Please respond to the following quotation for your blog due November 23rd:
"To study the meaning of man and of life — I am making significant progress here. I have faith in myself. Man is a mystery: if you spend your entire life trying to puzzle it out, then do not say that you have wasted your time. I occupy myself with this mystery, because I want to be a man."
-- Fyodor Dostoevsky from personal correspondence (1839)
On Friday, we discussed the serious character development that occurred in Part 5, Chapters 1-3. Some of the most prominent developments we pointed out were the more intimate view of Luzhin and Katerina as well as the seeming patterns that are emerging in the story such as suffering, justice, and social class. However, I think we tend to overlook the mastery that is at work here. Fyodor Dostoevsky created a story were each character is a unique, detailed individual, where each setting drags the reader in, and where every relationship is so realistic that we become emotionally attached to the characters. “Man is a mystery,” Dostoevsky says, and so we see this in his work. Who is Raskolnikov? It is plainly revealed that he is attractive and poor, mentally insecure and intelligent, but, despite the intimate third-person perspective that reveals some of his deepest thoughts, we cannot claim to know Raskolnikov. And it is this simple fact, the fact that we can never truly understand the mind of these characters, which makes them so realistic.
ReplyDelete“To study the meaning of man and of life…” each character in Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment” has a different motive – a different driving force. For example, one we have be recently well acquainted with, is Sonia’s devout faith. It is as much a part of her character as nihilism is of Raskolnikov. And I think that the point of Raskolnikov’s driving force being nihilism is to show how it relates to the loss of his mind. When Raskolnikov’s belief system begins to fall apart, so does he. All of us, whether we live in poverty or a castle, have something to hold on to, and for Raskolnikov it was the belief that there were better, god-like beings meant to commit terrible acts for the greater good of their community. It was because of this that Raskolnikov expected to feel gratification upon committing the perfect crime. But when he commits the crime he is sick and crazed with the horror of what he has done and it drives him to ruin himself. In contrast, we see Sonia who – despite her dead father, crazed stepmother, starving children, and “yellow ticket” – was able to hold onto a sort of purity and hope that Raskolnikov had long since lost. She accredits this to her faith. God is her stronghold. The importance of this is to show how someone as fragile and innocent as Sonia can survive through her belief in God while someone as strong and independent as Raskolnikov simply crumbles despite his faith in nihilistic beliefs.
Dostoevsky claims that “if you spend your entire life trying to puzzle it out, then do not say that you have wasted your time” because he has, at least in “Crime and Punishment,” dedicated himself to understanding and unraveling the ideas and thoughts of man, and, still, he does not claim to fully comprehend them. The same sort of searching, or observing, can be found in Raskolnikov who stands on the sidelines and thoroughly analyzes the situation before him. Raskolnikov believes that if he can understand the way a man’s mind is working he can outsmart them. We see the most prominent battle of wits between Raskolnikov and Porfiry when Porfiry is “interrogating” him in his private office. Each man knows what the other is thinking, doing, and avoiding, so there can be no end except for the unexpected arrival of Nikolay. At the end of this quote, Raskolnikov says “because I want to be man.” He does not want to be extraordinary or to be a god-like man. He has no interest in nihilism. But Raskolnikov, in his own way, seeks to be more than man. He seeks to be above the law and the intelligence of others, and that is his downfall – the very belief that Dostoevsky so detests. This quote has so much to say about Dostoevsky as a man and a writer as well as the message that is delivered in “Crime and Punishment.” Man is not God, a fact that can be seen in books such as “Crime and Punishment” and “Frankenstein.”
Ann,
DeleteThis was a very tactical way to set up your blog, by analyzing each bit of the quote one by one in detail so that your entire point would be seen. I agree with how you stated that no one can truly know who Raskolnikov is despite the fact that Dostoevaky has provided a lot of information about him.
