Extraordinary Man/Superman Theories in Crime and Punishment
Raskolnikov’s theories about the ordinary man versus the extraordinary man are often blurred and indistinct in his own mind. If one is to assume that the crime was committed in order to prove a theory, then the flaws in the crime indicate the flaws or incompleteness of the theory.
If the theories seem to be contradictory at times, it is not a result of Dostoevsky’s carelessness; quite the contrary, Dostoevsky intentionally made the theory contradictory at times. Raskolnikov had to commit the murder before he had completely formulated the theory. Dostoevsky wanted to show the young intellectual being influenced by various theories and then using these theories before he had had a chance to analyze them. For example, a typical contradiction would be that Raskolnikov will at one time maintain that the murder was committed to benefit mankind, but then he will maintain that the extraordinary man must be above mankind and not be concerned with what mankind will think of him. Such an incomplete understanding of his own thoughts and such contradictory statements are the rationale that leads Raskolnikov to the possibility of redemption. A brief analysis of the various ideas will partly show what aspect of the theories are borrowed and what aspects are the result of Raskolnikov’s own thinking.
The German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1830)
Hegelian Superman Theory:
1. The Hegelian Superman exists for noble purposes; if the ends are noble, then the means can be justified. The emphasis is always on the ends rather than the means.
• The old pawnbroker is an evil person who is actually harming the poor people who come to her for pawning.
2. According to Hegel, any harmful segment of society should be removed.
• Therefore, Raskolnikov reasons that by murdering the old pawnbroker, he will be removing a harmful “louse” from society.
If the ends are noble, the means can be justified. The old pawnbroker has a lot of money that will be “wasted” upon useless requiem services for her soul after her death. With that money, Raskolnikov will be able to complete his education and devote himself to the service of humanity, or he could distribute the money among needy and starving families, thus saving hundreds of people from ruin and destitution.
German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)
The Nietzschean Superman Theory:
1. The Nietzschean Superman exists for his own self gratificiation
• Svidrigailov was born from these ideas of self-gratification. Svidrigailov would reason:
2. Since he believes that “God is dead” there is no will (or power) beyond that of my own, I must completely assert my own will until it is totally free of all restraint against it. Since there is no power beyond me that functions to punish, I am free to assert completely my own will.
3. Therefore, the Nietzschean Superman is one who possesses the strongest will and is able to make his desires and his power dominant over others.
• Svidrigailov can rape a 15-year-old girl and cause the death of a servant without any fear of punishment. He asserts his own will in order to gratify his own desires.
4. The test of this type of Superman is that he must stand completely alone and must not allow his will to be influenced by the wishes of others. Thus, this assertion of the will isolates man from society.
• When Raskolnikov attempts to assert his will, he finds himself cut off from the rest of humanity. It is this dreadful solitude that Raskolnikov cannot stand and that makes him confess to become part of humanity again.
Crime and Punishment Part III:
Raskolnikov’s Extraordinary Man Theory
Raskolnikov’s own theory adopts some of all of the above ideas with certain touches of his own. For Raskolnikov,
1. All men are divided into two categories: ordinary and extraordinary.
2. The ordinary man has to live in submission and has no right to transgress the law because he is ordinary.
3. On the contrary, the extraordinary men have the right to commit any crime and to transgress the law in any way.
4. They are extraordinary because they are the men who have the gift or talent to utter a New Word. It is the extraordinary men who forge civilization onward to new heights of achievements.
5. The extraordinary man has this inner right to decide whether to overstep the law or any obstacle that stands in the way of the practical fulfillment of his idea, or New Words.
6. All great men capable of giving something new to society must not submit to the common law because if they do they cease to be great.
7. Great men create new laws by their discoveries and therefore should have the right to eliminate a few men in order to make their new discoveries known to all of humanity.
• Thus, Raskolnikov “sanctions bloodshed in the name of conscience.” (Raskolnikov constantly refers to Napoleon because Napoleon had the daring to commit various acts in order to complete his plans).
Again it should be emphasized that, at the time of the murder, Raskolnikov had not worked these various theories into a consistent whole. All the individual parts were there, but some of the connecting details were missing. The murder was committed to see whether he dares commit a murder and therefore prove his will is strong, that he in fact is an extraordinary man. Am I a real man of power? (This idea comes partly from Nietzsche). From this premise, Raskolnikov reasons that a man may commit a crime if it serves a noble end. (This part comes from Hegel). Then he chooses his victim from the “ordinary” class; he chooses someone who he considers to be a louse, the pawnbroker, Alyona.
