We are clearly not starting out in Anna Pavlovna's St. Petersburg! This Raskolnikov fellow is seriously sus from the get-go, counting steps, analyzing keys, etc. What have we gotten ourselves into? I trust the details of his backstory will come out as we move along.
Very nice summary and "virtual tour", and super fun sketches!
Fancy meeting you here in the slums after all our sorries with Helene. The poverty shocks me, perhaps we shall find Denisov on these streets. Perhaps this is what the aristocracy feared most, ending up here.
This first chapter reminded me of an experience I had, although, unlike Raskalnikov, mine had a positive outcome. Raskalnikov is rehearsing his thoughts and ideas in this chapter, even though he is horrified by those ideas, He is under the great pressure of his extreme poverty.
Many years ago, under the pressure of what to do next, when I was compulsorily retired from a job I loved at age 46, I toyed with the idea of going to university. I had left school at age 15, year 10. I thought about it, and did mention it to friends for about a year. That was long enough for me to talk myself into it. I enrolled in regional university and moved from the city to the seaside town where I am now lucky enough to have lived for 30+ years. I first created a landscape in my head that.made it easy to move into.
Raskalnikov's thoughts, his spying out the land, will all inexorably create a reality in his mind that will lead to the execution of the plan which presently horrifies him.
What an inspiring story, thank you for sharing, Glenys. This is a very interesting observation— thoughts do indeed materialize. They create the reality around us. Unlike Raskolnikov, your thoughts and creation of reality were constructive and brought improvement. He, on the other hand, destroys himself with his own thoughts.
What jumoed at me in this chapter, is his negative outlook. 'Revolting musery' , 'profoundest disgust' , 'intense repulsion' are just a few if the words used here....
Exactly noted. Dostoevsky creates such a swamp that we, the readers, immerse ourselves in. And Raskolnikov's head is not all right, we will be delving into it a lot 😅
So much interesting information - and I love your sketches!
I was confused in this chapter about the old woman. He walks to where she is but at the same time it felt like he was talking about his landlady. They must be two separate people but it felt like he was lumping them together. (Or maybe I was just tired reading this chapter lol)
Oh, yes, it's easy to get confused with the characters since many of them are similar. I will gradually create a character schema or something like that to help us differentiate them.
His landlady and the old moneylender woman are two different characters.
His landlady hasn't appeared yet; she is only mentioned at the beginning because he avoids her due to the money he owes her.
Absolutely, I believe Kafka wrote in a letter (was it to Felice? Can’t remember right now) that Dostoevsky and Flaubert were his true blood brothers… And yes, would be interesting to compare FD and FK. For instance, ‘The Trial’ and the courtroom drama at the end of ‘Brothers K’, and so on… Exciting stuff!
Yes, I fully support it. I think we will eventually get to the Karamazovs. But in general, there is a lot in common about the “underground man.” And it would be interesting to discuss Kafka in the context of “Notes from Underground.” I only know the bare minimum about Kafka 😅
Aug 2·edited Aug 2Liked by Dana • Dostoevsky Bookclub
What a lovely reading project, Dana! I need to leave my Kafka on the side and put in my two pennies! Ready translation for me this time around (first read the Ergaz translation into French years ago). Love how Dostoevsky immediately plunges us into Raskolnikov's inner monologue as he plans his mysterious crime (reminds me of the Underground man). Lots of foreshadowing in there already: haunting details, like Raskolnikov analysing the pawnbroker's keys and apartment. Unclear at this stage whether his fixation is born solely from poverty, or if there are deeper motivations... Masterful opening chapter in any case!
Thank you, Leonard! Well, you can't hide from Kafka with Dostoevsky, they have a lot of echoes between each other, it seems to me.
And I completely agree that the beginning of the novel is intriguing. Nothing is clear, and you want to figure out who this Raskolnikov is and what he is planning.
Thank you so much for all your wonderful insights and commentary and especially for your maps. Makes it so real, and your insights 8th the room/cell size, that blew me away.
I finally got my English copy delivered, hopefully I can catch up quickly. In the meantime I got two other Italian translations 🫣 so here's my Tsar Gorokh findings:
Book 1: "thinking about rain and fair weather" (slang for silly things)
Thank you for including my Tsar Gorokh video and for the extra info you provided on that. Fascinating. In fact, your whole essay was enlightening and I got a lot from reading it. Not to mention your fantastic artwork! Loved it!
Thank you, this is a very interesting video and overall about comparisons in translation. And it is very curious which phrases you choose for comparisons.
I like that Dostoevsky immediately plunges us into the negative outlook of the main character. We don't know yet what will happen, but the set-up gives us the atmosphere of the story. And the map and photos are helpful in visualizing what's happening - thanks for including!
We are clearly not starting out in Anna Pavlovna's St. Petersburg! This Raskolnikov fellow is seriously sus from the get-go, counting steps, analyzing keys, etc. What have we gotten ourselves into? I trust the details of his backstory will come out as we move along.
Very nice summary and "virtual tour", and super fun sketches!
There will be no St. Petersburg from “War and Peace” with Emperors here. Only poverty and madness 😅
We will delve into Raskolnikov's mind throughout the entire novel.