Your analyses on Sonia and Raskolnikov and our lack of understanding of them was spot on and quite well stated. Raskolnikov's nihilistic beliefs cause him to crumple where Sonia's faith allows her to stand strong. Your last paragraph was really intriguing in the way you stated how Dostoevsky has committed himself to the study of man, yet never claims to understand them.
This was an interesting blog, and it definitely allowed me to deepen my understanding of the topic which is the reason why we do these blogs. Great job putting your ideas in a comprehensible blog that really shows the way Dostoevsky believed about the mystery of man and life.
Ann,
DeleteI loved your blog from the very beginning. It is sad how often we overlook the incredible details and accuracy that take place in Dostoevsky's “Crime and Punishment.” I often become disappointed in myself while reading this book. I often figure things out and then mentally criticize myself, I should have seen it coming earlier! I also agree 100% with the last sentence of the first paragraph of your blog, “And it is this simple fact, the fact that we can never truly understand the mind of these characters, which makes them so realistic.” While it is frustrating that we cannot figure out each individual, that is the best part. Dostoevsky really does keep his men a mystery!
Your first and last paragraphs were my favorite. I thought it was very important how you mentioned that Dostoevsky admits to not knowing all of mans secrets. While he does admit that he has made “significant progress,” he never said he has solved the riddle. He stays humble in his revelations.
I would also just like to point out how beautifully structured your blog was. I did not think to split up the quote in the way that you did. You went so far in depth with each section you had them split into, and I applaud you for that. I could read your blog again and again. You really weren't kidding when you said you were excited to write this one!
Fyodor Dostoevsky is a master of literature as seen through his many prominent works recognized in the world of literary experts. His novel "Crime and Punishment" lays a basis for a novel that is written to expose a widespread and powerful belief as erroneous through setting up the perfect opportunity for this belief system to be portrayed, but truthfully showing the errors in this way of thinking. To create such a powerful novel, Dostoevsky would have found it necessary to understand man and the ways of life. We see this through his extensive research of criminology and research on other aspects of life that are needed to create realistic and enrapturing characters that hold great meaning through their actions and behavior. Dostoevsky sees that through this, he has made "significant progress" in his study of mankind. He believes in what he is doing as he says "I have faith in myself."
ReplyDeleteDostoevsky knows, just as any other individual knows, that "man is a mystery". This is seen through his novel and the characters that he has created to fulfill his purpose. Raskolnikov, Razumihin, Luzhin, Sonia, and all of the other characters are mysteries in their actions and behavior. Raskolnikov especially is a mystery because the twisted corners of his mind prevent the reader from every seeing his character in its true self. But maybe that is the mystery that Dostoevsky understands. He sees that each person holds a mystery in themselves, and his ultimate goal was to prove that only through extensive study of a person may someone finally understand their life, but only theirs. Each of the other characters in the novel hold this quality but in a different way. Why is Sonia so devout in her faith? Why is Luzhin determined to have the perfect wife? Why does Katerina need her acquaintances to know that she is of genteel birth? Dostoevsky created these characters as a mean to bring others to study man, just as he arrived to do. And through his creation of these characters, he was continuing to study even more intensely the mystery of life and man.
It is very telling of the conviction Dostoevsky held about the necessity of the studying of man and life. He believes that to spend one's time studying life and man is not a waste in any way, but an endeavor that can only benefit the individual choosing to do so. He even believes that it is no shame to spend one's entire life searching for the truth in this mystery. This we can see by his own actions. He spent years attempting to write books that would deepen his and other people's understanding of life. He says that this choice to study man and life will allow him to "be a man". One may argue that obviously Dostoevsky is a man. Seriously what else could he be, a chicken? But that is not what he means. Dostoevsky believes that through his study of men, he will be able to understand himself and will finally fulfill the title of man. He will know his own actions and see through the mystery of himself. He knows that a man who does not at least pursue this knowledge is only a man in the most literal sense of the world. Dostoevsky wishes to be a man in every other sense too. His novel "Crime and Punishment" gave him deeper insight into himself and other people too, so that he might have one day declared that he knows who he is and why he is the way he is. He strived to unlock the mysteries of life and man, and through his novel, it seems that he was certainly working hard to get close.
