The Insulted and Injured

This book was published in 1861, following Dostoevsky’s imprisonment in Siberia, but before his major novels (starting with Crime and Punishment in 1866). It’s interesting to see the mature Dostoevsky taking shape here, and the influence of Dickens in the character of the little orphan girl Nellie and the seamy underbelly of St. Petersburg. The novel has several fantastic characters, and moments of absolute brilliance, in particular those involving the evil Prince Valkovsky. There is also giving up love in self-sacrifice, touching parental devotion, and even occasional humor in drunken ramblings.

I liked how there were instances of the aristocracy who are evil, immoral or weak, but also others who are good and altruistic – and the show more same being true of the poor characters. There is a mix of people in each class. However, the main message of his story is that there are times when being insulted demands forgiveness, and it’s foolish to remain stubborn and estranged, and there are also times when being insulted demands sticking to one’s principles, and not compromising them even if one is bribed to do so.

I have to say Dostoevksy gets a little melodramatic at times in this story (there is a lot of sobbing, folks), the parallel and converging story of the insulted/injured is a little contrived, and the action bogs down at times in one character rushing off from one to another. However, some of these shortcomings I chalk up to 19th century literature, and to his credit, Dostoevsky does not sugar-coat the fact that evil sometimes ‘gets away with it’, and wins. He knew first-hand that it’s a tough world, and this is certainly worth reading if you’re a fan of his. show less

“لو أمكن أن يتوصل كل منا (وهذا مستحيل بحكم الطبيعة الإنسانية) إلى الكشف عن جميع أفكاره، إلى الكشف عن جميع هذه الأفكار دون أن يخشى أن يطلع الناس لا على ما يجرؤ أن يقوله لأحد، ولا على ما يجرؤ أن يقوله لأعز أصدقائه فحسب، بل أيضا على ما يخشى أن يعترف به أحيانا لنفسه، لخرجت من الأرض عفونة تبلغ من النتانة أنها تخنقنا جميعا.”

رحلة جديدة لسانت بطرسبرج مع دوستويفسكي الي داخل النفوس البشرية
ليكشفنا امام انفسنا وامام show more الجميع .. كل الفضائل والرذائل داخل شخصياته كالعادة
لنري انفسنا ومن حولنا ونجد الواقع المرير الأليم يقف امامنا وجها لوجه

فانيا هو صديقنا في هذه الرحلة .. صديقنا العزيز جدا فهو الأقرب الي القلب الي الانسان المحبب الي النفس
مؤلف يسعى الي أيصال مشاعره واسلوبه للجميع عن طريق كتبه ويجاهد امام العالم والمتطلبات الخيالية للحياه

نبدأ الحكايه مع فانيا عندما يقابل العجوز سميث وكلبه آزور لتبدأ الحكاية وتبدأ المعاناه

يجلس العجوز بدون كلمة واحدة ويجلس تحت قدمه كلبه الصامت آزور ليظل جالسا هكذا يحدق في الجميع بدون اي تعبيرات ويكون يوم لقاءه بفانيا في هذا المطعم هو يوم وفاته ايضا


يهمس في أذن فانيا قبل وفاته بعنوان ما بعيد ويرحل عن الدنيا حاملا معه كل ذله واهانته وجبروته ويرحل معه ايضا كلبه الوفي
وتبدأ من هنا رحلة التعرف على ماضي العجوز سميث بعد ان ينتقل صديقنا فانيا للسكن في نفس الغرفه التي كان يسكنها من قبل
ليقابل هناك هيلين او نيللي الفتاه الفقيرة حفيدة العجوز التي تعاني من الفقر والإهمال طوال حياتها مع امها وبعد وفاة امها

“الشرفاء يسهل خداعهم، حتى إذا اكتشفوا أنهم خُدعوا، اعتصموا بنوع من الاحتقار المتكبر، بدلاً من أن يلجأوا إلى القانون، إذا كان ذلك فى الإمكان.”

