Dostoevsky Playlist: th-cam.com/video/wVJDI8sWJMk/w-d-xo.html Crime and Punishment Playlist: th-cam.com/video/fKnqc9_oXlw/w-d-xo.html Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thecodexcantina TABLE OF CONTENTS: 0:00 What Are You Getting? 2:37 Author and Publication Info 6:11 Characters and Russian Terms 9:41 Utilitarianism 13:50 Dostoevsky + You: Manipulation 17:02 Opposites 19:07 Road to Remorse
I'm 16 and this was my first classic book, I know I shouldn't have picked such a long book as a beginner of classic lit but let me tell you it made me so much interested in his other works .. He exemplifies human nature from its very core. It feels a little draggy at first but once you sink in it there's no turning back..highly recommended
Bro thank you. I’m way out of high school and am reading cus I like Russian history, and almost quit at chapter 4 cus I’m bored - but I’ll keep going cus of this comment
Thanks for video guys! What a super detailed and close analysis! I’d like to add for your viewers, especially younger viewers that they consider that they should beware and be careful if they are considering expanding and borrowing from Dostoevsky to inform their own political and larger ethical positions in their lives today. The great Russian writer was quite conservative and ultimately rejected much of the liberal egalitarian Enlightenment project as too “nihilistic” for a well-structured, lawful, and moral Russian society. If he was alive today in one of our own liberal democracies he’d probably have opinions about many of young peoples’ favorite liberal egalitarian causes that would shock and disturb us. He’d no doubt come down on the side of some very “traditional values” and be no friend to the causes many of us side with today in our more progressive and egalitarian age. When I re-read several of Dostoevsky’s novels later in life I was somewhat shocked by all the the things he said about principle that I believed in that I’d quite simply missed when I was a younger reader. I just wanted to take this opportunity to alert your viewers to this and consider carefully how some of Dostoevsky’s principles might fit into our lives today and think about the different historical contexts from the social, economic and political milieu surrounding Dostoevsky that might have prompted him to reject progressive values, versus our own social and political and especially economic conditions that encourage some of us to both embrace, and to reject, progressive values today.
I was really surprised when I read this book for the first time. I had a block in my mind of "Dostoyevsky = hard" and had never attempted it. I was in my early 20s working overnight as a tech in an emergency vet hospital and someone had left this book (I never found out who!) in the break room. One slow night I picked it up and I ended up reading the whole thing at work over several days. I was pleasantly surprised at how approachable the book was. I've read it 2 times since and still love it. Even though it's not first person narrative nor omniscient, I felt carried along with Raskolnikov and somehow compelled to commit the crime with him. I think Dostoyevsky had an amazing insight into the human mind and the story still feels very relevant to me today.
Yes, exactly! That's definitely one thing we hoped to convey in the intro is that it reads really easy. Completely agreed about his insight. It's not for everyone, but it's for more people than there are willing to give it a shot is what I'd say.
@@TheCodeXCantina once I read that I felt so much more confident. Well hell I got through Dostoyevsky, I can tackle... Ulysses, Infinite Jest, War and Peace, House of Leaves, Faulkner... I've gotten so much enjoyment from these challenging reads and I owe it to a random book forgotten in the break room on a slow night. :) I'm glad to be watching as you guys demystify and dive deep into classics - everyone should get to enjoy and not be intimidated. I'm currently reading that Flannery O'Connor short story collection you guys featured with Good Country People a while back.
I too presumed it would be hard and didn't want to attempt the read but found it easy to read. Reason I felt it may be complicated and a drag was due to reading tolstoys war and peace which I couldn't continue after the first 40 pages or so. I also couldn't immerse myself into the brothers Karamazov only went about a quarter through the book. With crime and punishment I decided on an opposite reaction than yours, I despised what rashkolnikov had done, his reasoning behind it. I was hoping that the detective would catch him, make him confess and serve justice.
Dostoevsky wasn't sent to gulag. It was katorga - russian name to hard labor camp. Actually, gulag is an acronym and means Main Directorate of Camps. It existed in Soviet Union in 20th centaury so you can't use it as a synonym
Yeah, we made a mistake and got our wires crossed. We've made sure to be more accurate about that in some more recent videos we've made. Our apologies.
Freakin' Raskalnikov. You guys are the smartest guys on TH-cam..I love the way you talk about these classics and it's a blast from the past, as I haven't picked up Dostoevsky since college. I LOVED the section on utilitarianism. Philosophical and moral quandaries abound!
You speak too highly of what is ultimately two men drinking and rambling. Thanks! The utilitarianism section zapped away a bit of time to put together. I was hoping someone would like it
I am an atheist engineer, previously taken by objectivism, rationalism and materialism being the proper view of life. I was shaken by Dostoyevsky’s insight into the human spirit. You guys touched on something Dostoyevsky hammers in but never says directly (maybe he does in The Brothers K)- that humanity is more complex and nuanced than can be articulated through logical analysis (hence the trolley problem). We must explore the human condition through a spiritual lens, lest we miss the mystical nature of being, and we should be thankful for our mystical, paradoxical, and forever inarticulable nature for its what makes life beautiful through suffering.
Great comment. I 100% see these statements in works like The Idiot for sure! I won’t say anything about Bros K but hope you enjoy if you get to it. I love that book 👍
@@TheCodeXCantina Thanks for the response and the video! Reviews and discussions like this are near impossible to find outside of TH-cam channels such as yourselves. As important as reading these works is understanding their context so I’ve gained much from these discussions. I have read the Brothers K and it’s one of my favorites. I only question if he says it directly depending on how you interpret Dmitri when he says “Yes, man is broad, too broad, indeed. I’d have him narrower.”
I'm reading through The Idiot and he definitely explores it further and even states, "Let us not forget that the reasons for human actions are usually incalcuably more complex and diverse than we tend to explain them later, and are seldom clearly manifest," which is definitely a more explicit theme in The Idiot (I don't know about his other works, I've only read C&P, The Idiot, and Notes from Underground).
I’m 75 year old retired history teacher. Studied Chinese history and been living in China for 8 years with my Chinese wife. However, I have long been fascinated with Russian history and culture. Traveled to the Soviet Union twice. Found your web site just after I finished the audiobook. Thanks for your excellent preview, but for me a review. I loved the book. Being bipolar, I could relate to his dilemmas.
