C&P: Babbling to Action: Part 1

[Andrew, Wound Up]

***Open discussion of Part 1 below, no spoiler marks needed. Be sure you have read through Part 1 before reading! Note: if this is your first visit to this topic I recommend you read this post about discussion ideas, then skip down and post your initial response, then read and respond to other people's posts.***

At the very least check in here when you finish this section and tell us if you are enjoying the book. I'll post specific discussion ideas below, along with some general topics we'll see repeated throughout the book.

Part 1 discussions:

1) Which of the individual stories told in this section made the strongest emotional impact on you? What emotion(s) did it evoke? Stories: Marmeladov's tale, the mother's letter, an intoxicated girl, Raskolnikov's dream, or the crime.

2) Discuss Dostoevsky's portrayal of money throughout this part of the novel.

General Discussions:

1) Share your favorite quote(s) from this section.

2) Share your favorite word(s) used in this section.

3) Do you have a favorite or most intriguing character at this point in the novel?

Location reminder

If you are returning to this topic after having continued past this section, here is a plot reminder:

Double homicide.

GO!

[Andrew, Wound Up]

Story. Undoubtedly the horse dream for me. I experienced the same horrible emotions young Rakolnikov did. The situation is so exacerbated by the willingness of the crowd to participate and of his father to look away.

The dream seems written to perfectly echo other themes we've seen in the novel:
* Is the horse a symbol of the lower class or either of the Ivanovna's or Sofya?
* The idea that intoxication can lead to senseless destruction (similar to Marmeladov's plight).
* The wanton violence contrasts with Rakolnikov's completely sober attack that we are about to witness.

I'm not sure if it's my general sensitivity to animals or purely powerful writing. I am excited to see how other people answer this question. I am also interested to learn more about R's actual relationship with his father; was this dream a reflection of reality?

Money. Raskolnikov seems a bit OCD, beyond what his planning would require. This helps me break down a few things here by having a portrayal of monetary value:

Pawn Value:
* 2 Rubles for a ring
* 1.5 Rubles for an engraved silver watch with a steel chain

Wages:

* 30 Rubles for a night of prostitution (first night only)
* 23R 40k: One month's salary
* <15k/day: wage made by an "honest" girl with no special talents
* 120 Rubles/year: an elderly woman's pension
* 100 Rubles/year: a governess' wage

Goods/Services:

* 11R 50k: An outfit appropriate for government work
* 3k: postage for a letter
* 20k: potential fee for a taxi to an unknown destination in Petersburg

I truly hope that Raskolnikov's logic is not as simplistic as that presented by the men in the bar discussing justifiable homicide. The idea that a person could pay off a moral debt with cash should horrify everyone who is not filthy rich (i.e. everyone we've met in the book so far).

Raskolnikov seems to be preparing himself via his generosity for a life of charity. Uh oh.

I think it's hard for me to relate to the raw desperation of the characters. Is it easier to put a monetary value on life or happiness when you literally cannot afford to live? I don't believe this explanation of my bafflement works - it is an insulting statement in its implication that poverty allows greater opportunity for moral ambiguity.

The power of this novel is clear to me in that I feel like I am completely unable to answer this basic question. I want Dostoevsky to dig into these ideas and help me find answers that currently don't exist for me. It isn't that I believe Raskolnikov has any possible explanation or justification for the murders; I don't. But I believe that there are concepts here that elude me completely.

Quotes. It's permissible, sir. -Marmeladov

"But if that's a like," Raskolnikov exclaimed involuntarily, "if man in fact is not a scoundrel - in general, that is, the whole human race - then the rest is all mere prejudice, instilled fear, and there are no barriers, and that's just how it should be!..." This quote ends chapter two and I must admit that it intrigues me even if I can't fully grasp it's meaning. The use of the word prejudice in particular feels askew from my normal understanding. Later: Eh, brother, but nature has to be corrected and guided, otherwise we'd all drown in prejudices. -a student

Words are not yet deeds. -Dunya

I fear in my heart that you have been visited by the fashionable new unbelief. -Pulcheria (I agnostically approve).

"Or renounce life altogether!" Raskolnikov suddenly cried out in a frenzy. "Accept fate obediently as it is, once and for all, and stifle everything in myself, renouncing any right to act, to live, to love!"

Horrified, Raskolnikov watched the hook jumping about in the eye, and waited in dull fear for it to pop right out at any moment. Hah, HE's horrified.

"Mitka! Mitka! Mitka! Mitka! Damn your eyes!" -someone

Bits and scraps of various thoughts kept swarming in his head; but he could not grasp any one of them, could not rest on any one, hard as he tried...

Words. Paradisal. Oblivion. Madcap (I think this may be mistranslated). Casuistry. Garnett translates "cleanliness" as "smartness", either way the related discussions about Sonechka confuse me. Vexatious ragamuffin! Canaille. Modish affectations. Balalaikas. Supercilious. Samovar.

Character. Sofya Semyonovna. She prostituted herself to support her drunk father, hater of a stepmother, and half siblings. Without having met her I feel that she is the opposite of Raskolnikov. I hope we meet her directly soon.

[Michelle, Overrun By Pets]

I was intrigued by all of the stories for different reasons. The story that had the largest impact on me was the horse story. I have been an animal lover all my life and was in utter horror for the entire duration of the story. I found myself reading at an increased pace in order to finish as quickly as possible. I felt physically transported to the scene of the story and transformed into a small child. I had strong feelings of being incensed at what I was witnessing and helpless to change the outcome. It was an extremely successful story as a dream in that it was both extremely vivid and highly charged with emotion.


I am somewhat confounded on the topic of money in this book. Raskolnikov seems wholly preoccupied with money, or lack thereof, but does nothing to conserve money that comes into his possession. He is several months overdue on his rent, makes absolutely no effort to find employment and gives money away at every turn. I am not familiar enough with the monetary denominations used to have a strong reference point for the amounts of money that come into Raskolnikov's possession, how much he gives away and what level of financial security these funds would provide him if conserved. Alas, is this the problem with current American' lack of financial security? Obsessive preoccupation with money, but no effort at conserving it?


My favorite quotes include "I kissed the dust at his feet - mentally, because in reality he would not have allowed it, being a dignitary, and a man of the new political and educated thinking..."

"And besides, if one wants to know any man well, one must consider him gradually and carefully, so as not to fall into error and prejudice, which are very difficult to correct and smooth out later."

"Marmeladov, who turned out to be much weaker on his feet than in his speeches, leaned heavily on the young man."


My favorite words include: monomaniacs, madcap, ignoble, jurisprudence, caprice, thickset, torpor, trifles, casuistry, portentous.


I really enjoyed the section with Marmeladov. He was perfectly cast as a tavern drunkard who spun very entertaining and engaging tales. I could have listened to his stories for many more pages. The juxtaposition between his flamboyant attitude in the bar compared to his actual living conditions and interactions with his wife were extremely interesting to me.