Crime and Punishment Part III
Raskolnikov’s Extraordinary Man Theory
1. Crime is always accompanied by illness.
2. Men are either ordinary or extraordinary
3. Ordinary men have no right to transgress laws.
4. Extraordinary men have an inner right to decide whether or not to step over any law or obstacle standing in the way of fulfillment of their ideas.
5. All great men have the right to eliminate a few men in order to make their discoveries known to all mankind.
6. Ordinary, inferior men can only reproduce their own kind. Extraordinary men have the talent to utter “a new word.”
7. All great men capable of giving something NEW “a new word,” must not submit to common law or they will cease to be great.
What is important in this section:
* What is new and original in Raskolnikov’s theory (thereby making him one of the extraordinary) is that he “Sanctions bloodshed in the name of conscience.” Raskolnikov says that the great will suffer in their own conscience. “Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart.”
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Crime and punishment Part II
Crime and Punishment Part II
Guilt and Obsession
• Raskolnikov’s theory says that there is a failure of will in every crime. This is evidenced by careless mistakes. He leaves the door open; he does not get rid of the evidence immediately etc., which causes fear of discovery.
• Raskolnikov’s theory states that illness accompanies crime. His illness (chills, fever and delirium are psychosomatic and the beginning of his punishment).
Raskolnikov’s theory states that crime isolates one from human contact. The extraordinary man must stand alone and need no one. He realizes that the crime has isolated him from society. That he can never be open and free with another person if he is to avoid discovery, yet he yearns for human contact. (duality). Suspicious Behavior
• Raskolnikov’s obsession with the bloody sock
• Fear of discovery
• Delirium
• Raskolnikov’s illness after the crime ties in with his published theory.
• He is extremely lethargic only showing interest in the crime.
• Hypothetical confession to Zametov
• Returns to the scene of the crime.
Important Points in Part II
• Raskolnikov does not count the money. This indicates that the crime was not committed for financial gain.
• Raskolnikov vacillates between the dual desire to confess (and thereby end his isolation from society) and the desire to hide his guilt (and avoid punishment).
• Sonia is revealed as a symbol of great suffering and shame (revealing a Christ-like nature).
Guilt and Obsession
• Raskolnikov’s theory says that there is a failure of will in every crime. This is evidenced by careless mistakes. He leaves the door open; he does not get rid of the evidence immediately etc., which causes fear of discovery.
• Raskolnikov’s theory states that illness accompanies crime. His illness (chills, fever and delirium are psychosomatic and the beginning of his punishment).
Raskolnikov’s theory states that crime isolates one from human contact. The extraordinary man must stand alone and need no one. He realizes that the crime has isolated him from society. That he can never be open and free with another person if he is to avoid discovery, yet he yearns for human contact. (duality). Suspicious Behavior
• Raskolnikov’s obsession with the bloody sock
• Fear of discovery
• Delirium
• Raskolnikov’s illness after the crime ties in with his published theory.
• He is extremely lethargic only showing interest in the crime.
• Hypothetical confession to Zametov
• Returns to the scene of the crime.
Important Points in Part II
• Raskolnikov does not count the money. This indicates that the crime was not committed for financial gain.
• Raskolnikov vacillates between the dual desire to confess (and thereby end his isolation from society) and the desire to hide his guilt (and avoid punishment).
• Sonia is revealed as a symbol of great suffering and shame (revealing a Christ-like nature).
Friday, March 20, 2009
Crime and Punishment Part 1
Crime and Punishment Part I
Conflict:
External – man vs. a hostile society
(poverty, crime)
Internal – man vs. himself
(Raskolnikov’s battling dual natures calculating and caring sides)
The purpose of the novel is to unite the two factions of Raskolnikov’s personality into one whole functioning person.
Theme: Suffering leads to redemption.
The whole story is developed through duality, dual conflicts as well as dual characterization
Roskolnikov
Calculating
Cold
Uncaring
Intellectual
Caring
Warm
Compassionate
Humane
Humble & Meek
Other characters
Calculating Characters
Alyona
Svidrigalov (evil)
Porfiry
Caring Characters
Lizaveta
Sonia ("Christ like")
Conflict:
External – man vs. a hostile society
(poverty, crime)
Internal – man vs. himself
(Raskolnikov’s battling dual natures calculating and caring sides)
The purpose of the novel is to unite the two factions of Raskolnikov’s personality into one whole functioning person.
