Rasputin
Based on the extra assignment in Grade Nine Social Studies, 1998
J. Kadosh
Contents of this page:
Who was he? Early life? Later in life?
Gregory Rasputin was a "holy man" from Siberia. He gained a reputation for being a healer and a prophet of sorts at an early age. Later on in his life, he spent time in Nicholas II's court, advising the tsar and the tsaritsa about major decisions for Russia, as well as saving Alexei's life on many occasions. Alexei was a hemophiliac, and Rasputin stopped Alexei's continual bleeding when it started. Rasputin developed a very negative reputation in the years between his death and today. He is widely-regarded as a very insane man with tremendous charisma and charm (some suggest this charisma stems from his manic disturbances). It is known that he had tremendous influence over tsar Nicholas II and the tsaritsa, Alexandra.
How did he become known to the royal family?
Rasputin came to be known to the royal family through the Russian Orthodox Church. Earlier in his childhood, he had gained a reputation as a prophet, as one who could see the truth in the past, present, and in the future. When a young man in Siberia, he is shown in the film to have claimed in church one day that he had seen the Mother of Christ, Mary, and could describe her beauty and radiance. At first, the minister scrutinized him for this claim, but soon fell for Rasputin’s charismatic lure. Once Rasputin became famous enough in the Orthodox Church, the tsar would be informed, as the tsar was the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. Rasputin soon had nearly everyone around him convinced that he was a holy man, a person endowed with special powers by the Creator, and when tsar Nicholas II was searching and ready to try almost anything to heal is son, Alexei, someone summoned Father Rasputin.
Describe his "mystical powers."
Rasputin had the apparent abilities to know what others knew privately (telepathy) and to heal people in conditions which were impossible to heal by the day's medical means. By simply speaking to Alexei, for example, Rasputin would cause bleeding to cease. He could also predict future events and conditions to take place involving the tsar and his family. Near the end of the film Rasputin, the tsaritsa read a letter from Rasputin, written prior to his death, stating that if Rasputin is killed by people that are unrelated to the tsar or the tsaritsa, no harm will come to the tsar and his family, but if a relative is responsible for the murder of Rasputin, within two years the royal family will perish completely.
Why was it "unseemly" for Rasputin to be so accepted at the royal court?
It was not a good public relations activity to have Rasputin in the royal court because he was a poor man from peasant stock in Siberia, and the tsar was not thought of as associating with peasants in such a close manner; it tarnished his reputation as an elite gentleman among the nobles. Also, although his techniques worked (for the most part) on Alexei, he could not tell others how to repeat the techniques so that they could perform this healing as well. This led many to believe he did not disclose his method because he had no grounds to base it, and he wanted to remain in court in a parasitic relationship to the royal family. He had a rather poor look in terms of hygiene and personal physical upkeep, which only served to further lower him in the eyes of the nobility. Many of the people of Russia felt that the tsar and his family, which were all supposed to be great leaders and independent decision-makers, relied on Rasputin’s strange, unfounded decisions for most problems that came the tsar’s way, diminishing the tsar’s reputation as a strong and competent leader.
How do you think he was able to heal Alexei time and time again?
It is my belief that Rasputin had a talent in the fine science of hypnosis. It seems likely that, over time, he developed a dependence in Alexei for Rasputin's soothing words and comforting voice. Eventually, he was able to speak methodically to Alexei and cause Alexei to enter a state of deep relaxation and calm, causing his body to settle down, and in turn stopping Alexei's dangerous bleeding. Many experiments and studies have been performed by professionals of every kind since Rasputin's time which prove that, for many people, controlling their minds and anxieties with precision can, in fact, have very positive physical effects. One common, modern example is to be found in cancer treatment today. Often, patients with cancer are instructed to visualize, in detail, all the "battles" their bodies' cells are engaged in with those of cancer. They are told to do this often and always visualize their bodies' cells killing cancerous cells. This method, which is very similar to that which was likely used by Rasputin, has shown promising results in patients who participate.
What disease did Alexei suffer from? Basic information about this disease?