Hannah,
DeleteLet me just say, this was a fantastic blog! My favorite line was in second paragraph when you said "He sees that each person holds a mystery in themselves, and his ultimate goal was to prove that only through extensive study of a person may someone finally understand their life, but only theirs." This is a very interesting way of thinking. While reading "Crime and Punishment," I am constantly trying to figure out all of the characters, especially Raskolnikov. But, something always happens to disrupt my studying. But after reading what you said, I think you are right about what Dostoesky thought. The only person you ever fully understand is yourself, and most of the time that is hard to achieve. I think that Raskolnikov is still trying to figure who he is, and that is why he is always struggling with his state of mind. Personally, I believe the the mystery that is man should be left unsolved, but it is certainly both exciting and stressful when trying to decipher it. Dostoesky went through an extensive amount of research to complete this novel, but I think his studies were also to help him realize that this mystery doesn't have to be revealed for it to be solved. Overall, this was such a great blog. Great job!
Hannah,
DeleteI truly feel that Dostoevsky's characters in "Crime and Punishment" almost come to life in my mind. Because we don't know the deepest depths of their souls, I get a sense of them being based of real people. My favorite point you made was "Raskolnikov especially is a mystery because the twisted corners of his mind prevent the reader from every seeing his character in its true self." simply because it's so true. We try to analyze him and see what his character is all about, but Dostoevsky made him so complex that we can't. He is kind of a figurative representation of the Labyrinth of Crete from Greek mythology. How we will never see the center/escape, his true self, but if we do a beast will be awaiting us.
Your last paragraph for me personally presented some view points I wouldn't of considered using in this blog. It's intriguing some of the points we all bring to these blogs, I must admit this. He might've come close but there's only one thing I can think of to contradict that. We as sentient beings constantly evolve whether it be physical, mental, or emotional we are all changing. So it seems nearly impossible to get insight into, or categorize every human being. But your blog definitely gave me something's to think about and consider.
Fyodor Dostoevsky was a man before his time, like we have discussed many times before. He created the psychological time line of Raskolnikov in "Crime and Punishment" without interviewing or being able to research how man thinks. In his statement that Dr. Pam posted above, it is apparent that Dostoevsky thought about man, life, and their interactions with each other a lot. He believes that he is "making significant progress." "Crime and Punishment" is a perfect example of how he uncovers the mystery of us all without the knowledge that many writers and people, in general, do today. But how does this make Dostoevsky a man?
ReplyDelete"Crime and Punishment," in my opinion, is one of the greatest novels ever written. Dostoevsky creates a complex character that the readers both love and hate. His novel may or may not seem realistic depending on how it is interpreted, however I feel that people do not want to admit that they think like Raskolnikov. Most of the human population have not committed such extreme crimes, but his way of thinking is understandable from the little mistakes that have occurred throughout personal lives. Dostoevsky knew how to captivate his audience from start to finish.
The sentences that caught my attention the most from Dostoevsky's quote is "I occupy myself with this mystery, because I want to be a man." The origin of "Crime and Punishment" became clear to me after I read that last sentence. Dostoevsky not only wanted to become a man, but he wanted his audience to become man as well. Not only is his story about nihilism, but it is about so much more. He wants us, as the readers, to experience the mystery of man, to understand that this is not a lonely road we are traveling. We are all in this together. Raskolnikov believes he can do it all on his own, and, therefore, pushes people away. He allows one person in, Sonia. This shows that man is capable to hiding from the truth for so long, love, and hate. Readers can see that Raskolnikov is hiding from what he has done. He does not want to believe that his crime is unjust, but when he is struck with love for Sonia he allows her to see the most grotesque parts of him. He tells her what he has done to her friend Lizaveta and her sister. Through love, Sonia forgives him. It means nothing until he forgives himself first. The readers come to hate Raskolnikov for what he has done, but they love him because Dostoevsky brings them to pity Raskolnikov. He is not a man, but a mystery that has yet to be uncovered.
