Tuesday Post

This is probably one of the most confusing pieces of literature I have ever read. The second half is considerably easier to read, but the analysis of it does not come any easier than the first half of the novel. Where as before I quite literally had no clue what sort of extended meaning there could be to what was occurring, now I have more or less of an idea. I think that what occurs throughout the entire novel with the man character can be considered as being representative of religion, or some piece in the capitalist market (though I'm not too sure about this one). I came with the conclusion that Dostoyevsky was speaking about religion because of the main character's actions. He desperately seeks attention every so often, and when he does not get it he goes into an extreme panic. He also feels the urge to exert this sense of power that he thinks he has, even though he has no power (not even power over himself). This reminded me very much of the Church and the Church goers. When the Church has a substantial amount of listeners, they are fine. Nevertheless, as soon as the followers start to dwindle, the Church begins to "freak out" and become desperate as they try to hold on to what little following that they have left. They try to adapt to new people, which I see in the main character when he tries to go out to lunch with these people that he hates, and when that doesn't work they cry out in even bigger desperation. This bigger cry of desperation is seen in the main character's exchanges with Liza and can be likened to the Church's outcry against certain people.
- Talia Akerman