برادران کارامازوف

به‌راستی می‌توان گفت که برادران کارامازوف نوشته داستایفسکی یکی از بزرگ‌ترین و مهم‌ترین رمان‌های تمام دوران باشد. توصیف داستایفسکی از برادران کارامازوف و اتفاقات داستان، پرسش‌هایی در مورد حاکمیت خدا، جایگاه رنج در جهان، اخلاقیات رو به زوال انسانی و رستگاری از طریق رنج را بازگو می‌کند. این کتاب را داستایفسکی در سال 1880 منتشر کرد، یک سال پیش از مرگش. او در جایی گفته بود: «قبل از مرگم، خوشحال می‌شوم بتوانم این رمان را به پایان برسانم، زیرا می‌توانم کاملا خود را بیان کنم.» این کتاب خلاصه‌ای از زندگی و افکار او را در بر می‌گیرد و قطعاً سزاوار آن است که در دسته کتاب‌های کلاسیک جای گیرد.

در رمان برادران کارامازوف، ما پنج مرد را می‌بینیم که تلاش می‌کنند از نقطه نظر خود معنی زندگی را پیدا کنند و به دنبال رضایت و کنترل احساساتی که آنها را به سمت عذاب و گناه می‌کشاند، باشند. آنها ظاهراً سرانجامی ملعون شده دارند، هر کدام از پسران تلاش می‌کنند تا از سرنوشت ژنتیکی خود فرار کنند. با این وجود به نظر می‌رسد خانواده در حال فروپاشی اخلاقی است، زیرا آنها نقشه نابودی پدر را در سر دارند.

به طور کلی، موارد زیادی وجود دارد که بتوان با داستان ارتباط برقرار کرد. بخش‌هایی از کتاب وجود دارد که در آن مواضع فلسفی و الهیات، بسیار محکم و قابل استدلال بیان شده و خواننده احساس می‌کند که باید چندین بار آنها را بخواند تا بتواند عمق معانی آن را درک کند.

برادران کارامازوف در برخی موارد، خوانشی دشوار دارد و مواقعی بسیار فریبنده می‌نماید. همانطور که همیشه در آثار فئودور داستایفسکی، عمق تفکر پشت پرسش‌های فلسفی پنهان شده و آن چیزی است که رمان‌های او را برجسته می‌کند. این طرح به عنوان پایه فلسفه داستایفسکی عمل می‌کند، اینکه ما چرا اراده آزاد داریم؟ آیا خدا وجود دارد؟ چرا انسان باید رنج بکشد؟ طبیعت انسان چیست؟ آیا دلیلی برای محدودیت انسان وجود دارد؟ آیا ما قوانین اخلاقی را محدود می‌کنیم؟ چگونه شادی را به دست آوریم؟

چه کسی، پس از خواندن رمان برادران کارامازوف، می‌تواند فئودور پاولوویچ، پدر بیچاره و هوسران خانواده کارامازوف را فراموش کند؟ یا ایوان، پسر عاقل و سرد او را که از اعتقادش به خدا رها شده؟ یا افسر ستوان دمیتری فیودورویچ که بیش از همه با پدر مخالف است؟ و البته، آلیوشا یا آلکسی، پسر خوب داستان که به خدا اعتقاد دارد، اما در متوقف کردن برادرانش ناتوان است؟ توصیفات داستایفسکی از دیگر شخصیت‌های رمان همانند کاترینا، گروشنکا، زوسیما (پدر روحانی) و اسمردیاکوف نیز به همان اندازه قانع کننده است.

البته، برادران کارامازوف عمدتا وسیله‌ای برای داستایفسکی برای کشف برخی ایده‌های اساسی هستند. این ایده‌ها به طور کامل بر وضعیت انسانی و ماجرای کتاب نفوذ می‌کنند تا او بتواند از پرسش‌هایی سخت که برای مخاطب طرح می‌شود، راهکاری واقع بینانه بدست آورد. فئودور داستایفسکی از طریق مکالمات بین برادران و همچنین استدلال‌های آنها در دادگاه، خواننده را دعوت می‌کند تا در مورد هر چیزی در زندگی، خویشتن را با چالش‌های گوناگون روبرو کند.