Guys, this was simply excellent. It really clarified and organised a lot of information in my mind, I wish I had a time machine and could send the video back to me before I started the novel. This will enhance the good parts of the novel to the readers.
I recently dived into the world of audio books, which I'm really enjoying. Now I'm able to "read" so many books that I wouldn't normally be able to, including this masterpiece. I appreciate your intro. 👍
Same here, audiobooks have transformed by ability to access and plough my way through classics which have remained no more than a lifelong dream for decades! I reckon I've completed more than 40 books in the past two years, including Crime and Punishment, Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, Dracula, Frankenstein, The Death of Ivan Ilyich, Confessions of Tolstoy and many more. A good narrator brings the book to life and a good quality pair of Bluetooth earbuds are indispensable! So grateful I can access these enduring treasures of human civilisation at the touch of a button, and listen to channels like this to enhance my understanding. Great work guys, please keep it up...
I’m new to your channel and this is your first video I’ve watched. Crime and Punishment is one of my favorite novels of all time and was my first foray into Russian literature. I love the exploration of the themes in this video. You guys are both so articulate and I loved every second of this video! Now I’m hooked and need to watch all your videos 😂
I read Crime and Punishment recently and I feel like I didn't get it but I want to give it a second chance and this video definitely helped clarify a lot of things and my eventual second read-through is going to be a lot more thorough and richer because of you guys. Awesome job introducing such a complex piece.
You have no idea how delighted I am when i watched this video, it's brilliant! This is such a great introduction before diving into Crime and Punishment or even after reading it. 👏
I'm glad to hear you are going to cover this masterpiece, as you guys are already doing massively great job in uncovering those literary puzzles and treasures. Such a great job! I'm looking forward to your next videos. I read the book last year but now I feel I should reread ASAP! This book has it all! Btw, are you considering to cover Steinbeck's East of Eden? Especially rich with those clever literaly symbols (biblical and other)
We absolutely plan to cover East of Eden. Not sure when, but absolutely want to do that and even mentioned it to another friend about buddy reading it with us! Thanks for the kind words
@@TheCodeXCantina I'm there for that! I just started East of Eden and hope to finish it up this weekend. :) Always love when I can watch your take on stuff I've already read.
I got this book pretty recently as a gift from one of my beloved. Haven’t started reading the book yet. I'm so glad I watched this video before started reading (also it’s my first video from your channel and couldn’t help but clicking "Subscribe") 💗
Thanks for video guys! What a super detailed and close analysis! I’d like to add for your viewers, especially younger viewers reading Dostoevsky for the first time that they should beware and be careful if they are considering expanding and borrowing from Dostoevsky to inform their own political and larger ethical positions in their lives today. The great Russian writer was quite conservative and ultimately rejected much of the liberal egalitarian Enlightenment project as too “nihilistic” for a well-structured, lawful, and moral Russian society. One of his other great novels, “Demons” makes this much more clear I think. If he was alive today in one of our own liberal democracies he’d probably have opinions about many of young peoples’ favorite liberal egalitarian causes that would shock and disturb us. He’d no doubt come down on the side of some very “traditional values” and be no friend to the causes many of us side with today in our more progressive and egalitarian age. When I re-read several of Dostoevsky’s novels later in life I was somewhat shocked by all the the things he said about principle that I believed in that I’d quite simply missed when I was a younger reader. I just wanted to take this opportunity to alert your viewers to this and consider carefully how some of Dostoevsky’s principles might fit into our lives today and think about the different historical contexts from the social, economic and political milieu surrounding Dostoevsky that might have prompted him to reject progressive values, versus our own social and political and especially economic conditions that encourage some of us to both embrace, and to reject, progressive values today.
Watching this AFTER reading the book (while looking for closure since the book took from me more than it gave). I cherish Dostoyevsky's decision to add the epilogue because it gives Sofia the respect she deserves after all she's been through (while her religiosity is too much for my appetite). This is THE ONE BOOK I will carry to my grave.
This is one of the best TH-cam reviews I've found. I read this novel 20 years ago, and it has remained one of my favorite novels. I am now trying to convince a friend to read it and have struggled to put into words how this book questions morality, but asks the reader to decide for themself what the more moral action is.
Before you read ? I've already read it twice times in my life , it is , perhaps , the archetype of the modern psychological novel , absolutely masterpiece ...!
Early on in the book I associated the name 'Raskolnikov' with the word 'Rascal'. Which is defined as 'a mischievous or cheeky person, especially a child or man (typically used in an affectionate way).' Which in a way I think is partially fitting as even though Raskolnikov is a murderer and an unpleasant dude overall, we still feels some affection towards him as the reader like some of the other characters do. (I am aware though that in the Russian language this is not applicable. That is, 'Raskolnikov' is more closely associated with the Russian word for 'schismatic' or 'divided'.
I enjoyed your presentation. You have opened my eyes to this possibility: Perhaps the pawnbroker provides a much-needed service to people like Raskolnikov. who live on the periphery of society and if she had lived, she would as you say donate her fortune to a monastery thereby helping the needy even in death. Is Rodion, as Nietzschean Superman, wrong to think that he, an impoverished former student has a right to kill? Whatever his motives, all it got him was inner turmoil.
Dostoyevsky sets the standards how to apreach a nation a society etd.Psychology. In fact Freudian psychoanalysis was directly influenced by Dostoyevsky.Freud said so
I had to read this for class and we have to do a paper analyzing it. I absolutely loved this video and I loved the book. even though I am biased because I love classical lit, it was so good. i want to encourage everyone that is still thinking about it, just do it. it's so good!
thank you so much guys. you are much easier to pay attention to than any prof. i like how you outline the essentials, the facts, i can figure out the meaning for myself [hence my annoyance with uni lectures].
