Zombie´s real world

by Carolina Perez Cibez

Leonid Andreyev´s dark personality made him pursue an interesting way of writing. He was famous for producing a disquieting and disturbing literature, nonetheless brilliant. He always described a gloomy world of horrors and mysteries in his stories; that´s why “Lazarus” is not an exception. Andreyev was the first writer ever to wonder and tell what Lazarus, one of Jesus best friends (John 11:1, 14), really felt when he rose from the dead. Andreyev tried to describe Lazarus needs and feelings throughout the discovery of himself all over again. Lazarus knew that he didn´t belong anywhere. He wasn´t part of the living, but he wasn´t part of the dead either. Like most teenagers do, Lazarus felt he had no place in the world. “Lazarus” is a story that represents the dark, ambiguous world that adolescents go through. This zombie story proves to be appealing for young adults since it portrays some of their problems and characteristics.

Normally teens didn`t have much place in literature, until a specific way of writing appeared.  Young adult literature tends to have for protagonists teens and teen´s world. Young adults take some distance from their families, especially from their parents because they feel misunderstood. Lazarus wasn´t a teenager, but his personality after death gave him some characteristics recognised in adolescents. Lazarus´ family and friends celebrated that he was back. He became distant from them because nobody knew or understood what he went through. His experience was one of a kind.

Like adolescents want to live one of a kind experiences, they also want to be the authors of their own story. Lazarus didn´t have the same luck. The author of the story made Lazarus the centre of the plot. But Lazarus didn´t tell the story. In fact the few times he was able to speak he did it in words that aren´t easy to follow. There are words that a young adult wouldn´t normally use.

Teens also feel that adults want to control their lives, that´s why they love to read tales where they can find mature and reflective characters. They like the most, novels that are short, where it is possible to tell an adolescent´s point of view. “Lazarus” gathers all of these qualities.

So this alternative reading tells the story of the first recognized zombie in history. Lazarus is an adult man that though the age difference has the same problems and worries that young adult has. As teachers, it is important to find material that engages our teen students to read and enjoy literature. The kind of narratives where adolescents feel identified is the way to go to reach our goal.