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P. 6 |
Dostoevsky's suicide (Continuation) The chapter II
Circulation in the Dead house
1At late night, is more correct already at daybreak (there was 5th hour) on April, 23rd, 1849 than Dostoevsky have arrested together with others petrashevtsami. Only to imagine: the young 27-year-old impressionable person who has tasted the first sweet fruits of literary glory, only just started to play not last role in a secret political society, besides rather weak health and the extremely hypochondriac in this respect, with very already inflamed nerves, to melancholy afraid letargii or sudden death, — such person gets suddenly in gloomy, similar to a crypt, a Peter and Paul Fortress casemate. In the long term at it was only three ways-exits: it is heavy to be ill and suddenly to die, go mad or commit suicide. And what Dostoevsky does? By its own recognition, it in prison «became suddenly vigorous, strong, fresh, quiet …» And it did not hide, as itself feared awful consequences of arrest — it was seriously thought-was afraid, that will not sustain also three days in a casemate, and instead "has absolutely calmed down", has started to see «silent, good, kind dreams» and has written the most light and lyrical product — «the Children's fairy tale» which at the publication in «Domestic notes» some years (1857) have received later the name «Small hero». Keywords here — "has absolutely calmed down": run of fussing time the intense secret conspiratorial activity progressing more and more in the dangerous party radical buntovskih of actions and methods has as though interrupted, has come to an end, the painful, confused monetary-spiritual relations with Speshnevym, young Dostoevsky's malicious demon … And Dostoevsky, completely having calmed down have broken also, in oppressive stone walls of new "study" creates shrill on a tonality and the maintenance a thing. The history of the first love of the 11-year-old boy in the secular married lady against magnificent usadebno-rural summer could fly in imagination of the author of "Poor people», "Double" and "Mistress", that's it, only in «a silent, good, kind dream». «Was early enough when I have woken up, but the sun filled in with already bright light all room. <…> hastily having put on, I have descended in a garden, and therefrom in a grove. I made the way there, where more dense greens where smolistee a smell of trees and where the solar beam more cheerfully looked, rejoicing, that it was possible to penetrate foggy density of leaves here and there. There was a perfect morning. Imperceptibly making the way all further and further, I left at last on other edge of a grove, to the Moskva River. It flew steps two hundred ahead, under goroju. On opposite coast mowed hay. I was lost in contemplation, as variety of sharp scythes, with each wave kostsa, had amicably a shower bath light and then suddenly again disappeared, as fiery snakes as if where hid; as the grass cut off from a root dense, fat grudkami flew away in the parties and kept within direct, long furrows … » The right, just right to be exclaimed-be surprised: whether yes Dostoevsky this feather?! Similar on tone and the maintenance a thing could write unless Turgenev somewhere in the Oryol manor, enjoying rest and comfort. By the way, to lead "Asya" and «the First love» pojavilis-were born on light soon after the publication «Small hero» and there is an opinion what exactly Dostoevsky's this unusual product and has pushed-has inspired Turgeneva on creation of the small masterpieces about love. And meanwhile, coming off the manuscript light «the Children's fairy tale» for interrogations, Dostoevsky explains to severe members of court of inquiry, that the writer should not write one light paints and has no right to hide from the reader of floggings and a gloomy aspect of life: « About light we have concept only because there is a shade … »It in general on interrogations behaves very adequately and is justified for the"criminal"acts and thoughts not so much, how much tries to convince doproschikov-sudy, that they, petrashevtsy, thought-thought only of the blessing of poor Fatherland, and in general at meetings spoke about the literature and abstract philosophical problems … Dostoevsky even more, being afraid though a half-word to do much harm to companions, slanders on itself absolutely improbable things. For example, at a search at it two forbidden books — E.Sju« the Shepherd from Kravana have found out-have withdrawn . Socialist and democratic conversations about republic and applicants for a throne »and the Item. Prudona« about revival celebrating ». Whence they? Who extends-imposes such seditious buntovskie compositions?. . There is, «the Shepherd …» Dostoevsky, being on a visit at Grigoriev, took from its table, and the second book has taken shortly before arrest from Golovinsky's house library, too, ostensibly, having forgotten to notify the owner, that is, simply speaking, — has stolen … After six years in the letter to E.I.Totlebenu Dostoevsky with latent and quite clear pride will write, that «behaved before court fairly, did not dump the fault on others and even endowed the interests if saw possibility the recognition to screen from a trouble of others …» The self-control and determination of the young writer-conspirator have deduced eventually from itself a member of court of inquiry of general Rostovtsev so, that on one of interrogations it with shout: «I cannot see more than Dostoevsky», — have run out in other room, was locked and did not leave therefrom while the person on remand have not withdrawn. All it resembled a