The Ichneumon and the Cockatrice in medieval bestiaries and their portrayal in “The Crocodile” by Dostoyevsky
Abstract
Among the numerous scenes from the wildlife depicted in medieval bestiaries, the sempiternal struggle between the mongoose (or ichneumon) and the crocodile (or cockatrice) was often used in medieval times as a metaphor to magnify the figure of Christ. Interestingly, in his short story “The Crocodile” (1865), Fyodor Dostoyevsky echoes this anecdote, including it momentarily in his story to allude to one of its main characters, Ivan Matveyevich, in parodic and caustic style. This paper aims at analysing the origin and meaning of the ichneumon, as well as of its inseparable mate, the crocodile, in order to offer a more insightful view of the reasons for which the Russian author might have included them in his narration, as well as to better understand the significance achieved by their presence in the tale.
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