The publication of the 1863 novel What Is to Be Done? transformed its author into a central architect of Russian revolutionary thought. Written while the author was imprisoned in the Fortress of St. Peter and Paul, the narrative acted as a foundational text for multiple generations of radicals, shaping the trajectory of political activism within the Russian Empire for decades.
Early Intellectual Formation
Born in Saratov in 1828 to a priest, Nikolay Chernyshevsky initially pursued education at a local seminary. His formative years were marked by a mastery of multiple languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Latin, Greek, and Old Slavonic. During this period, he abandoned religious belief to embrace atheism and developed a commitment to materialism. He later refined his revolutionary and democratic views while attending Saint Petersburg State University, graduating in 1850 before returning to Saratov to teach at the local gymnasium.
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In 1855, Chernyshevsky presented his master's dissertation, The Aesthetic Relation of Art to Reality, a work that championed materialist aesthetics. He rejected idealist interpretations, arguing instead that art should function as a textbook for life, tasked with reproducing and explaining reality for human benefit. His tenure as editor-in-chief of the periodical Sovremennik from 1853 to 1862 allowed him to disseminate these views and engage with the political events of the era, including the revolutions of 1848.
Revolutionary Philosophy and Advocacy
As a primary figure of the 1860s democratic movement, Chernyshevsky helped establish the ideology of Narodism. He advocated for a socialist society structured around the traditional peasant commune, viewing the working masses as the primary drivers of history. His economic and social theories often focused on class struggle. He also followed global developments with interest, praising the leadership of Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War as a potential turning point for international progress.
Incarceration and Lasting Impact
The tsarist authorities arrested Chernyshevsky in 1862, leading to a decade of penal servitude followed by exile in Vilyuisk, Siberia, between 1872 and 1883. Despite these hardships, his influence persisted. His works were studied by historical figures such as Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, and Georgi Plekhanov. Though he died in his native Saratov in 1889, his intellectual legacy influenced the development of socialist realism and was later incorporated into communist cultural politics in China.
Fast facts
- Born: 1828, Saratov
- Died: 1889, Saratov
- Primary Occupations: Writer, economist, journalist, philosopher, novelist
- Notable Work: What Is to Be Done? (1863)
- Education: Saint Petersburg State University
- Political Stance: Utopian socialism, Narodism
- Religion: Atheism
- Burial Site: Voskresenskoye cemetery, Saratov
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of the novel What Is to Be Done?
The novel served as an emotional and political catalyst for Russian revolutionaries, inspiring many to adopt the disciplined, ascetic lifestyle of the protagonist Rakhmetov.
How did Chernyshevsky view the role of art?
He believed art should not merely imitate life for pleasure but function as a textbook that explains reality to benefit mankind.
Achievements
- Notable work: What Is to Be Done?