The quote that Dostoevsky stated allows his readers to understand his inspiration for "Crime and Punishment." This novel is well thought out, and its story allows many people to interpret something different from the next person. It takes readers on an extraordinary journey that seems to never end. I think this novel should be mandatory for students to read at some point in their life. Everyone can relate to it in some way allowing each person to learn from mistakes of others, how to fix something they did, or how to interact with various kinds of people since Dostoevsky developed many complex characters. It blows my mind that someone could come up with such an amazing story to tell with little information, especially that this person is from the 1800s. I will never forget the experience that Dostoevsky has taken me through. If anything, it will make me think more about the "meaning of man."
Kaitlin,
DeleteThis was a really intriguing blog and I think that you set it up in the perfect way to get your point across. You used your knowledge of the novel and Dostoevsky to enhance your point, and you creatively asked why Dostoevsky wishes to be a man and also how exactly he will do this through his extensive study of man and life, and their interactions with each other.
I agree with how you stated that Raskolnikov's character is a mystery and that because of this Dostoevsky is using him to express his belief that man is a mystery that needs to be understood through study. I especially like how you said in the last paragraph that you feel that Dostoevsky has taken you on a journey. I agree wholeheartedly.
We began reading this book and we were all intrigued yet cautious, and now that we are almost finished we are all very involved with discussions, often times believing that a longer discussion time would benefit our understandings of this novel. We even carry on conversations outside of class to discuss the craziness found in this book. I think that this shows just how much of a master of literature Dostoevsky was. To get a class of high school seniors so interested in a novel is quite a feat, and I think we all recognize that now.
This was a very good blog Kaitlin. I really enjoyed all of your points and they made me think about Dostoevsky and Raskolnikov. Your points on Sonia were very interesting, and it gave me a better understanding of your perspective of the novel. Great work Kaitlin!
Kaitlin,
DeleteWe agreed a lot on the quote and it's meanings. Neither of us gave too many examples from the book, instead we looked at it from a different perspective which I think is what gave your blog that push over the edge for me. I found your words very fascinating and focused. Your second paragraph, although short, was probably my favorite. You hit the nail on the head when you mentioned how Dostoevsky created characters that the reader could both love and hate. However, I have to disagree on the whole part about just being afraid to admit i like Raskolnikov. At this current point in time, I am not stuck in that love hate relationship, instead I just don't like him. I was hoping you would mention Sonya and her effects of Raskolnikov. It's true, one can only hide from the truth for so long. She was just the person that made him realize that maybe he couldn't do it all on his own. She also made him discover that what he did was terrible. Sonya made him think about the horrors of the things he did but she also made him ponder the fact that he could be forgiven. Good work!
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ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteFyodor Dostoevsky was truly a master of literature and a man before his time. In our current novel "Crime and Punishment" we see the physiological break down of a murder after his crime. This novel has taken our lives twisted them like a rag of Razkolnikov's dual personalities, and hung them out to dry in the nihilistic breeze of the novel. During his time there were no real psychoanalytical specialists in the world. In terms of writing this he was thinking beyond his time and way outside the norms of the assumed society.
In this quote "Man is a mystery" just like any complex math problem that can never be solved easily. But when you find gratification in the attempt of trying to find an answer, is what Dostoevsky hints at in the above quote. Also how we as human beings can take the most grievous/complicated times and turn them around into something better. Much like how Dostoevsky found pleasure in exploring the mystery that is the human mind, because it made him feel like a "man". We see this especially in the characterization recently brought to our attention.