farce, on buffoonery and looked even ridiculously, however actually ridiculous in all petropavlovsko-doprosnom action was a little. He is Dostoevsky has resisted, has not given in on promises of a full pardon if he tells-will give out all frankly and up to the end. And here, for example, petrashevets D.D.Ahsharumov has not sustained weight of the conclusion and threats — has broken, has written the most detailed pokajannoe the letter-recognition, having told in him «a lot of superfluous» both on itself, and on companions on a secret society. It subsequently in the memoirs book «From my memoirs (1849-1851 ) », left in 1905, repented, that has supposedly fallen in the conclusion spirit and has been scared by death penalty threat. Undoubtedly, one of Dostoevsky's main, corner support in the conclusion was — creativity. Except «the Children's fairy tale» he has invented and developed some more plots, being planned-being going to to write in the near future these three-four stories and the novel. He seriously hoped to live and work, despite all threats of court of inquiry. Next lines testify to a condition of its spirit during that heavy period from the letter to brother Michael from July, 18th, 1849, that is on an outcome of the third month of imprisonment at least: «In the person a viscosity and vitality chasm, and I, the right, did not think, that was it is so much, and now have learnt by experience …» However, it is necessary to notice, that, in a counterbalance of vivacity of spirit, physical health of the writer-prisoner, as before, left much to be desired. He vigorously admits the same letter to the brother: « My health is good, unless only hemorrhoids yes frustration of nerves which goes crescendo. At me from time to time began to grasp a throat, as before, appetite very small, and a dream very small, and that with dreams painful. I sleep hours five a day and time on four at night I wake up. Here only it and is heavy. In total time when gets dark is heavier, and at 9 o'clock at us is already dark. I sometimes do not sleep to an hour, to two zapolnoch so hours five darkness to transfer very hard. It more all rasstroivaet health … » Health "rasstroivala" a painful sleeplessness which and earlier, in a free life, was the frequent guest of the writer-dreamer (in the nights especially delightfully and is dreamt!) And in the subsequent life-destiny Dostoevsky also will at all be closed up-becomes by the night person, a chronic owl: practically all its creativity are fruits of a night sleeplessness. While, in casemate Petropavlovki, he not only writes at night and considers plots of works of art, but also for the first time, maybe, starts to reflect seriously on death, about finiteness of the terrestrial life, about its transience. Earlier, it is possible to assume, young Dostoevsky strongly coquetted, defied, played a certain romantic role, leaving before a note dream, say, do not bury me days five if I will die suddenly, and that, God forbid, — letargija … Now had no time for bravado: sweet of a life is learnt quite only when it istaivaet-disappears also its end is visible, ustrashajushche is close. To live! So it would be desirable to live! And after all during the investigation torturers-doproschiki constantly repeat-threaten a death penalty — it has not sustained, was frightened unfortunate Ahsharumov … However, in a death sentence reality to believe it was difficult, it is impossible, it would not be desirable to believe. The matter is that about the most important crime — Dostoevsky's participation in Durov's which were setting as the purpose political revolution in Russia the secret circle, about creation of secret printing house (for which the press has already been made) — the court of inquiry of details by miracle has not learnt, established facts has not extracted; and for conversations yes reading of various compositions aloud unless it is possible to deprive of the person of a life? Petrashevtsy, certainly, involuntarily compared itself with Decembrists, but those after all have dared at direct revolt, have acted openly against the tsar … In general, on absurd and unprecedented cruelty the sentence of the military-loan commission to Dostoevsky and its companions amazes even today though we already have an experience Stalin mass and is perfect extrajudicially reprisals. Brought accusations and a sentence petrashevtsam are absolutely incommensurable, are not joined, not crossed from the point of view of the normal human logic: «The military court finds defendant Dostoevsky guilty that he, having received in March of this year from Moscow from nobleman Pleshcheeva (defendant) a copy from the criminal letter of writer Belinsky, — read this letter in meetings: at first at defendant Durov, then at the defendant Petrashevsky and, at last, has passed it for write-off of copies to defendant Mombelli. Dostoevsky was at defendant Speshneva during reading of the shocking composition of lieutenant Grigoriev under the name« Soldier's conversation ». That is why the military court has sentenced it, retired engineer-lieutenant Dostoevsky, for nedonesenie about distribution criminal about religion and the government of the letter of writer Belinsky and the ill-intentioned composition of lieutenant Grigoriev, — to deprive on the basis of the Arch of military decisions <…>, conditions and to subject to a death penalty rasstreljaniem …» This arhivazhnyj the document as it is visible, because of sloppiness of judicial officials has been made extremely carelessly: it has turned out, that formally Dostoevsky have sentenced to a death penalty at all for reading of the "criminal" letter