Dostoevsky Essay, Research Paper
Dostoevsky first presents Smerdyakov, in The Brothers Karamazov, in Book 3 of Part 1. The author divulges details of the conception of the fourth son of Fyodor Pavovich Karamazov. Late on a September evening, a drunk Fyodor, by modern standards, "rapes" a homeless woman. Stinking Lizaveta, the victim of Fyodor’s violence, was a legend in the town. Regardless of her unattractive and dirty appearance, her poverty, and homelessness, the townspeople regarded her with sympathy and compassion. Fyodor, on the other hand, treated Lizaveta as an insubordinate who was undeserving of even an ounce of respect. He and his friends mock her. He, then, rapes her. And, as if these actions are not cruel and offensive enough, he vehemently denies any of it happening. Later, when Lizaveta gives birth to Fyodor’s illegitimate son, it is Grigory and Marfa who take the boy in, baptize him, and decide to raise the child. The townspeople mistakenly credit Fyodor for taking the dead woman’s child into his house. All of these disturbing actions on the part of Fyodor are cause for his punishment.
While Fyodor neglected his fatherly duties to his other three sons, to this fourth, he rejects them completely. He finds the controversy around the mystery of the boy’s conception amusing. He employs his own son as one of his servants, as his "lackey." Although incredible attention to detail is paid to the story of Lizaveta, Dostoevsky waits to speak of the boy himself. It is as if the author is all ready separating this last son. Dostoevsky claims to not want to go into detail about Smerdyakov so as not to distract the reader from the story. However, it is an intention set-up on the part of the author.
When we finally learn more of this mysterious character, it is not until four chapters later. Dostoevsky is oddly able to summarize the character of Smerdyakov in only five pages, whereas, with the characters of his brothers, he needs many more pages. In this way, the author is showing the mistreatment of this innocent boy by all who know him. Grigory is ashamed of him. He spreads the story of Smerdyakov’s birth and ruins his reputation indefinitely. All three of the brothers treat Smerdyakov not as an equal, but as a servant. Despite his displays of intelligence, Smerdyakov is labeled and mocked by everyone. He is called a lackey, an ass, a scoundrel, and more.
So, quite predictably, we find out in the sixth chapter of Book 3, that Smerdyakov is, to say the least, bitter about his mistreatment. Smerdyakov seems to be innately aware of the violence, disrespect, and cruelty from which he was conceived. He is outwardly cold and passionless. Inwardly, he has a lot of anger. As a child, he maliciously unleashes this inward wrath in the ceremonial killing of cats. Thanks to a frank and mean-spirited admonition by Grigory, he is fully aware of his position as a subordinate in the house of his father. Dostoevsky, quite effectively, shows that this son is not only treated differently from the other sons, but is also very different in character.
The similar characteristic of the three Karamazov brothers is their explosive exhibition of their passion. The youngest Karamazov, Alexei, is passionate about religion. He passes some time in the town monastery where he is greatly influenced by the elder Zosima. Even though he decides against living his life as a monk, he vows to uphold the teachings of his mentor. Throughout the entire book, he attempts to exhibit to others the workings of his God. Alexei is greatly admired and respected for his unyielding dedication to the truth. He embodies religious devotion, purity, and spirituality.
The second Karamazov, Ivan, is passionate about his intellect. He is known as an educated and intellectual man. He is the only son to have graduated from college. Ivan’s reviews of books are published and his name is familiar in literary circles. He takes great pride in his talented mind. He is consumed by his love for books.
Dmitri, the eldest Karamazov brother, holds a slightly more complicated passion. His passion lies in dishonest and immoral actions. He is presented as a lover of women, money, and alcohol. His nature is fun loving and easy-going. He seems to attract controversy and is always surrounded by illegal, unethical, and unscrupulous activities.
Smerdyakov, on the other hand, does not exhibit this common Karamazov trait of explosive passion. Dostoevsky precisely outlines in the sixth chapter how Smerdyakov is different in this respect. In this chapter, Smerdyakov systematically rejects the three passions that consume the lives of his three brothers. First, Smerdyakov challenges Grigory’s teaching of the Scriptures. He offends Grigory by questioning the plausibility of the Bible. He rejects religion. Then, Fyodor recommends a book and is offended when Smerdyakov finds it boring. Smerdyakov also finds no humor in a book that is supposed to be funny. He rejects books. Finally, Smerdyakov proves to be trustworthy and honest because he returns money to Fyodor. He rejects immoral activities such as stealing.
