not one of Jesus' apostles protest when He is taken away by soldiers, sentenced or punished. They prefer to let Barabbas go free instead of His Holiness. It is as if they want Him dead.

"People always love their teacher, but better dead than alive."

(So true!)

And, thus betraying by inaction, Apostles and Christians end up being more Judas-ians than Chrstians.

"ye will soon be kissing the cross on which ye crucified Jesus! Yes, yes, Judas gives ye his word that ye will kiss the cross!"


(Read online.)
Profile Image for Hazal Çamur.
185 reviews233 followers
November 7, 2019
Tarihe damgasını vurmuş kötülüklerde, hikayeyi olaya adını kapkara harflerle yazdıranların ağzından dinlemeyi seviyorum. Yahuda da, Kabil’den sonra, bence tarihin ilk büyük kötülerinden biri. Peki motivasyonu neydi?

Kitapta bir şey vardı ki hiç beklediğim gibi çıkmadı: Quasimodo tarzı bir Yahuda beklemiyordum. Oysaki resmedilişi bu denli çarpık ve çirkin değildi. Ancak buna alıştıktan sonra yalancı, ikiyüzlü, iftiracı Yahuda’nın belki de İsa’nın en sadık havarisi olduğunu düşünmeye başladım.

Kim seviyordu gerçekte İsa’yı? Öğretmenleri öldüğünde gerçekte yanında kim yer alacaktı? Yahuda’nın İsa’yı çarmıha götüren ihanetinin arkasındaki sınav bence okunmaya değer. İnsanı düşüncelere sürüklüyor. Üstelik onca parlayan havarinin arasında Yahuda gerçekten de kirli bir karaktere sahip. Ama İsa’ya duyduğu aşka varan sevgi ne olacak?

Dil (dolayısıyla çeviri ve editörlük) çok güzel. Edebi yanı insanı alıp götürüyor. Kısa yapısıyla da bunu destekliyor. Ancak Yahuda’nın sonlara doğru iyice kontrolden çıkan sayıklamaları bazen anlamamı güçleştirdi.

Aradığımı (Yahuda’nın görünüşü dışında) bulduğum bir kitaptı. Andreyev’den okuduğum ilk kitaptı. Kendisinden başka kitaplar da okumak istiyorum artık.
Profile Image for Osama  Ebrahem.
205 reviews77 followers
September 6, 2023
305

يهوذا الخائن الأشهر بالتاريخ لم يكن خائن فقط انه كتلة من التناقض مشاعر وافكار غريبة، الكاتب عبر عن شخصية بالتناقض دا ببراعة ودا لانه من أنصار مدرسة شوبنهاور التشاؤمية ومن بلد دويستيفسكي وتشيخوف فأخرج الرواية بعمق وابداع..

الكاتب في الاول هيوريك شخصية يهوذا ونظرته للحياة هتجده شخصية شيطانية بيوقع بين الناس بأفكارة وكلماته السامة وبعدين يتسلل هاربا ولكن علته هنا ان كل البشر فاسدون ولا وجود للفضيلة...

اقتباس 1 :
"يؤمن يهوذا بأن الأشخاص المشاع عنهم بكونهم طيبين هم هؤلاء الذين استطاعوا إخفاء أعمالهم وأفكراهم رغبة في اكتساب تلك السمعة... أما إن عاشر أحدهم هذا الطيب ،مظهرا بعض المودة، قادرا على استجوابه كما يجب فيمكنه ببساطة أن يحصل منه على اعترافات مريعة عن كل أنواع الأكاذيب والقذارة والذنوب التي مارسها، ستسيل منه الكلمات كما يخرج القيح من جرح مفتوح.."

يهوذا يخدع الناس كلهم ولكنه يشعر انه،اكثر الأشخاص المخدوعين حتى الكلب يخدعه...

اقتباس 2 :يهوذا يسخط من خداع كل شيئ له
عندما يداعب كلبا يعض أصابعه وعندما يضربه بعصا يلعق ساقيه وينظر الى عينيه بحنان كإبن من لحمه ودمه!...