of Belinsky, but only only for «nedonesenie about distribution». That is the most terrible crime of the writer-petrashevtsa, according to military-judicial bureaucrats, consisted that it was not and did not become the informer, the informer, the spy and the traitor. For it and — execution. Yes besides, in a sentence the actual error contains also: Belinsky's letter for copying has been passed at all Mombelli, and Filippovu … However, itself sentenced about a verdict it also spirit does not know — judged also a sentence took out in absentia. However, he knows-feels — trial moves to end: it with companions is interrogated by Already military-judgement commission, any correspondence, and this broken last communication-thread with an external world — one more, additional, the reason of night pressing sleeplessnesses and the most gloomy reflexions about the ending of the tightened Peter and Paul action is already forbidden. And here there comes frosty morning on December, 22nd, 1849 — morning of a final scene of disgusting severe performance. About this morning "execution" on the Semyonovsky parade-ground have left memoirs many petrashevtsy (especially detailed — all the same D.D.Ahsharumov), Dostoevsky not only has described it in the novel "Idiot" and «the Diary of the writer» (1873), but also repeatedly restored details of that December morning in conversations-conversations with different people. He tells about an execution scene in family Corvin-Krukovskih, and younger of daughters, the future Sofia Kovalevskaja, has remembered this story for all life. The writer recollects a scaffold on the Semyonovsky parade-ground in a narrow circle of employees of magazine "Citizen", and proof-reader V.V . Timofeeva fixes it in memoirs article «Year of job with the well-known writer». And once, already towards the end of a life, Dostoevsky has in detail recreated details of a performance of execution, being in populous meeting of visitors on traditional "Friday" in the house of the poet I. P.Polonsky. But at times to it was also one listener enough, and almost unfamiliar — so happens in the first day of their meeting with And. G.Snitkinoj, future his wife: it unexpectedly has suddenly started to picture to it as there was it on a scaffold and to live to it remains only five minutes … Though «from that this» it is not absolutely correct. It is to Anna Grigorevne it seemed, that — «For some reason conversation has concerned petrashevtsev and a death penalty». Actually every time was-happened any push-impulse to flash of these gloomy memoirs. For example, in V.V. memoirs . Timofeevoj it is clearly said, that Dostoevsky voodushevilsja-was excited and has indulged in memoirs at once after the question on its leaving from a post of the editor of "Citizen" was solved. This unpleasant and burdensome post-role so weighed the writer, that he has involuntarily felt clearings, crisis in destiny and even a new birth — again only creativity, independence, freedom. Certainly, the feeling it on force and emotional heat in any comparison did not go with that, kakovoe Dostoevsky on a scaffold at the moment of the announcement of the pardon has tested, but it quite could be an incitement to associations, the beginning vospominatelnogo the story. In Polonsky's house business was also that easier: apartment windows left akkurat on the Semyonovsky parade-ground, in addition there was again a winter and when the owner of the house has brought were petrashevtsa to a window and has asked: «Learn, Feodor Mihajlovich?», — Dostoevsky was excited at once: «Yes!. Yes!. Still … how not to learn?.», — also has started to recollect-restore aloud that painful episode from the life. And as anything strange, it appears, was not and that Anna Grigorevna Snitkina has heard these story-memoirs from lips of the author of a "Crime and punishment" in the first day of their acquaintance: I.L.Volgin has put forward very convincing version in this occasion. The matter is that this day, on October, 4th, 1866, early in the morning on Smolensk a field in Petersburg the public execution of one of karakozovtsev — Ishutina (most Karakozova, made unsuccessful attempt at the tsar, executed-have hung up one month earlier) and if Dostoevsky personally was not present thus knew-heard about event without fail has taken place. And similarity of scenarios of ominous performances should amaze it: Ishutina have kept in a white mortal loose overall and with the loop thrown a neck ten minutes, then the same as once petrashevtsam, declared suddenly the pardon. And in the evening, in Anna Grigorevny, Dostoevsky's second arrival, unlike utreshnego conditions, — it is excessively inspired, talkative, frank and tells to the young stenographer about the «five agonal minutes», most likely, after conversation has concerned just an event event on Smolensk a field … Unfortunately, Sofia Kovalevskaja in the «Memoirs of the childhood» too fluently mentions Dostoevsky's story, but very much even it is probable, as that time the novelist has started talking-has recollected about an execution performance petrashevtsev completely not casually. Business occurred in March or April, 1865: the most people close to Dostoevsky — the wife, brother Michael, a companion and the colleague under the literature Apollo Grigoriev have more recently died one behind another , in addition these days suffers definitive crash magazine "Epoch", and together with it and all hopes of the writer of stable material welfare and creative independence. Dostoevsky happens during this period at Corvin-Krukovskih (already practically as the groom senior of sisters — Annas) very