کتاب برادران کارامازوف چند جلد است؟

ترجمه‌های زیادی از این شاهکار داستایفسکی انجام گرفته است که همگی برگردان نسخه انگلیسی آن بوده‌اند. با اینکه تاکنون از نسخه روسی کتاب ترجمه‌ای صورت نگرفته است، ولی بهترین ترجمه از کتاب برادران کارامازوف توسط صالح حسینی انجام شده که در دو جلد از انتشارات ناهید قابل تهیه است.

 برای دانلود نسخه الکترونیکی کتاب برادران کارامازوف به سایت فیدیبو مراجعه کنید، همچنین اگر از گوش فرا دادن به داستان بیشتر از خواندن لذت می‌برید، خرید آنلاین نسخه کامل و یا خلاصه برادران کارامازوف را در قالب کتاب صوتی پیشنهاد می‌دهیم.

بخشی از کتاب برادران کارامازوف

«همه‌اش دروغ است! به ظاهر راست است! اما در باطن دروغ است!» دمیتری از خشم می‌لرزید. «پدر، من عمل خودم را توجیه نمی‌کنم، آری، در حضور جمع به آن اعتراف می‌کنم، نسبت به آن سروان ددمنشانه رفتار کردم، و حالا از آن پشیمانم، و برای خشم ددمنشانه‌ام از خودم بیزارم. اما این سروان، همین نماینده جنابعالی، نزد همان بانویی رفت که ساحره‌اش می‌نامی، و از جانب تو به او پیشنهاد کرد سفته‌های مرا که در اختیار توست بگیرد تا، در صورتی که حساب اموالم را از تو بخواهم، به دادگاه شکایت کند و از بابت سفته‌ها به زندانم بیندازد. و حالا سرزنشم می‌کنی که آن بانو دلم را ربوده است، حال آنکه تو بودی که او را برانگیختی دلم را برباید! خودش توی چشمم این طور گفت. داستان برایم گفت و به تو خندید! می‌خواستی به زندانم بیاندازی چون حسودیت م‌ شود که با اویم، چون بنا کرده بودی در جلب اجباری نظر او؛ از این هم خبر دارم؛ برای همین هم به تو خندید – می‌شنوی – داستان را تعریف که می‌کرد، به تو می‌خندید. ای پدر مقدس، این مرد را باشید، این پدر را که پسر بی‌بندوبارش را سرزنش می‌کند! آقایان، خشمم را بر من ببخشایید، اما پیش بینی می‌کردم که این پیرمرد حقه باز شما را دور هم جمع کرده است تا رسوایی به بار آورد. آمده بودم دستم را پیش بیاورم و او را ببخشم؛ او را ببخشم و تقاضای عفو کنم! اما حالا که در همین لحظه نه تنها به من که به بانویی آبرومند توهین کرده، بانویی که برایش چنان احترام قائلم که جرئت ندارم اسمش را بیهوده به زبان بیاورم، تصمیم گرفته‌ام دستش را رو کنم، هر چند که پدرم است!»

جملات زیبا از کتاب برادران کارامازوف

«بالاتر از همه، به خودت دروغ نگو. مردی که به خود دروغ می‌گوید و به دروغ خود گوش می‌دهد، به نقطه‌ای می‌رسد که نمی‌تواند حقیقت را درون خود یا در اطرافش تشخیص دهد و بنابراین تمام احترام خود را برای خویشتن و دیگران از دست می‌دهد و بدون هیچ احترامی عشق را متوقف می‌کند.»

