“There Are No
Guilty People” by Leo Tolstoy
1. Author and Context
Author: Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910), one of Russia’s greatest writers.
Written: Around 1909, near the end of Tolstoy’s life.
Period: Reflects Tolstoy’s religious and moral phase, when he focused
on peace, non-violence, and Christian ethics.
Type: Short story / moral essay / anti-death-penalty statement.
Theme: Condemnation of capital punishment and the idea of human
guilt.
2. Central Idea
Tolstoy’s main belief:
👉
“There are no guilty people — only people who suffer because of ignorance,
injustice, and social conditions.”
No one deserves to be killed or punished by others.
True justice must be based on mercy and love, not revenge.
🕊 Summary
Introduction
Leo Tolstoy’s There Are No Guilty People is one of his final works,
written around 1909. It is a moral and philosophical short story that strongly
condemns capital punishment and challenges society’s idea of “guilt.” Like much
of Tolstoy’s late writing, it reflects his deep Christian and humanitarian
beliefs and his rejection of violence, revenge, and institutional cruelty.
Plot Summary
The story opens with a description of a public execution that
deeply disturbs the narrator. Tolstoy shows how ordinary citizens, judges, and
officials all play a part in the process that leads to the death of a fellow
human being — and yet none of them take personal responsibility for it.
Tolstoy introduces Alexander Ivanovich Volgin, a wealthy and
well-educated young man who lives a comfortable life. He is not directly
involved in the executions or courts, but he represents the educated, moral
society that accepts such systems without questioning them.
One day, Volgin begins to reflect deeply on the nature of crime,
punishment, and guilt. He realizes that society is built on hypocrisy — the
very people who punish others for crimes are themselves guilty of cruelty,
indifference, and injustice. He begins to understand that every human being
commits wrongs, but often under conditions beyond their control — ignorance,
poverty, fear, or desperation.
Tolstoy presents a simple but radical idea:
> No one is truly guilty, because every person’s actions are
shaped by the conditions of their life — by poverty, upbringing, and society’s
corruption.
Volgin’s reflections grow into a passionate condemnation of the
death penalty. He argues that no human being has the moral right to judge or
kill another, since all are imperfect and sinful. Punishing someone for murder
by murdering them again is the ultimate contradiction.
Tolstoy portrays judges, lawyers, and priests as people who hide
behind their “official duties,” refusing to see their shared guilt in acts of
violence. The story ends with a strong moral message: if we truly loved others
and understood their suffering, we would stop punishing and start forgiving.
1.
Introduction — The Meaning of Guilt
Tolstoy
begins by questioning the idea of guilt. He asks if anyone in the world can
truly be called guilty. He believes that what people call “crime” is often the
result of ignorance, poverty, or the bad influence of society. According to
him, no one commits evil willingly; every wrong action comes from confusion or
suffering.
He points
out that people are quick to punish others but never stop to think about their
own faults. Society builds prisons and execution grounds, calling them
instruments of justice, but in truth, they are signs of cruelty and blindness.
2.
The Death Penalty
Tolstoy
turns to the topic of capital punishment — the act of legally
killing a person for a crime. He calls it the worst form of murder,
because it is done not in anger or passion, but calmly and deliberately, with
planning and approval.
He describes
the process of an execution: the officials preparing documents, the guards
escorting the prisoner, the priests praying, and the people watching. Everyone
acts as if it is a normal duty, yet together they commit a terrible act — the
killing of a helpless human being.
Tolstoy says
that this kind of killing is far worse than the crime committed by the
condemned man. When an ordinary person kills, it is usually in fear or rage.
But when society kills through law, it is done with cold indifference
— without pity, without emotion, and with approval from the crowd.
3.
The Role of Society and Its Hypocrisy
Tolstoy says
that every person who supports or allows the death penalty shares the guilt.
The judges, the jury, the guards, the executioner, and even the people who
watch silently — all are guilty of the same sin.