First example being Sonia, and her newly revealed passion for her faith. We learn that although she has fallen to prostitution we learn when Razkolnikov visits her that she is a devout Orthodox. We then get a sense that she wishes retribution for her acts of lechery, hence her biblical studies. During this moment we also see a different part of Razkolnikov, one that is seeking forgiveness for his sins as well. This is simply a speculation because normally his nihilistic beliefs take hold and he second guesses every little action. Only because that was the character that we had grown to know, which then again leads back to the quote of a "Man [being a mystery". We never really know the whole character, and just like reality we could never know the entirety of a person.
To expand further upon the quote "To study the meaning of man and of life"; could refer to many things. Given the circumstances however I see it as a reference to the Christian religion. Also given that he has "faith in himself", shows that his determination to find "the meaning of man and of life" is based on his personal bias. Lastly he explains how people claim that everything is a waste of time. But if he hadn't occupied himself "with this mystery" of mankind we wouldn't be discussing this stressful yet beautiful novel.
Devyn,
DeleteYou made some good points, I just wish you would have expanded them a little bit more. I feel like you have all these great ideas but then you don't complete your thoughts. To me, that is almost as worse as not saying them at all. I have to say I loved the part you said about hanging us out to dry in the nihilistic breeze. It was clever and I never would have thought of that. Isn't it amazing how someone back in Dostoevsky's time could write something so complex and advanced that it would be able to stay relevant and popular for decade after decade after decade after he died. The norms expected by society are nothing compared to the advanced thoughts Dostoevsky wrote in "Crime and Punishment". I discovered a new sense of understanding of mankind for myself when I read what you wrote about Sonya. She knew that prostitution was wrong and yet did it anyway. However, the guilt and her wrong doings finally got the most of her and she turned to faith to try and safe herself. I don't know how much I agree with what you wrote about "to study the meaning of man and life", but I can see where you are coming from, however, again, it would have been nice if you would have developed that thought more. Good work though!
Devyn,
DeleteGreat use of an example from "Crime and Punishment." I did not take exact examples from the book because I believe that Dostoevsky is something other than "Crime and Punishment." I do not think he specifically was thinking about his novel when speaking these words. I think he honestly feels that mankind is a mystery, and exploring it makes you all the better of a man. I agree with him, and so I went further into explaining it saying that he has uncovered the mystery of us all; "Crime and Punishment," as a whole, is something we can directly go to see his knowledge on who we are as people. That none of us are the same in any way. I also liked that you mentioned the phycological breakdown of Raskolnikov. That is important to include, although I did not include it, because so many people in our world today break down for many different reasons. Your blog was well thought out well done. Great job!
Devyn (and Kaitlin)
DeleteI must admit that I agree with most everything Kaitlin had said in her comment. After all, great minds think alike! Kaitlin, I highly support your remark about constricting the quote and Dostoevsky to “Crime and Punishment” alone. While it easily could be, with all of Dostoevsky’s knowledge and ambition it can be assumed that “Crime and Punishment” wasn’t his only contribution to the world. He has written over 25 other books, and it wouldn’t be fair to confine the quote to only one of his great achievements.
Devyn, I did notice your blog was a big shorter and could have used some more development, but regardless it was very interesting to read and i enjoyed it. You had some well thought out points and despite their length, I thought they explained well. I always find it interesting on how many of our thoughts seem to contradict each others. Its crazy how our thought process always seem to be so different, inside and outside of the classroom!
"To study the meaning of man and of life — I am making significant progress here. I have faith in myself. Man is a mystery: if you spend your entire life trying to puzzle it out, then do not say that you have wasted your time. I occupy myself with this mystery, because I want to be a man." -Fyodor Dostoesky
ReplyDeleteAs we have discovered from our reading of "Crime and Punishment," Fyodor Dostoevsky enjoyed studying the mystery of man from a perspective far beyond his time. He is satisfied with the effort he put forth to "study the meaning of man and of life" and he made "significant progress." Figuring out the mystery of man is a difficult task, especially during Dostoevsky's time when it was not considered at all. But, that is what makes "Crime and Punishment" one of the greatest novels in existence. Dostoevsky forces the reader to think like Raskolnikov and his nihilistic concepts.
