Ward No. 6 II
147-171
1. Chapter X What is Andrey Yefimith’s philosophy of thought and suffering. How does it relate to his attitude towards his patients? What is Ivan Dimitritch’s critique of this philosophy? What is the latter’s philosophy of pain? How does it relate to his belief in social justice?
2. Chapters XI-XII On the basis of what facts do the doctor, the postmaster, the mayor, and others decide that Andrey Yefimitch is mentally ill? What type of distinction do they make between mental illness and sanity (reason)? What type of distinction does Andrey Yefimitch make? How does the town’s judgment of Andrey Yefimitch relate to the latter’s argument in chapter VIII that there is no moral logic to society’s decisions about who is insane.
3. XIII-XIV
What is the effect of Mihail Averyanitch’s constant talking on Andrey Yefimitch?
What does this seem to say about the relation between everyday social
“conversation” and reason? What do
Mihail Averyanitch and others not understand about
the intellectual, Andrey Yefimitch?
Why does he not understand them?
4. Chapters XV How does Andrey Yefimitch change after he returns home? What does he do? What questions are raised by his unhappiness at not receiving a pension? Is there a moral logic to this decision? Is he still indifferent to questions of justice?
5. Chapters
XVI-XIX Compare Andrey Yefimitch’s reaction to being imprisoned in the ward to
his philosophy at the end of Chapter IX that a “reflecting and a thoughtful man”
“can find tranquility” in “any surroundings.”
What does Ivan Dmitritch mean when he says “ironically” to Andrey
Yefimitch “You should be philosophical”? After
being beaten by Nikita, what does Andrey Yefimitch finally realize about the
role of pain and injustice in life?
What has happened to Ivan’s belief in
eventual justice?
l