Aksenoff and Semevitch are two evolving characters in Leo Tolstoy’s “God Sees the Truth but Waits.” During the story both men’s personalities and motivations change. The interaction between these two characters reaches a point where they need to confront each other’s past and inner struggles. These interactions are based on the characters’ traits and their own decisions. Tolstoy’s greatest achievement is to show the reader the ability that human beings have to change for the better or the worse.
There were some similarities between Semevitch and Aksenoff. Among the several similarities between these two characters, we can mention the fact that both were about the same age. They also lived in the town of Vladimir. At the moment of the story’s climax, the two men had a surprisingly similar reaction to forgiveness by sobbing inconsolably. Finally, the most important similarity is that both characters need to confront their own past. That confrontation leads to a common understanding that forgiving is hard, but it brings peace of mind and personal growth in the long run.
Obviously, there is a number of differences based on characters’ traits. Semevitch had lived a life of crime including murdering and planting incriminatory evidence. On the other hand, Aksenoff was an honest and truthful man who had never had any criminal background. Another important difference is that although both characters change throughout the story, their evolutions take different paths. Aksenoff changes from a joyful and successful merchant to a sad and somber prisoner. Semevitch evolves from an unrepentant criminal to a man that wants to make amends to his past wrongdoings.