What's the role of money in the stories of Dostoevsky?

The role of money in the stories of Dostoevsky Name: Institutional Affiliation: Date: Born on 11th November 1821, Fyodor Dostoyevsky was a Russian essayist, short story writer, philosopher, journalist, and novelist. Most of his literary work cut across the human psychology in the turbulent spiritual, social and political environments of the 19th-century Russia. In addition, his literary works also engage with a spectrum of real-time religious and philosophical themes. He began writing in a tender of the 20s with his first novel being: Poor (published in 1846). His most acclaimed works, however, include The Brothers Karamazov (1880), Demons (1872), The Idiot (1869) and Crime and Punishment (1866). Primarily, his overall literary work is composed of three novellas (with his 1864 Novella-Notes from Underground, seventeen short stories, eleven novels. With this in mind, many critics rate Dostoyevsky as among the greatest psychologists as far as literature is concerned (Leatherbarrow, 2012). According to Michael (2014), he was introduced to literature at an early age through legends and fairy tales as well as through the many books by the Russia and Foreign authors. In the wake of the death of his parents, he would later leave school and join the Nikolayev Military Engineering Institute. He would later graduate and work as an engineer where he would enjoy a lavish lifestyle as he translated books to earn an extra coin. Having survived a death sentence in 1849, he would later work as a journalist editing and publishing a spectrum of magazines of his own which would later be crowned by a collection of writings dubbed- A Writer's Diary. In most of his literary works, he was influenced by a spectrum of authors and philosophers who included: Pushkin, Shakespeare, Dickens, Lermontov, Balzac, Gogol, Hoffman, Bakunin, Mickiewicz, among others. While this is true, his literary work was widely used within and beyond (Michael, 2014). Based on the literary work of Bakhtin & Emerson (2013), most of his literary works were based on his early experiences as a youth. To this effect, he was once accused of reading the literary works of Belinsky which include the banned Letter to Gogol. This was a reflection of the political arguments that he presented in most of his literary works. This is because the works of Belinsky were seen as the criticism of the Russian political and religious attributes. It was for this reason that he, in what was seen as a political move by the Russian government was arrested under the order of A. Orlov and Tsar Nicolas I, who had an apprehension of a looming political revolution similar to those of the Decembrist revolt of 1825.He would be indicted in a court of law, where the case was heard for four months by an investigative body that was in the custody of Tsar. At the discretion of the body as presented by a judge, Dostoevsky among others was sentenced to death after which they were taken to the Semyonov Place. Nevertheless, after an afterthought, these prisoners were deported from Russia to foreign prisons. In this regard, Dostoyevsky served four years in exile along with hard labor at the katorga prison camp, Siberia (Ivanits, 2008). Besides the hard labor, he also went through compulsory military service. It was while in these prisons that he learned most of the social perspectives that he applies in most of his writings. Again, his description skill in writing also was honed when he described the status of the prisons in which he served while still in exile. This clear from his statement ‘In summer, intolerable closeness; in winter, unendurable cold. All the floors were rotten. Filth on the floors an inch thick; one could slip and fall ... We were packed like herrings in a barrel ... There was no room to turn around. From dusk to dawn it was impossible not to behave like pigs ... Fleas, lice, and black beetles by the bushel...’ (Ivanits, 2008). When fell sick while still in these prisons, he would be admitted in various hospitals from where he would read newspapers as well as the novels of such writers as Dickens. Indeed, his life in prison was an eye opener as far as his writing career was concerned. True to this, seven years after he was released from prison (1861), he published one of his first works- The House of the Dead which was based on his experiences in prison (Ivanits, 2008). This was also among the first literary works about the Russian prisons. Besides this work, there were other books that he wrote while still in prison and immediately after he was set free. To this end, ‘A Little Hero’ (his work while still in prison) appeared in various Russian journals, while such other works as ‘The Village of Stepanchikovo’ and ‘Uncle's Dream’ were published barely six years after his release. In addition, the ‘Notes from the House of the Dead’ and ‘The Insulted and the Injured’ was published in a Russian Magazine (Vremya Time) (Jones, 2015). Barely a year after ‘The House of the Dead’ was published, Dostoyevsky traveled across western Europe in 1862 where he visited Berlin, Cologne, Belgium, Paris, Wiesbaden, and Dresden. These trips also played an important role in his literary works where he recorded his impressions in most of his trips in his book ‘Winter Notes on Summer Impressions.’ It was in this book that he criticized the social modernization, the Catholicism and Capitalism of the Western Europe region (Wasioke, 2011). While his early life was a significant contribution to his literary works, three aspects of his life influenced his works. To begin, his political beliefs had a great impact on most of his works. In this context, as a youth, he took pleasure in reading Nikolai Karamzin's History of the Russian State which lauded Russian independence as well as conservatism, the ideas that he would later embrace. To this end, he believed that the Russian political landscape needed various reforms that would see it embrace democracy. This is clear from his statement ‘As far as I am concerned, nothing was ever more ridiculous than the idea of a republican government in Russia…For the people, the tsar is not an external power, not the power of some conqueror ... but a power of all the people, an all-unifying power the people themselves desired…’ (Kohlberg, 2011). In addition, according to Jone (2013), as he criticized Russian serfdom, Dostoyevsky was also indifferent and skeptical as far as the creation of the constitution was concerned. In this regard, he viewed the concept of the creation of a constitution as trivial as far as the Russian political history was concerned. Indeed, he saw it as a ‘gentleman’s rule’ and a collection of laws that would lead to the enslavement of the Russians as far as the government was concerned. In place of the introduction of a constitution, he advocated for the kind of a social change that would lead to the abolishment of the feudal system as well as the dissolution of the social gap between the affluent classes and the peasantry. In addition, he even was against such government system as the oligarchy (he argued they only concentrated on the wealthy) and democracy (he argued that they only concentrated on the poor). Instead, he proposed for a Christianized Russia (Slattery, 2010). Indeed, as far as the political influence on his literary is concerned, he also claimed that civilization had been degraded and that it was headed towards liberalism away from Christianity. He captured these claims in his article- "Socialism and Christianity.” In this regard, he was against a political system that ignored the leadership teachings of Christianity. As such, he recommended that for an improved political environment in the U.K., Christianity should be restored on Russia (Murry, 2014). In this regard, as Dostoyevsky & Katz (2011) notes, from a political stand, Dostoyevsky had three great worldviews that were common in his time: Roman Catholicism, Russian Orthodoxy, and Protestantism. In this context, he had it that Roman Catholicism was an extension of the Roman Imperialism and was thus both a proto-socialist and anti-Christian because it was not in line with Christ’s ideas. In addition, he viewed Protestantism as more of a self-contradictory and claimed that it would ultimately lose spirituality and power. In other words, he believed that Protestantism had veered off its purpose and was no longer fixated on Christianity as it was the case when it was started. While this is true, he viewed the Russian Orthodoxy as ideal Christianity standpoint that was important as far as the Russian political system was concerned (Seduro, 2017). From these ideas, most of his works criticized the political and social systems of Russian as well as a need for a revolution that would be based on Christianity. Indeed, he proposed that the Muslim Ottoman Empire should be resolved and the Christian Byzantine Empire restored in Russian. This would mean that most of his works were biased towards Christianity. Secondly, his racial beliefs also had a stake in his literary works. To this end, Dostoyevsky had biased views on the Ottoman Turks. As such, he dedicated most of his pages criticizing them in his ‘Writers Diary.’ In fact, he would propose that the Turks did not have to be treated with empathy in wars and that no regrets would be forthcoming should they be killed mercilessly. This would mean that he was a racist and was against the success of the Turks. Indeed, he proposed that Istanbul should be depopulated of the Turks and have them deported to Asia (Seduro, 2017). Third, his religious beliefs also played a role in his literary works. In this regard, Dostoyevsky was mainly an Eastern Orthodox Christian and new the gospel from his tender age. It is, therefore, no wonder that Christianity takes center stage in most of his literary works. In other words, he was biased towards Christianity in most of his literary collections (Jackson, 2008). It was not once that he criticized such other religions as Hinduism and Islam and saw them as having no role to play in the social, political and economic aspects of the Russian citizens. As such, his literary works were full of Christian views and teachings about certain topics presented in his books and/or articles. In addition, most of the political solutions that he would propose were all fanned by Christianity and his will to Christianize Russia as it were (Sandoz, 2009). As far as theme and styles are concerned, most of the Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s styles encapsulated short stories, essays, novellas, epistolary novels, novels, suspense and spy fiction. Again, most of his themes revolved in and around politics, poverty, morality, human manipulations. Furthermore, religious themes are also written all over his works more so after his release from prison. His early work focused more on naturalism and realism as well as such social issues as the disparities between the rich and the poor. In addition, such aspects as romanticism, fiction, satire and gothic are also evident in most of his works (Kaye, 2010). Lantz (2009) notes that Dostoyevsky explored a spectrum of ideas which were greatly influenced by the sociopolitical events that happened in his lifetime. While this is true, when he was