Theme: Suffering leads to redemption.
The whole story is developed through duality, dual conflicts as well as dual characterization
Roskolnikov
Calculating
Cold
Uncaring
Intellectual
Caring
Warm
Compassionate
Humane
Humble & Meek
Other characters
Calculating Characters
Alyona
Svidrigalov (evil)
Porfiry
Caring Characters
Lizaveta
Sonia ("Christ like")
Reflections of Dostoevsky in Crime and Punishment
• Influenced by the radical new ideas from the West that were entering Russia during the 19th century
• He became involved in some liberal, revolutionary movements and wanted Russia to catch up with the rest of Europe
• He began writing and publishing contraband articles on a variety of political questions. This was illegal because printing was controlled and censored by the government
• He (along with 14 others) was arrested in 1849 and sentenced to death before a firing squad. Moments before his execution they were reprieved. He never forgot the experience and it haunted him for years
• Dostoevsky spent the next 5 years in a Siberian prison under horrible conditions.
• In Siberia, Dostoevsky changes his life
1. Had first epileptic seizure
2. Rejects blind acceptance of new ideas
3. Becomes a Slavophil (believes the salvation of the world was in the hands of Russia and eventually Russia would rise to dominate the world, therefore each Russian must contribute his utmost to the development of Russian ideas and culture) like Porfiry
4. Formulates his ideas about suffering as the means of salvation
• His first wife is a tubercular young widow with a young son by her first marriage. The marriage was short because she dies of her disease (like Katerina)
• He became involved in some liberal, revolutionary movements and wanted Russia to catch up with the rest of Europe
• He began writing and publishing contraband articles on a variety of political questions. This was illegal because printing was controlled and censored by the government
• He (along with 14 others) was arrested in 1849 and sentenced to death before a firing squad. Moments before his execution they were reprieved. He never forgot the experience and it haunted him for years
• Dostoevsky spent the next 5 years in a Siberian prison under horrible conditions.
• In Siberia, Dostoevsky changes his life
1. Had first epileptic seizure
2. Rejects blind acceptance of new ideas
3. Becomes a Slavophil (believes the salvation of the world was in the hands of Russia and eventually Russia would rise to dominate the world, therefore each Russian must contribute his utmost to the development of Russian ideas and culture) like Porfiry
4. Formulates his ideas about suffering as the means of salvation
• His first wife is a tubercular young widow with a young son by her first marriage. The marriage was short because she dies of her disease (like Katerina)
Crime and Punishment: Historical Perspective
Historical and Literary Setting for
Crime and Punishment
The Age of Realism, generally considered the culmination of the literary synthesis of earlier generations, began in around 1850. The writers of this period shared important qualities: great attention to realistic, detailed descriptions of everyday life; the lifting of the taboo on describing the vulgar, unsightly side of life; and a satirical attitude toward mediocrity and routines. Although varying widely in style, subject matter, and viewpoint, these writers stimulated government bureaucrats, nobles, and intellectuals to think about important social issues. This period of literature, lasted from about mid-century to 1905.
The best Russian prose writers of the Age of Realism were Ivan Turgenev, Feodor Dostoyevsky, and Leo Tolstoy. Because of the enduring quality of their combination of pure literature with eternal philosophical questions, the last two are accepted as Russia's premier prose artists; Dostoyevsky's novels Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov , like Tolstoy's novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina , are classics of world literature.
During the 19th century, Russia was ruled by autocrats, or czars, who ruled with absolute power.
1825, Czar Nicholas I came to power. Nicholas is remembered for his much harsher treatment of the people and constant striving for more power. Nicholas was a strong conservative in his beliefs about serfdom, and did not tolerate the 500 peasant revolts following his ascension to the throne. He tried to preserve his power by restricting education so that revolutionary ideas would not spread. However, a new educated group, the Intelligentsia, rose to fight for democracy. In his struggle for more power, Nicholas's actions led to the beginning of the Crimean War.
