The Kreutzer Sonata

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If Pozdnischeff from Leo Tolstoy’s “The Kreutzer Sonata” were to enter therapy with a behavioral psychologist today, he would be diagnosed with the antisocial personality disorder. This disorder requires three out of the seven traits described in DSM-IV for diagnosis, and Pozdnischeff demonstrates three of these traits. The first trait is definitely deceit. Pozdznischeff often hides his true feelings and jealousies, yet he acts nonchalant about the situations that might develop; i.e. he invites the music teacher to stay and introduces him on purpose to his wife as if daring her not to have an affair. He continues to invite him to organize a musical night with his wife, the very person who shouldn’t be associating with his wife. He acts upon his jealousies and insecurities, more or less fanning the fire. (Edinburgh) The hero-villain has been brought up to avoid all moral responsibility. As a wealthy young man, he looked on women merely as the instruments of his sensual gratification. Pozdznischeff complains that some music is powerful enough to change one's internal state to a foreign one. He hides his raging jealousy and goes on a trip, returns early, finds the two together and kills his wife with a dagger. The violinist escapes: "I wanted to run after him, but remembered that it is ridiculous to run after one's wife's lover in one's socks; and I did not wish to be ridiculous but terrible"(138). This passage clearly shows he lacks remorse of killing his wife, and then later on it appears as though he feels sorry for killing her. The author is very ambiguous and the reader does not know whether or not he truly had remorse for killing her but it appears to me as though he is lacking in that area. Another trait of antisocial behavior that Pozdnischeff obtains is passive aggressiveness and narcissism. He has far too much pride and thinks he is an ace. Also, he

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