In his famous novel, Dostoevsky developed the complex character of Razkolnikov. The way he establishes the psychological meltdown of Raskolnikov keeps the reader constantly guessing and in shock. His mental state throughout the novel changes so vividly that it becomes harder to understand what Dostoesky was thinking when writing "Crime and Punishment." Raskolnikov is so complex a character that the reader questions his motive for literally everything that he does. In "Crime and Punishment," Raskolnikov is not the only character with complex qualities and behaviors. Each character has a specific way of thinking and a different motive for their thoughts and actions. For example, Razumihin thinks and acts rationally. He knows Raskolnikov needs his help and acts accordingly. He comforts Raskolnikov's mother and sister when he knows what Raskolnikov has done. Luzhin, on the other hand, thinks for himself and only himself. Anything he does or says has some sort of benefit, or assumed benefit, for himself. Marrying Dounia would complete his perfect life, and he will not let anyone get in his way. Sonia is all about helping others, especially her poor family. Everything she does is for the benefit of her father, Katerina, and her siblings who all depend on her for survival.
The mystery of man and of life is one that will remain unsolved. Just like the characters in "Crime and Punishment" as Dosteosky created, our complex characteristics continually off balance life. Dostoesky said that he occupied his time this mystery because he "want[s] to be a man." That is an interesting statement to make, and, strangely enough, I find it to be true. We are all searching for answers to life's toughest questions, but Dostoesky did something about it. He put together all of his studies, research, and ideas into "Crime and Punishment" to show the world a different kind of thinking, adding to the complexity of his own self. The mystery of man and of life are like cycles: every time you think you figured it out, your actions bring it right back to the beginning with new information. This sounds a little confusing, but once it appears to be solved, something new pops up, swinging us back into the cycle. The mystery of man and of life is attractive to people, but I don't think it was designed to be revealed.
Natalie,
DeleteI agreed with absolutely everything you said in your blog. For me, when you said "The mystery of man and of life is one that will remain unsolved" at the beginning of your last paragraph you summed up everything that I felt Dostoevsky was trying to say. Although he dedicated a portion of his life to analyzing the psychology of a man and a criminal and succeeded in gaining some understanding, he never implies that he knows all there is to know about man. "Crime and Punishment" and this quote from his "personal correspondence" serve to show that Dostoevsky was aware of the different ideas and actions man can entertain. He knew that no two men were exactly the same and that that is the "mystery."
I loved the examples you integrated into your blog from the book. The way you contrasted Luzhin and Razumihin really helped to prove that there can be a polar difference in the way two people approach life. But, as you said, the most beautiful part of Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" is that "[e]ach character has a specific way of thinking and a different motive for their thoughts and actions." Every character is a complete person, even the women, which is something that we pointed out in our discussions last week. Although I would never go as far as to say the book is predictable we have become accustomed to the inherent nature of each character. Razumihin is kind, almost selfless, and loyal. Raskolnikov is, at points, exactly like Razumihin, but he tries to hide it with he second personality which is twisted and irrational. I appriciate that you mentioned Dostoevsky's forward thinking the psychological aspect of his book as it was something that came up in class. "Crime and Punishment" would be a masterpiece under any condition, but when you take into consideration that Dostoevsky wrote this in a time where psychology was unheard of in his country it is even more remarkable. I thought your blog was thorough and that you took Dostoevsky's past into account as well as the information given to us through "Crime and Punishment." Excellent job!
"Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky is known as one of the best novels ever written. Although I may not be the biggest fan of all the characters and the story lines, I have to give Dostoevsky a lot of credit. With the main theme of nihilism, "Crime and Punishment" tells of extraordinary beings and those that are above others when it comes to crime and ways of life. Life is more complex than many people consider, however Dostoevsky knows the complexity of life and even man.