If he was still alive, I would love to know Dostoevsky's perspective on where he would think Raskolnikov would fit according to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). It is obvious to anyone familiar with the DSM-5 that Raskolnikov shows all the traits of a malignant narcissist even before committing any murders. Thus, the fact that he killed those two women in cold blood should not be a shock. On the contrary, the shock should come in finding out that anyone who is malignantly narcissistic would feel any guilt after committing murder in the first place. This is were Fyodor Dostoevsky goes wrong. People give Fyodor to much credit and assume that he was simply conducting a physiological exercise because they have respect for his body of work. However, unlike other people, the only thing I have ever put on a pedestal is cold hard truth. Like Fyodor, many people capable of feeling empathy have this misconception that those who commit atrocities would feel guilt, remorse, and regret after doing so. Empathy is key. Empathy is more important than people realize. Empathy is one of the mankind's greatest super powers. It is one of the reasons why we can live in a civilized society without outright barbarism. Unfortunately too many people take empathy for granted and they assume that this trait is a given for everyone. It seems that it is almost impossible for many normal people to understand that the presences of empathy makes it nearly impossible to commit murder, while the absence of empathy makes killing someone a cake walk. This is why it is almost impossible for people like Fyodor to fathom that another human being could kill two women without feeling psychological turmoil. Fyodor knows that he would feel remorse and guilt after doing something so reprehensible. And those feeling are why people like Fyodor would never do something like that unless they have bottled up anger issues which caused them to do it in a UN-premeditated fit of rage. What Fyodor did not count on is that not everyone feels like he does, not everyone feels empathy. This is why in the real world the people who lack empathy are the ones most likely to murder others due to imagined slights or feelings of entitlement. The same lack of empathy that allowed them to murder someone is the same lack of empathy that prevents them from feeling bad about it. This is why Kalashnikov (A malignant narcissist/Sociopath) is a lot like an impossible figure. At first glance impossible figures seem like they could exist in real life, however, when you examine them closer you realize that they are actually optical illusions that could never exist in reality.
I asked a lot of utilitarian related questions to my students recently as it relates to the book "Shiloh". We had good fun thinking about this kind of thing.
It’s a good video, but one important remark ( not sure if this was mentioned by anyone earlier) - GULAG , which is actually an abbreviation that stands for something along the lines of “ head office of prison camps “ did not exist in the time of Dostoyevsky. It is a Soviet invention , so as much as it might make sense to refer to a Russian labor camp in Siberia as Gulag , it is very inaccurate
I believe we should be thanking your for all the organization, the live chats, and playlist creation organizing everything! Been a great experience #DostCP2020.
I read half the novel many years ago, and perhaps I will pick it up again. My impression was that the discussion of the topic was interesting, but his delivery was not. After the initial excitement of the murder, the author presents a long series of scenes in which characters sit in a room and talk. Then the scene switches to another room where characters sit and talk - then another; then another. The physical structure reminded me of an extended stage play. Mind, I'm only referring to the first half of the book. Anyone else struggle to keep interest in this?
I've never been able to get into books where characters spend half the plot in long monologues. But Dostoevsky's writing is witty, humourous and entertaining. He also made me empathize with pretty disturbing characters. Of all his works, Notes from the underground is my favorite. Even though the character spends most of the time in philosophical monologues. Though, your analysis was refreshing. It made me want to read Crime and Punishment again.
C&P is a nice way to wade into Dostoevsky but Brothers K is the best thing i ever read and i re read it every couple of years and find something knew every time.
Good stuff, thanks. But it's a pretty big leap between "lower-class" and "lower-upper-middle-class." Are those two categories similar at all? Yes, money was an issue for the family, but they were able to send Dostoevsky to a French boarding school (and for heaven's sake, he was translating Balzac and George Sand into Russian by his early twenties.) No, he didn't have the financial security of Tolstoy and Turgenev. But lower-class? All Russians born in 1821 should have been so lucky. Thanks again, guys. Best, Stephen from NYC
Raskolnikov thought there were two types of people, ordinary and extraordinary. He thought extraordinary people were willing to do whatever it takes, even kill. The story explicitly says that he had challenged himself and thought that if could carry out the murder he would prove to himself that he belongs in the latter group. This was about testing himself.
It was a great book and my first Dostoyevsky novel. It was a fantastic look into psychology and very entertaining. I have to say I thought it ended too quickly, that’s to say the Punishment part of the book I felt was rushed. The threads were wrapped up quickly in the epilogue which was slightly disappointing. Looking forward to reading more of this author.
What is lower, upper middle class? That would be a Doctor's Son. Certainly not 'lower class' which would be the son of an unskilled manual worker. Just checked. He was a doctor's son, so from a relatively wealthy background.
Dostoevsky seems to know from beyond his Grave. That you are reading one of his Novels. So the sly old dog puts a character in the story that reminds you of yourself. And he makes sure you don't like yourself
3:30 there are various conflicting rumors about how Dostoevsky's father died. One being that enraged serfs forced vodka down his throat until he drowned.
I remember a psych test from college that would start with questions that were morally clear and slowly they changed the questions into moral ambiguities. Is C and P like that?
I would say it does it indirectly. There are crimes from minor thefts, to murders, to prostitution (legal in Russia, morally questionable). So you find yourself condemning other people's choices and judging them and then you stop and you're like, "oh my gosh I'm siding with a murderer!" What happens is you constantly get new reasons for why certain crimes happen and that may seem wishy washy, but it's kind of like the test you mentioned.
I am currently taking AP English Literature and we need to choose a novel to work with throughout the next 5 months. I was looking into Crime and Punishment but I’m afraid to not be committed or it being a hard read :/ Someone help
I hope you choose the right book for you. I personally have found Dostoevsky very approachable. I think it's worth reading a chapter or two to see if it's work for you.
I’m glad someone else said this. While I enjoyed the book overall I enjoyed it more thematically than in execution. There are times during this book where I feel the word count was purely a monetary choice.
@@destine1547 Oh, gosh. I was hoping that they wouldn't be so long compared with the monologues in TBK. The Prosecutor's Speech almost killed me at the end!
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan - "The needs of the many over the needs of the few... or the one." I'm 80% of the way through and the jury's still out. Very similar to Dickens in style, but to be honest, I'm not a big fan of Dickens. Victorian era serialized novels are always too bloated for my tastes. Getting paid for each installment can be problematic. I like what I've read so far, and I see moments of brilliance here and there, but unless the ending allows things to come together and blows me away (and I think it just might), I'm not seeing how it's a "world masterpiece". I'm still holding out hope though.