ثم ينتقل الكاتب للقاء يهوذا بيسوع والحواريين وهنا تجد اختلاجات يهوذا الشديدة داخل نفسه يغار من الحواريين فلماذا لايحبه يسوع مثلهم.

  اقتباس 3: على لسان يهوذا لحنانيا عن الحواريين..

سيحبونه اكثر وهو ميت. بينما المعلم على قيد الحياة، سيمكنه دوما أن يسألهم عن تعاليمه، ويعاقبهم إن أخطئووا، هنا تكمن معاناتهم ، لكن حين يموت سيحتلون حينها مكانه وسيكون العقاب من نصيب آخرين!....

ثم تحدث الخيانة الكبرى ومحاكمة المسيح ثم صلبه في اورشليم وهنا يصور اندرييف بروعة ليس مشهد الصلب ولكن يركز عدسته على الحواريين ويهوذا واخر فصل يحدث مشهد نفسي وهو معاتبه يهوذا للحواريين لانهم لم يدافعوا عن المسيح ولم يقفوا في طريق الجنود..وهنا يظهر الكانب شيئ غريب ماذا لو ارتكب يهوذا فعلته تلك بدافع الحب للمسيح وليس بدافع الخيانة ماذا لو كان هو اخلص التلاميذ للمسيح؟!

اقتباس 4 :يعاتب يهوذا الحواريين...

"من يحب لا يسأل، يعمل! يهب ويفعل كل شيئ ممكن يبكي يعض يخنق العدو ويكسر عظامه!هذا هو من يحب! عندما يغرق ابنك، هل تذهب إلى المدينة وتسأل المارة: مذا علي ان افعل؟ أبني يغرق! أو ترمي نفسك في الماء وتغرق بجانب ابنك. هذا هو من يحب!..."

طبعا لاتقرأ الرواية بأي نظرة دينية او تاريخية او تعتمد عليها كمصدر للمعلومات ...
Profile Image for Sinem A..
489 reviews292 followers
November 1, 2019
"Yahuda ya göre İncil" de beni en çok sürükleyen hikaye Yahuda ve İsa nın ilişkisi ve Yahuda ya bakış olmuştu. Bu nedenle bu konuda bir kitap daha okumak istedim.
İyi ki okumuşum Andreyev gibi bir yazarla tanışmış oldum. Belki biraz da konunun aynı olması sebebiyle bana biraz Kazancakis in "Günaha son Çağrı" sını hatırlattı. Ama tek benzerlik bu değil, kullanılan dil ve bakış açısı da aynı sadelik ve güzellikteydi. Bu konularda taraf tutmadan edebi anlatım gücü yüksek kitapları sevenlere öneririm. Tabi bir de sayfa sayısının az olmasını sevenlere :))
Profile Image for Anna.
301 reviews67 followers
May 17, 2021
I am not a religious person but even I know the story of Judas who betrayed Jesus. For me, however, Judas has always been an interesting character. I felt that without him there would be no Christianity as we know it so his betrayal was necessary and might have even been a sacrifice in itself. It might be that my view of this story has been influenced by Andreyev's rendition for so long that I can't separate what I should have known from the canonical version to what I know from this one. What I do know, however, is that unlike many of the books I'd read when I was younger this one stayed with me and I quite often thought of rereading it, which is what I did presently. I have to say that it still has the strongest impact. The language and the way the story is told are magnificent. Andreyev forces you to think and re-think and re-think again. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for zahraa esmaile.
1,211 reviews227 followers
January 7, 2023
#رحلات2022
#يهوذا
نوفيلا بتحكي عن الخائن الأشهر في التاريخ"يهوذا الإسخريوطي" أحد الحواريين للمسيح، اليهودي الذي باع المسيح مقابل 30 قطعة فضية في صفقة بائسة، النوفيلا بتحكي على لسان يهوذا القصة كاملة، بداية من التفكير حتى التنفيذ، بنسمع منه مبرراته للفعل الشنيع، كمان بنشوف بعيونه باقي الحواريين وموقفهم من الخيانة، بشكل ما يهوذا بيلقي اللوم على الجميع

