The Idiot (109 page)
Authors: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
3
springs of life:
A reference to the symbolism of the last two chapters of Revelation (21:6; 22:1,17).
springs of life:
A reference to the symbolism of the last two chapters of Revelation (21:6; 22:1,17).
5
Malthus:
Thomas Robert Malthus (1766 — 1834), English priest, economist, and originator of ‘Malthusianism’, the doctrine that hunger and poverty are the result of overpopulation.
CHAPTER FIVEMalthus:
Thomas Robert Malthus (1766 — 1834), English priest, economist, and originator of ‘Malthusianism’, the doctrine that hunger and poverty are the result of overpopulation.
1
Kislorodov:
In Russian,
kislorod
(a calque from Latin
oxygenium)
means ‘oxygen’. Dostoyevsky is playing on the Greek root of the word,
oxus
(‘sour’), to suggest that atheists and materialists might be thought to be people of a sour disposition.
CHAPTER SIXKislorodov:
In Russian,
kislorod
(a calque from Latin
oxygenium)
means ‘oxygen’. Dostoyevsky is playing on the Greek root of the word,
oxus
(‘sour’), to suggest that atheists and materialists might be thought to be people of a sour disposition.
1
Shestilavochnaya Street:
The street where Golyadkin, the hero of Dostoyevsky’s
The Double
(1846), lived.
Shestilavochnaya Street:
The street where Golyadkin, the hero of Dostoyevsky’s
The Double
(1846), lived.
4
State Councillor:
In Russian,
deistvitel’nyi statskii sovetnik — a
civil service rank of the fourth class.
State Councillor:
In Russian,
deistvitel’nyi statskii sovetnik — a
civil service rank of the fourth class.
5
in the way that Napoleon turned to England:
In 1815, after the battle of Waterloo, Napoleon intended to flee to America, but because of the blockade of the port of Rochefort had to enter into negotiations with his enemies - the British - and was exiled to St Helena.
in the way that Napoleon turned to England:
In 1815, after the battle of Waterloo, Napoleon intended to flee to America, but because of the blockade of the port of Rochefort had to enter into negotiations with his enemies - the British - and was exiled to St Helena.
6
‘theold general’:
F. P. Haase (1780 — 1853), a doctor who was in charge of Russia’s prison hospitals.
‘theold general’:
F. P. Haase (1780 — 1853), a doctor who was in charge of Russia’s prison hospitals.
7
les extrémités se touchent:
‘The extremities meet’; the words are those of the French philosopher Blaise Pascal (1623 — 62), from his
Pensées.
les extrémités se touchent:
‘The extremities meet’; the words are those of the French philosopher Blaise Pascal (1623 — 62), from his
Pensées.
8
Talitha cumi:
(Greek) ‘Maiden, I say to you, arise’, the words uttered by Christ when raising Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:41).
CHAPTER SEVENTalitha cumi:
(Greek) ‘Maiden, I say to you, arise’, the words uttered by Christ when raising Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:41).
1
the renowned and classical stanza of Millevoix:
In fact, as the critic B. V. Tomashevsky pointed out in 1928, this stanza is not by Millevoix but by Gilbert, from the latter’s poem ‘Ode imitée de plusieurs psaumes’ (Ode Imitated from Several Psalms, 1780); roughly translated, this reads: ‘Oh, that your sacred beauty be long seen/By so many friends deaf
to my farewells!/May they die rich in days, may their deaths be mourned!/May a friend be there to close their eyes!’
the renowned and classical stanza of Millevoix:
In fact, as the critic B. V. Tomashevsky pointed out in 1928, this stanza is not by Millevoix but by Gilbert, from the latter’s poem ‘Ode imitée de plusieurs psaumes’ (Ode Imitated from Several Psalms, 1780); roughly translated, this reads: ‘Oh, that your sacred beauty be long seen/By so many friends deaf
to my farewells!/May they die rich in days, may their deaths be mourned!/May a friend be there to close their eyes!’
2
Lacenaires:
The criminal and murderer Pierre-François Lacenaire (1800 — 1836) was the central figure in a Parisian trial of the 1830s. Condemned to death, he spent the time until his execution writing poetry and memoirs. Afterwards, his semi-apocryphal writings were released to the public in print. Dostoyevsky became interested in the Lacenaire trial while he was working on
Crime and Punishment.
CHAPTER EIGHTLacenaires:
The criminal and murderer Pierre-François Lacenaire (1800 — 1836) was the central figure in a Parisian trial of the 1830s. Condemned to death, he spent the time until his execution writing poetry and memoirs. Afterwards, his semi-apocryphal writings were released to the public in print. Dostoyevsky became interested in the Lacenaire trial while he was working on
Crime and Punishment.