Fair question. The design of this video series was to attempt to add context and additional ways to think about books for people who want to know the social context, philosophy, and author's biographical information. There was a spoiler book tag that went around youtube for a while. In it, many book readers responded with their take and the problem of "spoiler" being incredibly subjective and hard to define as each reader tends to have wildly different levels of expectations. You're welcome to research that. For example, we didn't even mention what the crime was in this book nor when it occurred in this video while others freely do. To us, that subjectively was much worse to ruin intrigue for first-time readers. However, it is also worth adding that we do recognize people want different levels of information at different times. This was one of our most information-heavy 'Before Videos' as it was one of our first ones (you'll notice this was made back in 2020) where we started adding more graphics and philosophy. At the time, we didn't have much planned for actual discussions. All future 'Before Video' releases after this one were crafted much differently. They are shorter and we added additional videos that discuss the book in greater detail (for example after future "before videos" now come with a part 1 discussion, then part 2, etc discussions) and can help spread out when information is discussed. It's a lot more work but we felt it fit the theme of this series is for people who want to go deeper into books while being flexible. So we are changing when and how all the information is delivered to be more flexible for readers given how different everyone interprets what a spoiler is. Hope this help explains our stance and how we are approaching content from then to now. Cheers.
Sonia’s full name is Sofya Semyonovna Marmeladov which will change based on who’s talking w her how they call her. Sofia can also be translated to Sophia pending your translation
I just can't find out that why raskolnikov killed that lady ? Just to prove his extraordinary side ? And atleast he receives empathy from everyone 🙄 But I think that's not done he is no one to kill someone
Could I ask you, would you be doing videos on "The Idiot" ? Would make the excitement and anticipation of starting a new book even better!!! :) Thanks! X
I think they all do. Sonia is the friendly name of Sonya, an abbreviation of Sofiya. You'll notice there are lots of friendly names like how in his other book The Brothers Karamazov there is "Alexei" who's referred to as Alyosha and "Dmitri" referred to as Mitya. You can google Russian Hypocoristic names for more details that will do a better job of explaining affection and how that's expressed through names better than I can explain.
R comics the crime to test himself to discover if he is the Napoleonic man he wants to be. The punishment shows that not only is he not, but his Great Man Theory is false. Sonia, Dunya, Razumuhim, and Svidrigailov show this to him in their own manner. And of course, his own rejuvenated conscience.
Seems they all have their merits. I read Garnett and loved it. Seems most people gravitate towards Pevear and Volokhonsky as the most active voicing. Michael Katz has a decent following too.
Could it be that Dostoevsky was bipolar? Rodya sounds like someone that is Bipolar. Sleeping for days at a time, walking around aimlessly, irritable, being grandiose at times. It sounds like he is going between the two extremes. I also read the double and in that book it seems like the main character is experiencing psychosis. I don't know if the main characters in his books are a based on his own experiences.
I haven’t read any biographical work that says that he was. I was a relatively new diagnosis at the time. Maybe he had learned about it or new someone too.
Dostoevsky Playlist: th-cam.com/video/wVJDI8sWJMk/w-d-xo.html
Crime and Punishment Playlist: th-cam.com/video/fKnqc9_oXlw/w-d-xo.html
Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thecodexcantina
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
0:00 What Are You Getting?
2:37 Author and Publication Info
6:11 Characters and Russian Terms
9:41 Utilitarianism
13:50 Dostoevsky + You: Manipulation
17:02 Opposites
19:07 Road to Remorse
Canadide probly be a better starter
I'm 16 and this was my first classic book, I know I shouldn't have picked such a long book as a beginner of classic lit but let me tell you it made me so much interested in his other works .. He exemplifies human nature from its very core. It feels a little draggy at first but once you sink in it there's no turning back..highly recommended
He really enters our minds! Thanks
If 60-70% of 15 year old read this book, the world would look entirely different
Yes. I read 2 or 3 of his novels at around the same age. it took me about 3 years. I would say he impacted my outlook on life
Bro thank you. I’m way out of high school and am reading cus I like Russian history, and almost quit at chapter 4 cus I’m bored - but I’ll keep going cus of this comment
Thanks for video guys! What a super detailed and close analysis!
I’d like to add for your viewers, especially younger viewers that they consider that they should beware and be careful if they are considering expanding and borrowing from Dostoevsky to inform their own political and larger ethical positions in their lives today.
The great Russian writer was quite conservative and ultimately rejected much of the liberal egalitarian Enlightenment project as too “nihilistic” for a well-structured, lawful, and moral Russian society.
If he was alive today in one of our own liberal democracies he’d probably have opinions about many of young peoples’ favorite liberal egalitarian causes that would shock and disturb us. He’d no doubt come down on the side of some very “traditional values” and be no friend to the causes many of us side with today in our more progressive and egalitarian age.
When I re-read several of Dostoevsky’s novels later in life I was somewhat shocked by all the the things he said about principle that I believed in that I’d quite simply missed when I was a younger reader.
I just wanted to take this opportunity to alert your viewers to this and consider carefully how some of Dostoevsky’s principles might fit into our lives today and think about the different historical contexts from the social, economic and political milieu surrounding Dostoevsky that might have prompted him to reject progressive values, versus our own social and political and especially economic conditions that encourage some of us to both embrace, and to reject, progressive values today.
I was really surprised when I read this book for the first time. I had a block in my mind of "Dostoyevsky = hard" and had never attempted it. I was in my early 20s working overnight as a tech in an emergency vet hospital and someone had left this book (I never found out who!) in the break room. One slow night I picked it up and I ended up reading the whole thing at work over several days. I was pleasantly surprised at how approachable the book was. I've read it 2 times since and still love it. Even though it's not first person narrative nor omniscient, I felt carried along with Raskolnikov and somehow compelled to commit the crime with him. I think Dostoyevsky had an amazing insight into the human mind and the story still feels very relevant to me today.
Yes, exactly! That's definitely one thing we hoped to convey in the intro is that it reads really easy. Completely agreed about his insight. It's not for everyone, but it's for more people than there are willing to give it a shot is what I'd say.
@@TheCodeXCantina once I read that I felt so much more confident. Well hell I got through Dostoyevsky, I can tackle... Ulysses, Infinite Jest, War and Peace, House of Leaves, Faulkner... I've gotten so much enjoyment from these challenging reads and I owe it to a random book forgotten in the break room on a slow night. :) I'm glad to be watching as you guys demystify and dive deep into classics - everyone should get to enjoy and not be intimidated. I'm currently reading that Flannery O'Connor short story collection you guys featured with Good Country People a while back.