النوفيلا مكتوبة حلو، بس الفكرة اني مدرستش الموضوع او اهتميت بيه قبل كدة ف مكنتش مستمتعة، فكرت طول النوفيلا اني لو قرأت عن الحواريين اكتر هتبسط أكتر، اللي خلاني كملت كان صدقاً الترجمة، الترجمة ممتازة والهوامش ف مكانها قوي

ف المجمل، نوفيلا مختلفة، تصلح أكتر للمهتمين بالتاريخ المسيحي أو قرأ عن الفترة دي
#الكتاب_رقم116
#ضيوف_فين
116/120
18-ديسمبر
Profile Image for Anna Kļaviņa.
817 reviews203 followers
January 15, 2023
It's the same old story, Jesus is betrayed by Judas Iscariot.

But what if Judas betrayal was an act of love, faith and devotion? What if Judas was the best and most loyal follower Jesus had? What if Judas betrayal proved that he, Judas Iscariot, was the most deserving of Jesus apostles?

Profile Image for Mehmet B.
260 reviews20 followers
June 18, 2019
"Yahuda! İnsanoğluna öpücükle mi ihanet edeceksin?"
İhanetle özdeşleşmiş, 13 sayısının uğursuz sayılmasının nedeni, çirkin Yahuda, İsa'ya ihanet eden tek havari o mudur? Günümüzdeki dinlerin kökenlerinden nasıl uzaklaştıklarını da anlamak için düşünme imkanları sunan, psikolojik bir kısa roman...
Profile Image for Murat.
612 reviews
December 2, 2023
Son sayfalarında anafikri apaçık ortaya konmuş, farklı bir okuma, bilinegelen gerçekliklere alternatif bir bakış..

" Oysa herkes öldürür sevdiğini
Kulak verin bu dediklerime.
...
...
Kimi yeterince sevmez
Kimi fazla sever
Kimi satar
Kimi de satın alır
Kimi gözyaşı döker öldürürken
Kimi kılı kıpırdamadan

Çünkü herkes öldürür sevdiğini
Ama herkes öldürdü diye ölmez"