1
the learned cabinets:
the mineralogical, geological, botanical and other scientific collections held in German museums and universities.
the learned cabinets:
the mineralogical, geological, botanical and other scientific collections held in German museums and universities.
2
Paul de Kock:
Paul de Kock (1794 — 1871): a French writer, the author of some 400 volumes of light fiction and drama, mostly of a rather risque nature, and extremely popular in his lifetime.
CHAPTER NINEPaul de Kock:
Paul de Kock (1794 — 1871): a French writer, the author of some 400 volumes of light fiction and drama, mostly of a rather risque nature, and extremely popular in his lifetime.
2
Fifth Street:
The fifth Rozhdestvensky street (Pyataya Rozhdestvenskaya). See above, part 2, chapter 2, note 2.
CHAPTER TENFifth Street:
The fifth Rozhdestvensky street (Pyataya Rozhdestvenskaya). See above, part 2, chapter 2, note 2.
1
that Moscow murderer ... Zhdanov fluid:
A reference to the murderer Mazurin, who killed a jeweller with a razor, the handle of which was bound in silk to improve its grip. Zhdanov fluid was an antiseptic: Mazurin filled two bowls with it in order to hide the smell, and wrapped the body in oilcloth. A household knife, covered in blood, was also found in Mazurin’s house.
PART FOURthat Moscow murderer ... Zhdanov fluid:
A reference to the murderer Mazurin, who killed a jeweller with a razor, the handle of which was bound in silk to improve its grip. Zhdanov fluid was an antiseptic: Mazurin filled two bowls with it in order to hide the smell, and wrapped the body in oilcloth. A household knife, covered in blood, was also found in Mazurin’s house.
CHAPTER ONE
2
‘Tu l‘as voulu, Georges Dandin!’:
‘You wanted it, Georges Dandin!’ In Molière’s play
Georges Dandin
(1668), this is
‘Vous l’avez voulu, Georges Dandin!’
(Act 1, scene 9).
‘Tu l‘as voulu, Georges Dandin!’:
‘You wanted it, Georges Dandin!’ In Molière’s play
Georges Dandin
(1668), this is
‘Vous l’avez voulu, Georges Dandin!’
(Act 1, scene 9).
3
Lieutenant Pirogov:
The central character of Gogol’s story ‘Nevsky Prospect’ (1835), whom Dostoyevsky considered Gogol’s greatest creation.
CHAPTER TWOLieutenant Pirogov:
The central character of Gogol’s story ‘Nevsky Prospect’ (1835), whom Dostoyevsky considered Gogol’s greatest creation.
CHAPTER FOUR
1
a Chernosvitov leg:
Rafael Alexandrovich Chernosvitov was born in 1810. A Petrashevist, he was exiled to Kexholm Fortress in 1849. In 1854 he designed an artificial leg for use by war invalids, and in 1855 published a book on the subject.
a Chernosvitov leg:
Rafael Alexandrovich Chernosvitov was born in 1810. A Petrashevist, he was exiled to Kexholm Fortress in 1849. In 1854 he designed an artificial leg for use by war invalids, and in 1855 published a book on the subject.
2
one of our autobiographers:
The Russian writer Alexander Herzen (1812 — 70), in
My Past and Thoughts
(1855 — 6).
one of our autobiographers:
The Russian writer Alexander Herzen (1812 — 70), in
My Past and Thoughts
(1855 — 6).
3
Voilà un garçon bien éveillé! Qui est ton père:
‘Here is a well-brought-up boy!’ Who is your Father?’
Voilà un garçon bien éveillé! Qui est ton père:
‘Here is a well-brought-up boy!’ Who is your Father?’
4
Le fils ... M’aimes-tu, petit:
‘The son of a boyar, and a brave man into the bargain! I like the boyars. Do you like me, little one?’
Le fils ... M’aimes-tu, petit:
‘The son of a boyar, and a brave man into the bargain! I like the boyars. Do you like me, little one?’
5
Baron de Bazancourt:
(1767 — 1830), a French general who took part in the campaigns of Napoleon I. General Ivolgin introduces the name in order to inject some semblance of historical truth into his fantastical narrative.
Baron de Bazancourt:
(1767 — 1830), a French general who took part in the campaigns of Napoleon I. General Ivolgin introduces the name in order to inject some semblance of historical truth into his fantastical narrative.
6
Charasse’s book on the Waterloo campaign:
J. B. A. Charasse (1810 — 65), French liberal politician and military historian. Dostoyevsky read his
Histoire de la campagne de 1815. Waterloo
(‘History of the 1815 Campaign, Waterloo’, 1858, 1863) in Baden Baden in 1867, and possessed a copy of it in his library.
