Temporal Existential Meanings of Dostoevsky's Heroes and Their Reincarnation by the Bolsheviks

Abstract

Each of the main heroes of F.M. Dostoevsky in his novels “The Brothers Karamazov,” “Crime and Punishment” and “Demons” is accompanied by the existential meanings, which are the integral parts of the works. The heroes would not have such deep and philosophically significant characters if not the formulation of these meanings. They are: “a soul striving to the light;” the sanctioned “bloodshed in the name of conscience,” the starchestvo: “someone who takes your soul and your will into his soul and into his will;” “God's love, which is endless and inexhaustible” by any sin; the unthinkability but still the manifestation in reality of “a future member of the world-wide human social republic and harmony;” the definition of people as “weak rebels who can't stand their own rebellion” and finally the need for a “commonation in admiration” for the “forces of miracle, mystery and authority.” But existential meanings, as we know from history, are temporal. They can be thrown through time and find a new life as they actually do in Bolsheviks era. Why do they begin to reveal themselves particularly at this time? Probably because the country begins to look for its divine purpose in the world once again, to realise the deep meaning of its existence and moreover to transform this meaning practically in accordance with a certain scheme which is not even understand well by its creators. The application of Marxism in the experience of Russia entailed more adventurous action, inspired by fantasy and fanaticism, than just an ordinary common sense. The one who can plunge into this abyss should believe that this is his soul “striving to the light” and that this is supported by another existential qualities and habitudes of his nature.