1. Fyodor Dostoevsky & Siberian Exile By Sam Holzman

2. Dostoevsky’s Early Life Born November 11, 1821 in Moscow, Russia Second of seven children Suffered from epilepsy from age nine Lived in oppression under his father’s harsh treatment Developed love for reading; Nikolai Gogol, E.T.A. Hoffman Mother died of tuberculosis in 1837 Sent to a military engineering institute in St. Petersburg Took interest in literature at the institute Received a commission in 1841

3. Early Life continued Wrote his first novel Poor Folk in 1846 to critical acclaim – Began exploring Naturalism; socially conscious Achieved fame due to praise from critic Vissarion Belinsky His next work, The Double, was met with negativity – Fame faded

4. “The Petrashevsky Circle” Dostoevsky joined group led by Mikhail Petrashevsky Discussed literature and political issues Illegal according to Russian law Members were arrested for subversion, sentenced to death “Mock execution”; Dostoevsky scarred for life Sentence commuted to exile to Siberia in Dec. 1849

5. Siberia Sentenced to hard labor at the Omsk Fortress Cold, brutal living situation The New Testament only reading material Major Krivtsov abused and humiliated prisoners Dostoevsky had fear of abuse suffered from fits of epilepsy Released from prison in 1854, sentenced to military exile Fell in love with Maria Isaev, a married woman, and eventually married her after her husband’s death Allowed back to St. Petersburg in 1959

6. Effect on Dostoevsky Dostoevsky witnessed conflicts among prisoners – Peasants vs. Noblemen Disputed Dostoevsky’s views on humanity No longer believed in power of remorse Struggled with deep hatred Russian Orthodoxy brought change of heart – Saw peasants and gentries as brothers under Christ – Never fully committed to the faith

7. A New Dostoevsky Broken by death of his wife in 1864 Developed gambling problem Siberia and recent turmoil gave him a new outlook on humanity Took stance against Russian Nihilist movement

8. A New Dostoevsky cont’d Crime and Punishment (1866) : redemption through suffering – Raskolnikov an embodiment of spiritual nihilism – Depicted Russian poverty, crime and pain The Idiot (1869) explored Russian Christianity Final novel was The Brothers Karamazov (1880) – Considered one of his masterpieces – Family drama, dealt with redemption, crime and faith Died of a lung hemorrhage on February 9 th 1881

9. Impact on Russia Became a voice of the dark side of Russian life His change in views was an inspiration for anti-nihilist movements His post-Siberia work sparked controversy among radicals Provided realistic tales to dispute rationalism

10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P CH0QeDKv4&feature=related

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