Ruler of Russia during the events of Crime and Punishment
Nicholas was succeeded by Alexander II, a much more liberal czar, in 1855. After Russia's defeat in the Crimean War, he realized that he needed to modernize his country. His first reform was to free the serfs. Alexander II issued the Emancipation Manifesto in 1861, abolishing *serfdom. This liberal reform helped reestablish Russia as a great power. Alexander II was killed in 1881 when a student and member of the revolutionary group the Narodnaya Volya (People's will) threw a bomb at him. The Narodnaya Volya was a populist group formed by the Intelligentsia who opposed Alexander's insufficient domestic reforms.
*serf (sûrf)
definition:
n.
1. A member of the lowest feudal class, attached to the land owned by a lord and required to perform labor in return for certain legal or customary rights.
2. An agricultural laborer under various similar systems, especially in 18th- and 19th-century Russia and Eastern Europe.
3. A person in bondage or servitude.
Crime and Punishment
The Age of Realism, generally considered the culmination of the literary synthesis of earlier generations, began in around 1850. The writers of this period shared important qualities: great attention to realistic, detailed descriptions of everyday life; the lifting of the taboo on describing the vulgar, unsightly side of life; and a satirical attitude toward mediocrity and routines. Although varying widely in style, subject matter, and viewpoint, these writers stimulated government bureaucrats, nobles, and intellectuals to think about important social issues. This period of literature, lasted from about mid-century to 1905.
The best Russian prose writers of the Age of Realism were Ivan Turgenev, Feodor Dostoyevsky, and Leo Tolstoy. Because of the enduring quality of their combination of pure literature with eternal philosophical questions, the last two are accepted as Russia's premier prose artists; Dostoyevsky's novels Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov , like Tolstoy's novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina , are classics of world literature.
During the 19th century, Russia was ruled by autocrats, or czars, who ruled with absolute power.
1825, Czar Nicholas I came to power. Nicholas is remembered for his much harsher treatment of the people and constant striving for more power. Nicholas was a strong conservative in his beliefs about serfdom, and did not tolerate the 500 peasant revolts following his ascension to the throne. He tried to preserve his power by restricting education so that revolutionary ideas would not spread. However, a new educated group, the Intelligentsia, rose to fight for democracy. In his struggle for more power, Nicholas's actions led to the beginning of the Crimean War.
Ruler of Russia during the events of Crime and Punishment
Nicholas was succeeded by Alexander II, a much more liberal czar, in 1855. After Russia's defeat in the Crimean War, he realized that he needed to modernize his country. His first reform was to free the serfs. Alexander II issued the Emancipation Manifesto in 1861, abolishing *serfdom. This liberal reform helped reestablish Russia as a great power. Alexander II was killed in 1881 when a student and member of the revolutionary group the Narodnaya Volya (People's will) threw a bomb at him. The Narodnaya Volya was a populist group formed by the Intelligentsia who opposed Alexander's insufficient domestic reforms.
*serf (sûrf)
definition:
n.
1. A member of the lowest feudal class, attached to the land owned by a lord and required to perform labor in return for certain legal or customary rights.
2. An agricultural laborer under various similar systems, especially in 18th- and 19th-century Russia and Eastern Europe.
3. A person in bondage or servitude.
Crime and Punishment Character List
Russian Names
The middle name of all male characters end in “ovitch” and of all female characters in “ovna.” This ending simply means “son of” or “daughter of” the father whose first name is converted into their middle name and is called a patronymic. For example, Rodya and Dunya’s father was named Roman Raskolnikov. Thus, Rodya’s middle name Rodion Romanovitch means son of Roman and Dunya’s middle name, Avdotya Romanovna, means daughter of Roman.
If you remember to give strong stress to the syllable marked with an accent in this list, to give the vowels their “continental” value, and pronounce the consonants as in English, a rough approximation to the Russian pronunciation will be obtained. The consonant “kh” sounds rather like the Scottish “ch” in “loch”; the “zh” represents a sound like “s” in “measure”; and the final “v” is pronounced “f.”
`Rodion Ro`manovitch Ras`kolnikov: “raskol”=schism or split.
Svidri`gailov
Razu`mikhin: “razum”=reason or common sense.
Marme`ladov: “marmelad”= jam or jelly.
