In Doctor Zhivago, mother’s appear to be much more present figures than fathers. The book begins with the death of Yuri’s mother, and Yuri continues to hear her voice and thinks about his mother throughout the entire course of his life. The mothers in the novel, often bear the burden of having to take care of their children by themselves while the fathers are off at war or pursuing their own selfish desires. Tonya fans Yuri share the common bond of losing their mothers at a young age. The role of mothers in Doctor Zhivago is reflective upon Mary’s role in Russian Orthodoxy. While fathers in the novel are both omnipresent and absent at the same time, they appear as enigmas, similar to God. Mother’s on the other hand, are present, patient, and committed to their children much like the Virgin Mary. …show more content…
This forest consisted of everything in the world—clouds, city signboards, the balls on fire towers, and the servers riding ahead of the carriage bearing the icon of the Mother of God… uncovered in the presence of the holy object” (Pasternak 102). Yuri’s mother is highly influential in his life and serves as a guiding force. Through his early youth, Zhivago lived only with his mother, not really knowing his father who was off irresponsibly “squandering” away the family fortune. Zhivago continues to hear his mother’s voice and thinks about his mother throughout the course of his