«شما به اندازه افراد غنی و قدرتمند حق دارید. دریغ نکنید تا نیازهایتان را برآورده کنید؛ در واقع، نیازهای خود را گسترش دهید و بیشتر درخواست کنید. این دکترین دنیای امروز است و آنها بر این باورند که این آزادی است. نتیجه برای غنی انزوا و خودکشی، برای فقرا حسادت و قتل است.»

«می‌توانم خورشید را ببینم، اما حتی اگر من خورشید را نبینم، می‌دانم که آن وجود دارد. بدانید که خورشید وجود دارد - این زندگی است.»

«خدا و شیطان در آنجا می‌جنگند و میدان جنگ قلب انسان است.»

«این آخرین پیام من برای شماست: در غم و اندوه، در طلب شادی باش.»

«علاوه بر این، امروزه، تقریبا تمام افراد توانا وحشیانه از مضحک بودن می‌ترسند و از این جهت بدبخت هستند.»

درباره نویسنده کتاب برادران کارامازوف

فئودور داستایفسکی (1821-1881) رمان‌نویس روسی و روزنامه‌نگاری بود که نفوذ روانشناختی او به روح انسانی تاثیر زیادی بر رمان قرن بیستم گذاشت.

فئودور در مسکو به عنوان دومین پسر پزشکی ارتشی متولد شد. دوران تحصیل خود را در خانه و مدارس خصوصی گذراند. بلافاصله پس از مرگ مادرش در سال 1837 او به سن پترزبورگ فرستاده شد، جایی که وارد کالج مهندسی ارتش شد. در سال 1839، پدرش نیز فوت کرد.

داستایفسکی به عنوان مهندس نظامی فارغ التحصیل شد، اما در سال 1844 استعفا داد تا تمام زمان خود را به نوشتن اختصاص دهد. اولین رمانش، بیچارگان (مردم فقیر) در سال 1846 منتشر شد.

در سال 1846، او به گروهی از سوسیالیست‌ها پیوست و در سال 1849 دستگیر و به اعدام محکوم شد. این حکم به زندان در سیبری تغییر یافت. داستایفسکی چهار سال کار سخت را به عنوان سرباز در سمی‌پالاتینسک (در قزاقستان امروزی) گذراند. سپس در سال 1854 به عنوان نویسنده‌ای با مأموریت مذهبی به سنت پترزبورگ بازگشت و سه اثر را که از تجربیات زندگی گذشته‌اش بود را به رشته تحریر درآورد.

در سال 1857 با ماریا ایسایوا، بیوه 29 ساله ازدواج کرد. او دو سال بعد از ارتش استعفا داد. بین سال‌های 1861 و 1863 به عنوان سردبیر در نشریه‌ای مشغول به کار شد که بعدها به دلیل مقاله‌ای در باب قیام لهستان بسته شد. در سال‌های 1864-65 همسر و برادرش فوت شدند و زندگی او در این زمان‌ها با قمار و انواع و اقسام بدهی و فقر مالی همراه بود.

فئودور در سال 1867 دوباره ازدواج کرد، این‌بار با دختری 22 ساله به نام آنا اسنیتکینا. آنها به خارج از کشور سفر کردند و دوباره در سال 1871 به وطن بازگشتند. در زمانی که رمان برادران کارامازوف در سال‌های 1879-80 منتشر شد، فئودور داستایفسکی در کشورش به عنوان نویسنده‌ای بزرگ و قابل احترام شناخته می‌شد. او که در تمام طول زندگی‌اش از بیماری صرع رنج می‌برد، در 9 سپتامبر 1881 بر اثر خون‌ریزی در سن پترزبورگ درگذشت.