He
criticizes how people hide behind the excuse of “duty” or “law.” They say, “I
am only doing my job,” or “It is necessary for justice.” But
Tolstoy argues that no law or order can make an immoral act moral. If killing
is wrong for one man, it is wrong for all — whether it is done by a murderer or
by the state.
4.
The Character of Alexander Ivanovich Volgin
Tolstoy
introduces Alexander Ivanovich Volgin, a young, well-educated
man from a comfortable background. He lives an easy life, believing that law
and justice are necessary for society.
One day,
Volgin hears about a man being executed and begins to think deeply. He asks
himself: “Who gave us the right to take another person’s life? Who among us
is so pure that he can call another man guilty?”
As he
reflects more, he realizes that society itself is built on unfairness. Many
people are forced into crime by poverty, hunger, or ignorance — things society
itself creates. Therefore, it is not the criminal who is guilty, but the
society that made him what he is.
5.
No One Is Born Evil
Tolstoy explains
that people are shaped by their environment. A child born into a poor, violent,
or neglected home will likely grow up to act wrongly. If that same child were
raised with love, education, and kindness, he would become a good person.
So when the
law punishes someone, it is really punishing a victim of society’s neglect.
Tolstoy says, instead of killing criminals, we should try to understand their
suffering and help them improve. Compassion and education can heal what
punishment destroys.
6.
Religion and Morality
Tolstoy
connects his argument to Christian teaching. He reminds
readers that Christ said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged,” and “Thou
shalt not kill.”
He says that
people who claim to be Christian but support executions are hypocrites. True Christianity
is not about judging or punishing others; it is about forgiveness, love, and
mercy.
He insists
that only God can truly judge a person’s heart. Humans have no
right to destroy a life, because they do not give life — only God does.
7.
The Real Guilty Ones
Tolstoy
turns the idea of guilt upside down. He says that the real guilty people are
not the ones in prison or waiting for execution. The real guilty ones are the
people who sit in comfort, obeying unjust laws, and remaining silent when
others suffer.
When we
allow injustice to continue — whether through silence, fear, or blind obedience
— we become part of that injustice. Every execution that happens in the name of
the law is a stain on all who accept it.
8.
The Death of a Prisoner
Tolstoy
describes the final moments of a condemned man. He is alone, frightened, and
filled with despair. He does not understand why he must die. Society calls him
a criminal, but in that moment, Tolstoy shows that the man is simply a human
being, weak and lost — no different from anyone else.
The
officials around him perform their duties mechanically. The priest reads
prayers; the executioner ties the rope; the crowd watches silently. Tolstoy
says this scene shows the complete loss of humanity in a world that values order
over compassion.
9.
Tolstoy’s Conclusion
In the end,
Tolstoy declares that there are no guilty people — only ignorant
and unhappy people who do not yet understand love and truth. Every
person who does wrong can change if given kindness and understanding.
He says that
if people truly followed the commandment of love, there would be no prisons, no
executions, and no hatred. Society would heal itself through forgiveness, not
punishment.
He ends by
warning that as long as humans continue to judge and kill each other in the
name of justice, true peace and morality will never exist.
In Short
Every person’s actions are shaped by their life conditions.
No one has the right to take another person’s life.
Society, not individuals, is often the real criminal.
True religion teaches forgiveness, not punishment.
Love and compassion can solve what violence and revenge
cannot.
Important
Characters
🔹 1. The Condemned Man (The Prisoner / The Accused) : A poor peasant
or common man who has been found guilty of committing a crime (often presented
as a murderer or thief).
Role in the essay: He represents the
suffering and helplessness of the poor.
Tolstoy uses him as a symbol of society’s victims—those who are driven
to crime by hunger, injustice, and inequality.
Importance: He is the central
figure of the courtroom scene.
Through him, Tolstoy shows that no one is born guilty.
His pain and fear expose the cruelty and heartlessness of the
legal system.
🔹 2. The Judges and Lawyers: The officials conducting the trial—judges, lawyers, and government
representatives.
Role in the essay: They symbolize
the cold, mechanical, and unjust legal system.