(Yahuda ölür :))
Profile Image for Gözde.
150 reviews
December 5, 2021
"Peki ölmenizi de mi yasakladı? O ölüyken, siz neden hayattasınız? O ölü, kıpırtısız ve sessizken neden sizin ayaklarınız hareket ediyor, diliniz sefil şeyler söylüyor, gözleriniz kırpışıyor? [...]
İşte cevap veriyor Keriyotlu cesur ve muhteşem Yahuda: Ölmeli. Yola yatıp askerlerin kılıçlarını, kollarını tutmalıydınız. Onları kendi kanlarınızda boğmalı, ölmeli, ölmeliydiniz! Hepiniz oraya girdiğinizde Babası bile dehşetinden çığlık atmalıydı!"
Profile Image for Evgen Novakovskyi.
291 reviews65 followers
October 16, 2020
Неожиданно сложная интерпретация образа Иуды из Кариота. Он здесь не просто обиженный мужчина с туманными мотивами, к которому мы все привыкли, а сломленный, раздираемый противоречиями, человек с глубокой психологической травмой. Люди всегда были предвзяты к Иуде: из-за его внешнего вида, скверного характера, грязных слухов и всякой подобной фигни. По умолчанию все относятся к нему довольно паршиво и даже “светлые” апостолы – не исключение. Каждый ожидает какой-нибудь подлости, а нежно любимый Иисус так и вовсе игнорирует, вот Иуда потихонечку и плавится, чтобы окончательно съехать с катушек в знаменитом финале. По сути, Андреев предлагает трактовку самого известного предательства в истории человечества через самоисполняющееся пророчество. Да, написано очень высокопарно, но тогда так принято было. В остальном это 90 прекрасных страниц (читалки) нестандартного взгляда на привычные вещи.
Profile Image for Shady Gobran.
39 reviews3 followers
December 9, 2023
شخصية يهوذا من أكثر الشخصيات المثيرة للاهتمام بالنسبالي في الكتاب المقدس. ولكن في النوفيللا دي لم يضف المؤلف الكثير.
نفس القصة المعروفة في الأناجيل، ولكن أضاف عليها البعد النفسي والشخصي ليهوذا، والتي جاءت ضعيفة وكان من الممكن تناولها أفضل من ذلك بكثير.
الأسلوب مبالغ فيه جدا، حيث استخدم تشبيهات وأوصاف، قد تبدو بليغة، ولكن بعد إعادة قراءتها تجدها بلا معنى.
الترجمة متوسطة والتدقيق اللغوي متوسط.
وجدتها ثقيلة على رغم صغرها وكنت أتوقعها أفضل من ذلك.
Profile Image for Stenoch Taw.
11 reviews1 follower
Read
October 1, 2013
"-მაგრამ მათ ხომ უყვართ ის!შენ თვითონვე არა თქვი?-
-თავიანთი მოძღვრები მათ ყოველთვის უყვართ,მაგრამ უფრო მკვდრები,ვიდრე ცოცხალნი.როდესაც მოძღვარი ცოცხალია,მან შეიძლება გაკვეთილი ჰკითხოს,მაშინ კი ცუდად იქნება მათი საქმე.ხოლო როდესაც მოძღვარი კვდება,ისინი თვითონ ხდებიან მოძღვრები და მაშინ სხვების საქმეა ცუდად!ჰე!-":
Profile Image for Ermina.
318 reviews2 followers
August 12, 2022
Odavno sam stava da je Juda centralna figura kršćanstva, bez koje ne bi bilo glorifikacije Isusa. To se već vidi i u njegovom evanđelju, a Andrejev, srećom, piše ovu priču ne izmišljajući mnogo toga. Kažem srećom jer je Juda u pomamnom čitanju Biblije čisti ekvivalent zlu/Sotoni , dok se, zapravo, može shvatiti kao Isusov najvjerniji učenik sa poprilično radikalnim načinima obožavanja.
Profile Image for belisa.
1,448 reviews43 followers
February 17, 2025
bakış açısı ve anlatımı güzeldi
Profile Image for Piruza Petrosian.
34 reviews8 followers
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November 19, 2021
Ռուս էքսպրեսիոնիստ Լեոնիդ Անդրեևն այս ստեղծագործությունը գրել է 1907թ․-ին՝ արյան, դավաճանությունների ու մատնությունների հետհեղափոխական շրջանում։ Հարակարծությամբ հրապուրված հեղինակը ներկայացնում է Հուդայի աստվածաշնչյան նկարագիրն ուրույն դիտանկյունից՝ ներթափանցելով հերոսի հոգեկերտվածքի ետնախորշերը։ «Ցավով ու տառապանքով լցված Հուդան» իր ապականված կյանքում առաջին անգամ լույսի ջերմություն է զգում, սակայն մի՞ թե «նորից խաբեցին Հուդային, խեղճ, դյուրահավատ կարիովտացի Հուդային»։ Վերջինիս հակասական մղումները հոգու խորքում հանգում են լոկ սիրո և ընդունման անիմանալի երազին։ Ամենևին չնվազեցնելով Անդրեևի գրչի արժանիքը և իր կերտած հերոսի հոգեբանության ինքնատիպությունը, մերթընդմերթ կարելի է զգալ Դոստոևսկու «ընդհատակից» փչող քամին։

