The Crocodile by Fyodor Dostoevski
"The Crocodile" by Fyodor Dostoevski is a satirical short story that explores themes of absurdity, societal values, and the nature of existence through a bizarre incident in St. Petersburg. Set on January 13, 1865, the narrative follows Semyon Semyonitch and his friends, Elena Ivanovna and Ivan Matveitch, as they visit an arcade to see a crocodile on display. The event takes a dramatic turn when Matveitch, attempting to interact with the crocodile, is swallowed whole, leading to a mixture of horror and dark humor among the spectators.
As Matveitch finds himself trapped inside the creature, the reactions of those around him highlight a preoccupation with property rights over human life, as the crocodile's owner becomes more concerned with financial gain than Matveitch’s wellbeing. Matveitch, seemingly uninjured, begins to contemplate sharing profound thoughts from within the belly of the beast, which adds another layer of absurdity. The story critiques the bureaucratic indifference of society, as exemplified by Timofey Semyonitch, who prioritizes property over personal crisis.
The narrative concludes without resolution, reflecting Dostoevski's intention to delve deeper into the situation, though he never completed the story. "The Crocodile" invites readers to reflect on the complexities of human nature and the often irrational priorities of society.
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The Crocodile by Fyodor Dostoevski
First published: "Neobyknovennoe sobytie: Ili, Passazh v passazhe," 1865 (English translation, 1895)
Type of plot: Parody
Time of work: 1865
Locale: St. Petersburg, Russia
Principal Characters:
Ivan Matveitch , a Russian bureaucratElena Ivanovna , his wifeSemyon Semyonitch , their friend and the narrator of the storyThe crocodile The German , the owner of the crocodileTimofey Semyonitch , an elderly Russian bureaucrat
The Story
The story opens on January 13, 1865. The narrator, Semyon Semyonitch, and his married friends, Elena Ivanovna and Ivan Matveitch, go to St. Petersburg's arcade to see a crocodile that is on display. The arcade is a popular spot in St. Petersburg for public exhibitions and lectures. Semyonitch and Matveitch are distantly related and both work in the same government department. Because Matveitch is scheduled to go to Western Europe for intellectual advancement and has no official duties for the day, he can join his wife and friend on the excursion to the arcade. He thinks that it will be valuable to see the crocodile because, before he visits Europe, it is well to acquaint himself "with its indigenous inhabitants."
The crocodile is housed in a large tin tank with only two inches of water, located inside a shop that also exhibits cockatoos and monkeys. Disappointed to find that the crocodile is not active because of the cold Russian climate, the visitors wonder if the animal is even alive. Its German owner uses a stick to prod the crocodile. Showing no fear, Matveitch moves forward and tickles the crocodile's nose with his glove at the same moment that Elena Ivanovna and Semyonitch turn their attention to the monkeys. In an instant, Matveitch is swallowed by the crocodile. His wife screams when she sees her husband in the jaws of the great beast, which swallows him, legs first, as a terrified audience looks on. After disappearing inside the crocodile, Matveitch's head pops out of its mouth, causing his glasses to fall off and land at the bottom of the tank.
Although horrified, Semyonitch finds the tragedy absurdly comical and cannot help but laugh. The German owner and his mother are outraged by what has happened; however, they are concerned not about the fate of Ivan Matveitch but with the safety of thei2r crocodile. The German thinks it is only just that he be compensated for any damages to his property. Elena Ivanovna shouts for the crocodile to be cut open, using the Russian word vsporot, for "cut." The crowd, however, think that she is using the Russian word vysporot, for "flog." Because flogging is no longer tolerated in Russia, she is informed that it would be cruel to flog the crocodile. To everyone's amazement, Matveitch speaks from inside the belly of the crocodile. The German now realizes that he can charge higher fees to view his property. Because the animal is much more valuable than before, he declares that he will only part with it if he is paid thousands of Russian rubles. Matveitch advises his wife to apply directly to the superintendent's office because, without the assistance of the police, the German will never see reason.
Although seemingly unhurt, Matveitch is saddened that he will miss his trip to Western Europe because the German is asking such an exorbitant price for his crocodile. Semyonitch agrees to go see the respected bureaucrat Timofey Semyonitch and ask his advice concerning this peculiar situation. He leaves the arcade with Elena Ivanovna, who feels "something like a widow."
Timofey Semyonitch sees no justification for interceding in this matter because he believes that private property is more important than Matveitch's life. The elderly bureaucrat rambles on about the need for Russia's communal land to be sold to foreign investors and suggests that Matveitch's fate may encourage other crocodiles to be brought into Russia. To him, the accumulation of capital is of primary importance. Semyon Semyonitch returns to the arcade without a solution to his friend's problem. There he finds that the crocodile's owner is overjoyed at the prospect of making a fortune because the public will flock to see a man living inside a crocodile. Semyonitch is surprised to learn that Matveitch now wants to preach great thoughts from the belly of the crocodile, and he is not sure what to make of his friend's pronouncements. Elena Ivanovna concludes that it may be necessary to divorce her husband.
The story concludes with wild descriptions of the incident that appear in Russian newspapers. There is no resolution to Matveitch's predicament. (It is known that Fyodor Dostoevski intended to finish this story, but he never got around to it.)