Al`yona I`vanovna
Character List
Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov (Rodya, Rodenka, or Rodka) A poverty-stricken student who conceives of a theory of the “Ubermensch” or extraordinary man who has the right and/or obligation to transgress the laws of the ordinary man in order to give a New Word or idea to all of humanity. He uses this theory as a justification or rationalization to commit murder.
Sonya Marmeladov (Sofya Semyonovna Marmeladov) A quiet, modest, suffering prostitute who will become Raskolnikov’s chief redemptive figure.
Porfiry Petrovitch An official of the investigating department who is in charge of the “crime.”
Svidrigailov (Arkady Ivanovitch) A sensualist and vulgarian who asserts his own will in order to achieve his personal goals.
Dunya (Avdotya Romanovna Raskolnikov) Raskolnikov’s devoted sister who was previously Svidrigailov’s employee and who was propositioned by him.
Razumihkin (Dmitri Prokofitch) One of Raskolnikov’s student friends who will become enamored of his sister Dunya.
Semyon Zakharovitch Marmeladov A dismissed government clerk who is an alcoholic.
Katerina Ivanovna Marmeladov Marmeladov’s consumptive wife had been previously married to an army officer by whom she had three children.
Pulcheria Alexandrovna Raskolnikov Raskolnikov’s mother who is frightened of her moody and intellectual son.
Alyona Ivanovna The sadistic and nasty moneylender whom Raskolnikov murders.
Lizaveta Ivanovna The mild, likable half sister to Alyona who is brutalized by her.
Polenka, Lyona, Kolya (Kolka) Katerina Ivanovna’s children by a previous marriage. Sonyas greatest fear is that Polenka might have to enter into prostitution—Raskolnikov plagues her with this thought.
Marfa Petrovna Svidrigailov’s wife who once assumed Dunya had designs on her husband.
Luzhin (Pyotr Petrovitch) A petty and miserly clerk in government who wants a poor person for his bride so that she will be indebted to him.
Lebezyatnikov (Andrey Semyonovitch) Luzhin’s roommate who calls himself an “advanced liberal.”
Praskovya Pavlovna Raskolnikov’s shy and plump landlady.
Nastasya Praskovya Pavlovna’s maid who befriends Raskolnikov and looks after him when he is ill.
Amalia Fyodorovna The Marmeladov’s landlady who is particularly disliked by Katerina Ivanovna Marmeladov.
Kapernaumovs Sonya and Svidrigailov rent rooms from these rather depressed people.
Zossimov The doctor who cares for Raskolnikov during his illness.
Nikodim Fomitch A handsome police officer who was also at Marmeladov’s death scene and reports this fact to Porfiry.
Zametov (Zamyotov), Alexander Gigorevitch The chief clerk at the police station.
Ilya Petrovitch A loud and somewhat overbearing police official to whom Raskolnikov makes his confession when there was no one else to confess to.
Nikolay (Milkolka) and Dmitri (Mitka) The painters who were working in the flat below the pawnbroker’s flat at the time of the crime
(Cliff’s Notes)
The middle name of all male characters end in “ovitch” and of all female characters in “ovna.” This ending simply means “son of” or “daughter of” the father whose first name is converted into their middle name and is called a patronymic. For example, Rodya and Dunya’s father was named Roman Raskolnikov. Thus, Rodya’s middle name Rodion Romanovitch means son of Roman and Dunya’s middle name, Avdotya Romanovna, means daughter of Roman.
If you remember to give strong stress to the syllable marked with an accent in this list, to give the vowels their “continental” value, and pronounce the consonants as in English, a rough approximation to the Russian pronunciation will be obtained. The consonant “kh” sounds rather like the Scottish “ch” in “loch”; the “zh” represents a sound like “s” in “measure”; and the final “v” is pronounced “f.”
`Rodion Ro`manovitch Ras`kolnikov: “raskol”=schism or split.
Svidri`gailov
Razu`mikhin: “razum”=reason or common sense.
Marme`ladov: “marmelad”= jam or jelly.
Al`yona I`vanovna
Character List
Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov (Rodya, Rodenka, or Rodka) A poverty-stricken student who conceives of a theory of the “Ubermensch” or extraordinary man who has the right and/or obligation to transgress the laws of the ordinary man in order to give a New Word or idea to all of humanity. He uses this theory as a justification or rationalization to commit murder.
Sonya Marmeladov (Sofya Semyonovna Marmeladov) A quiet, modest, suffering prostitute who will become Raskolnikov’s chief redemptive figure.
