Life and art: A biographical study on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s selected pre and post-Siberian fiction writings

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the biographical foundations of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s pre and post-Siberian fiction and to determine the differences in his style and themes in writing before and after he was imprisoned and exiled. The answers were identified based on an analysis of his selected works from pre and post-Siberian years such as The Poor Folk, The Double, The Idiot, and The Brothers Karamazov. Biographical/Autobiographical approach was used to ascertain the ideas that would classify his works from pre-Siberian to the post Siberian writings. Furthermore, this theory/approach helped in finding out primary influences that brought the author to write novels under his two transitional years through the aid of written facts such as biographies, letters of the author, written documents of his family and friends, and his other literary works. Through this method it was found out that Dostoevsky’s fiction writings before he was imprisoned were of different themes/subjects than his post-Siberian fictions which were suffused with religious and moral elements. His pre-Siberian novels dominantly contain primary literary influences and attempts to find his voice and style in writing. On the other hand, his Post-Siberian novels developed themes such as salvation, faith, and love for mankind. It is hoped that future researchers will consider Dostoevsky’s works as a potential material of study and the used approach as an effective way of identifying biographical facts to further help readers understand the author’s background in writing.