Importance: They carry out
their duties without compassion or moral feeling.
Tolstoy criticizes them for being more concerned with procedure
than with truth or humanity.
They represent the moral blindness of society’s educated class.
🔹 3. The Society / The People: Ordinary
citizens who accept and support executions and punishments without question.
Role in the essay: Society acts as
a collective character, guilty of creating the very conditions that
produce crime.
Importance: Tolstoy holds society
responsible for every crime.
People’s indifference and cruelty make them true participants in
injustice.
Society represents moral decay, inequality, and lack of
compassion.
🔹 4. Leo Tolstoy (The Narrator): The
author himself acts as the moral voice and observer in the essay.
Role in the essay: He describes
the courtroom, reflects on what he sees, and questions the morality of
punishment and justice.
Importance: He serves as
the conscience of humanity.
His reflections express deep empathy and moral reasoning.
Tolstoy’s perspective turns the courtroom scene into a powerful
message of compassion and reform.
🟩 Important Places
🔹 1. The Courtroom
Description:
The main setting of the essay where the trial and sentencing of the prisoner
take place.
Symbolic Meaning:
Represents the entire legal and social system.
A place meant for justice but filled with formality,
indifference, and cruelty.
It becomes a symbol of hypocrisy, where laws exist without
love or morality.
🔹 2. The Prison / Execution Place (Implied Setting)
Description:
Though not described in detail, the essay implies the prison cell and
execution ground where the condemned man will be taken.
Symbolic Meaning:
Represents the cruelty and inhumanity of punishment.
It reminds readers of state violence and moral corruption.
🔹 3. Russian Society (Broader Setting)
Description:
The essay reflects the conditions of 19th-century Russian society,
marked by poverty, class division, and moral decay.
Symbolic Meaning:
It is the real “guilty place” in Tolstoy’s view.
Society’s institutions—courts, government, and religion—are shown
as sources of injustice rather than justice.
🟩 In Summary
|
Character /
Place |
Symbolizes |
Role /
Importance |
|
The Condemned Man |
Victim of society |
Shows that no one is born guilty |
|
Judges & Lawyers |
Corrupt justice system |
Represent heartless authority |
|
Society / People |
Collective guilt |
Source of injustice and inequality |
|
Leo Tolstoy |
Moral conscience |
Voice of truth and compassion |
|
Courtroom |
Injustice and cruelty |
Main setting of the essay |
|
Prison / Execution Place |
Moral failure of the state |
Shows cruelty of punishment |
|
Russian Society |
Root cause of evil |
Represents social guilt and inequality |
Main Themes
1. ⚖ Injustice of Capital Punishment
Execution is deliberate, legal murder done calmly by society.
Killing in the name of justice is still killing.
2. 💔 No One Is Born Evil
Crime results from poverty, ignorance, and social unfairness.
Society creates criminals through oppression and neglect.
3. 😔 Hypocrisy of Law and Morality
People condemn murderers but accept government killings.
Those who stay silent share the guilt.
4. ✝ True Christianity
Based on forgiveness, compassion, and love.
Christ taught “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”
5. 🌍 Universal Human Weakness
Everyone commits mistakes and sins.
Therefore, no one is morally pure enough to punish another.
5. Tolstoy’s Message
Every person deserves understanding, not punishment.
Society must replace revenge with forgiveness.
To improve the world, people must change their hearts, not just
laws.
The true guilty ones are those who support violence and remain
indifferent to human suffering.
6. Literary Importance
One of Tolstoy’s final moral writings, reflecting his spiritual
philosophy.
A strong anti-violence and humanitarian statement.
Continues to inspire debates about justice, ethics, and human
rights.
Fits with Tolstoy’s late works like The Kingdom of God Is Within
You and Resurrection.
7. Key Quotations / Ideas (for Exams)
“If killing is evil for one man, it cannot be good for another.”
“There are no guilty people — there are only those who do not
understand truth.”
“Punishment does not purify; it only adds to evil.”
8. Moral / Message
Forgive instead of punish.