released from prison, his literary products moved from "sentimental naturalism" to the dramatization of philosophical and psychological themes. Though at times seen as literary realist (a genre associated with the presentation of modern life in its reality), Dostoevsky described himself as a "fantastic realist" To this effect, according to (Sandoz, 2014), Dostoevsky was the creator of a new form of novel writing in which case an artistic work is created out of such genres as philosophical treatise, religious texts, the anecdote, the newspaper, the street scene and the parody which were combined with the narrative style of an adventure novel. In such narrative styles, the characters are brought together in extraordinary situations with the intention of testing and provoking the philosophical ideas inherent in his literary work. Again, Dostoyevsky literary collection revived satire as the genre that combined fantasy, adventure, drama, symbolism, and comedy where mental attributes are personified. While this is true, most of his works also explored dark motifs, emotions, dreams as well as visions. As such, as an ardent writer, he mostly invested the human nature (Flath, 2009). In this regard, he focused on people and captured only their character in which case his writing work was inspired by the people’s state of souls, their thoughts, and feelings as well as lifestyles. He is recognized as among the most influential and greatest novelists of the Golden Age of the Russian literature. Over and above, Dostoyevsky is known for his six-literary works which include: Poor Folk, Notes from Underground, Crime, and Punishment, The idiot, Demons and The Brothers Karamazov (Jackson, 2013). An analysis of the six books would reveal a general idea of what his literary was based on. To begin with, the Poor Folk was a description of the typical human relationships among the Russians. In addition, it portrays the fact that poverty was among the issues that made life unbearable for most people. Moreover, the book also presents the Russian cities as grubby and impoverished. Only two occupations are presented in the book: tradesman and artisans (Jones, 2012). Secondly, is the Notes from Underground, which is a presentation of Dostoevsky ‘s writing inspirations and students. Indeed, the book presents the ‘Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature,’ where he portrays the various works of some writers: Pushkin, Lermontov, Tolstoy, and Gogol. These writers as presented as sociopolitical diehards who were ready to face any consequences for their strict stance on the sociopolitical issues in Russia. These writers represent, Dostoevsky ‘s writing philosophical grounds (Dostoyevsky & Katz, 2011). Third, the book- Crime and Punishment presents Dostoevsky ‘s moral standpoint as far as the society is concerned. The book also presents the entire idea of nihilism which is a philosophy that disregards the moral principles of a society. Nihilism is embodied by Raskolnikov who murders to test the influence of the societal moral campus as it were. The book is punctuated by a Christian symbolism even as it discusses moral principles of the Russian society. Dostoevsky disapproves of nihilism in the entire book (Murry, 2014). Fourth, the book- The Idiot, is the presentation of the socio-political and economic transformation in Russian. In other words, it presents what could be termed as the westernization of the Russian capital where Dostoevsky notes that the city is un-Russian and no longer serves as the political and cultural center of Russia. This is because people in the city have abandoned the Russian traditions and embraced the western culture. Dostoevsky also indicates that such a socio-political revolution is not worthwhile and calls for a restoration of the Russian traditions (Taras, 2010). Fifth, the Demons literary work is a presentation of the human alienation from nationalism, fellow humans, and God. Such an alienation as presented by the book emanates from the political radicalism that eventuated in the death of a student in 1869 in Moscow. Again, the book also presents nihilism which is embodied in one of the characters (Sergey Nechaev). In other words, the book (Demons), presents the perverse radicalism that emanates from a scenario where the sociopolitical leaders detach themselves from the Russians citizens, such that the relationship between them is that of increased tension and feelings of vengeance. The book also articulates Dostoevski sociopolitical stance in which case he supports utopian socialism. This is because the political radicalism was more of a move to call for social-political equity in Russia. Over and above, Demons presents a criticism of the Russian philosophical and political half-truths and the search for a united socio-political state (Murry, 2014). Sixth, The Brothers Karamazov book presents how a common trove of cultural significance (religion for example) connects to the daily lives of the Russians. As far as the book goes, three folk and religious archetypes are presented: the devil, the holy fool, and the wise man. This is perhaps the book that presents the religious aspect of Dostoevsky's literary work in which case he sees the Russian society as the kind that is too far from God and morality (Jones, 2015). According to Bakhtin & Emerson (2013), this analytical review of the six major literary works of Dostoevsky serves as the main themes that cut across most of his literary work. However, this paper concentrates on the theme of money. To this effect, many of Dostoevsky’s stories begin with matters, money. While this is true, these stories do not revolve