THREE QUESTIONS

As at the core of the Buddha’s enlightenment there was the realization of the Four Noble
Truths, Tolstoy’s story of Three Questions puts forth fundamental reality of life.
While working on the later parts of his life, Tolstoy began experiencing bouts of depression,
which at times were so severe that he considered suicide. He was tormented by the need to
find a meaning for his life that would not be annihilated by death. His Ispoved’ (1882; A
Confession, 1885) describes this spiritual struggle and the solution he found: to practice
what he saw as the essence of Christianity—that is, universal love and passive resistance to
evil. A series of religious writings amplified this new faith. In these, he urged people to live
according to the dictates of conscience, which meant practicing universal love and living as
far as possible by their own labor. He also declared all forms of violence equally wrong,
including war and the compulsion that the state uses against its citizens.

His Three Questions wrote about of moral philosophy. He wrote Three Questions based on
fairy tales or religious legends. Written in a simple but expressive style, it is intended to
convey his idea of ethical Christianity and expanded Buddhism. Tolstoy himself tried to
abide by his new beliefs, simplifying his life, living on his own labor, and giving up material
possessions.

In Three Questions by Leo Tolstoy we have the theme of wisdom, knowledge,

awareness, kindness, forgiveness and acceptance. Narrated in the third person by an
unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Tolstoy may be
exploring the theme of wisdom. The King longs to know the answer to three questions
which will help enlighten him. He is seeking the wisdom of others on how to better
run his Kingdom. Though he asks many different people to answer his three questions
it is only through his actions and the wisdom of the hermit that the King finally gets
an answer to his questions. The fact that the King had to rely on the hermit may be
important as Tolstoy may be suggesting that those who previously attempted to
answer the King’s questions rather than being wise or learned may in fact be of no
use to the King. Now that he has come across a dilemma that he needs an answer
for. It is also interesting that the King had to disguise himself when he was meeting
the hermit. As Tolstoy may be suggesting that the hermit does not necessarily agree
with how the rich (people like the King) live their lives. If anything he may feel as
though they suppress those who are financially weaker. There is a hierarchy in
existence that the hermit may not agree with.

The theme of knowledge is self-evident in the story. For that is exactly what the King
is looking for. He is looking for the knowledge or the ‘know-how’ that will ensure that
his time is spent more efficiently. However the King is looking outwards for answers
while the hermit tells him that the answers are within the King. His actions towards
the bearded man who wished to kill the King show that the King may not necessarily
need others to answer his questions. The King could have ignored the bearded man
but rather he helped him. Ensuring that the bearded man did not die. This most likely
is the ‘now’ that the hermit has told the King about. How it is important to deal with
issues in real time. As they happen. Rather than the King seeking to address
something that has not yet happened. Similarly the most important person in the
King’s life is the person he is dealing with at the time. In this case it was when the
King helped dig a clay bed for the hermit and when he dressed the bearded man’s
wounds. At all stages of the story the King has been aware of his surroundings.
The King has also managed to answer his last question for himself. That which relates
to what is the most important thing to do. By helping the hermit and the bearded
man the King has managed to do something good for others. Though he did not think
about it his actions have spoken louder than words. By being kind to others the King
will be able to help or assist them. Something that none of the King’s advisers or
Council of wise men were able to tell him. Which may be important as Tolstoy could
be suggesting that those who the King surrounds himself with may be yes men. They
might out of fear or a wish to obtain good favour from the King. Agree with everything
that the King says. It has taken a hermit who lives alone on less than modest means
to answer the King’s questions. Even though in reality the King has answered the
questions by himself.

Which may be the point that Tolstoy is attempting to make. He may be suggesting
that everybody who has a question on how they should live their lives. Has the answer
within them just like the King. There is no need to look for counsel from others when
it comes to doing the right thing. Something that the King has learnt. He has helped
others without thinking about it and he has done the right thing. The bearded man’s
forgiveness and the King’s acceptance of the bearded man’s forgiveness may also be
important as both men are putting aside any resentment they may have towards each
other. Which is important as resentment has an ability to cloud an individual’s
judgement. A person is not able to do their best for another person should they hold
any animosity towards that person. By restoring the bearded man’s land the King is
also forgiving the bearded man for wishing or attempting to kill him. He is thinking
of others where many would thought only of themselves. If anything the King is doing
the good that the hermit has spoken of. He is setting aside any differences he may
have had with the bearded man and allowing for a new chapter to be opened in both
the King’s life and the bearded man’s life. Something that the King would not have
learnt from all his advisers or Council of wise men. The most important thing that the
King has learnt is to do good by those who are around him. Something that the King
has succeeded in doing during his time with the hermit and the bearded man.
 Questions & Answers
1. ‘Now, if live, and if you wish it, I will serve you as your most faithful
slave and will bid my sons do the same. Forgive me!’

a) Who are ‘l’ and ‘you’ here?

