The Possessed - Dostoevsky, Fyodor

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Résumé :
Demons is a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, first published in the journal The Russian Messenger in 1871-72. It is considered one of the four masterworks written by Dostoevsky after his return from Siberian exile, along with Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, and The Brothers Karamazov. As Dostoyevsky predicted, The Devils, or The Possessed, was indeed denounced by radical critics as the work of a reactionary renegade. But radicals aside, it enjoyed great success both for its literary power and for its explicit and provocative politics; and for its story of Russian terrorists plotting violence and destruction, only to murder one of their own numbers.

Biographie:
The narrator-referred to in this SparkNote as the Underground Man-introduces himself. He describes himself as sick, wicked, and unattractive, and notes that he has a problem with his liver. He refuses to treat this ailment out of spite, although he understands that keeping his problems from doctors does the doctors themselves no harm. The Underground Man explains that, during his many years in civil service, he was wicked, but that he considers this wickedness a kind of compensation for the fact that he never accepted bribes. He almost immediately revises this claim, however, admitting that he never achieved genuine wickedness toward his customers, but only managed to be rude and intimidating as a kind of game. We learn that the Underground Man has retired early from his civil service job after inheriting a modest sum of money. He only held onto his low-ranking job so that he would be able to afford food, not because he got any satisfaction from it. He notes that he is filled with conflicting impulses: wickedness, sentimentality, self-loathing, contempt for others. His intense consciousness of these opposing elements has paralyzed him. He has settled into his miserable corner of the world, incapable of wickedness and incapable of action, loathing himself even as he congratulates himself on his own intelligence and sensitivity. He adds that the weather in St. Petersburg is probably bad for his health, but that he will stay there anyway, out of spite.

Sommaire:
Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, born on October 30, 1821, in Moscow, was a Russian writer, philosopher, and translator, considered one of the greatest authors in world literature. His work is distinguished by its deep psychological analysis and exploration of moral and existential conflicts, exerting a lasting influence on literature, psychology, and philosophy.In 1849, he was arrested and sentenced to death for his involvement in the radical Petrashevsky Circle. However, his sentence was commuted to exile in a Siberian labor camp, where he spent four years. This experience profoundly influenced his writing. After his release, he resumed his literary career and created such outstanding works as Crime and Punishment (1866), The Idiot (1869), Demons (1872), and The Brothers Karamazov (1880).His works often explore themes of redemption, faith, guilt, and free will, and his novel Notes from Underground (1864) is considered a precursor to existentialist literature. Additionally, Dostoevsky is known for his detailed depictions of the spiritual and emotional crises of his characters, making him one of the most studied authors in psychological and literary circles.Fyodor Dostoevsky passed away on January 28, 1881, in St. Petersburg. His work continues to be studied and adapted across various forms of art....