@@katietatey oh yes! Great collection. We’re slowly working through it
I too presumed it would be hard and didn't want to attempt the read but found it easy to read. Reason I felt it may be complicated and a drag was due to reading tolstoys war and peace which I couldn't continue after the first 40 pages or so. I also couldn't immerse myself into the brothers Karamazov only went about a quarter through the book. With crime and punishment I decided on an opposite reaction than yours, I despised what rashkolnikov had done, his reasoning behind it. I was hoping that the detective would catch him, make him confess and serve justice.
@@katietatey Dostoyevsky is to psychological literature what Mary Shelly is to science fiction--although she is usually categorized in horror.
Dostoevsky wasn't sent to gulag. It was katorga - russian name to hard labor camp. Actually, gulag is an acronym and means Main Directorate of Camps. It existed in Soviet Union in 20th centaury so you can't use it as a synonym
Yeah, we made a mistake and got our wires crossed. We've made sure to be more accurate about that in some more recent videos we've made. Our apologies.
Wow so glad I found you guys. I did my minor in Russian and have several bookcases dedicated to Russian literature.
Ooo, exciting. I hope we get to cover some of the same books
Freakin' Raskalnikov. You guys are the smartest guys on TH-cam..I love the way you talk about these classics and it's a blast from the past, as I haven't picked up Dostoevsky since college. I LOVED the section on utilitarianism. Philosophical and moral quandaries abound!
You speak too highly of what is ultimately two men drinking and rambling. Thanks! The utilitarianism section zapped away a bit of time to put together. I was hoping someone would like it
I am an atheist engineer, previously taken by objectivism, rationalism and materialism being the proper view of life. I was shaken by Dostoyevsky’s insight into the human spirit. You guys touched on something Dostoyevsky hammers in but never says directly (maybe he does in The Brothers K)- that humanity is more complex and nuanced than can be articulated through logical analysis (hence the trolley problem). We must explore the human condition through a spiritual lens, lest we miss the mystical nature of being, and we should be thankful for our mystical, paradoxical, and forever inarticulable nature for its what makes life beautiful through suffering.
Great comment. I 100% see these statements in works like The Idiot for sure! I won’t say anything about Bros K but hope you enjoy if you get to it. I love that book 👍
@@TheCodeXCantina Thanks for the response and the video! Reviews and discussions like this are near impossible to find outside of TH-cam channels such as yourselves. As important as reading these works is understanding their context so I’ve gained much from these discussions.
I have read the Brothers K and it’s one of my favorites. I only question if he says it directly depending on how you interpret Dmitri when he says “Yes, man is broad, too broad, indeed. I’d have him narrower.”
Nice remark! 😊
I'm reading through The Idiot and he definitely explores it further and even states, "Let us not forget that the reasons for human actions are usually incalcuably more complex and diverse than we tend to explain them later, and are seldom clearly manifest," which is definitely a more explicit theme in The Idiot (I don't know about his other works, I've only read C&P, The Idiot, and Notes from Underground).
I’m 75 year old retired history teacher. Studied Chinese history and been living in China for 8 years with my Chinese wife. However, I have long been fascinated with Russian history and culture. Traveled to the Soviet Union twice. Found your web site just after I finished the audiobook. Thanks for your excellent preview, but for me a review. I loved the book. Being bipolar, I could relate to his dilemmas.
That’s great that you were able to visit! I hope to some day!
Any writer who can get his readers to really sympathize with an ax murderer is no ordinary writer.
This just gave me chills. I started to feel for Raskolnikov. Honestly man
I’m finally getting around to reading Crime and Punishment. It’s a wild ride and I’m loving every second of it! 🤩🤩
I’ve seen your reading streams! I hope you love it! There’s still so much to uncover with this book that you can just return to it so many times!
Guys, this was simply excellent.
It really clarified and organised a lot of information in my mind, I wish I had a time machine and could send the video back to me before I started the novel.
This will enhance the good parts of the novel to the readers.
Time machine will be out early Q2/late Q3 of 2021.
🪓
Felt like the axe emoji was relevant here.
Love the thumbnail.
This story is WAY over my head.
You'd have no problem with it! I promise
I recently dived into the world of audio books, which I'm really enjoying. Now I'm able to "read" so many books that I wouldn't normally be able to, including this masterpiece. I appreciate your intro. 👍
Wonderful and thanks!
Same here, audiobooks have transformed by ability to access and plough my way through classics which have remained no more than a lifelong dream for decades! I reckon I've completed more than 40 books in the past two years, including Crime and Punishment, Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, Dracula, Frankenstein, The Death of Ivan Ilyich, Confessions of Tolstoy and many more. A good narrator brings the book to life and a good quality pair of Bluetooth earbuds are indispensable! So grateful I can access these enduring treasures of human civilisation at the touch of a button, and listen to channels like this to enhance my understanding. Great work guys, please keep it up...
I’m new to your channel and this is your first video I’ve watched. Crime and Punishment is one of my favorite novels of all time and was my first foray into Russian literature. I love the exploration of the themes in this video. You guys are both so articulate and I loved every second of this video! Now I’m hooked and need to watch all your videos 😂
Oh yes, it's so masterful! Oh I hope we don't disappoint
I read Crime and Punishment recently and I feel like I didn't get it but I want to give it a second chance and this video definitely helped clarify a lot of things and my eventual second read-through is going to be a lot more thorough and richer because of you guys. Awesome job introducing such a complex piece.
👍
You have no idea how delighted I am when i watched this video, it's brilliant! This is such a great introduction before diving into Crime and Punishment or even after reading it. 👏
That is so kind of you to say. Thank you and a great day!
I'm glad to hear you are going to cover this masterpiece, as you guys are already doing massively great job in uncovering those literary puzzles and treasures. Such a great job! I'm looking forward to your next videos. I read the book last year but now I feel I should reread ASAP! This book has it all! Btw, are you considering to cover Steinbeck's East of Eden? Especially rich with those clever literaly symbols (biblical and other)
We absolutely plan to cover East of Eden. Not sure when, but absolutely want to do that and even mentioned it to another friend about buddy reading it with us! Thanks for the kind words
@@TheCodeXCantina I'm there for that! I just started East of Eden and hope to finish it up this weekend. :) Always love when I can watch your take on stuff I've already read.