Ans. ‘I’ refers to the wounded man and ‘You’ refers to the king.

b) How are the two of them connected?

Ans. The king has executed the wounded man’s brother and seized his
property so the man has come to take revenge for his brother’s death.

c) Why is the speaker asking for forgiveness?

Ans:- The wounded man asked for the king’s forgiveness because he
wanted to kill the king but the king has saved his life and he was
grateful to the king now.

2. ‘You have already been answered! ‘

a) Who had already been answered?

Ans:- The king had already been answered.

b) What answer is referred to here?

Ans:- The answer given by the hermit for his three questions are being referred
here.

c) Do you think the answer is appropriate? Why?

Ans:- Yes, I think the answers are appropriate because the most important time is
our present because it is the only moment when we have the power to act.
Secondly, the most important person is ourselves because the future is
unpredictable and the third thing that we need is to do good to others because we
have been sent in this world to serve this noble cause.
3. Why did the king want to know answers to three questions?

Ans: He wanted to know answers to three questions because of the thought came
to his mind that he would never fail if he knew answers to the three questions. The
questions were: what was the right time for every action, who were the most
important people and what the most important thing to do was.

4. Why was the king advised to go to magicians?

Ans: The king was advised to go to magicians to get the answer for his first
question. In answer to the first question, i.e. to decide the right time for doing
something urgent one must have to look into the future. Since the only magician
could do that, the king was advised to go to magicians.

5. Did the wise men win the reward? If not, why not?

Ans: No, the wise men did not win the reward. The king got different answers for all
the three questions he had asked. He was not satisfied with any of them.

6. Why did the king go to the wise hermit?

Ans:- The king went to the hermit as he was renowned for his wisdom and the king
was unable to get satisfying answers from the others.

7. How did the king and the hermit help the wounded man?

Ans: The king and the hermit helped the wounded man by providing him the
shelter and protected from the army. The king washed and covered the wound of
the man with his handkerchief, but the blood would not stop flowing. The king re-
dressed the wound until it stopped bleeding. They took him to hut for taking rest
and king also gave him fresh water after being relaxed.

8. Who was the intruder? What made him visit the hermit?

Ans: The intruder was enemy of the king he had planned to attack the king but was
instead attacked by the king’s bodyguards, as they had recognized him. He had
received a wound in his stomach. He was rushing towards the hermit’s hut for help.
9. What were the hermit’s answers to the three questions? Write each answer
separately.

Ans: In answer to the king’s first question, the hermit said that there is only one
important time ‘Now’ i.e. present. It is the only time when you have the power to
act.

In answer to the king’s second question, the hermit said that the most important
person is the one with who we are at the present.

In response to the king’s third question, the hermit answered that the most
important thing to do is to do that person good.

10. Why the king changed his clothes and left behind his bodyguards and horse
before meeting the hermit?

Ans. The king was aware that the hermit would meet only simple people. So, he
dressed up like an ordinary man, left behind his horse and bodyguards and went to
meet the hermit in his hut in the woods all alone.

11. Describe the hermit in one or two sentences.

Ans. The hermit was a weak old man and used to live amidst the woods which he
would never leave. He was digging the ground in front of his hut for sowing seeds
when the king arrived and the tedious task had made him tired.

12. “Here comes someone running”. Who has been referred to in this sentence?

Ans. The bearded man is being referred to in these lines. He had planned to attack
the king, but was instead attacked by the king’s bodyguards, as they had
recognised him. He had received a wound in his stomach. He was rushing towards
the hermit’s hut for help.

13. Describe the king in your own words.

Ans The king wanted to be a good ruler. He was seeking answers for the three
questions which he thought would help him in his mission. The king was
kindhearted, when he found the old man tired of digging the ground, he offered
him his help. He kept on bandaging the bearded man’s wound until blood stopped
coming out from it. He was down to earth, he dressed up like a common man and
spent the night sleeping on floor at the hermit’s hut.
14. Describe the bearded man in your own words.

Ans. The bearded man was courageous. He wanted to avenge his brother’s death
killing the king. He lacked patience because when the king didn’t return by evening,
he became anxious and left his hiding place. He was thankful and obliged by the
king’s act. He repented for his act and asked for forgiveness. He returned the favour
by promising the king faithfulness of his entire family for the kingdom.

15. The king helped the hermit in digging the beds. He even slept on the floor of
the hut and lived like a simple man in the hermit’s hut. What lesson we learn from
this?

The king found the old hermit tired digging the beds so he offered his help to the
man. He was accustomed of comfort and lavishness in his palace still at hermit’s
home he slept on the floor. At our homes we get all the luxuries but if one day
there comes a situation where we have to live without them we should be prepared
for that. In life we might become very rich and affluent one day still we should be
simple from heart and must not be ashamed of embracing it at any moment.

© Palash Pal