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Aksyonov’s Wife
Like the district police inspector who appears earlier on in the story, the Governor is known only by his title. This establishes him as a symbol of state authority and institutional justice, which Aksyonov decidedly rejects in recognizing the sole authority of God to deliver judgments and to right moral wrongs. When Makar Semyonov’s prison tunnel discovered, the Governor arrives and questions Aksyonov as to who is trying to escape. Even though the Governor appeals to Aksyonov’s spiritual righteousness, saying that Aksyonov has a good reputation and always tells the truth, Aksyonov refuses to inform on Makar and lies to the Governor, insisting that he knows nothing about the escape attempt. Tolstoy thus uses the character of the Governor to show Aksyonov’s rejection of social, institutional justice (embodied by the Governor) in favor of the ultimate prerogative of God to judge individuals’ souls.
The Governor Quotes in God Sees the Truth But Waits
The God Sees the Truth But Waits quotes below are all either spoken by The Governor or refer to The Governor. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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God Sees the Truth But Waits Quotes
“I could cover up for him, but why should I forgive the man who ruined me? […] Let him pay the price for all my suffering. On the other hand, they’re bound to flog him if I testify against him. And what if my suspicions are wrong? Would it make me feel any easier?”
[…]
“I saw nothing and I know nothing.”
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Explanation and Analysis:
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The Governor Character Timeline in God Sees the Truth But Waits
The timeline below shows where the character The Governor appears in God Sees the Truth But Waits. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
God Sees the Truth But Waits
...Makar digging an escape tunnel. The next day, the authorities discover the hole, and the Governor arrives on the scene to question the prisoners as to who was trying to escape....
(full context)
...the foot of his bunk. Makar, overwhelmed by Aksyonov’s goodness in protecting him from the Governor, confesses to having framed Aksyonov for murder 26 years earlier and begs his forgiveness. Makar...
(full context)
