Natasha's Dance (177 page)

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Authors: Orlando Figes

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how to segregate the beauty in the Russian peasant from the layers of barbarity that hav
how to segregate the beauty in the Russian peasant from the layers of barbarity that hav
77
Dostoevsky was released and allowed to return to St Petersburg in 1859, three years after V
Dostoevsky was released and allowed to return to St Petersburg in 1859, three years after V
Dostoevsky was released and allowed to return to St Petersburg in 1859, three years after V
(pochvennichestvo).
brotherhood, to bring their Western learning to the backward villages.
brotherhood, to bring their Western learning to the backward villages.
brotherhood, to bring their Western learning to the backward villages.
For Dostoevsky, in particular, this turning towards ‘Russia’ became his defining credo.
For Dostoevsky, in particular, this turning towards ‘Russia’ became his defining credo.
For Dostoevsky, in particular, this turning towards ‘Russia’ became his defining credo.
78
Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, The Devils
The Brothers Karamazov
Like his sinner, Dostoevsky struggled over faith. ‘I am a child of the age’, he wrote in 1854,
Like his sinner, Dostoevsky struggled over faith. ‘I am a child of the age’, he wrote in 1854,
Like his sinner, Dostoevsky struggled over faith. ‘I am a child of the age’, he wrote in 1854,
79
The Devils
’I believe in the Greek Orthodox Church. I - I believe in the body of Christ -I believe tha
’I believe in the Greek Orthodox Church. I - I believe in the body of Christ -I believe tha
’I believe in the Greek Orthodox Church. I - I believe in the body of Christ -I believe tha
’But in God? In God?’
’But in God? In God?’
’But in God? In God?’
’I - I shall believe in God.’80
’I - I shall believe in God.’80
’I - I shall believe in God.’80
shall
80
Dostoevsky’s novels can be read as an open discourse between reason and belief in which th
Dostoevsky’s novels can be read as an open discourse between reason and belief in which th
Dostoevsky’s novels can be read as an open discourse between reason and belief in which th
81
and
The Brothers
Karamazov, who arrests Christ when he reappears in Counter-reformation Spain. Interrog
Karamazov, who arrests Christ when he reappears in Counter-reformation Spain. Interrog
Karamazov, who arrests Christ when he reappears in Counter-reformation Spain. Interrog
Karamazov,
any
really
82
In Dostoevsky’s view, the ability to continue to believe in the face of overwhelming sci
In Dostoevsky’s view, the ability to continue to believe in the face of overwhelming sci
In Dostoevsky’s view, the ability to continue to believe in the face of overwhelming sci
The Brothers Karamazov
’One moment!’ screamed Karamazov in a transport of delight. ‘So you think there are two men
’One moment!’ screamed Karamazov in a transport of delight. ‘So you think there are two men
’One moment!’ screamed Karamazov in a transport of delight. ‘So you think there are two men
83
Like Karamazov, Dostoevsky took delight in this ‘Russian faith’, this strange capacity
Like Karamazov, Dostoevsky took delight in this ‘Russian faith’, this strange capacity
Like Karamazov, Dostoevsky took delight in this ‘Russian faith’, this strange capacity
to their lives, and it gave them strength to go on living and endure their suffering. This
to their lives, and it gave them strength to go on living and endure their suffering. This
to their lives, and it gave them strength to go on living and endure their suffering. This
‘credo ergo sum’
Dostoevsky’s Orthodoxy was inseparable from his belief in the redemptive quality of the
Dostoevsky’s Orthodoxy was inseparable from his belief in the redemptive quality of the
Dostoevsky’s Orthodoxy was inseparable from his belief in the redemptive quality of the
Crime and Punishment,
Her eyes began to shine with an infinite happiness; she had understood, and now she was in
Her eyes began to shine with an infinite happiness; she had understood, and now she was in
Her eyes began to shine with an infinite happiness; she had understood, and now she was in
They tried to speak, but were unable to. There were tears in their eyes. Both of them looke
They tried to speak, but were unable to. There were tears in their eyes. Both of them looke
They tried to speak, but were unable to. There were tears in their eyes. Both of them looke
84
Strengthened by Sonya’s love, he turns for moral guidance to the copy of the Gospels which she
Strengthened by Sonya’s love, he turns for moral guidance to the copy of the Gospels which she
Strengthened by Sonya’s love, he turns for moral guidance to the copy of the Gospels which she
The suffering of such convicts had long been seen by Russian writers as a form of spiritu
The suffering of such convicts had long been seen by Russian writers as a form of spiritu
The suffering of such convicts had long been seen by Russian writers as a form of spiritu
Dead Souls
85
86
A Writer’s Diary,
We saw the great martyresses who had voluntarily followed their husbands to Siberia. The
We saw the great martyresses who had voluntarily followed their husbands to Siberia. The
We saw the great martyresses who had voluntarily followed their husbands to Siberia. The
freest
87
In 1854 Dostoevsky wrote to one of these Decembrist wives, Natalia Fonvizina, with the f
In 1854 Dostoevsky wrote to one of these Decembrist wives, Natalia Fonvizina, with the f
In 1854 Dostoevsky wrote to one of these Decembrist wives, Natalia Fonvizina, with the f
What struck the writer most about these women was the voluntary nature of their suffering
What struck the writer most about these women was the voluntary nature of their suffering
What struck the writer most about these women was the voluntary nature of their suffering
88
89
The Brothers Karamazov.
90
Dostoevsky places Zosima’s own conversion precisely at that moment when he realizes his g
Dostoevsky places Zosima’s own conversion precisely at that moment when he realizes his g
