Analysis of Stravoguine's Inner Turmoil in The Confession of Stravoguine

Extract

[...] We know, however, that this is rarely the case. We therefore understand that Tikhone shows a wavering faith. This is a major theme of Dostoevsky's that this path of faith put to the test of doubt. Stavroguine continues his provocative approach by suggesting, with a biting irony, that faith in God would be a necessary condition to accomplish miracles, and he compares this faith to that of the archbishop under 'the knife', a probable reference to a symbolic act of sacrifice or a test. [...]

[...] However, Stravoguine specifies well in this passage that he believes 'canonically in the person of the demon, not an allegory'. And when he explains that he 'has no need to pull the wool over anyone's eyes', he means that he has no need to probe the hearts and kidneys of anyone to know the existence of this concrete demon in some way. This passage can also be seen as a kind of mockery of the religious and confessor Tikhone. The character of Stravoguine presents himself voluntarily throughout the novel as a powerful, intimidating, brutal character both in words and in actions, and he has no scruples to potentially show disrespect even to a religious figure, who would evoke a tremendous amount of respect from most of the other characters. [...]

[...] In conclusion, this passage extracted from The Confession of Stravoguine represents well the inner struggle of this iconic character from the Russian author's work. The character seems torn between a nihilism that works him from the inside and a religious faith in which he cannot completely renounce, as evidenced by his immersion in biblical texts. This is what can be observed in this dialogue between two characters that everything seems to oppose, even if they ultimately find themselves in religious faith, and even in wavering religious faith. [...]

[...] Stravoguine thus explains the importance of the authenticity of religious faith. Stravoguine appears somewhat taken aback when the man of the church describes the words of this letter as 'enchanting.' Indeed, this term would refer to a sort of seduction, a fascination with these biblical words, whereas they are on the contrary marked by authenticity. 'Enchanting' would suggest the idea of a sort of artificiality. And then these words are not particularly enchanting since it is rather a severe warning. [...]

[...] Tikhone explains to Stravoguine: 'Total atheism is more respectable than worldly indifference.' He explains that the first is less far from faith than the second, perhaps because it leads to a form of despair, that of Stravoguine, which will then lead to religious faith. Worldly indifference translates the banal absence of faith, that of modern Russia in the making, which is beginning to get rid of the yoke of traditions; and especially religious traditions. Stravoguine then refers to the Apocalypse. Through this allusion, Stravoguine reveals several aspects of himself. First, he is not the brute that one might assume. [...]