Saturday, December 29, 2007

Objective Correlative in Dostoevsky

On the one hand, Dostoevsky smashes the very idea of objective correlative, as the internal existences of his characters drive his works. Whatever suffering, joy, ideas, desires, or motivations the characters have are largely internalized spiritual or psychological conflicts.

On the other hand, in most Dostoevsky novels, somebody's going to end up with a blade handle sticking out of his or her chest. And you don't really get more objective correlative than murder.

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