All That Is Solid Melts Into Air: The Experience of Modernity

Berman discusses the transformative construction of St. Petersburg under Peter the Great’s vision. This transformation symbolizes a forceful march toward modernization, dictated from above, aimed at opening Russia to Europe and embodying the essence of modernity through its architectural grandeur and strategic location. Berman highlights the paradoxical nature of St. Petersburg: a city born from an act of will to anchor Russia in the modern world yet simultaneously representing a scene of unreal, dream-like qualities, reflecting the complexities and contradictions of modernization itself.

Berman states that the creation of St. Petersburg on the swamps of the Neva River was not just an urban project but a deeply symbolic act. Peter the Great’s intention was to craft a window to Europe, signaling a break from Moscow’s medieval past and steering Russia toward a future intertwined with European Enlightenment ideals. This ambitious endeavor required enormous human sacrifice, with the city’s grandeur built upon the toil and lives of thousands of forced laborers. Berman underscores the city’s dual identity: a monument to modernizing ambition and a setting for literature and art that explores the surreal and often grotesque experiences of its inhabitants.

This duality is further explored through the cultural and intellectual life that flourished in St. Petersburg, attracting thinkers and artists who contributed to its status as a cultural hub. The very efforts to enforce modernization and Westernization, however, sparked resistance and laid bare the tensions between Russia’s aspirations and its realities of underdevelopment. The city, according to Berman, emerges not just as a physical space but as a symbol of modern existential dilemmas, embodying the struggle between progress and alienation and between the drive for modernity and the haunting sense of unreality.

Berman examines a pivotal decade for Russia, marking a shift toward modernization and cultural ferment. The chapter outlines the transformative period following Alexander II’s emancipation of the serfs in 1861, a move that, while intended to liberate, ultimately left peasants in a state of quasi-freedom, burdened by new obligations and limited land. This era, however, is noted for the rise of a new class of intellectuals, the raznochintsy, characterized by their diverse backgrounds outside the nobility. Their emergence is a significant cultural shift, as they bring a fresh, aggressive voice to Russian literature and thought, exemplified by figures like Bazarov in Ivan Turgenev’s “Fathers and Sons,” who embodies the nihilistic rejection of established norms and an embrace of rational, scientific inquiry.

The chapter further explores the social and political undercurrents of the time, highlighting spontaneous public demonstrations that began to occur, such as the unprecedented march of students and faculty across the Neva River. Berman observes that these acts of public defiance symbolize the burgeoning demand for political space and dialogue, challenging the autocratic status quo. Berman specifically points to a revolutionary shift in the perception of public spaces like the Nevsky Prospect, which transition from mere urban landscapes to arenas of political expression and contestation.

Berman additionally discusses Nikolai Chernyshevsky’s “What Is to Be Done?” as an influential work that envisions a radical restructuring of society through the lens of “new people.” Through a blend of utopian socialism and rational egoism, Chernyshevsky’s novel promotes the idea of communal living and the eradication of traditional institutions in favor of a scientifically organized society, reflecting the deep yearning for an alternative to the oppressive social hierarchy of the time.

In this chapter, Berman describes a moment of profound change in Russia, where the push for modernization, the clash of new ideas against the old order, and the awakening of a politically active society illustrate the complex dynamics of progress and resistance. He reflects on the transformative power of public spaces as sites of collective action and the role of intellectual movements in shaping the trajectory toward modernity.

In the concluding chapter of Part 4, Berman synthesizes the distinctive modern traditions that arose from St. Petersburg’s attempt at modernization within a largely traditional societal context. This chapter underscores the city’s role as a living symbol of modernity, manifesting through its unique blend of literary and political experimentation driven by the populace’s response to top-down modernization efforts. St. Petersburg, in Berman’s analysis, becomes a crucible for innovative forms of modernization initiated from the grassroots level, reflecting a vibrant interplay between the city’s spatial reality and the political aspirations of its inhabitants.

Central to Berman’s argument is the figure of the “little man”—a trope representing the ordinary individuals whose lives are marked by contradictions and paradoxes typical of the modern urban experience. These characters, who embody Nietzsche’s concept of “state nomads without home,” find themselves deeply connected to the city that simultaneously alienates and roots them. They navigate through the complexities of urban life, confronting alienation and engaging in public acts of defiance that claim their right to the city. Through these actions, they assert a collective identity and challenge the autocratic forces, illustrating the transformative potential of collective action in urban spaces.

Berman captures how these individuals, despite their internal struggles and societal pressures, are capable of momentous acts of moral imagination and courage. These acts, though fleeting, leave a lasting impact on the city’s collective consciousness, inspiring future generations. The chapter draws parallels between St. Petersburg’s historical experience and the contemporary challenges faced by cities in developing nations, suggesting that the Petersburg tradition offers valuable insights into navigating the complexities of modern urban life.

By highlighting the city as a site of continuous clash and fusion between different forms of modernity, Berman posits St. Petersburg as a microcosm of the global urban experience. He concludes that the tradition of symbolic action and interaction that emerged from St. Petersburg’s streets can empower modern citizens to become more engaged and “alive” within the ever-shifting urban landscape.