Այս «դավաճանության հոգեբանության մասին գրվածքը» տարանջատում է դավաճանությունն ու մատնությունը՝ որպես ներքին և արտաքին հասկացություններ։ Չնյութականացած դավաճանությունը միևնույն է դավաճանություն է, իսկ մատնությունը միայն կիրառական արտահայտում կարող է ունենալ։ Դավաճանության և ատելության մեկնաբանությունը կարծես արվում է հավատարմության և սիրո լույսի ներքո՝ ընգծելով մարդկային բնության երկակիությունն ու մեղսավորությունը։
Profile Image for نورهان البسيوني.
379 reviews136 followers
December 1, 2022
أول مرة اقرأ عن يهوذا ، تجربتى فى الترجمة كانت رائعة حيث قوة الكلمات جعلت التشبيهات و الوصف بارزين أمامى .
كقصة قصيرة : أراد أن يطرح الكاتب وجهه نظره عن "يهوذا" برؤية و منظور مختلف عن إدعاء ناس كثيرون بوصفه "الخائن"…ف ما كلمة "الخائن" و من الحق أن يطلق تلك الكلمة إذا لم يشاهد المشهد كامل من كل الزوايا و دخل جوه الحدث …و طرح أيضًا أن الحواريين الآخرون يحملون نفس تلك الكلمة أثقالًا على ظهورهم حيث منهم خاف فهرب و منهم حمل الصمت …ف إذن الكل خونة و الكل لم يكرسوا حياتهم فداء المسيح
-أعجبنى فكرة طرح المشكلة من منظور آخر …و لكنى لست اعلم بالحقيقة و إذا أراد أى شخص المعرفة أكثر عن الموضوع يبحث عنه أكثر و لكن من الممكن تلك القصة القصيرة تكون مدخل لمعرفة "من يهوذا" إذا لم تسمع عنه بالقبل.
Profile Image for TarasProkopyuk.
686 reviews110 followers
February 4, 2014
"Иуда Искариот" очень и очень сильная книга, пусть даже очень небольшая!

Автор великолепным образом показал демонов и тщательно скрытые пороки, которые скрываются в умах даже самых светлых людей, на которых большинство возможно никогда бы не обратило внимание. Речь идёт конечно же о апостолах.

И даже если вы не религиозный человек прочитать её будет очень полезно...
Profile Image for Ozkan Kose.
64 reviews
September 2, 2019
Ayağıyla kenardan kendini ittirip sallamadan önce Keriyotlu Yahuda dikkatle bir kere daha uyardı İsa'yı,:
- Beni şefkatle karşılamayı unutma, çok yoruldum, İsa.
Profile Image for Maya Casillas.
48 reviews
January 10, 2026
the hand of god

"He who does not obey him will go to the fires of hell."

"Why didn't you go? Why didn't you go, Peter? The fires of hell-- what is hell? So what if you go-- what do you need your soul for if you don't dare cast it into the fire whenever you choose?"

i am currently judas iscariot-maxxing. he is perpetually invited to my literary blunt rotation.

i think this can be read in three ways. the first, which i've seen some reviews take, is a classic unreliable narrator situation. judas feels betrayed, hurt, left out, and is vaguely somehow schizophrenic enough to imagine that he is talking to jesus in that final last conversation, but is really justifying his own betrayal. he goes to his grave imagining he did Christ a favor. I am not partial to this. it reeks of classic doctrinal self-righteousness, judas the traitor, and i think it's nottt that difficult to see that this is exactly what andreyev is getting at. or, another side of this, is the position of w. h. lowe, a translator of the volume-- judas was jealous of the affection of the other apostles, wished to be first in the hereafter, and, lost to his mind, hastened his own death along with christ's. i disagree with this, vehemently, particularly as this particular author/translator (lowe) has no question in his mind that judas is meant to be the villain, absolute evil, nietzsche's ugliest man. the second is the kazantzakis route-- judas as an active and consenting participant in the passion of christ, and christ reliant and aware of his role-- to the extent that they could be considered collaborators. one thing i loved about this novella was the lack of speaking time we see christ receive. He is clearly not the center here.

And so Judas's struggle has to have some meaning outside the chronological, lineaer events of the passion. Not simply a means to an end. the third is the hand of god, and this is perhaps what I am most partial to. Judas acts. Christ acts. Judas betrays. God is all and is in all. Christ's feelings of betrayal are real. Judas's feelings of love are real as well. All do and must work together. He kills a dog, and believes it might be happier for it. He steals, and lies, and believes his deception created the circumstance for a helpful lesson. Perhaps I am thinking too much of Ivan's Devil (I am always thinking of Ivan's Devil,) but what if Judas, too, just wishes to cry Hosanna? Is it too much to allow him this-- to cry Hosanna while he pushes forth the tide of evil?

