In Book X, we are introduced to precocious little Kolya Krasotkin, who seems to dazzle everyone with his encyclopedic knowledge and professorial vocabulary. Kolya is indeed well-spoken and obviously possesses above average intelligence. But I wonder just how well-read the boy actually is? We read him think to himself "And what if he discovers that that issue of The Bell ... is the only thing in it I have read?" (710) This statement implies that out of every volume or text passed down to him by his father, Kolya has only read this single literary journal. This seems at odds with what the narrator initially led us to believe about him.
Let us examine the first mentioning of Kolya's reading habits on page 660: "His father had left behind him a book-cupboard in which there was a number of books; Kolya was fond of reading and had already read some of them on his own." We learn further on page 663 that Kolya "had read the section dealing with the founders of Troy in Smaragdov's History". So Kolya has indeed read from texts in the cupboard other than The Bell - our narrator has established that beyond doubt. But I still wonder - has Kolya ever actually finished a book?
The boy is embarrassed to confess to Alyosha that he only read a reference to Eugene Onegin after he had implied that he had read the entire novel. It seems to me that Kolya's thought about only reading The Bell, combined with his fear at appearing less well-read than he appears, is indicative of the fact that he has never read an entire book cover-to-cover. He is one of those sycophants and pretenders who skims books which intellectuals would read, borrows a few phrases to impress people, and polishes his speech to make everyone believe that he is a prodigy. Professor Isham mentioned in class that he remembered speaking more grown up in his adolescent years as a means of feeling more mature. I myself remembering trying to sound like a braniac at the dinner table, but all I was really doing was making a fool out of myself. In the end, that is what Kolya is doing to himself, and when the time comes when his pretended knowledge is called upon, he will be left without a leg to stand on.
Kolya struck me in a similar way throughout this reading, but I'm not sure if his age is the only thing that is responsible for his intense vanity and desire to be viewed as (this is my assertion) a man of respected social and intellectual position.
ReplyDeleteWould you say that since a father-figure was absent during Kolya's life it would push him to step up to the plate and be "the man of the house" so to speak? Maybe this explains his need to act older than he is?
Or possibly the fact that he is lonely? He seems to really want to impress people, and while all the students worship him, this only serves as a superficial form of companionship - in actuality, Kolya may feel even lonelier if his peers worship him, for that serves to set him apart from the crowd.
In any case, the idea that he isn't very well read fits right into his (almost desperate) efforts to appear as a man rather than a boy.
Based on all of the descriptions the narrator gives us of Kolya reading books from his father's cabinet, I took the statement he thought about only reading a particular issue of The Bell a bit differently. I read it as out of all the issues of The Bell in his father's cabinet he only read that one particular issue he talks about with Alyosha. Also, I think that he may have "read" a lot of the books he mentions, but his lack of ability to hold further conversation about them leads me to believe that he just didn't understand them. So in a way it is like he just skimmed through them and repeats the bits that he was able to understand and remember.
ReplyDeleteI think that Kolya's concern is that that issue of the Bell is the only thing upon which he has based his entire socialist ideology, and so "the only thing I've read" means "the only socialist thing I've read." With regard to Kolya making a fool out of himself, I think it's pretty clear (and hilarious) that he's one of those ridiculous people who picks up a quote or two from an author or topic and decides that he is an expert... though I suppose we're all guilty of that sometimes, and to some degree.
ReplyDeleteI agree with David that Kolya was referring to a lack of breadth in his knowledge of socialist texts. I also agree with Nick that Kolya was forced to grow up more quickly than others, and I think we should keep in mind the fact that he is young when we talk about how well-read he is. It is clear that he is one of the best students in his class, and for a 13-year old he seems to have an impressive grasp of his vocabulary. He is a domineering figure, even among superiors, which is not something normally associated with that age. Though he may look foolish at times, the extent to which I think is overstated here, he is certainly able to make others look foolish as well.
ReplyDeleteOooh, you seem to absolutely hate Koyla! But I agree with you that he does seem to be missing something. You bring up a very interesting argument and it sounds quite plausible. He could very well be skimming and choosing his favorite quotes without ever reading the entire thing. Personally, I still think he reads the books cover to cover. However, his issue in my opinion is simply not being able to analyze what he has read, so instead he recitates what he knows from memory. When it comes to the socialist articles then I completely agree with you, the little bastard knows nothing of them and has only read a single volume. In fact his very nature is opposed to what his lips are spouting.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it seems Kolya is extremely intent on making others believe he is intelligent, and he is very desperate to prove himself and earn the respect of others. What you say is interesting, and brings up a good point that didn't really strike me during the reading. Perhaps he hasn't read a whole book, but I don't know if I would agree that he only reads certain passages so he can sound important. Perhaps he just doesn't have the drive or interest it requires to finish a whole novel, and at thirteen, that wouldn't be all the surprising. Perhaps he has actually attempted to read whole novels, and just cannot find it within himself to finish one.
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