In the hot evening of the day of July, shortly before sunset is throwing its slanting rays of the miserable garret " just under the roof of a five story building " (quote from book) In great anguish lives, Rodya Raskolnikov. Already at the very beginning of work, the author shows us the oppressive atmosphere that Rodya would live in for the remainder of the novel. For the majority of the story, in both frenzy and in thought , his delirium pours into the streets of St. Petersburg. Stops on bridges , comes into the dirty tavern Dostoevsky's hero Raskolnikov. The novel is immersed in the era, the era (the "Iron Age") It is no coincidence that it seems that through this novel Dostoyevsky attempted to bring St. Petersburg to live. After all, there were two St. Petersburgs. One - a city created by hands of ingenious architects, including the Petersburg Palace Embankment and the Palace Square, the St. Petersburg palace coups and lush balls , all of those things being a symbol of greatness and prosperity of Russia, which still amazes tourists to this day. However, there was another, dista...
In describing the setting, the general locale is the prison in the coldest part of Russia- Siberia, geographically but socially depicting the social circumstances in the prison, but draws analogies to the general social, political and economic circumstances of Russia during the Stalinist era (form 1917 revolution up to 1955). The symbolic significance of the novel and the film (genres) reflects experiences, values and attitudes of the Russian society. The genres reflect the origins of the Russian social disorders and massive counts of political misgivings which watered down real communism in Russia. We are constantly reminded of the social and cultural heritage and originality of Russian ethnic groups through those different levels of meanings
Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote these words around 1864 to describe the mental state of a hyperconscious retired bureaucrat whose excessive analysis and inability to act separate him from the mainstream of the society in which he lived. Dostoevsky's underground man, as he termed his character, is characterized by alienation, spite, and isolation. Dostoevsky presents the life of his character as a testimonial to the possibility of living counter to an individual's own best interests.
“Nevsky Prospect” gives us a view of the city of St. Petersburg. The majority of the story takes place on Nevsky Prospect, which appears to be a central place in St. Petersburg. This location gives readers insight into the daily lives and different types of people of the city. Being the center of the commercial and cultural life of the city, it attracts people from different classes and countries. People from all walks of life convene there to go about their daily activities, and immigrants find themselves there for like reasons. A view of Nevsky Prospect becomes provides a window into a miniature version of St. Petersburg.
Russia / The Mongols and the Emergence of Moscow. Geographia, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014.
We see Raskolnikov as a man in extreme poverty at the opening of the book, dropping out of college, and living in a small and dirty apartment. Although he has a family who cares about him, the man hardly seems to care about anything at all. Dostoevsky explains that the poor ex-student was “...so immersed in himself and had isolated himself so much from everyone that he was afraid not only of meeting his landlady but of meeting anyone at all. He was crushed by poverty; but even his strained circumstances had lately ceased to burden him.” (quote) Raskolnikov also has major drinking issues, as he “... [tries] to find sympathy and feeling in [drinking].” (Dostoevsky, 3)) From these poor qualities of the young man’s life, Raskolnikov begins to detach and isolate himself from the rest of the society.
The Soviet citizens during the 1930s, particularly the younger ones, believed “they were participants in a history process of transformation, their enthusiasm for what was called ‘the building of socialism’” (68). The Soviets built hotels, palaces, and had blueprints displayed all throughout “that was supposed to set a pattern for urban planning throughout the country and provide a model of the socialist capital for foreigners” (69).
Alexander Solzhenitsyn carefully and tediously depicted what life is like in a prison. Ivans monotonous life prompts the reader initially to think that Ivans day is a living death of tedious details. Yet, in truth, Ivan i...
Not every great writer can be correct in what he or she is saying. This is the idea that Gaunilo had in mind when he wrote his criticism to St. Anselm’s Ontological Argument which states that if something greater than anything else that could be thought of is conceived in the understanding then it must exist. Gaunilo says it is foolish to believe in the existence of something just because it is understood. He says there must be some kind of other explanation. In this paper, I will try to explain both Anselm’s theory and Gaunilo’s argument by first breaking each of them down in simpler terms. I will attempt to show what Gaunilo is trying to discredit with his objection.