Love instead of hate.
No man should judge another.
Society must correct itself before condemning others.
Sure — here’s a complete and clear summary of “There Are No Guilty
People” by Leo Tolstoy 👇
Conclusion
There Are No Guilty People is both a story and a sermon. Through
Volgin’s reflections, Tolstoy calls on readers to rethink justice and morality.
His message is simple yet revolutionary: every person deserves compassion, not
condemnation.
It remains one of the most powerful anti–death penalty statements
in literature — a cry for mercy and humanity in a world obsessed with
punishment.
🧩 Plot Summary
The essay (or
short story) “There Are No Guilty People” revolves around Tolstoy’s
protest against capital punishment and the injustice of the legal system.
The story
begins with Tolstoy’s description of a courtroom, where a poor
peasant is being tried and sentenced to death for a crime he has committed.
The author
observes how judges, lawyers, and officials coldly carry out the trial
without showing any understanding or sympathy for the accused.
Tolstoy
questions whether any human being has the moral right to condemn another to
death, especially when society itself creates the conditions that lead
people to crime.
He reflects on
the causes of crime, such as poverty, ignorance, and social inequality,
and argues that the criminal is not entirely responsible.
Through his
narration, Tolstoy expresses deep pity for the condemned man and anger
at the cruelty of the state.
He ends by
declaring that there are no truly guilty people, only victims of a
corrupt and heartless system.
🧱 Structure of
the Work
Tolstoy
structures the essay in a logical and emotional progression, which
strengthens his message:
1.
Introduction: The Scene of the Trial
Tolstoy
describes the courtroom atmosphere and the behavior of judges and
lawyers.
He sets a realistic
and somber tone, showing the lack of compassion in the justice system.
2. Observation
and Reflection
The author
reflects on the cruelty of punishment and the unfairness of the
system.
He begins questioning
who is truly guilty — the man who commits the crime or the society that
failed him.
3.
Philosophical Argument
Tolstoy
develops his central idea: no one is born guilty.
He argues that society
and environment shape a person’s behavior.
The tone
becomes moral and philosophical, appealing to readers’ conscience.
4. Emotional
Appeal
He uses pathos
(emotion) to make readers feel compassion for the condemned man.
He condemns capital
punishment as a sin and a crime by the state.
5. Conclusion:
The Moral Message
Tolstoy
concludes that real justice lies in love, forgiveness, and reform, not
in punishment.
His final
message is spiritual and humanitarian — “There are no guilty people;
there are only guilty societies.”
✳️ In Short
Form: Philosophical
essay with narrative elements.
Tone: Serious,
compassionate, and reformative.
Structure: From real
observation → reflection → argument → emotional appeal → moral conclusion.
Focus: Exposes
injustice and calls for human compassion and reform.
Questions
🟩 1. Explain the
central idea of Leo Tolstoy’s essay “There Are No Guilty People.”
Answer:
The central idea of Leo Tolstoy’s “There Are No Guilty People” is that no
human being is born evil or criminal by nature. People commit crimes
because of poverty, ignorance, and the injustices of society. Tolstoy
believes that the real guilt lies not in individuals but in the social
system that produces inequality and suffering.
Through his
essay, Tolstoy expresses strong opposition to capital punishment. He
calls it an act of murder committed by the state and argues that it
cannot bring justice or peace. According to him, when the government kills a
criminal, it becomes more guilty than the person it executes.
Tolstoy
emphasizes love, compassion, and moral reform instead of punishment and
revenge. He urges society to look within itself and understand how its own
greed, injustice, and lack of compassion lead people to commit crimes. Thus,
the essay’s message is deeply moral and humanitarian: we must change society,
not kill its victims.
🟩 2. Discuss the
major social and moral issues raised by Tolstoy in the essay.
Answer:
Leo Tolstoy raises several important social and moral issues in “There
Are No Guilty People.”
Injustice in
the Legal System:
Tolstoy criticizes the legal system for being cold, mechanical, and unfair,
especially toward poor people. The law punishes the weak while protecting the
rich and powerful.