Smerdyakov’s passion stems from his birth in Fyodor’s garden and ripens in his dreams while asleep in the kitchen. His passion is cooking. He closely examines and studies the different characteristics of food. He is then sent to training school in order to become a cook. Smerdyakov has a terrific knack for manipulating foods. The final dishes nearly always turn out perfectly. His culinary artistry imbues his personality. Smerdyakov conjures up a recipe for delicious fish soup as well as a recipe for sweet revenge on his "family."
Smerdyakov’s entire existence from womb to death is on the exterior of the lives around him. He is born outside of the birth order accepted by society. This is symbolically demonstrated by the fact that his birth took place outside. The servants of Fyodor’s household deliver the baby boy in the garden. As a child, he sleeps separated from the other members of the house, in the kitchen. The author reinforces this separation by introducing his character independent of any other characters. Fyodor physically separates the boy from the household by sending him to Moscow. Ironically, while all of this physical separation is placed upon Smerdyakov, he is unable to separate himself from the one thing that haunts him. He cannot escape his past and his fate. Within the fenced garden where Smerdyakov was released from his mother’s womb, he is forever attached to his mother’s reputation and trapped by his own fate. Smerdyakov is well aware of his lot in life. His smeared name follows him to Moscow where the physical distance is obviously not sufficient. While he is outwardly distanced and separated both by others and by himself, inwardly he is restricted and confined by his circumstances of birth.
Smerdyakov, outwardly appears to grudgingly accept his fate, while inwardly he cooks up a scheme to seek revenge. In the same way that he meticulously inspects his food as a child, Smerdyakov watches and digests every bit of information about his brothers and his father. He questions and challenges their ideas and beliefs. He learns of their quirks and passions as well as their abilities and insecurities. He secretly gathers all of these items and stores them in his head as ingredients for his recipe. Like a true "broth-maker," he never divulges his secrets.
His recipe is for the absolute destruction of all who surround him. Smerdyakov skillfully adds the right amount of yeast in order to force the hysterics, insanity, and havoc of the people to rise to unparalleled heights. Seasoned perfectly with the precise number of murders, beatings, illnesses, suspects, and victims, his recipe is for the eventual downfall of the people connected to his life. Smerdyakov is undeserving of his lot in life and of the mistreatment of those around him. But, true to his namesake, which is not Karamazov, his passionate wrath is not explosively exhibited to anyone. On the contrary, he cunningly plots and schemes, manipulates and tortures, with a mask of apathy and innocence.
He tempts Dmitri to the scene of the crime like a child to candy. Smerdyakov sets-up an easy chance for Dmitri to commit the crime that he has been threatening for some time. Knowing his character, Smerdyakov is aware of Dmitri’s cowardly inability to carry out his threats. However, impassioned by the chance, Dmitri, Smerdyakov knows, will certainly present himself at the correct time and place.
Smerdyakov cleverly devises the plan to have Dmitri appear as the main suspect while he himself is able to carry out the actual murder. After years of obeying the humiliating commands of his master/father, Smerdyakov takes revenge into his own hands. He cracks open his fathers cruel and unjust head at the same time as he places his master at his feet.
Smerdyakov then places the guilt of the murder onto Ivan. Smerdyakov plays on his obsession with knowledge and his persistence in gaining it. It is not until Ivan comes to him for the third time that Smerdyakov hands him the truth, the proof (the money), and the responsibility of the murder. Smerdyakov says continuously throughout the book, "it’s always interesting to talk with an intelligent man." He mocks Ivan’s intelligence because he knows that Ivan cannot handle certain truths. Ivan, indeed, becomes so burdened with this knowledge that he becomes insane.
Smerdyakov handles the destruction of his third brother a little differently. Alexei cares to an extreme extent about others. He is deeply affected by the suffering of Ilyusha and the other schoolboys. Smerdyakov knows that by simply affecting the two brothers whom Alexei loves, he is also affecting Alexei. Alexei, to no avail, attempts to save what remains of his brothers’ dehumanized states.
While Smerdyakov’s actions are cunning and deceitful, he knows at every moment exactly what he is doing and why he is doing it. He is fully aware of his own predicament. He is born into misfortune, attempts to avenge his name, and wreaks havoc upon this small Russian town. While he carefully manipulates people and skillfully executes his plans, he is aware also of the immorality of murder. Like Zisoma’s "mysterious visitor," Smerdyakov commits his crimes out of passion. He does not wait for the jury to consider his case. Like the "mysterious visitor," he has convicted himself of murder and sentences himself death. Smerdyakov’s vicious crime and brutal punishment complete a full life of violence starting at his conception. His passionately violent nature erupts implosively beneath a mask of implacable calm.