often, three-four times a week so it is quite possible to assume — it was at them on a visit and on April, 14th and this day has suddenly started to recollect that old eshafotnyj an episode of the destiny. But just this day, on April, 14th, 1865, Dostoevsky in the letter to A.E.Vrangelju, zhivopisuja about accident with magazine "Epoch" and about fifteen thousand to debt (the sum for the writer-proletarian the fantastic!), exclaims: «About my friend, I willingly would go again to penal servitude on as much years only to pay debts and to feel again free …» No, Feodor Mihajlovich Corvin-Krukovskim and their goodhearted mother has not without reason told to two young sisters the experiences of December morning of 15-year-old prescription: ten minutes of expectation of death after which penal servitude has been apprehended as the blessing as talent of a life; now — expectation of death of destiny, creative career under oppression of extreme debts and dreams about penal servitude as about the blessing and a way to survive … To Dostoevsky, with its inspired improbably rich imagination to connect threads of associations these two "episodes-periods" of the biography did not make special work. 2In «the Diary of the writer» for 1873 Dostoevsky ascertains: «the death penalty Sentence rasstreljaniem, read to all of us preliminary, has been read at all for fun; almost all sentenced have been assured, that it will be executed, and have taken out, at least, ten awful, immensely terrible minutes of expectation of death …» To us who have not tested such terrible ten minutes on a scaffold, it is difficult to realise and experience up to the end a condition of the person expecting declared inevitable death through schitannye of an instant. Certainly, many of us, already enough was on a this world, were not once or twice happened-appeared in situations when it was necessary that is called, to look death in eyes (got to similar mortal situations subsequently and Dostoevsky, about what speech ahead), but such boundary moments are arisen-happen, as a rule, unexpectedly, suddenly, suddenly, and a brain, a shower of the person have not time to test-take out before it all horror of expectation of the end. Even to suicides in the majority as it strange sounds, it is easy to meet death easy, without excessive oznobnogo trembling — they have prepared, they have got used to thought on the life termination, they, at last, voluntary leave this world. And here, during execution — a sudden sentence, another's oppressing ruthless will, the torn off dreams, hopes, plans and the whole ten minutes, improbable ten minutes — most naiposlednejshih in this perfect terrestrial life … Ahsharumov, writing the memoirs in the evening of life, already in the XX-th century beginning, not byv neither the writer, nor the psychologist (after prisoner a mouth and references it has finished mediko-surgical academy and subsequently has proved as the doctor and the scientist in the field of sanitary and social hygiene), asserts, that petrashevtsy, having heard a sentence about a death penalty rasstreljaniem, have only tested "amazement" and further describes the feelings how on Petrashevsky, Speshneva and Mombelli, adhered to columns, have already directed guns: « This moment was really awful. To see preparation to rasstreljaniju, and besides people of relatives under companionable relations, to see already set on them, almost in an emphasis, gun trunks and to expect — blood here will spill and they will fall dead, it was awful, disgusting, terrible <…> Heart has stood pending, and terrible this moment proceeded since a half-minute. Thus there was no thought on that, as the same is necessary to me, but all attention has been absorbed nastupajushcheju krovavoju kartinoju … » Certainly, in half a century after described events Ahsharumovu that ominous eshafotnaja statement videlas-was recollected in a little romaticized and — that's it — a theatrical kind, and own then feelings were remembered only as feelings of compassion and fear for others, for companions, but not for themselves. It was free, of course, to Dmitry Dmitrievichu to forget the intolerable fears just expectations and the probabilities of the death penalty which has pushed it already in three weeks after arrest on "superfluous" indications. Let's address better to Dostoevsky's certificates, more correctly, it alter ego in this case — prince Myshkin. This, it is possible to tell, the header hero of the novel "Idiot" through test by a death penalty, as is known, has not passed, but it is allocated by such susceptible soul, such refined nervous system and such developed creative imagination that is maximum lichnostno and authentically passes-reconstructs thoughts, feelings and impressions sentenced to a death penalty, subcontracted to it the author. Formal experience at Myshkin in this area is that: it personally was present at Switzerland on gilotirovanii the criminal and plus to it was heard by the detailed story-memoirs of the person (read — Dostoevsky), tested a death penalty ceremony rasstreljaniem for a political crime. And the strange prince starts conversation on executions in the same day, in the first after returning to Russia from Switzerland, being for the first time in the house of general Epanchina three times. At first he in a lobby zhivopisuet to the footman about tests what feelings the person upon which neck the guillotine knife just about will fall; then in a drawing room generalsha Epanchina and its three daughters («young ladies healthy, blossoming, tall, with surprising shoulders, with moshchnoju a breast, with strong, almost as at men, hands …») hear from the visitor from Switzerland oppressing story about the person who has sustained of some minutes in expectation of execution and, at last, hardly pogodja Lion Nikolaevich in conversation with young ladies comes back again to gilotirovannomu to the robber and describes-recreates its feelings-thoughts before death. To Dostoevsky neither to a writing of "Idiot", nor after it was not possible to be present at gilotirovanii, only two years later he will read-will study article Turgeneva «Execution Tropmana», published in June number «Bulletin of Europe» for 1870 which will revolt with its "pomposity" and "scrupulousness" of the author (epithets from the letter to N.N.Strahovu from June, 11/23th, 1870 from Dresden) — Turgenev at the last minute has not sustained, has turned away, has not seen the moment of cutting off of a head. Dostoevsky (Myshkin) not only does not turn away, losing in imagination an execution scene, but, on the contrary, even completely identifies itself with executed, as though gets into its mask and itself worries awful agonal instants. In many respects Russian writer made a start from the story of Century Hugo «Last day sentenced to death» (this psychological etude-chronicle of agonal reflexions of the person, which life the guillotine has torn off, Dostoevsky read time and again and re-read and even recollected him before own execution on a scaffold), but, certainly, the basic material for stories of prince Myshkin was given by personal memoirs-experiences of the author, the former condemned man. After all in general the inwardness sentenced to gilotirovaniju, "rasstreljaniju" or to hanging depends on a way and an execution kind, main and the general — horror of expectation of a violent death a little. So, here that the Lion Nikolaevich Myshkin has told about this horror to maidens Epanchinym: «It (the sentenced. — N. N) veins in prison also waited for execution, at least still chrez week; it somehow counted ordinary formalistiku, that the paper still should go somewhere and only chrez week leaves. And here suddenly in any case business has been reduced. In five o'clock in the morning he slept. It was in the end of October; at five o'clock it is still cold and dark. The prison police officer quietly, from guards has entered, and has cautiously touched it for a shoulder; that has risen, has leant the elbows, — sees light:" That the such? "-" at the tenth o'clock a death penalty ". He from a dream has not believed, the beginnings was to argue, that the paper leaves chrez week but when has absolutely regained consciousness, has ceased to argue and has become silent <…> then has told:" All the same it is heavy so suddenly … "— and has again broken off, and already wished to speak nothing. Here hour three-four pass on known things: on the priest, for a breakfast to which to it wine, kofej and beef give (well, whether a sneer it? After all, you will think, how it is severe, and on the other hand, really, these innocent people in all sincerity do and are assured, what is it philanthrophy), then a toilet (you know, what such a toilet of the criminal?) At last carry on a city to a scaffold … (Ridiculous it seems a question on a toilet and especially because is set as though in brackets and the prince, at all not expecting the answer, hurries with the story further; but, probably, the question concerns the category rhetorical, Myshkin simply does not doubt, that educated maidens Epanchiny read «Last day …» Victor Hugo where this toilet condemned — ostrizhenie heads, trimming of a collar of a shirt, linkage putami hands and feet and so forth — is described in detail. Dostoevsky in the letter to the brother from December, 22nd, 1849 an agonal toilet names putting on on the sentenced white loose overalls. — N. N) I think, that here too it seems that else infinitely to live remains, while carry. It seems to me, he likely thought road: "Still for a long time, still to live three streets remains; here this I will drive, then still that remains, then still that, where the baker to the right... Still we will once reach to the baker!" Around the people, shout, noise, ten thousand persons, ten thousand eyes, — it it is necessary to transfer all, and the main thing, thought: "here their ten thousand, and them execute nobody, and me execute!" Well, here it is all preliminary. On a scaffold the short flight of stairs conducts; here he before a short flight of stairs has suddenly begun to cry, and it was the strong and courageous person, the big villain, speak, was. With it all time was permanent the priest, and in the cart with it went, and all spoke, — hardly that heard: also will start to listen, and from the third word does not understand. So should be. At last began to ascend to a short flight of stairs; here feet are tied up and consequently dvizhutsja by steps small. The priest, should be, the person clever, has ceased to speak, and to it the cross allowed to kiss all. In the bottom of a short flight of stairs it was very pale, and as has risen and became on a scaffold, became suddenly white as a paper, is perfect as a white writing paper. Likely at it feet weakened and stiffened, and the nausea was, — as though that presses it in a throat, and from it is exact shchekotno, — you felt it sometime in a fright or very terrible minutes when also all mind remains, but no power any already has? (Women-slushatelnitsy do not react to a question of the prince — they are in any catalepsy under impression shaking imagination and feelings of the story, under an avalanche-weight of details. — N. N) It seems to me, if, for example, the inevitable destruction, the