Charasse’s book on the Waterloo campaign:
J. B. A. Charasse (1810 — 65), French liberal politician and military historian. Dostoyevsky read his
Histoire de la campagne de 1815. Waterloo
(‘History of the 1815 Campaign, Waterloo’, 1858, 1863) in Baden Baden in 1867, and possessed a copy of it in his library.
7
Davoust ... Mameluke Rustan:
Louis Davoust (1770 — 1845), marshal and minister of defence under Napoleon I. Mameluke Rustan (1780 — 1845), his favourite and bodyguard.
Davoust ... Mameluke Rustan:
Louis Davoust (1770 — 1845), marshal and minister of defence under Napoleon I. Mameluke Rustan (1780 — 1845), his favourite and bodyguard.
12
It’s more pleasant to sit with the beans than to be without one:
The pun is more or less untranslatable — ‘to sit with the beans’ means to sit with one’s superiors.
It’s more pleasant to sit with the beans than to be without one:
The pun is more or less untranslatable — ‘to sit with the beans’ means to sit with one’s superiors.
13
That’s from Gogol, in Dead Souls:
The words are actually ‘Oh my youth, oh my freshness’ (vol. 1, chapter 6).
That’s from Gogol, in Dead Souls:
The words are actually ‘Oh my youth, oh my freshness’ (vol. 1, chapter 6).
15
‘Nurse, where is your grave?’:
A quotation from the third part of an unfinished long poem by N. P. Ogarev (1813 — 77), entitled ‘Humour’: ‘Nurse, where is your grave/By the convent wall?’
CHAPTER FIVE‘Nurse, where is your grave?’:
A quotation from the third part of an unfinished long poem by N. P. Ogarev (1813 — 77), entitled ‘Humour’: ‘Nurse, where is your grave/By the convent wall?’
1
Schlosser’s
History: Friedrich Christoph Schlosser (1776 — 1861) was a German historian. His
Weltgeschichte für das deutsche Volk
(‘World History for the German People‘, 1844 — 56) appeared in Russian translation between 1861 and 1869.Dostoyevsky had a copy of the first volume of the
History
in his library.
Schlosser’s
History: Friedrich Christoph Schlosser (1776 — 1861) was a German historian. His
Weltgeschichte für das deutsche Volk
(‘World History for the German People‘, 1844 — 56) appeared in Russian translation between 1861 and 1869.Dostoyevsky had a copy of the first volume of the
History
in his library.
2
Stepan Glebov:
Stepan Bogdanovich Glebov (c. 1672 — 1718), the lover of the first wife of Tsar Peter I, Yevdokia Lopukhina. He was sentenced to death for plotting against Peter, and for his liaison with Lopukhina, who was now a nun. He was impaled after fearful tortures that lasted three days, but did not confess or show any remorse.
Stepan Glebov:
Stepan Bogdanovich Glebov (c. 1672 — 1718), the lover of the first wife of Tsar Peter I, Yevdokia Lopukhina. He was sentenced to death for plotting against Peter, and for his liaison with Lopukhina, who was now a nun. He was impaled after fearful tortures that lasted three days, but did not confess or show any remorse.
3
it was a different race from that of our own era:
There is an echo here of lines from Lermontov’s poem ‘Borodino’ (1837): ‘Yes, there were men in our time, /Not like the present race.’
CHAPTER SIXit was a different race from that of our own era:
There is an echo here of lines from Lermontov’s poem ‘Borodino’ (1837): ‘Yes, there were men in our time, /Not like the present race.’
1
Punish my heart ... as Thomas More said:
The words spoken by the English statesman, writer and Catholic martyr Sir Thomas More (1478 — 1535) to his executioner on the scaffold, before he was beheaded.
CHAPTER SEVENPunish my heart ... as Thomas More said:
The words spoken by the English statesman, writer and Catholic martyr Sir Thomas More (1478 — 1535) to his executioner on the scaffold, before he was beheaded.
2
Non possumus:
(Latin) ‘We cannot’, the words traditionally used by the Pope to refuse the demands of secular authority.
Non possumus:
(Latin) ‘We cannot’, the words traditionally used by the Pope to refuse the demands of secular authority.
3
two million heads:
An allusion to a passage in Chapter 37 of Alexander Herzen’s
My Past and Thoughts,
where Herzen reflects on the view of the ninetenth-century German republican publicist Karl Heinzen that in order to create world revolution it would be sufficient ‘to kill two million people’.
two million heads:
An allusion to a passage in Chapter 37 of Alexander Herzen’s
My Past and Thoughts,
where Herzen reflects on the view of the ninetenth-century German republican publicist Karl Heinzen that in order to create world revolution it would be sufficient ‘to kill two million people’.