ReplyDeleteBecause life and mankind is so complex, "to study the meaning of man and life" is more complex than it seems. I think it takes a lot of patience and persistence to study man kind and life in general because of the fact that everyone and every life style is different. Since everything is unpredictable, the fact that Dostoevsky wrote "Crime and Punishment" with so many themes and deeper meanings, It is amazing that he "ma[de] significant progress". That really stuck out to me. Human life and ways of living are not easy to understand. The fact that he kept the faith in himself to continue pursuing his research tells of his dedication to his research.
Dostoevsky said it best when he said "man is a mystery: if you spend your entire life trying to puzzle it out, then do not say that you have wasted your time". This phrase is incredible and by far my favorite thing in this quote. Man indeed is a mystery and because of that is unpredictable. This unpredictability can lead to hiding things and keeping things that need to be told, a secret. Because mankind is so complex and unknown, anyone that takes time and uses their patience to attempt to discover more about the unknown is wise and is very knowledgeable. A lot of things in life are a waste of time, meaning they do not get us any closer to a goal. However, any one that tries to "puzzle it out", it referring to mankind, deserves success because it is not an easy topic to figure out and understand. Characters in "Crime and Punishment" are complex and never give up when it comes to trying to figure out what is going on with Raskolnikov.
Man does not think "oh I must be complex to be considered a man in the eyes of society". In order to be a true man, one must think about difficult things in life even if they include man kind itself. To occupy himself with mystery, Dostoevsky wrote "Crime and Punishment" to try and tell of the complexity of human life. He surrounded himself with concepts and ideas about the topic of man because he wanted to be considered someone who was eligible to be a man. In the eyes of Dostoevsky, to be smart enough to study mankind is to be intelligent enough to be considered a man.
Jessica,
DeleteGreat blog! I loved that you mentioned Dostoevsky as a patient and persistent man when it came to his research. I think many people forget that he became dedicated this literary work. This quote is amazing, and you explained how you felt about it very well. Dostoevsky, in my opinion, had figured mankind out. His storyline for "Crime and Punishment" includes so many complexities that makes anyone who reads this book amazed with the knowledge Dostoevsky had. He was a character in himself. I agree with you when you said your favorite line is "man is a mystery: if you spend your entire life trying to puzzle it out, then do not say that you have wasted your time." For anyone to come up with just that statement it shows that they already know more about humankind then we do! Well done, Jessica!
Jessica,
DeleteI am going to admit that I was a little disappointed with your blog for a few reasons. The first off would be because my opinion is entirely different than yours. Yes, Dostoevsky was a master of creating lifelike characters and settings, but his quote gives the implication that no my can ever understand man. So, unless you are suggesting that he was greater than the average man - a thought which is nihilistic and we know Dostoevsky opposed nihilism - there is no way he could entirely comprehend the inner workings of mankind. My second problem was that you did not take the time to relate it to the book. I know the prompt did not actually call for that, but "Crime and Punishment" is the only window we have into the mind of Dostoevsky, which is why I was shocked that you did not use it to analyze his ideas about man. The third reason was your use of "complex." Call me persnickety, but you used it seven times. It felt a little redundant. I know you do not particularly like "Crime and Punishment" and Dostoevsky's writing style, but I was left wanting a more in depth analysis than "man is complex."
You managed to point out that, at some point in his ,life, Dostoevsky did dedicate himself to gaining information on the psychology of man. Thanks to Dr. Diullio, we know that this was extremely forward thinking in Russia at the time. This served as support for you calling Dostoevsky a master of the human mind. It is through his so called mastery that he was able to develop deep, realistic characters. But, I think that something we can agree on is that Dostoevsky seems to capture our minds with his words. We become so engaged in the story that we cannot help but relate it to real life. This is the true art of Dostoevsky; his psychology is still relevant and applicable in our day and age, a time that is so different from nihilistic Russia. You had some very good ideas here, it just felt slightly rushed and under-developed. However, your last line felt very well thought out.
