Computational hermeneutics of emotion: a comparative study of emotional landscapes in the Dostoevsky’s novel “Crime and Punishment”

Davide Picca (), Antonin Schnyder () and Alberto Romele ()
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Davide Picca: University of Lausanne
Antonin Schnyder: University of Lausanne
Alberto Romele: Sorbonne Nouvelle University

Palgrave Communications, 2024, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract This study employs computational hermeneutics to explore emotional representations in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment. Using advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques, including sentiment analysis powered by the BERT model and other tools, we examine the emotional and existential aspects embedded in the narrative. Our approach combines computational tools with traditional hermeneutic methods to deconstruct the emotional journey of the protagonist, Rodion Raskolnikov. We quantitatively analyze his emotional evolution before and after the pivotal crime, mapping his psychological transition from detachment to engagement. The study focuses on four key emotional dimensions: Attitude, Introspection, Sensitivity, and Temper. By transforming qualitative textual data into a quantitative framework, we provide a novel illustration of Raskolnikov’s psychological progression from a state of depersonalization to full emotional contact. This computational analysis is contextualized within a broader philosophical interpretation, drawing on concepts such as Stoic apatheia and Heideggerian Sorge. Our research serves a dual purpose: it enhances our understanding of Dostoevsky’s work while demonstrating the potential of computational methods in literary analysis. By bridging digital humanities and traditional literary criticism, this study contributes to the growing field of digital hermeneutics and opens new avenues for interdisciplinary research in literature, philosophy, and computational linguistics.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1057/s41599-024-03955-w

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