Delayed reading this for the longest time. This doesn’t fit with the standard full-length Dostoevsky novel—that is, the main character is not demented nor neurotic/paranoid (take that Tolstoy)—he just happens to be an ‘adolescent’ (arguably the same thing) and this is entirely in first person (also a little odd but not new, ref: HOTD).
There is still, however, the ardent devotion to an idea…
"I'll never be alone now as I was for all those terrible years before I'll have my idea with me, which I'll never betray, even in the event that I like them all there, and they give me happiness, and I live with them for ten years!"
…and some Shatov-esque passages on atheism and God (suicide too, except far less ‘Shatovian’ as Makar actually condemns the act outright—with none of Shatov’s nuance in attitude towards the act)
Some have gone through all learning and are still anguished. And my thinking is that the more one learns, the more boredom there is. Take just this: they've been teaching people ever since the world was made, but where is the good they've taught, so that the world might become the most beautiful, mirthful, and joy-filled dwelling place? And I'll say another thing: they have no seemliness, they don't even want it; they've all perished, and each one only praises his perdition, but doesn't even think of turning to the one truth; yet to live without God is nothing but torment. And it turns out that what gives light is the very thing we curse, and we don't know it ourselves. And what's the point? It's impossible for a man to exist without bowing down; such a man couldn't bear himself, and no man could. If he rejects God, he'll bow down to an idol- a wooden one, or a golden one, or a mental one. They're all idolaters, not godless, that's how they ought to be called. Well, but how could there not be godless people as well? There are such as are truly godless, only they're much more frightening than these others…
Shatov-like maundering aside, this is nowhere near Demons neither in plot nor format. This is far more jumpy and some sections need to be reread to be able to follow Arkady’s ‘adolescent’ (= inexperienced) style of retelling events. Something to be admired there, Dostoevsky easily throwing his form out the window to pretend to be a teenager with a dysfunctional family while still keeping the writing engaging…
5/5 — in general
4/5 — rated against other Russian lit reads
3.5/5 — against other Dostoevsky reads