house on you falls, then suddenly it will awfully want to sit down and close eyes and to wait — come what may!. Here here, when this weakness began, the priest is faster, fast such gesture and silently, to it the cross to the lips suddenly substituted, small such cross, silver, four-final, — often substituted, constantly. And as soon as the cross concerned lips, it opened eyes, and again for some seconds as though quickened, and feet went. He with zhadnostiju kissed a cross, hurried to kiss, precisely hurried not to forget to grasp something for emergency, just in case, but hardly this minute something religious understood. And so was to the board... It is strange, that is rare these latest seconds in a faint fall! On the contrary, the head awfully lives and works, should be, strongly, strongly, strongly, as the car in a course; I imagine, and the different thoughts, all not terminated and, maybe, and ridiculous, extraneous such thoughts knock: " Here this looks — at it a wart on a forehead, here at the executioner one bottom button has rusted... ", and meanwhile, all you know also all you remember; one such point is, which in any way cannot be forgotten, and in a faint to fall all is impossible, and about it, about this point goes and spins. And to think, what is it so to the latest quarter of second when already the head on an executioner's block lays, and waits, and... Knows, and suddenly will hear over itself, as iron skliznulo! It you will by all means hear! I if laid, I purposely would listen and have heard! Here, maybe, only the one tenth share of an instant, but you will by all means hear! Also present, till now still argue, that, maybe, the head when will fly away, for about a second, maybe, knows, that it has flown away, — what concept! And that if five seconds!.» It is a part of the story of prince Myshkin about executions which was heard by maidens Epanchiny in a drawing room. Before to return to a lobby, to conversation of the prince with the footman, — some passing thoughts-remarks. mnogoznamenatelna a remark of the prince about that strangeness, that supposedly in agonal seconds sentenced seldom in a faint fall. The Dostoevsky having extremely nervous constitution already since a youth, has been rather predisposed to faints. Some such cases-discomfiture are testified: so, once, in 1845, in job over «Poor people», it went with Grigorovich along the street, has seen a funeral procession, and there and then to it suddenly became so badly, that its companion, having called to the aid passers-by, has transferred the poor creature to the nearest petty bench where with the big work could to revive beginning and too impressionable writer. And, Grigorovich asserts, that similar faints (the memoirist names their "attacks" in the light of the late knowledge of Dostoevsky's epilepsy) during their rare walks happened some times. The incident when the author of "Poor people», made dizzy by the first splash in glory, has been invited for the evening in the house the column Vielgorsky is known also and at the moment of representation to beauty Senjavinoj of high society has suddenly lost consciousness and has fallen to her feet true … Thus, absolutely clearly, that exclamation-surprise of prince Myshkin: «it is strange, that is rare these seconds in a faint fall!», — it was pulled out at it completely not casually. More correctly, it vyrvalos-was issued at the author: during eight months of imprisonment, during night painful sleeplessnesses and day posledoprosnyh burdensome reflexions it, possibly, was represented-was afraid time and again, as «these latest seconds» will not sustain and will crash down on a habit in a faint directly on a scaffold. Truly, not the death is terrible — a shame agonal. By the way, the hero «sentenced to death» too is afraid of Last day, already before a scaffold that will faint and adds pejoratively — «last gleam of vanity!» Dostoevsky's unconscious fears had the bases also because faints at that time almost always at it directly have been connected with death, predeath, were as though harbingers, a death prelude. The episode with a funeral procession in this plan is extremely eloquent. Well, but also, and Dostoevsky, already in the evening of life, recollecting the youth age in conversation with Vs. S.Solovyovym (and in the first I will meet!), admitted, that else before penal servitude has been subject to heavy nervous illness and when the attack ran-rolled — the reality for it disappeared and, appear, there came death, «the present death came and then left». Now — about «iron skliznulo». To the writer as it was already mentioned to observe gilotirovanie it was not necessary, but, judging by the story-description of the hero of "Idiot", to test — and, possibly, not once — feelings of the person laying under a knife of a guillotine, it was possible to the writer. Speech, of course, goes about those «painful dreams» which tormented him in a casemate in expectation of a sentence — details «Last day sentenced to death» Victor Hugo, read-re-read and experienced to a nervous shock, for certain aukalis in night nightmares. Dostoevsky in general all life has been subject to night nightmares so and in an operating time over "Idiot" quite could see-worry again and again in suffocating dreams a scene gilotirovanija as he attentively read newspapers, and in them constantly printed details of executions through a guillotine which happened-occurred in France during this period, it is possible to tell, regularly. Not without reason prince Myshkin admits, that a month has passed after he execution saw, and it dreams and dreams it. However, to Dostoevsky, with