The desolate and chaotic conditions of the society can have a significant amount of influence on the development on a certain character of a novel. For instance, at the time the novel, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky was written, the conditions of the setting, was very chaotic and was in turmoil. Crime and Punishment took place in Russia, where Russia during the time Crime and Punishment was written was suffering due to economical downfalls and failure of the poor reforms of Tsar Alexander II; ultimately transforming Russia into a poverty-stricken country. The failure of Alexander’s reforms affected much of setting in which Crime and Punishment was written in, which ultimately contributed in character development of Raskolinokov. This is evident through the use of metaphor, which Dostoevsky uses to compare the state of the country to Raskolinkov’s apartment.
It captures the emotions left in the hearts of these characters. In the novel, Gurov’s imagery differentiates between young romance and the connections of lasting love. One of the main sceneries of the story takes place in the beautiful resort town of Yalta. According to Chekhov’s novel, Yalta is described as “The water was a warm, tender purple, the moonlight lay on its surface in a golden strip” (2). Yalta is an exciting place for new, colorful, and youth romance to begin. Another part of the novel’s setting are the confined homes of both Anna and Gurov. Where gray haunts their homes in their monotonous days away from each other. Chekhov mentions, “He sat up in bed, covered by the cheap gray quilt, which reminded him of a hospital blanket, and in his vexation he fell to taunting himself” (10). The reoccurrence of the gray description of the homes of Gurov and Anna while they are in despair when away from each other, with the colorful images of Yalta and the emotions of happiness when they are together, show how the separation in setting is important to the emotions of the characters. At the resort with Anna, Gurov’s day are full of passion, excitement and a carefree lifestyle similar to the youth of society. While away from her, Gurov savors the precious instants of her company. “Anna Sergeyevna did not come to him in his dreams, she accompanied him everywhere, like his shadow, following him
During the discussion several ideas were brought up surrounding key ideas in Crime and Punishment, mainly focusing on the concepts of dreams and setting. Before the discussion I believed that Raskolnikov differed from society somehow, and often was portrayed as crazy within his dreams/hallucinations. I also thought that St. Petersburg was a dirty and disgraceful town located somewhere within Russia. Afterwards I learned that really, Dostoevsky was using dreams to show Raskolnikov’s differing perspective of the world, and that St. Petersburg is really a beautiful city (where the wealthy live) located in the west of Russia.
While confronting Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground seems a difficult task initially, one must be able to transcend the elaborate diction and parodies, and comprehend the author himself, while also taking root the message Dostoevsky had originally intended in the time it was addressed. Understanding the author himself, along with the period in which the work was written, augments one’s overall discernment of the passage. In the age he wrote, Dostoevsky must have seemed eccentric and outlandish; nevertheless, looking back on him from today with a literary understanding of modernism, he appears ahead of his time. His central premise, although difficult to determine amongst the satire, is humanity’s necessity for freedom and religion, specifically Christianity.
... story but it also reflects Russian society. This, however, isn’t why many Russians still continue to hold this piece of literature as central to their culture. Although, it tells of their heritage and society, it is the simple genius of the structure of the novel of –14-line stanza form-and his lyrics, which are complex and meticulous but are written with such ease that they appear effortless, simple, and natural.
When you associate anything with New York City it is usually the extraordinary buildings that pierce the sky or the congested sidewalks with people desperate to shop in the famous stores in which celebrities dwell. Even with my short visit there I found myself lost within the Big Apple. The voices of the never-ending attractions call out and envelop you in their awe. The streets are filled with an atmosphere that is like a young child on a shopping spree in a candy store. Although your feet swelter from the continuous walking, you find yourself pressing on with the yearning to discover the 'New York Experience'.
Dostoevsky’s noteworthy literary works each contain similarities in theme, character development, and purpose when analyzed beyond face value. Dostoevsky’s early life and ideals, intertwined with life-changing events that shifted his ideologies, and critiques of fellow Russian writers during his time period lay the groundwork for Dostoevsky’s recurring arguments for the way which Russian society would be best-off, as well as ways in which the people of Russia would be suited to live the most fulfilling, non-corrupt lives.