Platonov and God

[Robert Chandler]

Dear all,

Yes, I agree with Olga here.  Introducing 'there' weakens the meaning.  It
becomes possible to understand it as a matter of whether or not God is in
some particular place, rather than whether or not he IS.

Platonov often uses  'byl', 'yest'', etc, in this very bare way, as in this
exchange from Kotlovan:
'Зачем же он был?'
'Не быть он боялся.'

I think we should settle for
O Lord, Lord, if only you really were, or something!'

Thanks to all of you!

R.




> The reason I suggested "--or something" has NOTHING ro do with the fact that,
> in and of itself, as found in dictionaries, chto li does not mean chto-to, and
> "something" would be translated as chto-to only. The "or" in "or something"
> changes the meaning of this something completely.
> 
> There is something (pardon!!!) bothering me about the "there". "If only you
> were THERE" sounds too openly philosophical for Platonov--like "is only you
> existed", while "xot' by ty byl" is not the same as "xot' by ty
> sushchestvoval". The "byl" here almost creates a notion that God's being/
> existence itself depends on this prayerful petition. Perhaps the "at least" is
> what gives that meaning of the Russian "chtoby Ty byl"?
> o
> 
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