How did society view Rasputin?

Answer 1

The Russian population generally did not like him and questioned his motives. They felt that staying by the Tsar's side meant trouble but even the Tsar was not completely fond of him. It was the Tsarina that placed her trust in Rasputin because of his mysticism and potential to "cure" their son and only heir of hemophilia.

Answer 2

It depends on which segment of the public, which was divided into different classes. The peasants loved him because he was one of their own who got close to the Tsar. He was also widely known and respected by the peasants for his preaching and healing abilities long before he set foot in the palace. Once he was favored by the Tsar and Tsarina, he became loved by the severely oppressed Jews who were restricted from educations, occupations and the freedom to live where they wanted, not to mention the slaughter of entire villages of Jews by the anti-Semitic Russians who were backed up by the aristocracy. Rasputin helped many either by giving money or getting permissions for an education, or even getting people freed from unjust imprisonment or Siberia. The aristocracy hated him because they felt he interfered with their interests and spoke to the Tsar too much about helping the poor. They also called him a traitor and a Jew because he was anti-war and anti-violence. Most of the fantastic tales of drunkenness and womanizing that created the myth about Rasputin, were created by the aristocracy to discredit him, just as that society created bizarre myths about the Jews to turn the people anti-Semitic. The fact of the matter is that Rasputin never harmed a soul and forgave those who tried to assassinate him (feeling that was the Christ-like thing to do), while the Romanovs sanctioned the slaughter, torture, and/or imprisonment of entire villages of Jews in raids known as 'pogroms', out of irrational hatred and bigotry.

Answer 3

The same way they view Charles Manson