For the first half of the reading we go through everything with Miusov. The Fyodor goes on his ramblings, from which we then follow the Elder around as he visits different female visitors. It was around here that I remembered this book was supposed to be about the hero Aleksey. I suppose I'm just being impatient, but after learning about all these characters and the different sides we see, it's being to drive me nuts. I almost wish we didn't read the forward, so that we wouldn't know this is supposed to be about Aleksey.
Something did occur to me though. Part of who you are is learned in a way. You gather little quirks and thoughts that you pick up from others as you grow and learn. You end up changing these little quirks to fit your own nature and perhaps you forget where they originated from. Perhaps if it for this purpose that we go through such descriptions and antics of the other characters instead of focusing on Aleksey right away. By learning about those he is in contact with and their nature, perhaps we can learn more about Aleksey's. This also goes along with my opinion on Dostoyevsky's intentionally leading writing style.
The story about the medical man that the Elder tells on pages 78-79 was very intriguing. This book is really about humanity and it's relationships. For someone to love humanity, but not be able to stand individuals is a confusing, but not uncommon concept. I suppose it doesn't help to have people like Fyodor Pavlovich around. Although I will say this about him: at least his character hasn't changed much from the beginning. We keep getting some mixed messages about the characters particularly the brothers, but their father has pretty much always been the buffoon. He knows it too. While I still don't care for him at all I can see what others, like Maksimov, want from him. He's that friend you can only take in stages. They don't care about anything really, which in short bursts can be fun, but in the end their nature catches up with you. The whole concept though is saying that it is possible to believe in the people. To believe that they are inherently good and shall improve what they are given. As you meet people one by one, however, you are shown things that go against your belief, such as greed, ignorance, and violence. Your belief is tested and you dislike that person for doing it.
5 comments:
I think Fyodor Pavlovich is someone who loves humanity. He loves the joy and gayness people experience in his establishments, but I also think he loves the way he is. He is not mad at himself for being the way he is, he simply revels in it. I think in the scene where he decides to go back and play the buffoon is an example of this. He loves that he can go back and just irritate Miusov like no other.
I totally agree! I want to see more from Alyosha's point of view. I feel not enough has been written through his lenses. We read about him, but never find out much about how he is feeling or thinking. I also wonder why he is the hero. So far, the story does not seem to be mostly about him.
It's interesting that all of us are so willing to call Fyodor the "buffoon". When Zosima speaks to him it seems like the Elder thinks that Fyodor may have more in him than the buffoon, but that Fyodor is lying to himself "that he is a buffoon". Do you think we'll ever get to see the real Fyodor Pavlovich? Perhaps a better way of asking... Do you ever think we'll get to see what Fyodor Pavlovich "could have been"?
It is indeed interesting that the Elder does not seem to consider Fyodor Pavlovich a "finished man"--that is, he urges him to make changes in his lifestyle, ones that he seems to suggest could really and genuinely involve a reformation of his character.
In the midst of the chaos of Book II I think we have actually learned a substantial amount about Aleksey's character. We were initially provided with an idealized image of the character, this image however was upset by Rakitin's observations, as well as Elder Zosima's push to have Aleksey leave the monastery. What little direction Aleksey had in his life has now been stripped of him. It will be interesting to see the course of life that Aleksey chooses outside of monastical life. The text to come could potentially focus on Aleksey's coming of age, which might amount to the heroic status described in the forward.
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