Ghost -- The Collected Works of Dostoevsky

Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky (Russia), translated by Lou Ziliang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-11-01
Features: The novel The Possessed is based on the 1871 assassination of Russian anarchist Pyotr Nechaev and attacks the progressive youth revolutionary movement of the time. Peter Stepanovich, modeled after Nechaev, is a shameless, heartless conspirator, a political charlatan who rises to prominence through revolution. He manipulates the secret organization "The Five" to disrupt fundraising activities, set fires near the collection sites, and uses false accusations of treason to incite, deceive, and intimidate members into assassinating Shatov, who knew too much. Afterward, he tricks the atheist Kirillov into admitting everything, writing a suicide note and shooting himself, while escaping unharmed. The author also portrays another "possessed" figure, Nikolai Stavrogin, a nobleman without moral principles, a lecherous scoundrel who manipulates women's emotions. Additionally, he depicts Stepan Trofimovich, the father figure who nurtured these "possessed" individuals, a liberal Westernizer whose appearance is deliberately distorted. In these characters, the author concentrates the anarchistic traits he attributes to Russian revolutionaries, subjecting them to bitter satire. Despite this, the novel exposes and critiques Russia's upper bureaucracy and aristocratic bourgeoisie, offering valuable insights into the social conditions of the time. Furthermore, the author's skill in psychological analysis and plot construction fully demonstrates his artistic talent and mastery, often leaving readers in awe.