Thank you for wanting to discuss East of Eden , because I think Grapes of Wrath gets so much attention.
I got this book pretty recently as a gift from one of my beloved. Haven’t started reading the book yet. I'm so glad I watched this video before started reading (also it’s my first video from your channel and couldn’t help but clicking "Subscribe") 💗
Thanks so much. I hope you enjoy the book!
Absolutely phenomenal!
What a helpful video guys! Im beginning the book tonight and I'm excited!
I hope you love it
This is the best review of C&P I've found. MUST WATCH
That’s mighty kind of you
Thanks for video guys! What a super detailed and close analysis!
I’d like to add for your viewers, especially younger viewers reading Dostoevsky for the first time that they should beware and be careful if they are considering expanding and borrowing from Dostoevsky to inform their own political and larger ethical positions in their lives today.
The great Russian writer was quite conservative and ultimately rejected much of the liberal egalitarian Enlightenment project as too “nihilistic” for a well-structured, lawful, and moral Russian society. One of his other great novels, “Demons” makes this much more clear I think.
If he was alive today in one of our own liberal democracies he’d probably have opinions about many of young peoples’ favorite liberal egalitarian causes that would shock and disturb us. He’d no doubt come down on the side of some very “traditional values” and be no friend to the causes many of us side with today in our more progressive and egalitarian age.
When I re-read several of Dostoevsky’s novels later in life I was somewhat shocked by all the the things he said about principle that I believed in that I’d quite simply missed when I was a younger reader.
I just wanted to take this opportunity to alert your viewers to this and consider carefully how some of Dostoevsky’s principles might fit into our lives today and think about the different historical contexts from the social, economic and political milieu surrounding Dostoevsky that might have prompted him to reject progressive values, versus our own social and political and especially economic conditions that encourage some of us to both embrace, and to reject, progressive values today.
Watching this AFTER reading the book (while looking for closure since the book took from me more than it gave). I cherish Dostoyevsky's decision to add the epilogue because it gives Sofia the respect she deserves after all she's been through (while her religiosity is too much for my appetite). This is THE ONE BOOK I will carry to my grave.
This is one of the best TH-cam reviews I've found. I read this novel 20 years ago, and it has remained one of my favorite novels. I am now trying to convince a friend to read it and have struggled to put into words how this book questions morality, but asks the reader to decide for themself what the more moral action is.
I hope your friend takes on the task!
Before you read ? I've already read it twice times in my life , it is , perhaps , the archetype of the modern psychological novel , absolutely masterpiece ...!
Early on in the book I associated the name 'Raskolnikov' with the word 'Rascal'. Which is defined as 'a mischievous or cheeky person, especially a child or man (typically used in an affectionate way).' Which in a way I think is partially fitting as even though Raskolnikov is a murderer and an unpleasant dude overall, we still feels some affection towards him as the reader like some of the other characters do.
(I am aware though that in the Russian language this is not applicable. That is, 'Raskolnikov' is more closely associated with the Russian word for 'schismatic' or 'divided'.
I know what I’m going to ask for Christmas now! 😆
I watched the possessed,brothers karamazov playlists and know it’s time for crime and punishment thank you so much🌺
I enjoyed your presentation. You have opened my eyes to this possibility: Perhaps the pawnbroker provides a much-needed service to people like Raskolnikov. who live on the periphery of society and if she had lived, she would as you say donate her fortune to a monastery thereby helping the needy even in death. Is Rodion, as Nietzschean Superman, wrong to think that he, an impoverished former student has a right to kill? Whatever his motives, all it got him was inner turmoil.
Dostoyevsky sets the standards how to apreach a nation a society etd.Psychology.
In fact Freudian psychoanalysis was directly influenced by Dostoyevsky.Freud said so
I had to read this for class and we have to do a paper analyzing it. I absolutely loved this video and I loved the book. even though I am biased because I love classical lit, it was so good. i want to encourage everyone that is still thinking about it, just do it. it's so good!
I agree!
thank you so much guys. you are much easier to pay attention to than any prof. i like how you outline the essentials, the facts, i can figure out the meaning for myself [hence my annoyance with uni lectures].
Thanks for the kind words
Excelent! Saludos from Caracas.
If he was still alive, I would love to know Dostoevsky's perspective on where he would think Raskolnikov would fit according to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). It is obvious to anyone familiar with the DSM-5 that Raskolnikov shows all the traits of a malignant narcissist even before committing any murders. Thus, the fact that he killed those two women in cold blood should not be a shock. On the contrary, the shock should come in finding out that anyone who is malignantly narcissistic would feel any guilt after committing murder in the first place. This is were Fyodor Dostoevsky goes wrong. People give Fyodor to much credit and assume that he was simply conducting a physiological exercise because they have respect for his body of work. However, unlike other people, the only thing I have ever put on a pedestal is cold hard truth. Like Fyodor, many people capable of feeling empathy have this misconception that those who commit atrocities would feel guilt, remorse, and regret after doing so. Empathy is key. Empathy is more important than people realize. Empathy is one of the mankind's greatest super powers. It is one of the reasons why we can live in a civilized society without outright barbarism. Unfortunately too many people take empathy for granted and they assume that this trait is a given for everyone. It seems that it is almost impossible for many normal people to understand that the presences of empathy makes it nearly impossible to commit murder, while the absence of empathy makes killing someone a cake walk. This is why it is almost impossible for people like Fyodor to fathom that another human being could kill two women without feeling psychological turmoil. Fyodor knows that he would feel remorse and guilt after doing something so reprehensible. And those feeling are why people like Fyodor would never do something like that unless they have bottled up anger issues which caused them to do it in a UN-premeditated fit of rage. What Fyodor did not count on is that not everyone feels like he does, not everyone feels empathy. This is why in the real world the people who lack empathy are the ones most likely to murder others due to imagined slights or feelings of entitlement. The same lack of empathy that allowed them to murder someone is the same lack of empathy that prevents them from feeling bad about it. This is why Kalashnikov (A malignant narcissist/Sociopath) is a lot like an impossible figure. At first glance impossible figures seem like they could exist in real life, however, when you examine them closer you realize that they are actually optical illusions that could never exist in reality.
