this post was submitted on 25 Apr 2024
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Best part of this is that Russians have three names (a first name, surname, and a patronymic) and they love using nicknames. So the main character is Rodion (first name) Romanovitch (patronymic) Raskolnikov (surname), but can (and is) called by any of those three names. He's also got nicknames like Rodya, Rodenka, and Rodka. So this deranged individual (who decided to call Raskolnikov "Pete" I guess) is going to be hopelessly confused when somebody starts referring to Rodya, and he'll think the book is filled with like five times as many characters as it actually is.
I’m reading What is to be Done? And idk what book this is, but I imagine it would be pretty hard to replace names like that.
This is Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky.
Just replace every instance of "Kautsky" with "Steve" like the goober in the OP
Better idea: replace regular fiction names with political figures
~~Greg Heffley~~ Friedrich Engels
I should have specified Chernyshevsky, but Lenin’s also contains some names that are weird.
YES. When I studied Rus Lit my prof dedicated a whole lecture to this! With slides! I honestly love this part of Russian literature, it gives it so much character, and anyone who complains about it doesn’t deserve to read it.
I mean you kinda just laid out why it's extra confusing to begin with
But that's kind of the rub; it's never actually confusing. In context of the story it's very clear when somebody is addressing Raskolnikov, even if they're using a nickname or a name you're not entirely familiar with. It's like when you hear somebody has a nickname in real life. You might not know why they have that nickname, but you know that nickname is theirs.
I read the book, unless you're already familiar with Russian naming conventions you're going to go "wait who the fuck are they talking about" over and over, and if you're not familiar with Russian naming conventions and claim otherwise you're simply lying to me
also it's not just Raskolnikov
I don't know what to tell you, I too read the book and had no such issues. I thought it was very clear when they're talking about Raskolnikov or his sister or the inspector or the landlady or anybody, and I don't speak any Russian. You just had to trust things would become clear in time with context.
You have a point in that the characters are very vivid and distinct/individual
but I think it's fair to say most people will experience at least mild confusion a few times with the cast of characters
Everyone's brain works different
Yeah I think that's what it comes down to.
It is not that difficult, because there are contexts to each use, and they are consistent between characters as well. It is not always easy as well, but if you have the attention span to read Dosteyevski, you have it to remember some naming conventions as well.