in and around industries, banks, poor miners or the stock exchange. They are however often open to some crude issues related to money. This would mean that money is a powerful subject in most of Dostoevsky's plots which plays a bizarre role. In this context, in Dostoevsky's novels, money conveys a spectrum of messages about the personal human relationships. That said, the role of money in Dostoevsky's stories could better be understood from an analytical review of his major works discussed in this paper. To begin with, the Poor Folk is a story that is quite common, that of the plight of the poor. The book presents the story in an interesting way in which the poor folk receives a letter from a middle-aged man. The characters were simple than the average ones used in most of Dostoevsky’s stories. These characters either management their finances wrongly in the name of their love and commitment or had become orphaned or been so sickly to be productive. In this context, the main theme is that when one is poor, so poor that they could not afford such basics as tea, then money is much important than their self-esteem and/or pride. Again, from the story, it is also clear that the issues that a poor person goes through are almost always based on the same thing. As such, most of these issues revolve around whether or not they pay their rent, can’t buy adequate food or even purchase respectable clothing (Michael, 2014). From this story, it is clear that the theme of money plays various roles. For example, money has been used to present the issues that the poor go through in their lives where they are not able to buy most of their basic needs. Secondly, money has also been used to present the fact that poverty is the cause of many sufferings among many people across the world. Third, money has also been used to reveal the fact that poor are to blame for their plight this is because they do not set their priorities right. For example, the Poor Folk falls in love with Makar and mismanages his finances while he remains committed to this love. Fourth, money has also been used to show the dilemma that many people face. To this end, while people may not want to be materialistic, they always find themselves falling victim to the materialistic world. In other words, money has been used to articulate the fact that the world, as presented in the book has lost is societal value and that it mostly revolves around money (Jackson, 2013). In the Brothers Karamazov, money is a source of conflict in society. This is probably because it is the goal of every character in the story to have money, even when it means harming other individuals. As such, money is seen as the reason why people are involved in various conflicts in the world of this book. Indeed, it is seen as among the western issues that threaten the Russian traditions and values. In addition, money is seen as a symbolism of the lack of values in the modern society. In this regard, money has been blamed for the erosion of societal values among the Russians. Perhaps the best way to explain this is that money takes the center-stage as the means of exchange in Russia and beyond. In this regard, as it was the case with the Poor Folk, money has introduced materialism in the world and in as much as people would not want to avoid materialism they always fall victim to it (Sandoz, 2009). Indeed, as far as the book- the Brothers Karamazov goes, while everybody and their parents seem to talk about Dmitri's ‘3,000 roubles,’, only Dmitri has been able to count the money. In other words, money is at the hands of a few, but those who do not have been so much interested in it that they always talk about it even when they could not as much as touch it let alone having it. This would mean that money plays the role uniting people (more so the poor) even as they struggle to have it. Nevertheless, money also plays the role dehumanizing people as far as morality is concerned. To this end such rich people as Kuzma Samsonov, Pyotr Miusov, and Fyodor Karamazov were immoral. This would mean that the rich are also on the furthest end of immorality in the Russian society. In other words, ownership of money corresponds to the loss of morality and social well-being. As such, the rich are seen as the outcast in the society presented by the book and are never in good terms with the rest of the society. In other words, much as money is a unifying factor among the poor, it also deepens the economic gap between the rich and the poor (Ivanits, 2008). Dostoevsky can be labeled a literary legend who depicts the despondency within the character of Dmitri, in The Brothers Karamazov. Dmitri is depicted as a man who does not have money but does everything possible to get it in order to salvage some remnant of his honor. According to Dostoevsky, Dmitri had spent most of the money lent to him by Katerina Ivanovna. Although he has some of the funds concealed to him, he fails to forge a plan to elope with Grushenka due to his unpaid dues. He needs to have all the funds required by his lender to carry on with his plan. The author uses money to present the dilemma in which Dmitri is in. The character is torn between beginning a new life with his love having settled his debt and maintaining his integrity. Dostoevsky in this case, does not present an admirable character in Dmitri. He pastes the character as a man trying too hard to battle his financial predicaments. This, however, as the author presents, has been caused by the character’s irresponsibility with money. Consequently, his frantic search for funds and his absurd proposals reveal a lack of acumen in him. He seems to have