Dostoevsky places Zosima’s own conversion precisely at that moment when he realizes his g
91
Dmitry Karamazov, another dissolute army officer, experiences a similar revelatio
Dmitry Karamazov, another dissolute army officer, experiences a similar revelatio
Dmitry Karamazov, another dissolute army officer, experiences a similar revelatio
92
93
And what does it matter if I spend twenty years in the mines hacking out ore with a hammer? I’
And what does it matter if I spend twenty years in the mines hacking out ore with a hammer? I’
And what does it matter if I spend twenty years in the mines hacking out ore with a hammer? I’
94
Dostoevsky believed in a Church of social action and responsibility. He was critical of
Dostoevsky believed in a Church of social action and responsibility. He was critical of
Dostoevsky believed in a Church of social action and responsibility. He was critical of
Church to become more active in society. It had, he said, lost sight of its pastoral role
Church to become more active in society. It had, he said, lost sight of its pastoral role
Church to become more active in society. It had, he said, lost sight of its pastoral role
95
Dostoevsky’s writings must be seen in this context. He, too, was searching for such a Church, a
Dostoevsky’s writings must be seen in this context. He, too, was searching for such a Church, a
Dostoevsky’s writings must be seen in this context. He, too, was searching for such a Church, a
sobornost’,
The Brothers Karamazov
96
Notebooks
97
According to Dostoevsky’s friend and fellow writer Vladimir Solov-
According to Dostoevsky’s friend and fellow writer Vladimir Solov-
According to Dostoevsky’s friend and fellow writer Vladimir Solov-
iev, The Brothers Karamazov was planned as the first of a series of novels in which the wri
iev, The Brothers Karamazov was planned as the first of a series of novels in which the wri
iev, The Brothers Karamazov was planned as the first of a series of novels in which the wri
The Brothers Karamazov
98
The Brothers Karamazov,
99
100
The censors banned large parts of Dostoevsky’s novel, claiming that such passages had more
The censors banned large parts of Dostoevsky’s novel, claiming that such passages had more
The censors banned large parts of Dostoevsky’s novel, claiming that such passages had more
101
I am speaking now not about church buildings and not about sermons: I am speaking about our
I am speaking now not about church buildings and not about sermons: I am speaking about our
I am speaking now not about church buildings and not about sermons: I am speaking about our
establishment of the universal church on earth, insofar as the earth is capable of containin
establishment of the universal church on earth, insofar as the earth is capable of containin
establishment of the universal church on earth, insofar as the earth is capable of containin
102
5
5
5
5
5
At 4 a.m. on 28 October 1910 Tolstoy crept out of his house at Yasnaya Polyana, took a car
At 4 a.m. on 28 October 1910 Tolstoy crept out of his house at Yasnaya Polyana, took a car
At 4 a.m. on 28 October 1910 Tolstoy crept out of his house at Yasnaya Polyana, took a car
Tolstoy did not know where he was going. He left in a hurry, without plans. But something drew
Tolstoy did not know where he was going. He left in a hurry, without plans. But something drew
Tolstoy did not know where he was going. He left in a hurry, without plans. But something drew
The Brothers Karamazov,
inspiration to Tolstoy: so much so that Father Sergius (1890-98) - his story of an aide-de-camp-
inspiration to Tolstoy: so much so that Father Sergius (1890-98) - his story of an aide-de-camp-
inspiration to Tolstoy: so much so that Father Sergius (1890-98) - his story of an aide-de-camp-
Father Sergius
To judge from A Confession, Tolstoy’s turn to God was a sudden one - the result of a moral
To judge from A Confession, Tolstoy’s turn to God was a sudden one - the result of a moral
To judge from A Confession, Tolstoy’s turn to God was a sudden one - the result of a moral
A Confession,
103
Resurrection
Maria or the peasant Karataev in War and Peace, show their love by suffering for other hu
Maria or the peasant Karataev in War and Peace, show their love by suffering for other hu
Maria or the peasant Karataev in War and Peace, show their love by suffering for other hu
War and Peace,
Tolstoy had a mystical approach to God. He thought that God could not be comprehended by the
Tolstoy had a mystical approach to God. He thought that God could not be comprehended by the
Tolstoy had a mystical approach to God. He thought that God could not be comprehended by the
104
105
The Revolution of 1917 has obscured from our view the threat which Tolstoy’s simple readi
The Revolution of 1917 has obscured from our view the threat which Tolstoy’s simple readi
The Revolution of 1917 has obscured from our view the threat which Tolstoy’s simple readi
socialists were conscious of the need to give religious connotations to their stated
socialists were conscious of the need to give religious connotations to their stated
socialists were conscious of the need to give religious connotations to their stated
Novoevremia,
106
107
Resurrection,
108
109
* The Bolsheviks made the most political capital out of socialism’s religious resona
* The Bolsheviks made the most political capital out of socialism’s religious resona
* The Bolsheviks made the most political capital out of socialism’s religious resona
Pro zemliu i sotsializm: slovo sotsialdemokrata k derevenskoi bednote
Pravda
ists, even wrote a prayer for the writer’s death which was circulated widely in the right-wi
ists, even wrote a prayer for the writer’s death which was circulated widely in the right-wi
ists, even wrote a prayer for the writer’s death which was circulated widely in the right-wi
110
Tolstoy gave all the money he had made from Resurrection to the Dukhobors. The Dukhobors
Tolstoy gave all the money he had made from Resurrection to the Dukhobors. The Dukhobors
Tolstoy gave all the money he had made from Resurrection to the Dukhobors. The Dukhobors

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