19th C. Russian Lit

A Long, Cold Winter:19th Century Russian Fiction : 

A Long, Cold Winter:19th Century Russian Fiction Sophomore English 121 Mr. John D’Adamo

Historical Background : 

Historical Background Tsarist rule for generations – Peter, Catherine Abroad, there is great social change: American revolution French revolution English evolution But NOTHING changes in Russia. Medieval economic system = embarrassing Serfdom – peasants tied to the land.

Peter I and Catherine II : 

Peter I and Catherine II

Efforts at Reform : 

Efforts at Reform 1861 – Alexander II emancipates the serfs Release of serfs sets economy into chaos Unemployment, homelessness, and crime all on the rise. Questioning an uncertain future: “What then, shall we do?” – Vladimir I. Lenin Duma, the parliamentary body censors the media in response Therefore, literature becomes a political and social arena.

Key Voices : 

Key Voices German philosophy: Schopenhauer, Kierkegaard, Kant, Nietzsche Alexander Pushkin – Eugene Onegin (1827) Ivan Turgenev – Fathers and Sons (1861) Fyodr Dostoyevsky – Crime and Punishment (1865) Leo Tolstoy – War and Peace (1869) Anton Chekhov – short stories

Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) : 

Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) “A Problem” and “The Bishop” Grandfather was a serf who bought his own freedom. Started as a journalist covering the Dreyfus case (1880s) – courtmartial of a scapegoat Jewish army officer Not a man of great faith; rejected “project writing” with a moral theme Writes on middle class; working class without glorifying it (like Tolstoy did). His characters experience inner epiphanies.

“A Problem” by Anton Chekhov : 

“A Problem” by Anton Chekhov Sasha wrote a bad check to Handrikov. Family debates the honor in forgiving him and assuming his debt. Agrees to back him; Sasha immediately returns to his old ways. On seeing his uncle’s reaction, does Sasha then have an epiphany? If so, what? What is the “problem” of the title? Bildungsroman – “growing up” story

“The Bishop” by Anton Chekhov : 

“The Bishop” by Anton Chekhov From Chekhov’s early optimist period when he believed in human solidarity An embedded narrative, the plot focuses on the memories of the local bishop, Pyotr (“Peter”). Begins at church; dissatisfaction with mass Last week of his life: Eve of Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday Mother appears looking for money; Katya does the asking. Moon – feminine beauty – Katya’s red hair is like a halo

“The Bishop” Cont’d : 

“The Bishop” Cont’d Man who lived his life for Christ now feels empty Three occasions of tears – Sunt lacrimae rerum – Latin from the Aeneid: “There are tears for things.” – There is sadness in life. Peter as a Christ-figure in an allegorical parable. Last line alludes to Chekhov’s agnostic to atheistic tendencies. What epiphany does The Bishop have???

Chekhov and Tolstoy : 

Chekhov and Tolstoy

Count Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) : 

Count Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) Parents died when he was young; Inherited family wealth and title; 13 kids! “My hero is Truth” vs. Dostoyevsky’s view Exemplars: Christ for moral doctrine and J.J. Rousseau for rational principles Distrusted all churches and theologians; paved his own Christian path with a great religious sensibility Glorified peasant life in his writing. Saw a direct link between good art and ethics.

“How Much Land Does a Man Need?” by Leo Tolstoy : 

“How Much Land Does a Man Need?” by Leo Tolstoy Answer to the question? What is the deal with the Devil? Why does he make it? Background of the Devil in film/literature: The Faust Legend – Johannes Goethe, Christopher Marlowe et. al. Contract signed in blood in exchange for one’s soul (or sometimes mystical and tasty donuts, etc.)

Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837) : 

Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837) A Romantic in the spirit of Lord Byron Inspired by Decembrist Uprising of 1825 – attempt at internal palace coup; it failed. 1st published in his teens; Lived in St. Petersburg; Killed in a duel at age 38 over a woman (Natalia) African slave background (great-great grandfather was an African prince who was sold into slavery to Tsar Peter the Great) Liked older women; was playful and satirical

“The Bronze Horseman” by Alexander Pushkin : 

“The Bronze Horseman” by Alexander Pushkin Tsar Peter the Great – westernized Russia to the great economic upheaval of the peasant population. Poem about one poor man’s descent into madness and death, as inspired by a statue of Peter astride a horse, looking West.

Pushkin and Dostoyevsky : 

Pushkin and Dostoyevsky

Fyodr Dostoyevsky (1821-1881) : 

Fyodr Dostoyevsky (1821-1881) Pan-Slavist; was part of the Radical Right “Reading Dostoyevsky is like lurching through a nightmare where everyone you meet is drunk on wine, God, or despair.” Felt humanism would cost us our souls; Religion was instead the answer – but a strange version of religion… FD’s father was beaten to death by his own serfs; FD was at boarding school Guilt/anger often led to epileptic seizures

Dostoyevsky, Cont’d : 

Dostoyevsky, Cont’d 1848 – small terrorist cells attempted another revolution, including FD FD is arrested and condemned to death Spent 36 hours on death row with no heat; led out to execution; nooses around necks when messenger arrived with the reprieve Spent 4 years in a Siberian penal colony with only the New Testament to read. Experienced a conversion to Christ. Fodder for “Notes from the Underground” (1864)

Dostoyevsky in Context : 

Dostoyevsky in Context The three great literary ideas: Dante Aligheri (Italy), The Divine Comedy: delineated heaven and hell; the eternal balance and struggle William Shakespeare (England): showed how great the world is and/or can be Fyodr Dostoyevsky (Russia): outlined the struggle in the individual soul for salvation; the devil and the angel wrestling for control

The Brothers Karamazov: “The Grand Inquisitor” : 

The Brothers Karamazov: “The Grand Inquisitor” Ivan – atheist (parallels TGI and Devil) Alyosha – novice monk (parallels Judas and Christ) Plot: JC returns and is arrested during the Spanish Inquisition. Fundamental question: Are knowledge and free will good things to have? This episode has been described as a conversation between FD and Tolstoy. Motifs of darkness and light are twisted…