Was it evil? Was it malice? It decidedly was not. And so I think all three of those readings are simplistic, and really, the point of this novella is not to meditate on the purpose of Judas's betrayal. Judas and the Others, we read. Who are the others? They are condescending, boastful, jovial, kind and welcoming but equally quick to anger and judgement. Self righteous, even until the end. The disciples know, for instance, that Judas's pains and ailments, sicknesses in general, "do not come to a man by chance, but as a consequence of conduct not corresponding with the laws of the Eternal." And what is more, they are unashamed of their conduct (except for Peter.) Beloved, sweet, John is "cold" and cruel, refusing to accept Judas for his ugliness, among other things. These are the ones who Christ loves. Andreyev's compassion for judas is evident from the beginning, in the derision with which he narrates the other disciples' scorn and disbelief, the rhetoric of his uglieness, ungainliness, unfitness to sit beside the Christ. And Judas, who is ungainly, awkward, coarse, is cast as the parochial sinner, the outcast among them, they who have "unblemished consciences." From the beginning Judas is unlike them, yet he is also humble, open, yearning for some connection, and he is denied this repeatedly. We watch as Christ favors (favors!) the other disciples, leaving Judas on his own. Our Christ, who knows the heart of every man, thought Judas not worth a second thought-- or at least, Judas thought so. Nevertheless, Judas loved him.

"To all He was the tender, beautiful flower, the sweet-smelling rose of Lebanon, but for Judas He left only sharp thorns, as though Judas had neither heart, nor sight, nor smell, and did not understand, even better than any, the beauty of tender, immaculate petals." No, church-reader, Judas's heart is not hardened-- it is more sensitive than any, and Christ does not give him the time of day. But neither is Judas an innocent, a misunderstood-- he is a liar, proud, conceited, a thief, inveterate, unrepentant, and wounded, clueless, and naive all at the same time. He does not understand why his feats of strength, his passions, cannot win the love of Christ. Why won't He love him? He is as human as you or I. Maybe he is the devil. But "I saved Jesus," he says. "Therefore a devil loves Jesus and has need of Him, and of the truth."

It is easy to cast Judas as the one man in history who should never be extended understanding. Many are raised to understand Divine Love as endless, eternal, with some jarring, jagged exceptions that should never be spoken of. But I would challenge those so eager to paint Judas as a parochial villain to consider, for a moment, what it means to be excluded, continually, from Divine Love. Judas is made to be hated. He is ugly, he is stupid, he is given to absurdity. To be told that your ailments and suffering are your responsibility, your blindness is your sin, or perhaps your fathers.' I like to think this is Andreyev's challenge, although perhaps it is only just mine. I have grown to be unable to understand this, the refusal to extend compassion, understanding. Have you never been Judas? Truly? Have you never been the deceiver, only the deceived? Ironically, it is Judas who believes this of himself. I am so tired of the easy answers. The hard-heartedness, inveterate evil of Judas Iscariot. Was he not made so? We are so quick to say that the Devil may quote Scripture as well as the angels. Have we made an ounce of an attempt to ask why? We are afraid to see ourselves, is the answer we have come to. If we contemplate the exceptions to the eternal, forgiving grace of God, we are afraid that we will see ourselves.

"Yes, everything deceived him, even animals. Whenever he pets a dog it bites his fingers; but when he beats it with a stick it licks his feet, and looks into his eyes like a daughter. he killed one such dog, and buried it deep, laying a great stone on the top of it-- but who knows Perhaps just because he killed it, it has come to life again, and instead of lying in the trench, is running about cheerfully with other dogs."

We are meant to ignore Christ here, I think, or see him only through the eyes of Judas's loneliness. At many points, Christ seems more like a beloved pet, spoiled and hogged by the "beloved" ones, while Judas waits his turn. These beloved ones, too, scatter. I have read the Gospel accounts many times, but it takes literature like this to understand the weight of this. They scatter-- these men who have pledged to follow unto death, and they scatter like children at the appearance of guards. And it is these same men, and the generations upon generations who claim to follow them, who condemn Judas without even a thought as to his heart. And when Judas appaears to them, in the doorway, like Christ himself, it is these men who call him traitor, already justifying their lives, encouraging themselves that their lives are MORE important than Christ's, because they can share his message. A dead prophet is worth far more. Within days Christ was no longer a man but a story.

