Wrapped up Part II the other night and have to say that Dostoevsky certainly has a comic's eye, although one senses the potentially tragic undertones. For Dostoevsky the aristocracy seems to be one largely made up of capricious souls more obsessed with good manners than any profound sense of their being. This is particularly true for the Epanchins, who comically wrestle with their emotions in one scene after another as he places them in very odd and unnerving situations that test the limits of poor Lizaveta Prokofyevna's endurance. Of her daughters, Aglaya, is the most interesting. A real beauty much along the same lines as Nastasya Filippovna Barashkov, who likewise seems to have a hold on Prince Myshkin's emotional strings. Part II ended with Lizaveta demanding to know the extent of the Prince's interests in her youngest daughter. The Prince insisted his feelings were Platonic, but one senses there is more to be said on the matter in later chapters. ...

What a great photo. I used to be a huge Chekhov fan but haven't read or seen a play in a long time. I should.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you, av. Chekhov is one of my favorites. Némirovsky, who wrote Suite française, also wrote a wonderful short bio on Chekhov. Everyman's Library also has some great collections of his stories and plays.
ReplyDeleteYes, I just saw your other photo above. Another great one. I remember when the reading group read her book -- I guess I should try that book at some point.
ReplyDeleteVery good book if sadly unfinished.
ReplyDelete