Stavrogin's Confession and The Plan of The Life of a Great Sinner: With Introductory and Explanatory NotesDostoyevsky, Fyodor
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Stavrogin's Confession and The Plan of The Life of a Great Sinner: With Introductory and Explanatory Notes
Dostoyevsky, Fyodor
Dostoyevsky, Fyodor, 1821-1881 -- Translations into English; Russia -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
After the Monastery and Tikhon the Great Sinner comes out into the world
in order to be _the greatest of men_. He is sure that he will be the
greatest of men. And in that way he behaves: he is the proudest of the
proud and behaves with the greatest haughtiness towards people. The
vagueness as to the form of his future greatness coincides perfectly
with his youth. But he (and this is cardinal) has _through Tikhon_ got
hold of the idea (conviction) that in order to conquer the whole world
one must conquer oneself only. Conquer thyself and thou shalt conquer
the world. Does not choose a career, but neither has he the time: he
begins to watch himself profoundly. But along with this there are also
certain contradictions:
(1) Gold (amassing) (a family on his hands); amassing money was
suggested to him by a usurer, a terrible man, the antithesis of Tikhon.
(2) Education (Comte—Atheism—Friends). Education—He is tormented by
ideas and philosophy but he masters that which is essential.
Suddenly youth and debauchery. A martyr’s act and terrible crimes.
Self-renunciation. But out of mad pride he becomes an ascetic and
pilgrim. Travels in Russia. (Romance of love. Thirst for humiliation),
etc., etc., and so on.
(The canvas is rich.)
Fallings and risings.
Extraordinary man—but what has he done and achieved.
_Traits._—Out of pride and infinite haughtiness towards people he
becomes meek and charitable to all because he is already higher than
all.
He wanted to shoot himself (a child was exposed at his door).
He ends with establishing a Foundling Hospital and becomes a Haase.[81]
Everything is becoming clear.
He dies confessing a crime.
Footnote 81:
F. M. Dostoevsky had evidently in mind the famous Russian doctor and
philanthropist Haase.
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STAVROGIN’S MEETING WITH TIKHON
BY
V. FRICHE
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STAVROGIN’S MEETING WITH TIKHON
FROM DOSTOEVSKY’S NOTE-BOOKS
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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