Cruelty of
Capital Punishment:
He calls capital punishment a legalized form of murder and questions the
moral right of the state to take a person’s life.
Poverty and
Inequality:
Tolstoy believes that poverty, ignorance, and exploitation drive people
toward crime. Society, therefore, is more guilty than the individuals it
condemns.
Moral
Hypocrisy:
He exposes the hypocrisy of “civilized” people who support executions
while pretending to be moral and religious.
Lack of
Compassion:
Tolstoy’s essay is a plea for human sympathy and love. He reminds
readers that every criminal was once an innocent child shaped by society’s
cruelty.
In short, the
essay calls for moral awakening, social reform, and human compassion as
the only true path to justice.
🟩 4. What is
Tolstoy’s attitude towards the legal and judicial system as presented in the
essay?
Answer:
Tolstoy’s attitude toward the legal and judicial system is highly critical
and disapproving. He portrays it as a heartless machine that
punishes individuals without understanding their suffering or the causes behind
their crimes.
In the
courtroom, Tolstoy observes judges, lawyers, and officials behaving formally
and indifferently, following laws without any sense of moral
responsibility. The system, in his view, is designed to protect the rich and
punish the poor. It is not based on justice but on power, convenience,
and cruelty.
Tolstoy
believes that true justice should come from compassion, forgiveness, and
moral reform, not from punishment or revenge. By sentencing a person to
death, the legal system commits the very crime it claims to punish.
Therefore, Tolstoy
condemns the system as morally bankrupt and socially unjust, urging
society to replace it with one built on love, equality, and moral
understanding.
🟩 5. Explain the
moral and philosophical message of “There Are No Guilty People.”
Answer:
The essay “There Are No Guilty People” carries a deep moral and
philosophical message about human nature, justice, and society.
Tolstoy argues
that evil does not exist in people by birth; it arises from wrong
social conditions—poverty, ignorance, and inequality. Therefore, punishing
individuals does not solve the problem of crime. Instead, society must
reform itself to prevent such suffering.
Philosophically,
the essay reflects Tolstoy’s Christian and humanitarian beliefs. He
preaches that love, forgiveness, and compassion are stronger than hatred
and violence. Capital punishment, according to him, violates the sacredness of
life and cannot bring true justice.
Morally,
Tolstoy calls upon readers to see criminals as victims of society,
deserving help and sympathy rather than condemnation. The essay’s timeless
message is that real justice lies in reforming hearts and systems, not in
destroying lives.
🟩 6. Why does
Tolstoy believe that society is more guilty than the individual criminal?
Answer:
Tolstoy believes society is more guilty because it creates the conditions
that lead individuals to commit crimes. People are often driven by hunger,
poverty, lack of education, or injustice—all products of a corrupt social
order.
The wealthy and
powerful, according to Tolstoy, exploit the poor and deny them opportunities,
then call them “criminals” when they act out of desperation. In this way,
society condemns the victims of its own failures.
He argues that
judges and executioners who punish others without compassion are
committing an even greater sin. The true guilt lies in a society that allows
inequality, neglects the poor, and justifies killing in the name of law.
Thus, for
Tolstoy, the solution is not punishment but reform—of social systems and
of human hearts.
🟩 7. How does
Tolstoy use emotion and reasoning to persuade the reader?
Answer:
Tolstoy uses a combination of emotional appeal (pathos) and logical
argument (reason) to strengthen his message.
Emotion:
He makes readers feel pity for the condemned man by describing his helplessness
and the cold attitude of the court. His language is simple yet powerful,
stirring sympathy and moral reflection.
Reason:
Tolstoy supports his emotional appeal with moral reasoning. He logically
argues that society, not individuals, causes crime, and therefore has no moral
right to punish. He points out the contradiction in executing people to “teach”
that killing is wrong.
By blending feeling
and thought, Tolstoy creates a persuasive moral essay that touches both the
heart and the mind.
Short Questions
🟩 1. Who is the
author of “There Are No Guilty People”?