I have heard so many times that the Christian message depends on Christ's death, that without a Cross there could be no Christianity. Maybe, I suppose, and I suppose I lay my cards too broadly by raising an eyebrow at this. I feel deeply uncomfortable speaking about the utility of God. As a man, Christ represented love. As a martyr, He could become Religion.

So are we left with this, a Judas who was the only one to truly understand Christ's heart? Who recognized him when no one else did, who hoped until the end that He woudl reveal His power, who never doubted for a minute that He would return with the world at His feet? Who are the real traitors? Him who betrayed or those who refused to fight?
Profile Image for selbi.
21 reviews2 followers
October 16, 2022
Должна была взглянуть на библейский сюжет глазами Андреева, но только ещё больше запуталась и может даже разочаровалась, хотя я далека от религий и мало что понимаю.
Апостолы, те самые «идеальные парни», предстают невыносимо глупыми и эгоистичными, неприятными людьми. Неприятный Иуда не предстаёт никем для меня, так как он своего рода Раскольников. Опять одни и те же вопросы : « можно ли оправдать?». Двигаем чуть-чуть понятие морали и оправдываем всё спокойно) а если вам не нравится оправдание, то просто гнём линию что оппонент бесчеловечен и блаблабл.

Произведение скучное и монотонное.

Понравилась цитата: « сегодня утром ты назвал меня: вор. Сегодня вечером ты зовёшь меня: брат. А как ты назовёшь меня завтра?»
Profile Image for إسلام عماد.
Author 41 books366 followers
March 16, 2023
رواية جميلة اوي، وغريبة اوي اوي...شخصية يهوذا طالعة مليانه ابعاد تانية غير اللي الواحد دايمًا عارفها...
وكتابة مشهد دخوله للحواريين بعد صلب المسيح كان مشهد جبار، خلاني فعلًا افكر شوية ف مبدأ يهوذا...انتو ازاي اتباعه وبتحبوه، وسيبتوه يحصل له كل دا؟
Profile Image for Saja.
219 reviews24 followers
September 6, 2023
اصبحت اليوم قادرة على ادارك ابعاد اخرى في شخصيات أَجْزَمَ التأريخ بأنها شخصيات شريرة او شخيصات خيره ..
اليوم اتمكن من ان ارى في كل شخصية بُعد الخير وبُعد الشر وبُعد ثالث لا اعلم ما هو الى الان وماذا اسميه لكنه ادركه بروحي فقط
مااصبحت موقنة به اليوم ان لا خير مطلق ولا شر مطلق ..
Profile Image for Güler.
187 reviews
September 21, 2023
"Günahtan onu henüz işlemeyen korkar. Günahı zaten işlemiş olan niye korksun? Ölümden ölü mü korkar yoksa canlı mı?"

*

"İstediğin zaman ateşe atma cesareti gösteremeyeceksen ruha neden ihtiyacın var?"
Profile Image for Nikita Mihaylov.
137 reviews7 followers
May 15, 2024
Своего учителя они всегда любят, но больше мертвым, чем живым. Когда учитель жив, он может спросить у них урок, и тогда им будет плохо. А когда учитель умирает, они сами становятся учителями, и плохо делается уже другим! Хе!

Эта книга - переосмысление самого главного предательства в истории.
Иуда был безобразен, и люди относились к нему соответственно. Иисус не изгонял его, просто игнорировал, так же поступали и апостолы. Стоит ли говорить, что дурные наклонности, которые все заочно в нем видели, не замедлили проявиться?

Но Иуда любил Христа. Много работал, чтобы обеспечить всех едой и ночлегом, передавал Иисусу через Марию цветы, которые напоминали ему о Галилее, таскал детишек с которыми тот любил возиться. Порой он крал деньги, ругался с Фомой и часами ныл о том, что с ним поступают несправедливо.

Но чтобы он не делал, так и не смог добиться от Иисуса хоть чего-то. И он решает его предать. Когда мы читаем о жизни Христа, это всегда непросто - поверить, что проповедник одним лишь словом и редкими чудесами способен убедить людей следовать за соб��й и своей кучкой оборванцев. В этих историях никто не ведет себя как обычный, нормальный человек. Никто, кроме Иуды.

