Three Speeches in Memory of Dostoevsky

In three talks about Dostoevsky, I do not touch either his biography or an analysis of his literature. My interest is focused on one thing: what purpose Dostoevsky served, and what idea drove the whole of his work. This matters, because neither the personal aspects of his life nor exclusively the literary qualities of his works explain his unique influence in the last years of his life and the strong impression caused by his death. Attacks on his memory also have nothing to do with his literary mastery, since he is recognized by many as an outstanding artist despite some shortcomings.

The main idea to which his talent was subordinated is, for some, true and useful; for others, false and harmful. How we evaluate his work depends on how we perceive that idea—his beliefs and love. Dostoevsky valued above all the living human soul, believing in its boundless power to overcome any external pressure and internal collapses.