5
flagellantism:
In Russian
khlystovstvo.
The Khlysty were an ascetic Russian sect originating in the seventeenth century and believing that each successive leader of the sect was an incarnation of Christ. Members of the sect flagellated one another with birch rods in order to reach ecstasy.
CHAPTER EIGHTflagellantism:
In Russian
khlystovstvo.
The Khlysty were an ascetic Russian sect originating in the seventeenth century and believing that each successive leader of the sect was an incarnation of Christ. Members of the sect flagellated one another with birch rods in order to reach ecstasy.
CHAPTER NINE
2
the contemporary nihilism uncovered by Mr Turgenev:
A reference to Turgenev’s novel
Fathers and Sons
(1862), which provoked a debate about young people in Russia: the term ‘nihilism’ was used by several commentators to describe the mood among the radical young, characterized in Turgenev’s novel by the views of its hero, Bazarov.
CHAPTER TENthe contemporary nihilism uncovered by Mr Turgenev:
A reference to Turgenev’s novel
Fathers and Sons
(1862), which provoked a debate about young people in Russia: the term ‘nihilism’ was used by several commentators to describe the mood among the radical young, characterized in Turgenev’s novel by the views of its hero, Bazarov.
1
the Princesse de Rohan:
The Princes of Rohan were the descendants of the ancient sovereign rulers, later Dukes of Brittany, founded by Conan, who ruled in AD 384.
the Princesse de Rohan:
The Princes of Rohan were the descendants of the ancient sovereign rulers, later Dukes of Brittany, founded by Conan, who ruled in AD 384.
3
My life I’d give for just one night:
A quotation from Pushkin’s
poema
about Cleopatra, which became part of the novella ‘Egyptian Nights’ (1835).
CHAPTER ELEVENMy life I’d give for just one night:
A quotation from Pushkin’s
poema
about Cleopatra, which became part of the novella ‘Egyptian Nights’ (1835).
1
Semyonovsky Regiment:
The name for the district adjoining Zagorodny Prospect (where the Semyonovsky Lifeguards had their barracks).
Semyonovsky Regiment:
The name for the district adjoining Zagorodny Prospect (where the Semyonovsky Lifeguards had their barracks).
2
Madame Bovary:
Dostoyevsky read Flaubert’s novel (first published in 1857) in 1867, on the recommendation of Turgenev, who considered it the finest work ‘in the entire literary world during the past ten years’.
Madame Bovary:
Dostoyevsky read Flaubert’s novel (first published in 1857) in 1867, on the recommendation of Turgenev, who considered it the finest work ‘in the entire literary world during the past ten years’.
3
At the foot of the bed ... motionless:
this image may derive from Balzac’s story ‘Le Chef-d’œuvre inconnu’ (‘The Hidden Masterpiece’, 1831):
At the foot of the bed ... motionless:
this image may derive from Balzac’s story ‘Le Chef-d’œuvre inconnu’ (‘The Hidden Masterpiece’, 1831):
Coming nearer, they perceived in a corner of the canvas the point of a naked foot, which came forth from the chaos of colours, tones, shadows hazy and undefined, misty and without form, - an enchanting foot, a living foot. They stood lost in admiration before this glorious fragment breaking forth from the incredible, slow, progressive destruction around it. The foot seemed to them like the torso of some Grecian Venus, brought to light amid the ruins of a burned city. ‘There is a woman beneath it all!’ cried Porbus, calling Poussin’s attention to the layers of colour which the old painter had successively laid on, believing that he thus brought his work to perfection. (tr. Katharine Prescott Wormeley).
DOSTOYEVSKY
Crime and Punishment
‘Crime? What crime? ... My killing a loathsome,
harmful louse, a filthy old moneylender woman ...
and you call that a crime?’
harmful louse, a filthy old moneylender woman ...
and you call that a crime?’
Raskolnikov, a destitute and desperate former student, wanders through the slums of St Petersburg and commits a random murder without remorse or regret. He imagines himself to be a great man, a Napoleon: acting for a higher purpose beyond conventional moral law. But as he embarks on a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a suspicious police investigator, Raskolnikov is pursued by the growing voice of his conscience and finds the noose of his own guilt tightening around his neck. Only Sonya, a downtrodden prostitute, can offer the chance of redemption.
This vivid translation by David McDuff has been acclaimed as the most accessible version of Dostoyevsky’s great novel, rendering its dialogue with a unique force and naturalism. This edition also includes a new chronology of Dostoyevsky’s life and work.
‘McDuff’s language is rich and alive’
The New York Times Book
Review
The New York Times Book
Review
Translated with an introduction and notes by
DAVID McDUFF
DAVID McDUFF
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