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Joseph Frank [Dostoyevsky related]
Posted on 5/18/22 at 4:22 pm
Posted on 5/18/22 at 4:22 pm
Finished reading the complete works of Dostoyevsky about a year ago. I had on my 'ultimate want list' the 5 volume biographical set of Dostoyevsky by Jospeh Frank. Finally bought them at Xmas (around $150), and it is remarkable the societal parallels brewing in mid-late 1800s Russia and current day USA. You want a glimpse into the future, pick up the set.
Also, if you like the intersection of biography, sociology/history, and literary criticism...pick up the set.
Also, if you like the intersection of biography, sociology/history, and literary criticism...pick up the set.
This post was edited on 5/18/22 at 6:03 pm
1
Posted on 5/18/22 at 6:57 pm to Alyosha
That’s interesting. What do you think the biggest or most striking similarities are?
I am Listening to Mike Duncan’s Revolutions podcast and he’s covering theRussian revolution and It has been striking me how different that world was.
I am Listening to Mike Duncan’s Revolutions podcast and he’s covering theRussian revolution and It has been striking me how different that world was.
Posted on 5/19/22 at 10:41 am to SammyTiger
I'm in the range of FD's lifetime (1821-1881). Specifically, Russia is going through an identity crisis of some sort with two impending ideologies - new wave of an en vogue French socialism that's sweeping through Europe, and German Hegelian leftism. Russians are already attracted to French culture and such, but the Hegelianism is strict functionality and atheistic utilitarianism. Russia is being forced to make decisions, as its proud separation of Europe has been led by the tradition of the tzar.
Then with the pressures of the outdated serfdom, Russia is trying to find footing of simply answering the questions of which direction will they go, and "who are we?" FD finally lands on the side of nationalism and respect for the tzar (which is ironic since he was sent to Sibera by him).
But FD sees this inevitable collision, so he appeals to the nationalism since he sees the economic/social roots, organically arising from the bottom-up through the peasant way of life, rather than adopting a European top-down ideology that does not align with their heritage. He also sees national identity in the Russian orthodox church. The way to combat the Hegelian left is through his writing in the style of subversion. Think of the Hegelian left as a classic Antifa member. Notes from Underground is like memoirs of a disillusioned Antifa kid.
This leads to an even greater writing in "Demons" (I prefer the translation, "The Possessed") which is the greatest political novel ever written. It's basically foreshadowing the future ingredients that led to the Soviet Revolution, from 35 years earlier. Classism polarized by the increasing poor and the extreme out of touch/no clue elitism of the rich.
(side note, for those who think Putin is just an ex KGB, trying to revive the glory days of the soviet union need to read Russian history. Based on his actions, particularly his nationalistic emphasis to the Russian orthodox church, he's not trying to be the President of the Soviet Union, but rather he sees himself in the historic succession of the Tzar monarchy.
Then with the pressures of the outdated serfdom, Russia is trying to find footing of simply answering the questions of which direction will they go, and "who are we?" FD finally lands on the side of nationalism and respect for the tzar (which is ironic since he was sent to Sibera by him).
But FD sees this inevitable collision, so he appeals to the nationalism since he sees the economic/social roots, organically arising from the bottom-up through the peasant way of life, rather than adopting a European top-down ideology that does not align with their heritage. He also sees national identity in the Russian orthodox church. The way to combat the Hegelian left is through his writing in the style of subversion. Think of the Hegelian left as a classic Antifa member. Notes from Underground is like memoirs of a disillusioned Antifa kid.
This leads to an even greater writing in "Demons" (I prefer the translation, "The Possessed") which is the greatest political novel ever written. It's basically foreshadowing the future ingredients that led to the Soviet Revolution, from 35 years earlier. Classism polarized by the increasing poor and the extreme out of touch/no clue elitism of the rich.
(side note, for those who think Putin is just an ex KGB, trying to revive the glory days of the soviet union need to read Russian history. Based on his actions, particularly his nationalistic emphasis to the Russian orthodox church, he's not trying to be the President of the Soviet Union, but rather he sees himself in the historic succession of the Tzar monarchy.
This post was edited on 5/19/22 at 11:35 pm
Posted on 5/20/22 at 4:28 pm to Alyosha
quote:
Notes from Underground is like memoirs of a disillusioned Antifa kid.
Whoa. I never really quite understood the historical context when I was going through Dostoevsky all those years ago, but this actually makes sense.
Posted on 5/21/22 at 8:02 am to Meursault
Yep, and a Crime and Punishment is the classic disillusioned college kid influenced by university propaganda atheistic leftism.
The Possessed are the Hollywood or San Francisco elites immersed in hypocritical wokeism that irrationally leads to the murdering of their own in the name of (narcissistic) justice.
The Idiot is about what if you put a truly genuine and authentic person in the midst of that so called narcissistic elitism which results in comical sadness.
Obviously these are generalized summations but the paralleled idea is the same.
The Possessed are the Hollywood or San Francisco elites immersed in hypocritical wokeism that irrationally leads to the murdering of their own in the name of (narcissistic) justice.
The Idiot is about what if you put a truly genuine and authentic person in the midst of that so called narcissistic elitism which results in comical sadness.
Obviously these are generalized summations but the paralleled idea is the same.
This post was edited on 5/21/22 at 8:16 am
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