ليجد فانيا نفسه في مواجهة مجتمع بأكملة يفضل ان يذل ويهين كل من هم لا يملكون ومن لا يملك المال لا يملك اللسان ايضا للمطالبة بحقوقه او حتى رفع الظلم عن نفسه فمن هم اعلى لا يملكون آذان يسمعون بها فقط ألسنه وأيدي للبطش والسرقة والأخذ بدون مبرر

“إن الفقر ليس خطيئة, وإنما الخطيئة أن يكون المرء غنيا فيُهين الآخرين”

فهناك الأمير القمئ السارق الدنئ وهناك من هم في طيبة فانيا ونقاءه وهناك من هم يملكون جميع الفضائل والرذائل مثلا العجوز اخمينوف وهناك الساذج الذي لا يعرف مكانه ويتحكم فيه الجميع مثل بيدق الشطرنج مثل أليوشا
وهناك المظلوم مثل نيللي المريضة الصغيرة وهناك ايضا من هم مثل ناتاشا لا تضع لنفسها اعتبارا فقط من هم حولها والتسامح اساس الحياة مهما كان الذنب

“إنه ليشق على هؤلاء الناس أن يفقدوا بعد ذلك أوهامهم، يشق عليهم ذلك لشعورهم بأنهم أنفسهم مذنبون .. لما تنتظر أن تُعطى أكثر مما يمكن أن تعطي ؟ إن الخيبة تتربص بهؤلاء الناس من لحظة إلى لحظة..والأفضل أن يظلوا في زاويتهم هادئين، لا يخرجون منها ...”

عرض رائع لنفوس بشرية مشوهة لا يمكن ان تكون مختلفة عن نفوس الكثيرين من المحيطين بنا
احببت دوستويفسكي جدا في هذه الرواية .. مؤلمة الي ابعد الحدود وكاشفة لنفوس الجميع
ونهاية مؤثرة جدا وممتازة لتلك الأحداث

شكرا اصدقاء القراءة الرائعين علي تشجيعي لبدء تلك القراءة المميزة جدا show less

Dostoyevsky meets Charles Dickens, but without the charm. Some very moving moments, some very frustrating choices made by the characters. Since it's a Dostoyevsky novel, of course, there were plenty of epileptic fits and brain fever throughout.

“I have noticed as a trait in the female character that if woman is in fault in any way, she will sooner smooth over her offence with a thousand caresses later on than admit her fault and ask forgiveness at the moment when she is confronted with it. And so, supposing even that I have been insulted by you, I am not anxious for an apology. It will be all the better for me later on when you own your mistake and want to make it up to me . . . with a thousand caresses.”
-Prince V

I really enjoyed this novel. Dostoevsky's characters were engaging, if melodramatic. I didn't want to put the book down! What would happen to little Nellie? Would Alyosha pick Natasha or Katya? Would the prince get what was coming to him? You'll have to read it to find out. The major theme was identified in the title, "The Insulted and Humiliated". Dostoevsky points out the cruel behavior of the aristocracy towards the "common" person, and Dostoevsky favors the ability of the downtrodden to maintain their dignity by living by their principals, and relying on true love and loyalty. The issue of forgiveness is also addressed, and the author provides several examples of forgiveness and lack thereof, and the consequences of those choices. show more Wonderful read! show less

A bit soap-opera-ish, with a touch of Dickens. Worth a read none-the-less.

The narrator, Vanya, is a novelist in the mold of the author. One of his critics says that his books border on mawkish, and are stained by Vanya's sweat and tears, who works with such febrile intensity to complete them (always under the pressure of a deadline). This weakness is apparent in Dostoevsky's characterizations as well, as nearly everyone in this novel is in a near constant state of delirious emotional upheaval, convulsing (often literally) after every confrontation, as the narrator rushes from one scene to the next with no respite even in dreams. It is easy, not to mention disconcerting, to imagine Dostoevsky on the verge of a nervous attack, in show more hot-pursuit with his pen as he feels all the emotions as he describes them. It is impossible to sustain a climax for hundreds of pages, so this intensity undermines the arc of the story as the reader habituates to the style, and any revelations only have the force of added melodrama when they emerge.

Each character is again an exaggerated "type," although they are more involving and believable than in Dostoevsky's prior work, and seem based in part on his experience of individuals he knew in reality.

There are hints of Dostoevsky's full powers at work here, though obscured by over-use of certain techniques and under-maturation of his literary/philosophical themes. show less

One of Dostoevsky's lesser-known works that is nevertheless important to take into account. The story, which features genuine, compassionate characters, is captivating, and his distinct writing style is clear. Although it is not one of his best works, it is a distinctive work of Russian literature.

This was an excellent novel by Dostoevsky. There was plot twists, extensive character studies, pervasive themes, literary merit, and rapid intrigue all combined into one. You vied for the characters and they became real in their actions, thoughts, and feelings. The plot is one that you can completely absolve yourself into and it becomes persuasive in its impetus that rides alongside you through your reading of it. I was thoroughly interested in this one and I feel it's among Dostoevsky's best novels.

4.5 stars and no less- fully earned!