its ingenious creative imagination, it was possible and without any dream, as though in reality, to imagine-test the most smallest details-details of another's death, describing-recreating its feather on a paper. In this plan he died mnogazhdy together with the heroes, including — suicides … However, it is not necessary to run again forward. It is necessary to pay attention in the resulted fragment of the story of Myshkin to one stroke — on that place where the prince argues on a life-consciousness of the chopped off head within a second, and that, maybe, and whole of five. The character of the story V.Gjugo, representing-worrying the already close execution in advance, in a weak moment is terrified last instant, last half-second: «No trouble! Half-minute, are not present — half-seconds, and all is terminated. And the one who so speaks, whether has put itself even mentally to the place of the person on whom the heavy edge falls and sticks into a body, breaks off nerves, destroys vertebras?. As! Half-seconds! The pain is not felt … What horror!.» Myshkin (Dostoevsky) goes further, it puts itself(himself) mentally to the place of the person which head has already jumped aside, but the person even five seconds is live — here where horror! Some more seconds after the moment of death the person, its brain, know, that the death has come, that it already is on that party, and no hope any more only is present, but also cannot be. Those ten minutes that have sustained petrashevtsy in expectation of a command «Pli!», the hope all the same remained (and was justified!), and here to Dostoevsky all horror of five seconds already after execution, the present threshold between a life and death, it was necessary to worry-test subsequently repeatedly, each time stepping over this threshold during epilepsy attacks. On February, 22nd, 1880 the author of "Idiot" participates in a public execution — second and last time in a life: on December, 22nd, 1849 it was executed, now, less than one year prior to death, — the witness-spectator. All on the same Semyonovsky parade-ground memorable to it executed through hanging Mlodetsky, made for two days before unsuccessful attempt at the main chief of the Supreme administrative commission on ohraneniju the state order and public calmness of count Loris-Melikova. Dostoevsky, most likely, hoped, as Mlodetsky, as petrashevtsam once as Ishutinu in 1866, at the last minute velichajsheju favour spare a life. But the executioner from under feet Mlodetsky has ruthlessly beaten out a bench, and a body of the criminal zakachalos-zadyorgalos. The most awful and other-wordly consisted that Mlodetsky shuddered in convulsions and died in a loop whole 12 (twelve!) Minutes — the 24-year-old state criminal could not in any way and did not wish to cross a fatal threshold. What there five seconds! If impressionable prince Myshkin is present on execution Mlodetsky, he, possibly, there and then and has gone mad definitively. Dostoevsky some days after February, 22nd was sick, angriest, gloomy and is constant in conversations with acquaintances came back and came back to a monstrous scene of recent execution on the Semyonovsky parade-ground. In December, 1867, working over chapters 1 of "Idiot" — scenes of arrival of prince Myshkin to Petersburg and its visit to house Epanchinyh, — the writer had only the experience of ten-minute expectation of execution, reader's experience «Last day …» Hugo and newspaper reports on executions with guillotine application. The hero of the novel is occupied-disturbed especially monstrous, from the point of view of the normal person, with thought: what it is better — slowly or quickly to execute-kill the person? And, it is necessary to recollect, such zapredelno Myshkin discusses a philosophical and ethical problem with the footman. At quite idle question of the last — shouts or does not shout executed at the last minute? — The prince heatedly tells-recollects: «— Kudy! In a flash. The person put, and the such wide knife, on the car falls, as a guillotine is called, is heavy, strong … the Head will jump aside so, as an eye will not have time to blink. Preparations are heavy. Here when declare a sentence, equip, knit, on a scaffold cock, here it is awful! <…> The Criminal was the person clever, fearless, strong, in letah … Well here, I speak to you, believe do not believe, to a scaffold ascended — cried, white as a paper. Unless it is possible? Unless not horror? Well who with fear cries? I also did not think, that from fear it was possible to begin to cry not to the child, the person who never cried, to the person in forty five years. (Whether there are these reasonings an echo of fears of 27-year-old Dostoevsky sick of nerves which were representing-planning during night kazematnyh of sleeplessnesses the behaviour after the announcement of a sentence? — N. N) That with soul this minute becomes, to what spasms it lead up? Violation of soul, is more than anything! It is told: "not uby" so what it has killed, and it to kill? (And what violation of soul, it is necessary to understand, if not for murder even, but only for reading aloud letters of one writer to another! — N. N) No, it is impossible. Here I it saw one month ago, and till now at me as before eyes. Time five dreamt <…> — It is good still here, that it is a little flour, — he has noticed (the footman. — N. N), — when the head flies away. — Whether know that? — The prince has hotly picked up: — here you have noticed it, and it is all in the same way notice, how you, and the car is for this purpose invented, a guillotine. And I then was come to mind by one thought: and