Dostoevsky's Provocateurs

Lynn Ellen Patyk's book "Dostoevsky's Provocateurs" explores the ways Fyodor Dostoevsky stokes conflict and engages readers, challenging Mikhail Bakhtins foundational analysis in "Problems of Dostoevskys Poetics." Provocation is the moving mover of Dostoevsky's poetics of conflict, and he uses literary devices to propel plot conflict and capture our attention. The ultimate stakes of such friction are moral responsibility and the truth of identity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 15 January 2023
Publisher: Northwestern University Press

Fyodor Dostoevsky's deliberate use of provocation was both foresighted and precocious, as it played a crucial role in his paradoxical art. In her book, Lynn Ellen Patyk highlights these forms of incitement as a communicative strategy that drives Dostoevsky's poetics of conflict. Challenging, revising, and expanding on Mikhail Bakhtin's foundational analysis in Problems of Dostoevskys Poetics, Patyk demonstrates that provocation is the driving force behind Dostoevsky's conflict-driven poetics. However, to fully understand Dostoevsky's provocative authorial activity, it is essential to consider his key themes, which probed and exploited the most divisive conflicts of his era. The ultimate stakes of such friction are moral responsibility and the truth of identity.

Sober and strikingly original, compassionate but not uncritical, Dostoevsky's Provocateurs exposes the charged current in the wiring of our modern selves. In an attention economy, provocation is an inexhaustible and often toxic resource.

Through a close reading of Dostoevsky's works, Patyk identifies various literary devices that he employs to create conflict and engage readers. These devices include irony, symbolism, and narrative techniques such as plot twists and character development. By analyzing these devices, Patyk demonstrates how Dostoevsky uses provocation to challenge his readers' assumptions, provoke their emotions, and encourage them to think critically about the world around them.

One of the key themes in Dostoevsky's work is the exploration of moral responsibility and the truth of identity. Dostoevsky believed that individuals must take responsibility for their actions and choices, and that the search for truth and authenticity is essential to living a meaningful life. He often depicted characters who are caught in moral dilemmas, struggling to navigate the complexities of human relationships and societal norms. Through his provocation, Dostoevsky encourages his readers to consider the consequences of their actions and to seek out the truth, even in the face of adversity.

Another important aspect of Dostoevsky's provocation is its relationship to power and authority. Dostoevsky was deeply critical of the abuses of power and the corruption that often accompanies it. He often portrayed characters who challenge the authority of those in power, such as the protagonist of Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov, who rebels against the social and moral norms of his society. Through his provocation, Dostoevsky encourages his readers to question the legitimacy of authority and to consider the ways in which power can be used for both good and bad.

Despite the challenges that Dostoevsky's provocation presents, it is also a source of great beauty and inspiration. Dostoevsky's ability to create complex and nuanced characters who are driven by their passions and desires is a testament to his talent as a writer. His provocation encourages readers to engage with these characters on a deeper level, to empathize with their struggles and to consider the broader implications of their actions.

In conclusion, Dostoevsky's deliberate deployment of provocation was both prescient and precocious, as it played a crucial role in his paradoxical art. Through a close reading of his works, Lynn Ellen Patyk demonstrates how provocation is the driving force behind Dostoevsky's poetics of conflict. By challenging, revising, and expanding on Mikhail Bakhtin's foundational analysis, Patyk reveals the full scope of Dostoevsky's provocative authorial activity. The ultimate stakes of such friction are moral responsibility and the truth of identity, and Dostoevsky's provocation encourages readers to consider these important themes in their own lives.

Weight: 306g
Dimension: 229 x 153 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780810145726