I cannot count the amount of times that we have been in a class discussion and Dr. Pam had to remind us who the mastermind really was. While we tend to hold Raskolnikov responsible, Fyodor Dostoevsky is the one who created Raskolnikov. Every think of Raskolnikov’s was thought out thoroughly by Dostoevsky. All of Raskolnikovs thoughts, his words, his actions, it was all Dostoevsky’s.
ReplyDeleteOne of the conversations we had, was how novels like “Crime and Punishment” cannot be found today. That is something I have noticed, which im sure many of my classmates have noticed as well. I was amazed when Dr. Pam revealed to us on some of the research Dostoevsky did in preparation for his writing. She mentioned on how he had interviewed several officers and others of similar professions on the subject. I was so impressed by this, but it seems like such an obvious thing to do. Likewise, it is something that many authors today wouldn't do. In my own opinion, I feel as if the reason for this is the motive behind writing the book. While most of those writing books are focused on money and on winning awards, Dostoevsky had other motives. Dostoevsky said, "To study the meaning of man and of life — I am making significant progress here. I have faith in myself. Man is a mystery: if you spend your entire life trying to puzzle it out, then do not say that you have wasted your time. I occupy myself with this mystery, because I want to be a man.” We had all known that his reason for writing the book was to expose nihilistic ways to the world and how it always crumbles. Through his quote, I assume that the novel was also written to help others become “man.” His novel contributes significantly to the universal goal of figuring out man and the mystery man possesses.
I can’t help but think that Dostoevsky had to of been mad. How else could he have thought up of the things that he did? It is important to remember this book wasn't something Dostoevsky just pounded out at midnight to make his fourth period deadline the next morning. Dostoevsky had put so much thought, time, and energy into the construction of the plot and the novel itself, along with many others who helped him. We already know that he had seemed help from others in regards to characters such as Porfiry, along with the “methods to their madness”. Who knows, it is highly possibly that Dostoevsky reached out to others to research more for this novel.
Truly, Dostoevsky’s novel is itself a study of the “meaning of man and of life.” So many different types of men are involved in “Crime and Punishment” with all different kinds of kind. Dostoevsky really has made “significant progress” in more ways than one. Our class also has discussed on all of the different reasons “Crime and Punishment” is read. Psychologists, Criminologists, Police Officers and more are all required to not only read, but study “Crime and Punishment.” “Crime and Punishment” is a remarkable book with universal meaning, expertly written by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Felicia,
DeleteI have to admit that the first line is very true we do tend to forget about Dostoevsky during our discussions. Just to imagine Dostoevsky's intense research for this particular novel is mind boggling to me. As of those who know me from creative writing and how I tended to research my topics somewhat to get random ideas. I can't even begin to fathom the amount of prep-work done for this novel. Every single step calculated to the finest detail of impact is insane, which makes me question his mental stability also. Speaking of getting other "specialists" help in portraying the characters make me wonder all those who he did interview. Perhaps he met with some real murders or crazy people for his inspiration. Some of these things we will never know but it's wondrous to ponder the ideas.
Felicia,
DeleteWow, just wow. I absolutely love the way you think and analyze things. Defining Dostoesky as mad makes so much sense. It is hard to figure out how someone could possibly come up with these kinds of ideas. Whenever we get into a discussion reverting back to this, I always think of Criminal Minds, Law and Order SVU, and Frankenstein. It almost scares me that concepts depicted in these shows and books actually come from a human being as they are so outrageously mind blowing.
Getting back to your blog, I found your statement that Dostoesky wrote "Crime and Punishment" to help other people become men very intriguing. It was almost like he explaining what not to be like as nihilism was a growing concept back then. Maybe he already knew the solution to the mystery found in men but wig nihilism around, his ideas were often dismissed, so writing this novel was his way of putting it out there for others to read.
Overall, this was a wonderful blog, Felicia. Great work!