Question

adapted from Oblomov by Ivan Goncharov In Garpkhavaya Street, in one of those immense houses the population of which would suffice for a whole provincial city, there lay one morning in bed in his apartment Ilya Ilyitch Oblomov. He was a pleasant-appearing man of two or three and twenty, of medium stature, with dark gray eyes. His face, however, lacked any fixed idea or concentration of purpose. A thought would wander like a free bird over his features, flutter in his eyes, hide itself in the wrinkles of his brow, and entirely vanish away. Then over his whole countenance would spread the shadeless light of unconcern. From his face this indifference extended to the attitudes of his whole body, even to the folds of his robe. Occasionally, his eyes were darkened by an expression of weariness or disgust, but neither weariness nor disgust could for an instant dispel from his face the idleness that was the dominant and habitual expression not only of his body, but also of his very soul. His soul was frankly and clearly betrayed in his eyes, in his smile, and in every movement of his head and of his hands. A cool, superficial observer, glancing at Oblomov, would have said, "He must be a good-natured, simple-hearted fellow." Anyone looking deeper, more sympathetically, would after a few moments' inspection turn away with a smile, with a feeling of agreeable uncertainty. Oblomov's complexion was not flushed nor was it pale, but it did not mirror health. He neglected exercise and fresh air. His movements were kept under restraint likewise by a lack of energy and by a laziness that was not lacking its own peculiar grace. If a shadow of an anxious thought arose from his spirit and passed across his face, his eyes would grow troubled. The wrinkles in his brow would deepen, and a struggle of doubt or pain would seem to begin. But rarely indeed would this troubled thought crystallize into the form of a definite idea. Still more rarely would it be transformed into a project. All anxiety would be dispelled in a sigh and settle down into apathy or lazy dreaming. 1 What is the best objective summary of the passage

Answer 1

The passage describes the character of Ilya Ilyitch Oblomov and his state of idleness and apathy. Ilya Ilyitch Oblomov, in Ivan Goncharov's novel, is characterized by his indifference, lack of purpose, and habitual laziness, both of body and soul, a condition famously known as Oblomovism.

Step-by-step explanation:

The passage from Ivan Goncharov's Oblomov describes the protagonist, Ilya Ilyitch Oblomov, as a young man who exhibits a lack of energy and purpose. His face and the motion of his body consistently show signs of indifference and laziness. Despite moments of weariness or disgust, Oblomov's dominant state is one of idle dreaming and apathy, which seems to reflect the state of his soul. This condition, known as Oblomovism, suggests a deeper societal malaise that was of concern during the era of the novel's publication.