difficulties realizing that Samsonov, his old merchant friend, is making fun of him. The merchant seems to send him on a wild goose chase. It is only after two days that Dmitri come to the realization that he would not get any funds from Samsonov. Even then, he tries to convince Madame Hohlakov to lend him some cash. Through the use of money, the author is able to bring out a man who loves debts and easy money in Dmitri. Were Dmitri more rational, he would realize that almost all the ladies he interacted with detested his character. The women hate his begging nature since it brings out a sense of desperation in him. It is through such that suspicions concerning his father’s death are cast upon him. The role of money also comes out clearly in the book- Crime and punishment. In this book, Raskolnikov’s financial condition at the beginning of the book is dire. To this effect, he had been forced to forfeit his degree in law for he could not afford the tuition fees. In addition, he barely has anything to eat and lives in the ramshackle apartment with ragged clothes. Even then, he also cares for little money. In this regard, when he lays his hands on some money he simply gives it away to assist a drunk woman one hand and help another friend to facilitate a funeral, on the other (Flath, 2009). While this is true, other characters in the book also have substantial money issues. In this regard, Dunya and Pulcheria survive in strained situations in the provinces where Pulcheria survives on the small pension bequeathed to him by Raskolnikov’s father. On the other hand, Marmeladov barely has any money and leaves his family (Katerina and the children) to manage with insignificant financial resources. Moreover, Svidrigailov inherits a good deal of money from his wife who dies mysteriously. As such, he offers Dunya a huge amount of money should she agree to marry him. With this in mind, Luzhim who also wishes to marry Dunya is a clerk who sees so much of a devoted wife in her simply because she was poor and with a social class as it were (Lantz, 2009). That said, Raskolnikov’s poverty (lack of money), much as it might seem to compound his mental condition is not the true cause of murders among other social issues. It just turns people from human beings to some rational animals. While this may be true, most of the money owned by the characters presented in the novel is as a result of inheritance. In this regard, only a few men, the likes of Razumikhin worked for the money that they possessed. While this may be true, Raskolnikov’s mental condition is beyond any amount of money. This would mean that much as money was important, his situation could have never been reformed by money (Sandoz, 2014). From this novel, money plays the role of making one’s life better. In this context, money is the sole precondition before people could lead a happy life. For example, Raskolnikov’s can no longer continue with his education just because he could not afford fees. In his state of being broke, this role of money comes out clearly; he lives in the ramshackle house and puts on ragged clothes. Again, this role of money is also evident in the instances when Raskolnikov helps he drunkard woman and lends a financial hand in the funeral of a friend’s sister. Perhaps the most shocking presentation of this role is when Dunya is ready to get married to help his brother out financially (Kaye, 2010). Money also plays the role of introducing the character traits of most of the characters as well as the culture that defines their actions. To this effect, most people in the culture presented in the novel, men specifically, obtain their wealth from inheritance and few work for their own money. Again, money also presents the fact that the culture upholds the ritual of dowry where Dunya was willing to get married to financially salvage his brother. When it comes to character traits, Svidrigailov is presented as an impulsive man. First, he inherits his wife and second, he is ready to marry soon after, only to commit suicide when Dunya refuses to give a hand in a marriage commitment to him (Jackson, 2008). By The Idiot novel, money is presented as among the greatest temptations for the humanity. In this regard, in the corrupted world presented by the book, everyone, except Nastassya Filippovna and Ganya, has given in to the desires of corruption and greed. As such, in this novel, money plays the role of being the cause of corruption and greed in the world. Various characters as presented by the novel could attest to this fact. For example, Ganya is willing to be involved in almost any activity for his love for money. He could even go to the extremes of marrying a person he does not love or the one not approved by either his parents or the other members of the society. Again, because of money, General Ivolgnin is willing to quench his desires for alcohol. In addition, in his life and that of others, money is also responsible for increased brothels and clubs in the novel. Indeed, the general sees money as the only way in which he could win and spend time with his mistress (Madame Terentyev). Furthermore, money also pushes people to some extremes that they would not have gone through had money been absent. For instance, Lebedev is willing to put his hands-on fire to recover the 100,000 rubles package that is discarded by Nastassya Filippovna.Again, no one is concerned with the life of Nastassya Filippovna until the time he makes it public that he has an inheritance where he is suddenly surrounded by many claimants of the inheritance. This is an indication that money acts as a symbolism of societal corruption of the human