It wouldn't be a post of mine if I did not mention my thoughts on Dostoyevsky's writing style. Firstly, I actually laughed when after saying that he had described Grigory sufficiently he then goes on to describe him even more. I think the purpose was to give a grand entrance to the character Smerdyakov. Then of course we are promptly told that our attention must not be averted and details about him will come later. Our attention was already averted to begin with from the happenings at the monastery with this character history. Now that we have gotten into some action and drama is unfolding you would think Dostoyevsky might given in and just say everything as it unfolds instead of just leading us around more. But he just seems to be very content in his lengthy, albeit revealing, descriptions.
It was refreshing to actually go to ALoysha and his thoughts finally. Of course it's only for a moment and then he runs into Dmitry who is kind of baffling. Granted everything we know about him has come from others. This is the first time that he just one on one with Aloysha reveals his feeling. Who would have thought this guy who we were led to believe just wanted money from his father, actually just wanted love? He's a romantic. I think he really does love Katerina, but just doesn't think that he deserves her. In the end if you love somebody you want them to be happy. If you think that in the end she wouldn't be happy with you because you aren't good enough of course that would tear you up. Grushenka in the picture doesn't help. She is just the excuse Dmitry needed. She gave him an opportunity to prove to himself that he isn't good enough for Katerina. She revels in that and when it wasn't enough she went to Katerina and got the better of her too. if there is a them of bugs and animals in this book, then Grushenka is definitely the parasite.
I loved the end of this week's reading. I saw it coming from the previous reading. I think Zosima saw it too and I like to think that it might have something to with with he told Aloysha to leave for while. Aloysha is still a mystery to me. I thought we might get a better look at him, which we did somewhat. I like to see that he is growing. We learn that he thought Katerina was bad for Dmitry, but he sees that he was wrong to think that about her. I do wonder why he laughed at the end. I hope it was just because he was happy, but I don't know.
Another theme I've seen is who the boys take after. Someone in class said that they didn't believe Smerdyakov was Fyodor's son because Smerdyakov was nothing like him. The only problem I has with that is none of the sons really act like the father. They all remind me of the descriptions of the mother. Obviously Aloysha with the same religious aspect and he even burst out into the description that Fyodor was relating about an episode with his second wife. On a side note I love that Ivan reminds his father that it was his mother too. That relationship is barely ever mentioned, but even Ivan takes the religious theme with his book. Dmitry most people probably just relate to his father, but if we remember his mother was a firecracker herself and more or less a romantic I think. She just chose the wrong guy. Smerdyakov is like his mother as well. You could trust him not to steal a thing, but in the end not interested in anyone in particular and just content with their own thoughts. This leads me to think that he probably is Fyodor's son.
6 comments:
Maybe the reason for the constant aversion we see in Dostoyevsky's style is him trying to write more realistically. How often in real life do we find out everything we want to know about someone all at one time? Hardly ever, unless you are reading a biography or something, but that is a different story. Or perhaps this style has more to do with the personality of Dostoyevsky himself. I like to know biographical information about the author and find traces of the author within his writing. Already we have drawn a few parallels between the two, such as both the author and Smerdyakov having epilepsy. The concern of Fyodor towards Smerdyakov because of his sickness could be the way Dostoyevsky wished someone acted towards him. We don't know too much about the author, yet, but I would not be surprised if he had some sort of personality trait that would result in his particular style.
I agree that it would be interesting to look into Dostoyevsky's background and draw a few more parallels. To me his writing style is that of a journal, or diary so to speak. If you have ever written a journal, it is scattered in thought and when you are writing about an encounter with someone, you most often forget something initially and write it in later. While reading this book, I almost get the feeling that Dostoyevsky was there with the Karamazovs and writing the events as he remembers them. Since we more than less see what is going on in Alyosha's mind, it wouldn't surprise me if Dosteyevsky is his hero Aleksey. There is also the possibility that Dosteyevsky and Aleksey were good friends and Aleksey told him his stories.
When reading, I often get confused as to whose perspective I am reading in, so above are merely some scenarios I have come up with to explain Dosteyevsky's writing style.
I agree that this story sounds “diary” like with some scattered thoughts and descriptions, but I also think Dostoyevsky intentionally leaves some details out. Why he does this, I’m not sure yet, but perhaps we will discover more as we read. I also agree that the three brothers generally share characteristics with their mothers. This is why I don’t find it hard to believe that Smerdyakov is Fyodor’s son. And not to burst anyone’s bubble, but on the back cover of the book they refer to Smerdyakov as the half-brother, so he is related to Fyodor.
Yes, I do agree that Dostoyevsky’s writing style is very funny. Right off the bat we get a sense of this from the prologue. Thank you for pointing out what you noticed in regard to his description of Grigory. I find it very interesting how much time Dostyevsky puts into describing characters. He likes for the readers to have an idea of the characters before actually getting to know them. This shows that Dostoyevsky wants the reader to have a clear message in regard to the character.
I love the writing style as well. I actually like that Dostoyevsky is kind of leading us along. He gives us little hints at things, and then goes on to another subject altogether. It certainly wants you to read on more to get answer to all of the questions you form.
I too am having a hard time placing Alyosha within this circus. It was nice to get a little taste of his thoughts, and it has left me hungry for more. I certainly hope we get some more development of his character.
I like how you relate the characters to their mothers instead of to Fyodor. I had thought about it a little, but not to the extent you did. I didn't think to relate Dmitry to his mother, but solely to his father. I think you make valid points, and it was refreshing to see a different take on things.
Good memory re Dmitry's mother's romanticism...you're quite right on that, and there definitely does seem to be a connection between the two of them. Even just the way his mother up and left Fyodor (and don't forget also that they got into fights before that, and that *she* was the one who beat *him*) and ran off with a seminarian to Petersburg...has certain elements that I can see most definitely reminds us of Dmitry.
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