“The Brothers Karamazov” by F. M. Dostoevsky: two addendums to one episode commentary (Khokhlakova and Dmitry Karamazov)

This paper analyzes in detail the episode in the chapter “Gold Minesˮ of “The Brothers Karamazovˮ by F. M. Dostoevsky. The focus is on the markers of the polemically addressing the episode to Saltykov-Shchedrin and the specifics of his narrative technique. Firstly, the methods of researchers to the background of the polemic originating in the 1860s are reviewed, the necessity of expanding the context of the episode is motivated, and new extra narrative information is introduced completing the picture and deepening the episode's interpretation. Parody has been found to be the leading mode of polemic, with Mrs. Khokhlakova as its “agent,” the absurdity of her statements providing a channel for the transmission of the polemical reference “over and above” the text. A similar function is given to Turgenev, who is semantically close to Saltykov in his parody function in context of the heroine’s reasoning. Secondly, the narrative technique of the episode is analyzed within the framework of a micro-fragment in which Khokhlakova “blessesˮ Dmitry Karamazov for his trip to Siberia. The details are explicated, allowing the allusions to the novel “Crime and Punishment” to be seen, suggesting other pairs of characters: Raskolnikov and the money-lender, Raskolnikov and Sonya. The technique of combining and “splitting” the plot situations in multidirectional projections is considered (comic and dramatic), which implicitly introduces a multidimensional plot of the crime, universal in the work of the writer. The plot auto-parody is considered as a technique triggering the plot-doubling mechanism.