Answer:
The essay “There Are No Guilty People” is written by Leo Tolstoy,
a famous Russian novelist and philosopher known for his works on truth,
morality, and social justice.
🟩 2. What is the
main theme of the essay?
Answer:
The main theme is that no one is born guilty; people commit crimes
because of poverty, ignorance, and social injustice. Tolstoy argues that
society, not individuals alone, is responsible for crime.
🟩 3. What is
Tolstoy’s opinion about capital punishment?
Answer:
Tolstoy strongly condemns capital punishment, calling it a cruel and
inhuman act. He believes that taking a person’s life in the name of justice
is a greater crime than the crime itself.
🟩 4. What does
Tolstoy mean by the title “There Are No Guilty People”?
Answer:
Tolstoy means that people become criminals because of the faults of society—such
as poverty, inequality, and lack of moral education. Therefore, no one is
guilty by nature; guilt belongs to the corrupt social system.
🟩 5. What are
the important issues raised by Tolstoy in the essay?
Answer:
The important issues include:
Injustice in
the legal system
Cruelty of
capital punishment
Poverty and
social inequality
Moral
corruption of the rich and powerful
Need for
compassion and reform in society
🟩 6. How does
Tolstoy describe the courtroom scene?
Answer:
Tolstoy describes the courtroom as cold, lifeless, and unjust, where
judges and lawyers perform their duties mechanically without humanity or
compassion. The accused, a poor man, is treated without understanding or
pity.
🟩 7. What
message does Tolstoy convey through this essay?
Answer:
Tolstoy’s message is that love, forgiveness, and moral reform are better
than punishment and revenge. He wants people to see criminals as victims of
society and work toward justice through kindness and equality.
🟩 8. How does
the essay reflect Tolstoy’s moral and religious beliefs?
Answer:
Tolstoy’s beliefs are based on Christian morality and nonviolence. He
teaches that hatred and punishment cannot bring peace, and only love
and moral awakening can lead to true justice.
🟩 9. What kind
of tone does Tolstoy use in the essay?
Answer:
The tone of the essay is serious, emotional, and reformative. Tolstoy
writes with deep compassion for the poor and strong criticism of
social injustice.
🟩 10. What is
the structure of “There Are No Guilty People”?
Answer:
The essay follows this structure:
Introduction: Description of
the courtroom scene.
Observation: Unfairness of
judges and legal system.
Reflection: Causes of
crime in society.
Argument: Opposition to
punishment and death penalty.
Conclusion: Moral
message—there are no guilty people, only a guilty society.
🟩 11. What does
Tolstoy say about society’s role in crime?
Answer:
He says society is responsible for creating criminals by allowing poverty,
inequality, and moral decay. Instead of punishing, society should correct
itself.
🟩 12. What kind
of justice does Tolstoy advocate?
Answer:
Tolstoy advocates moral and social justice—justice based on love,
compassion, and understanding, not on punishment or revenge.
🟩 13. What
lesson do we learn from the essay?
Answer:
We learn that true justice requires humanity, and that forgiveness,
reform, and compassion are stronger than cruelty and punishment.
🟩 14. Write a
short summary of “There Are No Guilty People.”
Answer:
In “There Are No Guilty People,” Leo Tolstoy criticizes the cruelty of
the justice system and capital punishment. He argues that criminals are not
truly guilty, but victims of a society that breeds poverty and injustice.
Through a courtroom scene, Tolstoy exposes the heartlessness of judges and
defends human life, urging love, forgiveness, and reform instead of revenge.
His essay delivers a strong moral message that there are no guilty
individuals—only a guilty society.
Join with us on below Links
1.YouTube for Live :Dear Students (Salim Sir)
2. Website for Material and Information:3.Telegram for Material: Dear Students Library
4.Whats app for Information: Edu. & Job Alert
5. Mail for feedback: Jkedujob@gmail.com
6. Fb G: J&K Students Preparation Together
7. Fb P: Education with Salim Sir’s Academy
