What's up with people's last names? Dostoevsky created an entire zoo: so far there is one domesticated animal -- Nastasya Filippovna Barashkova (little baby ram), Pritsyn (just means a bird), and a full range of kinds of birds -- Lebedev (Swan), Ivolgin (Oriole). And, of course, Myshkin (a little mouse). Also, Rogozhin (a cloth for a rough bag), Epanchin (a wide armless trench coat). I will be looking for more as I continue reading.
First impressions: NF's last name means a pretty stubborn animal, domesticated, usually a male (baran), but totally taken the edge away. Barashek is a very awwwwwww-kind of way of referring to a baran (ram). NF is stubborn, forcefully domesticated and powerless? Maybe that's why she is acting up the way she does? I wonder what it is exactly that happened when NF was around 20 (other than Totsky announcing that he wanted to get married). Why was her fate decided? Why did she start being perceived as so dangerous by Totsky since she stopped caring about herself and was ready to destroy (pogubit') herself? Again, why barashek? Maybe Dostoevsky was making a connection with the scape goat? I know it's a stretch, just something that came to mind. Since she was ready to sacrifice her very life in order to prove something to the world (but what?).
As to the aviary (bird zoo), I don't have to say much as of yet. Lebedev (swan) sounds like a honorable name to me.
Before I forget, Rogozhin's last name is very peculiar as well. Rogozha means rough fabric from which huge bags (for sugar or potatoes) was made back in the day (and even now sometimes...) Significance of Rogozhin's name? He IS rough. He is strong. He is a bag? Hmmm. With respect to NF maybe? Will think about this more as I go along. Any thoughts on this, anyone?
Epanchin's name makes me draw a parallel with Rogozhin. Cloth theme. Why is the General arm-less? We'll see.
And finally Myshkin. Knyas' Myshkin just sounds like an absolute cacophony. A royal title followed by such an unfortunate name: a little mouse. Parallel with NF! Her last name is a diminutive of another animal, though a bigger one. First impressions about his name: really appropriate in a way. Myshkin is a like a little mouse. I even picture him looking like one: thin features, mousy hair, etc. Like a mouse, he has no home and lives off of others. More on this later. :)
Please share your thoughts on this. I am really curious to see if anyone thought the names are significant too. On to commenting on your replies.
Oh, and biblical references and themes. Jeeeesus (pun intended). Prof. Meerson has to be in Heaven when she discusses the Idiot (another pun intended). :P
Oxana,
ReplyDeleteYour observation is very interesting, indeed amazing. I was wondering myself why one of the main characters , prince Myshikin is named after a little annoying pest, a mouse. It is now that a mouse can be a cute pet, but back in those days - mice were regarded as useless, harmful (although very quiet and cunning) creatures. They live off others, you are right. Is there a thrue parallel between this name and his character? If you read my first comment about Myshkin, you might have noticed that I was concerned with his ability to derive benefit from others very easily and seemingly unwillingly. He would not ask for things directly, but get those things anyway by being "sincere". Sort of "mousy" way. Goes along the lines with what you said. Also, you know how a little mouse can make a big mess (perepoloh) in a room where a company is having a nice, quiet, predictable afternoon tea? Imagine women screaming, men trying to chase it? About the same effect Myskin caused by appearing in the Petersburg society - his "simple" behaviour and incidental comments he created a wave, magnitude of which was amplified my each further move he made.
About Barashkina - she is a true example of stubborn and self-distructive ram. At least she behaves like it so far. Do you remember a tale where two rams met on a narrow bridge over the deep water and neither of them wanted to give way to the other? They fought till till both fell off the bridge, trying to prove to each other. It is obvious that Dostoyevsky tried to make us believe, through the eyes of Myshkin, that she is "not like this", that she is a considerate and "suffering" soul, but I had a very difficult time believing it so far.
In the rest of the zoo, names like Ivolgin, Lebedev and Ptitsyn may be just random, but certainly a curious collection.
Rogozhin, a fire-like, crazy, combustive character, in fact later proves himself to be a rag, on which HF steps and cleans her shoes. "Rogozha" was not only used to make potato sacks, but also used as material for door mat and as cloth for washing floors. Did Dostoyevsky really mean it like this?!
Mam,
ReplyDeleteI already told you how absolutely floored I was when you said that "Rogozha" means a mat to wipe your feet on. This is incredible :)
Also, we discussed in person today but I will still post it--you mentioned that Barashkova is not the same as Baranova (how curious that you actually had a friend with that last name!). She may be a ram, but she may also be a barashek, a lamb (as Oxana mentioned). Perhaps Jesus'es lamb, or an innocent lamb led to the slaughter... ohhh, the implications! :-D