Op, looks like this comment is also on the spoiler chat. Yeah, great comment here for sure!
It takes a murderer to empathize with a murderer. Psychopath to psychopath etc. Which is what many seem to not understand.
Trump has no empathy..he is after his own self as the ruler who knows what is best for all. No rules or morality.
I asked a lot of utilitarian related questions to my students recently as it relates to the book "Shiloh". We had good fun thinking about this kind of thing.
Holy nostalgia! It's been so long since I've read that!!!
It’s a good video, but one important remark ( not sure if this was mentioned by anyone earlier) - GULAG , which is actually an abbreviation that stands for something along the lines of “ head office of prison camps “ did not exist in the time of Dostoyevsky. It is a Soviet invention , so as much as it might make sense to refer to a Russian labor camp in Siberia as Gulag , it is very inaccurate
It has been several times. Thanks though! :D
30 minutes into the book’s audio book. I got the chance to watch this video before continuing 🔥🙌🏾
🙌
I enjoyed reading this great intro into the book.
Thanks, bud. Looking forward to yours
Everything in this video is great.. production value is 🔥
Thanks
Love this! Thank you so much for putting this together!
I believe we should be thanking your for all the organization, the live chats, and playlist creation organizing everything! Been a great experience #DostCP2020.
I read half the novel many years ago, and perhaps I will pick it up again.
My impression was that the discussion of the topic was interesting, but his delivery was not. After the initial excitement of the murder, the author presents a long series of scenes in which characters sit in a room and talk. Then the scene switches to another room where characters sit and talk - then another; then another. The physical structure reminded me of an extended stage play. Mind, I'm only referring to the first half of the book. Anyone else struggle to keep interest in this?
I'm getting toward the end of this book now and wish I watched this video sooner --- very helpful!
🙏
I've never been able to get into books where characters spend half the plot in long monologues. But Dostoevsky's writing is witty, humourous and entertaining. He also made me empathize with pretty disturbing characters. Of all his works, Notes from the underground is my favorite. Even though the character spends most of the time in philosophical monologues.
Though, your analysis was refreshing. It made me want to read Crime and Punishment again.
Thanks for the kind words! Glad you enjoy Dostoevsky too!
Rand, Tolstoy, Dostievsky favorite authors
Going to read Solzhenitsyn in the near future
Nooice! Us too
C&P is a nice way to wade into Dostoevsky but Brothers K is the best thing i ever read and i re read it every couple of years and find something knew every time.
Great summary!
The book gave me nightmares
Understandable!
Good stuff, thanks. But it's a pretty big leap between "lower-class" and "lower-upper-middle-class." Are those two categories similar at all? Yes, money was an issue for the family, but they were able to send Dostoevsky to a French boarding school (and for heaven's sake, he was translating Balzac and George Sand into Russian by his early twenties.) No, he didn't have the financial security of Tolstoy and Turgenev. But lower-class? All Russians born in 1821 should have been so lucky. Thanks again, guys. Best,
Stephen from NYC
Agreed there's a big difference in those classes. He wasn't supposed to say "upper." Thanks.
For me, this book stands for one singular object. The redemption of a lost soul.
I hear ya, cheers.
Im so glad i found your channel. Thanks for this. 👍🙏
You are so welcome
Raskolnikov thought there were two types of people, ordinary and extraordinary. He thought extraordinary people were willing to do whatever it takes, even kill. The story explicitly says that he had challenged himself and thought that if could carry out the murder he would prove to himself that he belongs in the latter group. This was about testing himself.
Thank you for this !
This is a great service. Thanks lads (a bit pedantic but Gulag is a bit misleading when talking about Tsarist era camps).
Our fault on that
Thank you for this. I get my copy very soon.
I hope you enjoy it!
It was a great book and my first Dostoyevsky novel. It was a fantastic look into psychology and very entertaining. I have to say I thought it ended too quickly, that’s to say the Punishment part of the book I felt was rushed. The threads were wrapped up quickly in the epilogue which was slightly disappointing. Looking forward to reading more of this author.
What is lower, upper middle class? That would be a Doctor's Son. Certainly not 'lower class' which would be the son of an unskilled manual worker. Just checked. He was a doctor's son, so from a relatively wealthy background.
This is what I assumed in his era... concerning these Clif hangers etc..
OH MY GOSH IT'S HERE
I can't watch rn but I CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH
Wooo!
💯 reading it now
I'm 14 reading this book I'm just preparing myself tn
Dostoevsky seems to know from beyond his Grave. That you are reading one of his Novels. So the sly old dog puts a character in the story that reminds you of yourself. And he makes sure you don't like yourself
👍
3:30 there are various conflicting rumors about how Dostoevsky's father died. One being that enraged serfs forced vodka down his throat until he drowned.
Harsh
Today is 11 November 2021. Fyodor Dostoevsky was born exactly 200 years ago on this day.
I was reading about that on a Russian Lit discord earlier. Cheers
I remember a psych test from college that would start with questions that were morally clear and slowly they changed the questions into moral ambiguities. Is C and P like that?
I would say it does it indirectly. There are crimes from minor thefts, to murders, to prostitution (legal in Russia, morally questionable). So you find yourself condemning other people's choices and judging them and then you stop and you're like, "oh my gosh I'm siding with a murderer!" What happens is you constantly get new reasons for why certain crimes happen and that may seem wishy washy, but it's kind of like the test you mentioned.
loved the video
Thanks
I am currently taking AP English Literature and we need to choose a novel to work with throughout the next 5 months. I was looking into Crime and Punishment but I’m afraid to not be committed or it being a hard read :/ Someone help
I hope you choose the right book for you. I personally have found Dostoevsky very approachable. I think it's worth reading a chapter or two to see if it's work for you.
Not hard to read. It keeps your attention and constantly has you thinking much like a detective.
super approachable..
Yep
Love from India ✌️
❤️
5:58 ...so you don't have sections that go on and on?
There were many parts of this book that droned on forever.
I have a good friend that felt the same way. It of course is up to subjective experience.
I’m glad someone else said this. While I enjoyed the book overall I enjoyed it more thematically than in execution. There are times during this book where I feel the word count was purely a monetary choice.
@@destine1547 Oh, gosh. I was hoping that they wouldn't be so long compared with the monologues in TBK. The Prosecutor's Speech almost killed me at the end!