Porfiry Petrovitch An official of the investigating department who is in charge of the “crime.”
Svidrigailov (Arkady Ivanovitch) A sensualist and vulgarian who asserts his own will in order to achieve his personal goals.
Dunya (Avdotya Romanovna Raskolnikov) Raskolnikov’s devoted sister who was previously Svidrigailov’s employee and who was propositioned by him.
Razumihkin (Dmitri Prokofitch) One of Raskolnikov’s student friends who will become enamored of his sister Dunya.
Semyon Zakharovitch Marmeladov A dismissed government clerk who is an alcoholic.
Katerina Ivanovna Marmeladov Marmeladov’s consumptive wife had been previously married to an army officer by whom she had three children.
Pulcheria Alexandrovna Raskolnikov Raskolnikov’s mother who is frightened of her moody and intellectual son.
Alyona Ivanovna The sadistic and nasty moneylender whom Raskolnikov murders.
Lizaveta Ivanovna The mild, likable half sister to Alyona who is brutalized by her.
Polenka, Lyona, Kolya (Kolka) Katerina Ivanovna’s children by a previous marriage. Sonyas greatest fear is that Polenka might have to enter into prostitution—Raskolnikov plagues her with this thought.
Marfa Petrovna Svidrigailov’s wife who once assumed Dunya had designs on her husband.
Luzhin (Pyotr Petrovitch) A petty and miserly clerk in government who wants a poor person for his bride so that she will be indebted to him.
Lebezyatnikov (Andrey Semyonovitch) Luzhin’s roommate who calls himself an “advanced liberal.”
Praskovya Pavlovna Raskolnikov’s shy and plump landlady.
Nastasya Praskovya Pavlovna’s maid who befriends Raskolnikov and looks after him when he is ill.
Amalia Fyodorovna The Marmeladov’s landlady who is particularly disliked by Katerina Ivanovna Marmeladov.
Kapernaumovs Sonya and Svidrigailov rent rooms from these rather depressed people.
Zossimov The doctor who cares for Raskolnikov during his illness.
Nikodim Fomitch A handsome police officer who was also at Marmeladov’s death scene and reports this fact to Porfiry.
Zametov (Zamyotov), Alexander Gigorevitch The chief clerk at the police station.
Ilya Petrovitch A loud and somewhat overbearing police official to whom Raskolnikov makes his confession when there was no one else to confess to.
Nikolay (Milkolka) and Dmitri (Mitka) The painters who were working in the flat below the pawnbroker’s flat at the time of the crime
(Cliff’s Notes)
Crime and Punishment Dostoevsky Biography
Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky
• Born: 11 November 1821
• Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
• Died: 28 January 1881
• Best Known As: Author of Crime and Punishment
• 19th century Russian author who wrote the classic novels Crime and Punishment (1866) and The Brothers Karamazov (1880).
• Dostoevsky turned to writing as a profession after a brief military career
• In 1849 he was arrested for his participation in a literary/political group and sentenced to prison.
• He narrowly escaped execution, having been stood before a firing squad
• He spent nearly ten years isolated in Siberia (four of them in prison) before returning to St. Petersburg.
• His novels explored the psychology and moral obligations of modern man
• He is famous for creating the "underground hero," a protagonist alienated from society and in search of redemption.
• One of Russia's greatest authors and a strong influence on 20th century literature
• His other works include House of the Dead (1862), Notes from the Underground (1864) and The Idiot (1868).
• Born: 11 November 1821
• Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
• Died: 28 January 1881
• Best Known As: Author of Crime and Punishment
• 19th century Russian author who wrote the classic novels Crime and Punishment (1866) and The Brothers Karamazov (1880).
• Dostoevsky turned to writing as a profession after a brief military career
• In 1849 he was arrested for his participation in a literary/political group and sentenced to prison.
• He narrowly escaped execution, having been stood before a firing squad
• He spent nearly ten years isolated in Siberia (four of them in prison) before returning to St. Petersburg.
• His novels explored the psychology and moral obligations of modern man
• He is famous for creating the "underground hero," a protagonist alienated from society and in search of redemption.
• One of Russia's greatest authors and a strong influence on 20th century literature
• His other works include House of the Dead (1862), Notes from the Underground (1864) and The Idiot (1868).
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