DOSTOEVSKY AND ELIJAH THE PROPHET

[Anna Dranova]

On Wed, 14 Aug 2002 15:02:42
 Stephan Harris wrote:
About six months ago I read somewhere on the internet that Raskolnikoff
confesses his crimes on the holiday of the prophet Elijah, when a
thunderstorm was traditionally expected in Russian folk belief. The author
of the web page claimed that the prophet Elijah is a recurring symbol
throughout Dostoevsky's works, but I have searched and searched for
articles on this topic and have found nothing so far. The major studies of
Dostoevsky, including the most recent ones, do not even mention Elijah
the Prophet. Is this pure quackery? (Either it IS quackery or experts
have overlooked something important in their discussions of Dostoevsky.)
Can any SEELANGS scholars help me find some information on this topic?
  Stephan Harris

Dear Stephan:
I have not seen the website, but the prophet Elijah in the fiction of
Dostoevskii is the topic of Tainyi kod Dostoevskogo. I purchased the
book several years ago at Szwede Slavic Books, so you might contact Szwede
to find out if they still have it. Most of the theory is convincing.
Raskolnikov's confession is indeed made to coincide with Elijah's
holiday, and if you are skeptical, read the chapter about Selo Stepanchikovo i
ego obitateli and I think you will be convinced. Several chapters in
Tainyi kod Dostoevskogo I found disappointing, but in general it
elucidates a large system of allusions that eluded the best specialists for
many years. Its treatment of Khoziaika, Vechnyi muzh, Selo Stepanchikovo,
Prestuplenie i nakazanie and a chapter on Sukhodol are probably the
best parts. If you teach Russian literature, you'll want to read this
book. It's a fairly important discovery.
  Alex Popov

Stephan:

TAINYI KOD DOSTOEVSKOGO can also be ordered from me by email:

wolandusa at yahoo.com

I am also promoting a new GUIDE TO THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV (in English) that has been printed in Russia and is now en route to the USA. It incorporates material from TAINYI KOD DOSTOEVSKOGO and adds research that was previously unpublished. For example, the village names MOKROYE and SUKHOI POSYOLOK tie in with Russian folk beliefs pertaining to ILYA MOKRYI and ILYA SUKHOI. The street on which is located the big stone in BROTHERS KARAMAZOV (Ilyusha's stone) – called Ozernaia ulitsa in the novel – was actually ILYINSKAIA STREET in Staraya Russa. This is also the street where Ilyusha Snegiryov's family live. Obviously, it is named after the Church of ELIJAH THE PROPHET that once stood along that street. By Dostoevsky's time, the church was gone and only a Chapel of Elijah remained. These are only two examples which first come to mind. Another Birchbark Press publication, THE LANDLADY, has an afterword that summarizes much of the Elijah material found in TAINYI KOD DOSTOEVSKOGO. So you can now read about this recent discovery in either Russian or English.

Anna Dranova






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