Overview---Raskolnikov visited by Svidrigailov, who explains his intentions for helping Dunya. R is very unsettled by this man, and his claims to be birds of a feather with R.
-Dinner party with Ras, Dunya, their mum, Razumikhin and Luzhin. Things go very pear shaped and end up disastrously for Luzhin.
-Things seem to take a turn for the better. Razumikhin proposes a business plan for the group, and they all look set to live happily ever after. But..
-Raskolnikov suddenly announces that he is leaving- for good. Everybody sent into a spin.
-Couple of interesting moments where 1) R wonders, apparently for the first time what Razumikhin will think when he finds out R is a murderer 2) Razumikhin seems to suddenly become aware that R is a murderer.
Svidrigailov--
I couldn't help liking this guy. I loved that he unsettled Ras so much; that he shrugged off every insult or bit of rudeness that came his way. I liked that his crazy talk about ghosts, and about perhaps being insane really got under R's skin. It was like 'hey, I'm the crazy one around here, I can't handle being around someone even crazier...'.
There was then an interesting shift when R started to realise that maybe there were similarities between them, and that he in fact might secretly like or look up to this man, because he started to tick R's boxes of being 'extraordinary'.
Luzhin--
And then we see this jerk in all his glory. You just hate this guy. He is so arrogant, and so deluded. The way he tries to become powerful, by essentially preying on the week and helpless is repugnant. He wanted a Dunya who was poor, helpless and completely humble, who would serve him and elevate him as her saviour. He could not handle a Dunya who might have some pride, and opinions and backbone. And the prospect of her inheriting this three thousand roubles sent him into a tailspin, as he realised he was losing his upper hand.
It was a great ending to the second chapter, to see him chased off with his tail between his legs, and being seen completely for the loser he is.
I'm Curious--
About how Luzhin intends to get even with Raskolnikov. About what part Svidrigailov will play in Raskolnikov's personal struggles. About how exactly Razumikhin suddenly seemed to know that R was the killer. Had he always known but had been to frightened to admit it to himself?
For Next Week-- read Part 4,iv-vi
5 comments:
No comments? People are really slowing down!
It's a bit hard to know what Razumikhin thought all along... Dosty's technique seems to imply lots of things, with out ever spelling it out. So the fainting in the police station is referred to, but never explored.
It's quite clever really, because your imagination goes wild in thinking all of the possible things that people could mean. Makes for a gripping story.
Strange how Svidrigailov is so likeable, hey?
yeah.. the ranks are thinning I think mate!
Yeah, you're right. A lot is implied, but we never really know. I like the way the author seems to be developing a whole bunch of threads at the same time; juggling different plot points-- Ras, Luzhin, Svid, Sonya, Raz, Porfiry, the bloke who apparently saw the murder.. lots of questions to be answered. He seems to do this in order to keep the reader interested, whereas if the whole book was just about R's inner turmoil, it would be too much to sit through.
I will comment, but I've been a bit behind, as I was sick over the last five days:( will catch up soon.
How do people like Dunya? Pretty strong character, huh?
She really gives Luzhin a good one.
At first I didn't like her. When R got that initial letter from his mum, way back in the day, Dunya to me came across as annoyingly do-googish and victimised. I realise now that it was because it was seen thru the eyes of the mum, who is very painful to me.
In person, Dunya is a likable character. Strong and brave. In a way, to me she seems like a better, more likable, improved version of her brother. Similar traits, but without the self-obsession and delusions.
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