Другие работы по теме:
The Good Earth Essay Research Paper Each
The Good Earth Essay, Research Paper Each and every novel is filled with an abundance of literary devices. Foreshadowing, metaphors, and similes, just to name a few, assist the author in better expressing his or her work. One of the most effective and powerful literary devices is irony. Irony can be defined as the contrast between what is said and what is actually meant.
Russian Novels Essay Research Paper Youth is
Russian Novels Essay, Research Paper Youth is the time when each builds himself up so the world may shoot him back down. Every little boy is told that he has the ability to do whatever he wants. As he grows older, however, he will realize this is not true. Though one may exert all, he is still bound to fail at reaching certain aims.
Contemporary Atheism Essay Research Paper Contemporary atheism
Contemporary Atheism Essay, Research Paper Contemporary atheism is a positive and new humanism trying to re-found and re-construct the entire human universe of thought and values. It shows the possible abuses of religion and points out all concepts of God are only imperfect means to see him. What they say about God couldn’t possibly be.
Christianity In Crime And Punishment Essay Research
Paper While reading Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, the notion that it is a novel about Christianity seems absurd at first. Its central story focuses on revenge, murder and punishment – ideals contrary to Christian beliefs. Although the book may appear to be non-Christian, there were many instances where faith, suffering and redemption were present.
Crime And Punishment Essay Research Paper Midnineteenthcentury
Crime And Punishment Essay, Research Paper Mid-nineteenth-century Russia is a mass of people and marked by political suppression. It is cursed with poor living conditions and immorality. The brutality of existence in the city of St. Petersburg is where we find those who wish to rise above the chaos and madness of the time.
Raskolnikov
…A Tragic Hero Essay, Research Paper The character Rodion Romanovna Raskolnikov from Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel Crime and Punishment is a classic example of a tragic hero. His life as a man of many redeeming qualities takes a turn for the worst as his desires to improve his existence lead him to surrender to temptations that inevitably ruin his life.
Human Value Essay Research Paper The criminal
Human Value Essay, Research Paper The criminal mind of Raskolnikov- His inability to conquer his conscience after the murder. human ValueIs it acceptable for some human beings to suffer and die and not for others? In the novel Crime and Punishment, Dostoevsky offers his solution through the character of Raskolnikov.
Crime And Punishment Essay Research Paper Intellect
Crime And Punishment Essay, Research Paper Intellect and Emotion In Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, the main character is a man with two contradicting personalities a dark grim side and a warm loving side. The terms dark and grim used loosely to describe his intellectual side. It was this side of him that allowed him to commit a great sin, a murder of an old pawnbroker.
Crime And Punishment 8 Essay Research Paper
Violence in literature often has a greater meaning than simply providing entertainment for the reader. In great literature, no scene of violence exists for its own sake; the act of violence contributes to a greater meaning of the complete work. Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov s actions in Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, is an example of this.
Alyonia Ivanovna In Crime And Punishment Essay
, Research Paper Erik Klavon mac-addict@bigfoot macaddict.home.ml/ Mrs. Griffith English IV H October 5th, 1997 Throughout the novel Crime and Punishment, Dostoevsky develops the character of Alyonia Ivanovna into one that guides the flow of the book. At the most obvious level she is essential to the plot.
The Outsider Essay Research Paper The characters
The Outsider Essay, Research Paper The characters of the chaplain, in Albert Camus’ The Outsider, and the priest, in Franz Kafka’s The Trial, are quite similar, and are pivotal to the development of the novel. These characters serve essentialy to bring the question of God and religion to probe the existentialist aspects of it, in novels completely devoid of religious context.
Crime And Punishment Essay Research Paper The
Crime And Punishment Essay, Research Paper The Crime of Alienation The massacre of 25 students at a high school in Colorado shook the nation as the most devastating and heartless crime of youth. No one questions that these murders were a crime to society, as no one questions that rape, assault, and theft are also crimes.
Crime And Punishment By Feodor Dostoevsk Essay
, Research Paper Crime and Punishment by Feodor DostoevskThe passage in Crime and Punishment, by Feodor Dostoevsky, which best represents the rest of the story is found in Part Five, Chapter IV, page 350, second to last paragraph. At this point in the story, Raskolnikov has revealed to Sonia that he is the murderer, and is trying to explain to her his reasons for this action.
A DEFENSE OF INDIVIDUALISM Based On
Foydor Dostoevsky’s Novel:Notes From The UNderground Essay, Research Paper Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel, NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND, has held many labels, such as being a case history of nuerosis or a specimen of modern tragedy. The most popular label it has obtained however, is being the author’s defense of individualism.