what, if it even is worse? To you it is ridiculous, it wildly seems to you, and at some imagination even such thought in a head will jump. Think: if, for example, torture; thus sufferings and wounds, a flour corporal, and, so, it from sincere suffering distracts all, so one only wounds and suffer, up to while will die. And after all the main, strongest pain, can, not in wounds, and here, that here know likely, that here in an hour, then in ten minutes, then in half-minute, then now, here now — the soul from a body will take off, and that the person any more will not be, and what is it likely; the main thing that likely. Here is how a head you put under the knife and you hear, how it skliznet over a head, here these the quarter of second of all and is more terrible. <…> Murder on a sentence disproportionately is more awful, than murder predatory. The one who is killed by robbers, cut at night, in wood or somehow, by all means still hopes, that will be rescued, till the latest instant. Examples happened, what the throat is cut, and he still hopes, either runs, or asks. And here, all this last hope, with kotoroju to die ten times it is easier, take away likely; here the sentence, and that likely you will not avoid, all awful flour and sits, and is stronger than this flour is not present on light. <…> who has told, what the human nature in a condition to take out it without madness? What for such curse, ugly, unnecessary, vain? Perhaps, also there is such person to whom have read a sentence, have allowed to suffer, and have then told: "go, you excuse". Here such the person, maybe, could tell. And about this horror and the Christ spoke about this flour. No, with the person so it is impossible to arrive!. » It is thought, if Dostoevsky could describe in a work of art execution Mlodetsky (for example, in continuation of "Brothers Karamazovyh», where it, under the Ampere-second statement . Suvorina, was going to to make Alyoshu the revolutionary and to "execute"), it hardly would began to come back to a question: what is more painful — a fast or long agony? And, of course, it is necessary to notice, that the ending of conversation of the prince with the footman has avtobiografichesko-realistic roots: really, not everyone is capable to take out expectation prigovornoj death and, confirming it is lips of hero Myshkin, the writer remembered-recollected, undoubtedly, destiny petrashevtsa N. P.Grigoriev who after ten minutes on a scaffold has gone mad. However, and at Dostoevsky, probably, after morning on December, 22nd, 1849 the nervous system, an organism completely also were definitively generated (more correctly — deformed) for epilepsy development-occurrence. Well, and the assumption of the prince, that only the person standing on a scaffold and gone through awful ten minutes, is capable to tell-tell about this flour — just in the novel "Idiot" and voplotilos-was realised actually and naturally. It is impossible to forget, that to petrashevtsev similar performances of execution were not, so and torments of expectation of death have tested horror they to the full and up to the end. Even Jesus Christ, in any measure, has not sustained — what Myshkin (Dostoevsky) — and even even before death sentence removal, but already knowing about him mentions, admits to pupils, that Its soul «grieves mortally» and asks the God-father: «yes this bowl … passes Me» Generally that Myshkin, hardly having entered into house Epanchinyh, all speaks, at first sight, looks strange and speaks about executions. Well, it is fine about a scene gilotirovanija which he saw-observed only one month ago and which muchit it till now in dreams. But what for he also recollects suddenly the story «one person» who has sustained on a scaffold some minutes and has been pardoned?. However, this strangeness in any measure retires to the background if to know-remember, that given (5th) chapter of "Idiot" pisalas-was created by Dostoevsky in second half of December, 1867, and particularly this story of the prince, is not excluded, — on December, 22nd, akkurat in 18th anniversary of gloomy event on the Semyonovsky parade-ground. Well in any way should were petrashevets to recollect that fatal threshold morning, could see, not go through again those ten minutes in imagination, in night nightmares. And these old impressions should be splashed out on a paper to facilitate the burdened memory. But here that is still surprising: at first the prince starts to tell to ladies absolutely about other person who «has stayed in prison of years twelve», it had «attacks, it was sometimes uneasy, cried and even tried to kill time itself …» Having added still pair of details, Myshkin suddenly breaks this history and jumps: «But I to you will better tell about other my meeting of last year with one person …» the Right, very much and very strange and mysteriously! Such impression, as if the hero of the novel has mentioned the prisoner-epileptic, trying to commit suicide, only that through hundred with superfluous years any researcher of creativity of Dostoevsky was tempted and the writer ascertained supposedly, being in a Peter and Paul Fortress casemate, tried to impose on itself hands. Or, at least, thought-dreamt of it … 3But it is time to get a grasp, at last, of Dostoevsky's the fullest and detailed memoirs on morning on December, 22nd, 1849 in a statement-retelling of the hero of the novel "Idiot" … |
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© Rosedkin Sergey Nikolaevich, 2001 |
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E-mail: emp-reports@fustercluck.com |
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