Искариот говорил, что он единственный останется с Иисусом до конца, так и происходит. И он яростно обвиняет апостолов в том, что они не залили солдат своей кровью, в попытке освободить учителя. На что Иоанн отвечает, что без них некому будет рассказать о нем. И каждый из них прав, движимой слепой любовью к Христу или обыденным страхом перед казнью.

Он быстро раскаялся и до последнего верил, что Иисуса можно будет спасти. И, как и обещал, первый вошел вслед за ним.

Сильный текст, но мне не очень нравится стиль Андреева.
Profile Image for Gizem Çetin.
Author 9 books18 followers
July 10, 2020
Kitabın yorumuna geçmeden önce şunları bilmekte yarar var: Yahuda, Hz. İsa'nın havarilerinden biridir, onu otuz gümüşe düşmanlarına teslim ederek ihanet eder. İslam'a göre, Allah Hz. İsa'yı katına yükseltir, düşmanlarının onu yakalamasına izin vermez. Başka bir kişiyi - muhtemelen Yahuda'yı - onlara Hz. İsa gibi gösterir, inkarcılar da o başka kişiyi çarmıha gererek öldür­ürler. Hristiyanlığa göre ise öldürülen Hz. İsa'dır. Haç sembolü de oradan gelir. İşte kitap bu olay üzerinden ihanet psikolojisini işliyor.

Yahuda... Yüzünün iki yanı farklı görünümde çizilmiştir kitabın kelimelerinde. Bir gözü kör, yüzünün bir yanı kıpırtısız ve çizgisiz... Diğer gözü kurnaz bakışlı, yüzü ise kırışıklarla dolu. Andreyev'in Yahuda'sının kişiliği de yüzü gibi iki parçalıdır. İsa'yı sever, delice sever, en çok kendisinin sevdiğini kanıtlamak ister. Sırf bu yüzden ona ihanet eder. Diğer havarileri sınar, acaba onu kurtarmak için bir şeyler yapacaklar mı? İnsanlığı sınar, acaba onun yüceliğini anlayacaklar mı? Garip, hastalıklı, çelişkili, bir parça da kibirli bir ruh hali ihanete taşımıştır Yahuda'yı.

Kitabın geneline baktığımızda ne kötü ne harika. Orta karar. Diyaloglar ya da ilk kısımlar zorlama gelebilir biraz. Fakat tasvirler... Muhteşemdi. Kitabı yaşatan, canınızı yakacak kadar canlı tasvirler var, özellikle sonlara doğru. Psikolojik tahlil seviyorsanız, modern klasiklere ve teolojik tarihi olaylara ilgiliyseniz tavsiye edebilirim.
Profile Image for C. Çevik.
Author 44 books214 followers
January 7, 2022
Belki de Yahuda hain değildir de her şeyi kontrolsüz sevgisinden yapmıştır. Bir ara kontrolsüz güç güç değildir diye bir reklam sözü vardı, kontrolsüz sevgi de aynı minvalde değerlendirilebilir.

Hainlik suçlamasının ayağa düştüğü dönemlerde has haini bulmak da, tespit etmek de zorlaşır. Kutsal kitap bu konuda bize yardımcı olmaya çalışıyor ama sadece o kitap okunacak diye herkesi bağlayan bir kaide yok ya.

Tarihsel kişilerle ilgili “aslında o sandığınız kişi değil” mesajını veren kurgu eserler bizi sorgulamaya veya en azından düşünmeye sürükler. Leonid Andreyev’in Yahuda İskariot kitabı da böyledir, kitabın portresini çizdiği yahuda havarileri “korkak hainler” olarak niteler ve neredeyse kendisini İsa’nın tek yoldaşı kılar.

Sadece alışıldık anlatılardan farklı bir Yahuda portresi ve havarilerin inancının sorgulanması için değil, aynı zamanda kendilerini kutsal mesajların tek sahibi, mirasçısı veya kullanıcısı olarak gören tüm dinsel ve kültürel iktidar sahiplerinin iç yüzüne dair de fikir verdiği için Andreyev’in kitabı okunmalı.
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