moral fabrics (Seduro, 2017). The same role of money (the perversion of the societal moral fabric) is also echoed in the novel- Notes from Underground. In this context, the characters in the novel are presented as having various actions that are not in line with the societal principles. This is seen from the party that had been arranged in honor of one Zverkov.In addition, money also plays the role of winning a place in the brothels as seen when the Underground Man borrowed some money from his old-time friend Simonov so that he could go to the brothel just like his friend. Indeed, Liza was a prostitute who was some amount of money away. This would mean that money plays the role of giving a means of survival for the Underground Man and Liz, where the former begs for money from his friends and Liz, is involved in commercial sex (Wasiolek, 2011). Again, according to Kohlberg (2011), from the Notes from an Underground novel, money also plays the role of empowering. In this regard, the Underground Man’s poverty becomes a stumbling block from him enjoying his life and feeling morally and socially equal with others. Indeed, he is deeply ashamed when he is forced to borrow from his friends to go by. In few instances, the Underground Man exerts the power of money by making attempts to withhold the wages of Apollo. Again, he thrusts some money to Liza to remind her that she is still a prostitute. In other words, money plays the role of empowering an individual economically and socially, such that they earn some degree of respect from others. In the Gambler, Dostoyevsky also applies the theme of money in a spectrum of ways. To begin with, money is seen as a symbolism of civilization. To this effect, at the historical period presented in the novel, Russia was seen as barbaric and wild by most Europeans. While this is true, when the wealthy Russians visited Europe, they were seen as the exotic human breed, from such a primitive country as Russia. In this context, they were only accepted in Europe as civilized simply because they had money. In the same vein, money was necessary for enhancing civilization and/or social position in Europe. Essentially, money was seen as an important aspect of the Russian society. It was symbolism of a westernized life, the kind of life that was everybody’s dream in Russia and beyond (Terras, 2010). Again, as far as the theme of the casino goes, money also plays the role of being’s sources of addiction and a livelihood for many Russians of the historical period presented in a novel- The Gambler. To this effect, the wealthy are convinced that money, power, and status dominate the world as it is. To this end, the novel presents money as an allegory of destruction. In this regard, for the gamblers and Alexis, money is an abyss that makes people dependent and addicted to gambling. As such, money is presented as a global issue that makes the society light-hearted and careless. To this effect, people are always ready to turn to criminal activities, risk their wealth, freedom and happiness just for the sake of money. To this effect, as an allegory of destruction, money plays the role of turning the world upside down as far as honesty and genuine love are concerned. In this regard, as far as the theme of a casino is concerned in the novel, Alexis and Antonida are not able to overcome their addiction to gambling. The worst scenario that presents that indeed money is an allegory of destruction is when people lose everything at the Casino. This would mean that addiction to money is indeed a counterproductive activity (Murry, 2014). Money is a powerful symbol that has been used through the literary work of one Fyodor Dostoevsky. Indeed, money plays various roles through most of his books. From a summative and a conclusive point of view, all the stories by Dostoevsky indicate that money is the source of all the evils of society. As such, the love of money traps human beings such that they could be willing to cause suffering to other human beings in the name of money. This would mean that Dostoevsky has it that money is to blame for the increased societal ills in the society. The deaths, the mishaps, and the hardships are as a result of the quest for and/or the lack of money (Wasiolek, 2011). Again, from these stories, money is also presented as a means of livelihood in which case most of the characters created by Dostoevsky, are all on the run to look for and protect their money as it is the case in the Gambler and Crime and Punishment. As a means of survival, money has also lead to moral decadences as seen in the Notes from Underground, where such people as the Underground man and Liza go to the extremes of prostitution for the sake of money. In this regard, most of Dostoevsky’s story seems to be in tandem with the Jackson (2013) idea, that money is the power to command the attention of the people as well as respect as it was the case with the Russian elites who were treated as civilized individuals in Europe. In addition, it is seen as the power of buying an entry to a new life as it were. This is evident from most of the characters presented in the literary work of Dostoevsky. In fact, such is the role that takes the major part of most of his novels, that of making the lives of people better. Essentially, from the literal work of Dostoevsky, it could be said that the role of money may be direct or indirect. Direct when its effects are obvious and indirect when it arouses some character traits from people in a manner that is obvious and/or overwhelming, an example of which is when money instills pride, dictatorship and immoral lifestyles among the rich (Lantz, 2009).