Bakhtin said Dostoevsky invented “polyphonic novel,” but polyphony was already in the name “Raskolnikov,” protagonist of “Crime and Punishment”

In past posts on Dostoevsky, I discussed literary critic Mikhail Bakhtin’s idea that Dostoevsky invented the “polyphonic novel,” an idea I liked, since the concept is similar to multiple personality.

However, having just checked the meaning of “Raskolnikov,” I think Dostoevsky, himself, should get credit for first associating his work with “polyphony.”

The name “Raskolnikov” means schismatic (1), which alludes to a schism in the history of the Russian Church. One difference between the old and new churches was whether to allow the singing of more than one hymn simultaneously, which was called “polyphony” (2).

Please search past posts on “Bakhtin,” “Dostoevsky,” and “Dostoevsky Duality.” The latter is a personal letter written by Dostoevsky saying that he and other people who are not commonplace have duality (the simplest form of polyphony or multiple personality).

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodion_Raskolnikov

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphony_(Russian_Orthodox_liturgy)