The Crocodile

Historical Context and Significance

The novella «The Crocodile» by Fyodor Dostoevsky, written in 1865, is a satirical work in which the author mocks the bureaucracy and social order of his time. The story of a civil servant who is swallowed by a crocodile but continues to live and work inside it serves as an allegory for the absurdity and inefficiency of the state system. This work also reflects Dostoevsky's interest in themes of human nature and social structure. Although «The Crocodile» is not Dostoevsky's most famous work, it demonstrates his skill in satire and social critique, influencing the development of Russian literature and the satirical genre as a whole.