Lie and truth in the terms of evangelical Verity (F. Dostoevsky’s novel “The Demons”) Cover Image

Ложь и правда в свете евангельской Истины (роман Ф. М. Достоевского «Бесы»)
Lie and truth in the terms of evangelical Verity (F. Dostoevsky’s novel “The Demons”)

Author(s): Antonella Cavazza
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Russian Literature, 19th Century, Theory of Literature
Published by: Петрозаводский государственный университет
Keywords: F. Dostoevsky; the Gospel text; truth; Verity; lie; “The Demons”; pochvennichestvo; Jesus Christ; The Life of St. Anthony;

Summary/Abstract: The concept of lie corresponds in Dostoevsky’s novel “The Demons” with the concepts of truth /Verity, indicating a hidden connection of the novel with the gospel texts, in isolation from which it is impossible to perceive the deep meaning of this work. In the novel the word “Verity” is often used in the context of the concepts “faith” and “people”. These concepts reside in the conception of soil that forms the basis of the theory of pochvennichestvo, and are related to the Messianic idea of Russia. Based on false notions actions and words of the characters-“demons” (Stavrogin, Pyotr Verkhovensky and the other members of the revolutionary cells) overlap and interact with actions and words of Shatov, a “new man” who accepted the Verity of Christ. Dostoevsky constantly puts the questions before the reader: where is truth and what is it? what is Verity? The article comes to the conclusion that “lie” and “truth” as such in the novel “Demons” are not antagonistic, but serve to make visible the evangelical Verity in the novel.

  • Issue Year: 15/2017
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 59-75
  • Page Count: 17
  • Language: Russian