Fancy meeting you here in the slums after all our sorries with Helene. The poverty shocks me, perhaps we shall find Denisov on these streets. Perhaps this is what the aristocracy feared most, ending up here.
This first chapter reminded me of an experience I had, although, unlike Raskalnikov, mine had a positive outcome. Raskalnikov is rehearsing his thoughts and ideas in this chapter, even though he is horrified by those ideas, He is under the great pressure of his extreme poverty.
Many years ago, under the pressure of what to do next, when I was compulsorily retired from a job I loved at age 46, I toyed with the idea of going to university. I had left school at age 15, year 10. I thought about it, and did mention it to friends for about a year. That was long enough for me to talk myself into it. I enrolled in regional university and moved from the city to the seaside town where I am now lucky enough to have lived for 30+ years. I first created a landscape in my head that.made it easy to move into.
Raskalnikov's thoughts, his spying out the land, will all inexorably create a reality in his mind that will lead to the execution of the plan which presently horrifies him.
What an inspiring story, thank you for sharing, Glenys. This is a very interesting observation— thoughts do indeed materialize. They create the reality around us. Unlike Raskolnikov, your thoughts and creation of reality were constructive and brought improvement. He, on the other hand, destroys himself with his own thoughts.
This may be one of my favorite first chapters ever!!! I’m totally hooked!
What jumoed at me in this chapter, is his negative outlook. 'Revolting musery' , 'profoundest disgust' , 'intense repulsion' are just a few if the words used here....
Exactly noted. Dostoevsky creates such a swamp that we, the readers, immerse ourselves in. And Raskolnikov's head is not all right, we will be delving into it a lot 😅
I have to agree to that!😅
So much interesting information - and I love your sketches!
I was confused in this chapter about the old woman. He walks to where she is but at the same time it felt like he was talking about his landlady. They must be two separate people but it felt like he was lumping them together. (Or maybe I was just tired reading this chapter lol)
I also thought it was the landlady with a pawn-shop side hustle?
Oh, yes, it's easy to get confused with the characters since many of them are similar. I will gradually create a character schema or something like that to help us differentiate them.
His landlady and the old moneylender woman are two different characters.
His landlady hasn't appeared yet; she is only mentioned at the beginning because he avoids her due to the money he owes her.
Great summary, and the map helps a lot. Thank you!
Absolutely, I believe Kafka wrote in a letter (was it to Felice? Can’t remember right now) that Dostoevsky and Flaubert were his true blood brothers… And yes, would be interesting to compare FD and FK. For instance, ‘The Trial’ and the courtroom drama at the end of ‘Brothers K’, and so on… Exciting stuff!
Yes, I fully support it. I think we will eventually get to the Karamazovs. But in general, there is a lot in common about the “underground man.” And it would be interesting to discuss Kafka in the context of “Notes from Underground.” I only know the bare minimum about Kafka 😅
Count me in!
What a lovely reading project, Dana! I need to leave my Kafka on the side and put in my two pennies! Ready translation for me this time around (first read the Ergaz translation into French years ago). Love how Dostoevsky immediately plunges us into Raskolnikov's inner monologue as he plans his mysterious crime (reminds me of the Underground man). Lots of foreshadowing in there already: haunting details, like Raskolnikov analysing the pawnbroker's keys and apartment. Unclear at this stage whether his fixation is born solely from poverty, or if there are deeper motivations... Masterful opening chapter in any case!
Thank you, Leonard! Well, you can't hide from Kafka with Dostoevsky, they have a lot of echoes between each other, it seems to me.
And I completely agree that the beginning of the novel is intriguing. Nothing is clear, and you want to figure out who this Raskolnikov is and what he is planning.
Thank you so much for all your wonderful insights and commentary and especially for your maps. Makes it so real, and your insights 8th the room/cell size, that blew me away.
Thank you. It's nice to know that the article help with enjoying the novel
I finally got my English copy delivered, hopefully I can catch up quickly. In the meantime I got two other Italian translations 🫣 so here's my Tsar Gorokh findings:
Book 1: "thinking about rain and fair weather" (slang for silly things)
Book 2: "thinking about nothing"
Book 3: "thinking about fairy tales"
In the first book, there is such a beautiful metaphor🤍
I am already coming to the conclusion that he was thinking about the King Pea because he had pea porridge in his head 😅
It's great that you're with us. I will publish article 1.7 very soon, so you will catch up on the most interesting part.
In my translation (hungarian, 1957) the Tsar Gorokh part is very simple. He was not thinking, but more: "reflecting on ... a lot of nothing".
Yes, a great adaptation. Very suitable. Thank you for sharing. I've never encountered Hungarian translations before.
Thank you for including my Tsar Gorokh video and for the extra info you provided on that. Fascinating. In fact, your whole essay was enlightening and I got a lot from reading it. Not to mention your fantastic artwork! Loved it!
Thank you, this is a very interesting video and overall about comparisons in translation. And it is very curious which phrases you choose for comparisons.
I like that Dostoevsky immediately plunges us into the negative outlook of the main character. We don't know yet what will happen, but the set-up gives us the atmosphere of the story. And the map and photos are helpful in visualizing what's happening - thanks for including!
Thank you 💕. Yes, Dostoevsky does not hesitate at all, he immediately immerses us in poverty and despair. More to come.