Dostoevsky's The Idiot

In this course we will read carefully and study closely a recent translation of Dostoevsky's second novel, The Idiot (1868), often described as the most personal of all his major works. It includes descriptions of his intense personal torments, such as his chronic recurring epilepsy, and the unforgettable experience of his mock execution; it also explores the moral, spiritual, and philosophical themes evoked by those inescapable ordeals. We will begin with Notes from Underground (1864) as an introduction to the author’s works, and as we read The Idiot, make use of Dostoevsky's Notebooks for the novel, as well as a ten-part Russian television adaptation. Students will deliver oral presentations during the last week of the course and there will be a final examination on the last day.