Alexei Romanov suffered from a rare blood disorder known today as hemophilia. Hemophilia is divided into two groups: hemophilia A (classic hemophilia), and hemophilia B (Christmas disease). Alexei probably had hemophilia A, in which secondary hemostasis does not successfully occur (this is the stage in which fibrin is sent to reinforce the platelet "plug" formed at the location of a blood vessel injury. When fibrin is not adequately produced or does not act properly, only a thin, easily moveable "wall" of platelet cells is operative in preventing blood from escaping the body. This is often not enough to hold the blood back for healing to occur, as the platelet can be shifted out of position with the slightest touch. This, to me, explains why Rasputin was able to heal Alexei temporarily: although the situation may have been critical, primary hemostatsis (platelet formation) occurred, and Rasputin's psychological methods probably relaxed Alexei's body enough to slow biological cycles down, allowing what little fibrin Alexei's body possessed to get to the injury and do its job. It is estimated that the total number of patients suffering from the disorder in the United States is around 2500. An interesting new theory related to the disease (albeit highly hypothetical and as of yet unproven) is that it originated somewhere in the Russian Royal family, perhaps centuries ago. This idea was proposed after a researcher noticed that nearly all persons living with hemophilia can trace their ancestry back to the Russian Royalty!
Describe Rasputin's character (i.e. waht positive/ negative traits did he possess?).
Rasputin (according to the film) was charismatic, defiant of critics, and individually styled. He could convince and influence people easily, and had a magnetic personality for many of the people he came in contact with. He ignored those who opposed him and his practices, which created problems for him later on in his stay at the palace. He was extremely unpredictable and erratic with human relationships of all kinds, and was what many consider a very real danger to a great many people. Many professionals today believe strongly that he had many mental imbalances to deal with, likely a serious case requiring institutionalization. He could be comforting to those he was closer to, however, as is apparent in Alexei's almost commensalist dependence on Rasputin. During his time with the royal family, he displayed no lack of input when it came to political matters. One attribute which was positive for him, but very negative for those who were against him was his high tolerance for: several different kinds of poisons, bullet rounds, axe blows to the skull, and finally, drowning. It is thought by several scholars that after all these attempts at ending Rasputin's life, his murderers were so untrusting of his true and final death, that they resorted to dismembering his remains just to be absolutely certain of his demise!
Describe Rasputin's Demise. Who carried it out? What did they have to do to finally be rid of him?
In the month of December, 1916, Prince Felix Yussoupov (a relative of the tsaritsa) along with three accomplices killed Rasputin (after a series of unsuccessful attempts). The killing of Rasputin involved Prince Felix Yussoupov and his accomplices inviting Rasputin into a room with only poisoned foods and drinks in it. The Prince ate and drank nothing, but Rasputin was tricked into eating several items and drinking wine. After some time, the Prince and his accomplices were extremely concerned that Rasputin was not very dead, as the foods he had eaten were all very poisonous, so that even one article was designed to kill a man. They tricked him into turning away from them in the room for a moment, and the Prince shot Rasputin with a revolver. He managed to get outside of the room, where, amazed at this point, a series of guards fired on him. It is thought by some researchers that at this point (or near it), Rasputin was attacked by someone swinging an axe. Archaeologists (experienced in studying conditions of long dead people in Siberia) suggest that Rasputin may even have had a rare bone condition affecting his skull; this explains why he would not have been killed immediately by an axe blow, even to the back of the head, as his skull had likely deposited layers of bone several times as thick as a normal human skull deposit. After the shooting, he was wrapped in cloth of some sort, and was dropped into the Neva River through a hole in the surface ice. On further examination, he may have lived longer had he not been lowered into the river, as his lungs were filled with water, showing that he had tried to breath while underwater (he was still alive while they lowered his body after the firing rounds).
What overall effect of influence had Rasputin had on the royal family as a whole and on the tsaritsa (Alexandra)?
Rasputin gave the royal family a bad reputation as heavily reliant on him and his advice to them. He made several bad political decisions through the tsar and tsaritsa which caused the people (and the tsar) much trouble. He was one major reason for the downfall of the Russian royal family. Hence, one may safely state that he had a very negative influence on the royal family in general. Alexandra considered Rasputin a very close and intimate friend, to herself and to her family in general. She adored him for his ability to help Alexei with his hemophilia, and she fell under his spell of influence to a great degree. He exacted serious control on the tsaritsa, influencing nearly all of her decisions, even for minor day-to-day living matters. The tsaritsa listened intently to Rasputin’s word, and saw to it that it be passed on and carried out by Nicholas II, as she felt it was compulsory in order for her family to stay safe and alive. Had she adopted an opposite disposition when regarding Rasputin, it is even possible that her family would have carried on peacefully for years to come, possibly averting the murder of the royal family.
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Adapted by author for HTML, April 29, 1998. Reproduction for commercial distribution is prohibited, although persons wishing to print or use this page in a classroom setting or for personal use are strongly encouraged to do so without permission of the author.
Question format credited to Mrs. Laudenklos of Laurier Heights Public School.