Very good!
Are there summary/discussion episodes for each part for this book?
I'm reading for the second time, slowly.
I hope you love it
Which translation of C&P? Garnett or P&V?
I did Garnett. My reading partner did P&V. We both loved it soooo
What possessed you to take on this crushingly great writing!
Dostoevsky’s writing is a great challenge that helps many!
I can approach any book :)
👍
Great content,
Thanks!
great couch.
You need a place to stay?
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan -
"The needs of the many over the needs of the few... or the one."
I'm 80% of the way through and the jury's still out. Very similar to Dickens in style, but to be honest, I'm not a big fan of Dickens. Victorian era serialized novels are always too bloated for my tastes. Getting paid for each installment can be problematic.
I like what I've read so far, and I see moments of brilliance here and there, but unless the ending allows things to come together and blows me away (and I think it just might), I'm not seeing how it's a "world masterpiece". I'm still holding out hope though.
I'm told the ending can be very controversial. I loved it, but others have said they think it's wrong.
I didn't even know that Russian greats criticized Crime snd Punishment?
Really?
I'd be mad at Leo Tolstoy despite my love for him though
Americans can read. WOW. Thats amazing.
How do you remember all the characters as you progress in the novel ??
Not all at once! It takes me a while and sometimes I keep a running list with some basic facts
Does knowing all this information not spoil the plot? Thought suspense is part of the intrigue of reading first time. Respond please.
Fair question. The design of this video series was to attempt to add context and additional ways to think about books for people who want to know the social context, philosophy, and author's biographical information. There was a spoiler book tag that went around youtube for a while. In it, many book readers responded with their take and the problem of "spoiler" being incredibly subjective and hard to define as each reader tends to have wildly different levels of expectations. You're welcome to research that. For example, we didn't even mention what the crime was in this book nor when it occurred in this video while others freely do. To us, that subjectively was much worse to ruin intrigue for first-time readers.
However, it is also worth adding that we do recognize people want different levels of information at different times. This was one of our most information-heavy 'Before Videos' as it was one of our first ones (you'll notice this was made back in 2020) where we started adding more graphics and philosophy. At the time, we didn't have much planned for actual discussions. All future 'Before Video' releases after this one were crafted much differently. They are shorter and we added additional videos that discuss the book in greater detail (for example after future "before videos" now come with a part 1 discussion, then part 2, etc discussions) and can help spread out when information is discussed. It's a lot more work but we felt it fit the theme of this series is for people who want to go deeper into books while being flexible. So we are changing when and how all the information is delivered to be more flexible for readers given how different everyone interprets what a spoiler is.
Hope this help explains our stance and how we are approaching content from then to now. Cheers.
Can you guys review some of the works of Irvine Welsh and Iain Banks
I hadn't had those recommended before. I can do some research on it.
We have Sonia no Sophia in our text
Sonia’s full name is Sofya Semyonovna Marmeladov which will change based on who’s talking w her how they call her. Sofia can also be translated to Sophia pending your translation
@@TheCodeXCantina ok ok tnku
I just can't find out that why raskolnikov killed that lady ? Just to prove his extraordinary side ? And atleast he receives empathy from everyone 🙄
But I think that's not done he is no one to kill someone
Just reading the book. Great analysis by you two. Leaving a sub.
Just please stop cutting away from the person speaking. I find it very confusing.
I’ll see what I can do
Could I ask you, would you be doing videos on "The Idiot" ? Would make the excitement and anticipation of starting a new book even better!!! :) Thanks! X
Woo! I'm just as excited. As mentioned in other comment, we're for sure going to cover "The Idiot" as well as "The Brothers Karamazov" in 2021
@@TheCodeXCantina 👍🏻 Will be a good reading year! Exactly those two lay on my shelves so will def tune in! 🥳
What’s the best translation one to read?
You’ll have to try them to see which one is best for you. Pevear and Volokhonsky seem to be really popular followed by Garnett and Katz.
Some books call her “Sonia Marmaledov”
I think they all do. Sonia is the friendly name of Sonya, an abbreviation of Sofiya. You'll notice there are lots of friendly names like how in his other book The Brothers Karamazov there is "Alexei" who's referred to as Alyosha and "Dmitri" referred to as Mitya. You can google Russian Hypocoristic names for more details that will do a better job of explaining affection and how that's expressed through names better than I can explain.
i'm pretty sure steve donoghue is blurbed on that edition you used an image of
Oh yeah?
@@TheCodeXCantina pretty sure he's on the back!
R comics the crime to test himself to discover if he is the Napoleonic man he wants to be. The punishment shows that not only is he not, but his Great Man Theory is false. Sonia, Dunya, Razumuhim, and Svidrigailov show this to him in their own manner. And of course, his own rejuvenated conscience.
The edit style feels very documentary cutting back and forth between experts lmao
Do you guys plan on doing The Idiot?
Yeah, we’re aiming to do that later this year
its a crime if you don't read this book, and punishment during reading
I see what you did there.
Which translation I should read?
Seems they all have their merits. I read Garnett and loved it. Seems most people gravitate towards Pevear and Volokhonsky as the most active voicing. Michael Katz has a decent following too.
@@TheCodeXCantina thanks a lot.😎
Probably ought read pride and prejudice
The scripted cuts to and fro really put me off. I like what you were saying, just how it was packaged wasn't for me. Thanks
Yeah. This was one of my worst edits. Tried something that didn’t work out. Oh well, won’t do that again
GULAG is an acronym for the Soviet era's prison camp system. It's anachronistic to speak of it as existing during the pre-Revolutionary period
9:00
4:17 Gulag is a Soviet era correctional facility. Labour camps in Imperial times (19th century) were definitely not called that.
It's true. Our mistake.
Could it be that Dostoevsky was bipolar? Rodya sounds like someone that is Bipolar. Sleeping for days at a time, walking around aimlessly, irritable, being grandiose at times. It sounds like he is going between the two extremes. I also read the double and in that book it seems like the main character is experiencing psychosis. I don't know if the main characters in his books are a based on his own experiences.
I haven’t read any biographical work that says that he was. I was a relatively new diagnosis at the time. Maybe he had learned about it or new someone too.
Christian god is a moral god,
If u don’t know how to read a book(Bible)do T bother writhing