Dostoevsky's Protagonists as an Embodiment of Nineteenth Century Russia: A New Historicist Reading

New Historicism is applied in this examination of Dostoevsky's selected protagonists, the Underground Man and Raskolnikov. The protagonists' discourse and polemics are examined in relation to the cultural, political, social, economic and historical context of the 1860 Russia. The analysis...

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Main Author:	M. Balakrishnan, M. B. Usha
Format:	Thesis
Language:	English English
Published:	2002
Subjects:	Protagonist in a materialistic society Novels - Principles of new histoticism
Online Access:	http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/10175/1/FBMK_2002_15.pdf
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id	my-upm-ir.10175
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spelling	my-upm-ir.101752024-03-19T04:51:03Z Dostoevsky's Protagonists as an Embodiment of Nineteenth Century Russia: A New Historicist Reading 2002-11 M. Balakrishnan, M. B. Usha New Historicism is applied in this examination of Dostoevsky's selected protagonists, the Underground Man and Raskolnikov. The protagonists' discourse and polemics are examined in relation to the cultural, political, social, economic and historical context of the 1860 Russia. The analysis shows an emerging pattern of a new social and economic order that alienates, displaces and subjugates the youth of the era. The Underground Man's monologue and Raskolnikov's actions and psychological tunnoil suggest an oppressive hand in the political and social system. It also highlights the beginnings of radicalism as a result of the existing suppression. The dissonance in the protagonists' multi-layered polemics is examined as the mediated discourse, which implies domination, inequality among the working class and a perpetuation of class distinction. The discrimination causes dissatisfaction and marginalization among the underprivileged The progressive ideas of the time encourage action that is directed by reason and rationalism. Indirectly the rationalistic ideas become an excuse for the privileged to further dominate over these protagonists, which intensifies their alienation. The protagonists' arguments and actions imply that the socialist ideology does not eradicate inequality. Contrarily, they accentuate the characters' displacement in the society. Furthermore, the innate corruptness of man is hinted as the reason for the failure of this utopianism. Dostoevsky's characterization is perhaps an attack on the degeneration of man and the values of the milieu. The analysis reflects a deep sense of loss and disillusionment in the protagonists in a materialistic society. The protagonists' discourse could be the voice of the intelligentsia or the nihilists of the era that reflects their alienation in a society where the reforms they believed would change the social order did not materialize. Protagonist in a materialistic society Novels - Principles of new histoticism 2002-11 Thesis http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/10175/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/10175/1/FBMK_2002_15.pdf text en public masters Universiti Putra Malaysia Protagonist in a materialistic society Novels - Principles of new histoticism Faculty of Modern Language and Communication Omar, Noritah English
institution	Universiti Putra Malaysia
collection	PSAS Institutional Repository
language	English English
advisor	Omar, Noritah
topic	Protagonist in a materialistic society Novels - Principles of new histoticism
spellingShingle	Protagonist in a materialistic society Novels - Principles of new histoticism M. Balakrishnan, M. B. Usha Dostoevsky's Protagonists as an Embodiment of Nineteenth Century Russia: A New Historicist Reading
description	New Historicism is applied in this examination of Dostoevsky's selected protagonists, the Underground Man and Raskolnikov. The protagonists' discourse and polemics are examined in relation to the cultural, political, social, economic and historical context of the 1860 Russia. The analysis shows an emerging pattern of a new social and economic order that alienates, displaces and subjugates the youth of the era. The Underground Man's monologue and Raskolnikov's actions and psychological tunnoil suggest an oppressive hand in the political and social system. It also highlights the beginnings of radicalism as a result of the existing suppression. The dissonance in the protagonists' multi-layered polemics is examined as the mediated discourse, which implies domination, inequality among the working class and a perpetuation of class distinction. The discrimination causes dissatisfaction and marginalization among the underprivileged The progressive ideas of the time encourage action that is directed by reason and rationalism. Indirectly the rationalistic ideas become an excuse for the privileged to further dominate over these protagonists, which intensifies their alienation. The protagonists' arguments and actions imply that the socialist ideology does not eradicate inequality. Contrarily, they accentuate the characters' displacement in the society. Furthermore, the innate corruptness of man is hinted as the reason for the failure of this utopianism. Dostoevsky's characterization is perhaps an attack on the degeneration of man and the values of the milieu. The analysis reflects a deep sense of loss and disillusionment in the protagonists in a materialistic society. The protagonists' discourse could be the voice of the intelligentsia or the nihilists of the era that reflects their alienation in a society where the reforms they believed would change the social order did not materialize.
format	Thesis
qualification_level	Master's degree
author	M. Balakrishnan, M. B. Usha
author_facet	M. Balakrishnan, M. B. Usha
author_sort	M. Balakrishnan, M. B. Usha
title	Dostoevsky's Protagonists as an Embodiment of Nineteenth Century Russia: A New Historicist Reading
title_short	Dostoevsky's Protagonists as an Embodiment of Nineteenth Century Russia: A New Historicist Reading
title_full	Dostoevsky's Protagonists as an Embodiment of Nineteenth Century Russia: A New Historicist Reading
title_fullStr	Dostoevsky's Protagonists as an Embodiment of Nineteenth Century Russia: A New Historicist Reading
title_full_unstemmed	Dostoevsky's Protagonists as an Embodiment of Nineteenth Century Russia: A New Historicist Reading
title_sort	dostoevsky's protagonists as an embodiment of nineteenth century russia: a new historicist reading
granting_institution	Universiti Putra Malaysia
granting_department	Faculty of Modern Language and Communication
publishDate	2002
url	http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/10175/1/FBMK_2002_15.pdf
_version_	1794018887859175424

Dostoevsky's Protagonists as an Embodiment of Nineteenth Century Russia: A New Historicist Reading

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