Ghosts

Author: (Russian) Dostoevsky/Lou Ziliang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-11-01
Features: The novel The Possessed is based on the 1871 Russian anarchist Nekayev murder case and vilifies and attacks the progressive youth revolutionary movement of the time. Peter Stepanovich, modeled after Nekayev, is a shameless, heartless conspirator, a political charlatan who rises to prominence through revolution. He manipulates the secret organization "The Group of Five" to disrupt fundraising activities, set fires near the donation sites, and uses malicious incitement, deception, and intimidation to force group members to murder Shatov, who knew too much. Afterward, he lures the atheist Kirillov to admit everything, write a suicide note, and take his own life, while escaping unharmed. The author also portrays another "possessed" figure, Nikolai Stavrogin, a nobleman without moral principles, a lecherous scoundrel who exploits women's emotions, as well as the nurturer of these "possessed" figures—Stepan Trofimovich, a liberal Westernizer whose appearance is distorted. In summary, these characters embody the anarchist traits imposed by the author on Russian revolutionaries, subjecting them to bitter satire. Despite this, the novel ultimately exposes and critiques the Russian upper bureaucracy and the bourgeois aristocracy, offering valuable insights into the social conditions of the time. Additionally, the author's mastery in psychological analysis and plot arrangement fully demonstrates his artistic talent, often leaving readers in awe.