A Comparison Of Macbeth And Crime And
Punishment Essay, Research Paper Shakespeare?s ?Macbeth? and Dostoevsky?s Crime and Punishment explore the psychological depths of man. These two works examine tragedy as represented through the existential beliefs of many philosophers. Existentialist theory expresses the idea that man can satisfy his own needs, regardless of social codes, if he has the energy and ambition to act.
Crime And Punishment Is There Or Is
There Not Such A Thing As Crime? Essay, Research Paper Crime and Punishment: Is There or is There Not Such a Thing as Crime? For this question, I have chosen to discuss the following three works of
Philosophy Of Crime And Punishment Essay Research
Paper Dostoevsky?s Crime and Punishment is a tale of poverty and suffering by all characters. Through suffering comes rationalization of decisions made and the circumstances of life. Philosophical theories develop through rationalization of the character.
Raskolnikov S Suffering In Crime And Punishment
Essay, Research Paper Raskolnikov s Suffering in Crime and Punishment In Fyodor Dostoevsky s novel, Crime and Punishment, suffering is an integral part of every introduced character s role. However, the message that Dostoevsky wants to present with the main character, Raskolnikov, is not one of the Christian idea of salvation through suffering.
Review Of Lterature Essay Research Paper Part
Review Of Lterature Essay, Research Paper Part I: Introduction and Chapter 1 Introduction Dostoevsky introduces Part I of Notes from Underground. He tell us that in this first portion, the protagonist will introduce himself and explain the causes that led to his appearance before us in this text. He then explains that the subseque nt extract, “Apropos of the Wet Snow,” will record the protagonist’s own notes.
Fyodor Essay Research Paper The author by
Fyodor Essay, Research Paper The author by essence is the creator of his book akin to God creating in his own like image in man. With this in mind, Fyodor Dostoevsky through writing Crime and Punishment creates the essence of man that he believes to be a replica of himself. By creating specific characters in his novel, Dostoevsky demonstrates his likes and dislikes in humankind.
Crime And Punishment Value System Essay Research
Paper In Crime and Punishment, Dostoevsky gives the reader an inside look to the value system that he holds for himself, as well as the type of characteristics that he abhors in people as well as the characteristics that he admires in people. He uses characters in the novel to express his beliefs of what a person should be like in life to be a good person.
Crime And Punishment Essay Research Paper In
Crime And Punishment Essay, Research Paper In the novel Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, suffering is an important part of every character’s role. However, the message that Dostoevsky wants to present with the main character, Raskolnikov, is not one of the Christian ideas of deliverance through suffering.
Suffering Crime And Punishment Essay Research Paper
Suffering in Crime and Punishment In the novel Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, suffering is an integral part of every character’s role. However, the message that Dostoevsky wants to present with the main character, Raskolnikov, is not one of the Christian idea of salvation through suffering.
Suffering Crime And Punishmen Essay Research Paper
In the novel Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, suffering is an integral part of every character’s role. Dostoevsky uses comic characters as instruments for competing ideological issues. A typical example is the loquacious bar room character Marmeladov, an alcoholic with an ironic abstract side to his personality.
Duality Essay Research Paper DualityThe theory of
Duality Essay, Research Paper Duality The theory of duality of personality is exhibited clearly in Dostoevsky?s Crime and Punishment by the character Raskolnikov: Svidrigailov represents the cold, intellectual side of his personality and Sonia is a clear example of his humane, compassionate side. Let us examine these separate components of Raskolnikov?s social traits.
Fyodor Dostoevsky Essay Research Paper Fyodor Mikhailovich
Fyodor Dostoevsky Essay, Research Paper Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky?s life was dark and dramatic as his novels were. His father?s drunken brutality led to his murder by his own serfs. At the age of 28 he was imprisoned for alleged subversion against Tsar Nicholas. He was in prison for ten years. While in prison he made many changes in his philosophies and it was greatly shown in his novels. ?Man is a mystery.
Biogrophy Of Dostoevsky Essay Research Paper Fyodor
Biogrophy Of Dostoevsky Essay, Research Paper Fyodor Dostoevsky drew upon his many hardships and life experiences in order to instill a sense of realism and truth into the novel Crime and Punishment. He bases many of the characters in the novel on his own life. By incorporating his own life challeges into the novel, there is a greater sense of personal reflection and emotional honesty.
Dostoevsky Essay Research Paper In Dostoevsky
Dostoevsky Essay, Research Paper In Dostoevsky’s book “The Grand Inquisitor” he develops two versions of Chrisitianity. One is the Roman catholic version which is represented by the G.I. or Grand