Doctor Zhivago Madness Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

"But let's get back to Varykino. Naturally, to go to that wild backwoods in harsh winter, with no supplies, with no strength, with no hopes, is the maddest madness." (14.3.9)

Zhivago realizes that it's insane for him and Lara to return to the abandoned village of Varykino because they'll never survive an entire winter there. But that kind of sane, long-term thinking isn't a big part of their lives anymore. How can it be, when everything around them is so crazy? All they really care about is living in freedom a few days more, so they end up going to Varykino anyway.

Quote #8

Again a day went by in quiet madness. (14.9.1)

While living with Lara in Varykino, Zhivago can't help but feel like he's living in a state of quiet madness. By this, he means that he's living a life that cannot possibly have a future. He's living without any sort of sane plans or a sane reason for living. He just keeps going on in survival mode. Without some higher purpose beyond sheer survival, Zhivago finds life to be nonsensical and insane.

Quote #9

Something incongruous was taking place in Yuri Andreevich. He was slowly losing his mind. He had never led such a strange existence. He neglected the house, stopped looking after himself, turned nights into days, and lost count of the time that had passed since Lara's departure. (14.14.1)

After Lara leaves Varykino, Zhivago truly loses the last thing keeping him connected to the real world. With her gone, all he does is write poetry. He doesn't even bother to shower or shave, but just lets himself and the house around him go to ruins.