What Is Oblomovism
Quick Summary
The term "Oblomovism" originates from Ivan Goncharov's 1859 novel, Oblomov. The novel's protagonist, Oblomov, is a wealthy but indolent nobleman who spends his days in bed, lost in daydreams. This character became a symbol of the inertia, backwardness, and futility prevalent in 19th-century Russian society, a concept termed oblomovshchina.1
Nikolay Dobrolyubov, a radical Russian critic, further popularized this idea in his 1859-60 essay, "What is Oblomovism?" He used the character of Oblomov to represent the "superfluous man" in Russian literature and life, highlighting a critique of societal stagnation rather than just literary analysis.2
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