Doctor Zhivago Boris Pasternak's Nobel Prize-winning novel, Doctor Zhivago, is hugely successful due to its strong characterization and deep believability. The historical period fits perfectly with the serious atmosphere evident throughout Pasternak's work. The tone of this novel blends with the style and flow of Doctor Zhivago. The exceptional development of these traits makes Zhivago a triumphant effort. The book begins with the introduction of several main characters. Introduced as a child, Yurii A. Zhivago, lives out his life before the reader. The long period covered offers the reader a variety of life experiences to identify with. As more of Yura's family life is revealed, a connection is built between the story and the reader. The conversations in the story illustrate the feelings and ideals of Zhivago's characters. One such conversation is between Nikolai Nikolaievich and Ivan Ivanovich. The two discuss philosophy, referring to their ideals and not to those of the State or of past theorists such as Solovi_v and Marx. The ideals expressed in this discussion are not just those of the characters, but an idea held by the author. Nikolaievich states "that man does not live in the state of nature but in history... It is the exploration of death with the aim of overcoming it." (13) Pasternak's belief is that people create to overcome their own mortality; Pasternak did this by creating Zhivago. The author lives in the characters he created. Throughout the story, different types of lives are experienced by the characters and the reader. Exploring the lives of the rich and the poor, living in peace and war evokes a variety of characters and emotions. This wide range causes some problems. The main difficulty is… middle of the paper… the technique creates a fully developed world in which the characters exist. The book opens with a funeral, that of Zhivago's mother, and ends with a funeral for Zhivago. The story is put together in a balanced way. The symmetry in the novel adds another unique element to its style. The method in which Zhivago is told is annoying at times, but overall it is one of the reasons why the book as a whole is successful. Following Zhivago's life, the effects of the Russian Revolution on Russian society become evident. The strong characterization, believability, powerful imagery, and writing style help build a connection between the story and the reader. The positive development of this bond draws the reader into the lives of the characters. This union created by Pasternak is the basis of a universally readable novel, a union that makes Doctor Zhivago a success.