سایر آثار فئودور داستايفسكی‌

شب های روشن

بیچارگان

همزاد

نیه توچکا

رویای عمو جان

جنایت و مکافات

قمارباز

ابله

همیشه شوهر

جن‌زدگان

فیلم برادران کارامازوف

تاکنون 6 فیلم از رمان برادران کارامازوف ساخته شده است که هیچ کدام حتی سایه‌ای از اثر درخشان فئودور داستایفسکی را در خود ندارد. فیلم‌ها به شرح زیر است:

- برادران کارامازوف (1921) – ساخت آلمان

- مرگ دمیتری کارامازوف (1931) – ساخت آلمان

- برادران کارامازوف (1947) – ساخت ایتالیا

- برادران کارامازوف (1958) – ساخت آمریکا

- برادران کارامازوف (1969) – ساخت شوروری

- کارامازوف‌ها (2008) – ساخت جمهوری چک

فیلم سال 1958 ساخت هالیوود از دیگران مشهورتر است. با اینکه به هیچ عنوان جزئیات شاهکار داستایفسکی قابل به تصویر کشیدن نیست و به عبارتی تصویر عمق معنایی کتاب را نمایان نمی‌کند، ولی «ریچارد بروکس» در این فیلم تمام نیروی خود را برای ساخت اثری هالیوودی به نمایش می‌گذارد. فیلم او صحنه ‌باشکوهی دارد که تعادل کامل احساسات، موسیقی و تصویر را نشان می‌دهد. خانواده‌ای کولی در حال نواختن موسیقی هستند و «ماریا شل» که نقش گرونشا را بازی می‌کند، در دایره‌ای که همیشه در حال تردید است، می‌رقصد. در این بین «یول براینر» که نقش دمیتری را بر عهده دارد در حال تماشای اوست. این صحنه 2 دقیقه طول می‌کشد، اما ریچارد بروکس کارگردان، توانسته لحظه‌ای ابدی را ثبت کند.

کلام آخر

اگر به ادبیات کلاسیک علاقه دارید، رمان برادران کارامازوف را بخوانید. فئودور داستایفسکی تمام جنبه‌ها انسانی را در اثری جذاب با ساختاری پیچیده و عاطفی مدیریت می‌کند و در پیچ و تاب روایتش، نمایشی از فضیلت‌های روحانی و بحران‌های روحی آدمی را به رشته تحریر در می‌آورد. هر کسی که می‌خواهد با هزارتوی درون خویش روبرو شود، باید این کتاب را بخواند و دوباره آن را بخواند. بی‌تردید، آخرین اثر داستایفسکی یکی از بزرگ‌ترین رمان‌های تاریخ ادبیات جهان است.

The Brothers Karamazov (Russian: Братья Карамазовы, Brat'ya Karamazovy, pronounced [ˈbratʲjə kərɐˈmazəvɨ]), also translated as The Karamazov Brothers, is the last novel by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. Dostoevsky spent nearly two years writing The Brothers Karamazov, which was published as a serial in The Russian Messenger from January 1879 to November 1880. Dostoevsky died less than four months after its publication.

Set in 19th-century Russia, The Brothers Karamazov is a passionate philosophical novel that enters deeply into questions of God, free will, and morality. It is a theological drama dealing with problems of faith, doubt, and reason in the context of a modernizing Russia, with a plot that revolves around the subject of patricide. Dostoevsky composed much of the novel in Staraya Russa, which inspired the main setting.[1] It has been acclaimed as one of the supreme achievements in world literature.

Contents

• 1Background
• 2Major characters
• 2.1Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov
• 2.2Dmitri Fyodorovich Karamazov
• 2.3Ivan Fyodorovich Karamazov
• 2.4Alexei Fyodorovich Karamazov
• 2.5Pavel Fyodorovich Smerdyakov
• 2.6Agrafena Alexandrovna Svetlova
• 2.7Katerina Ivanovna Verkhovtseva
• 2.8Father Zosima, the Elder
• 2.9Ilyusha
• 3Synopsis
• 3.1Book One: A Nice Little Family
• 3.2Book Two: An Inappropriate Gathering
• 3.3Book Three: Sensualists
• 3.4Book Four: Lacerations/Strains
• 3.5Book Five: Pro and Contra
• 3.6Book Six: The Russian Monk
• 3.7Book Seven: Alyosha
• 3.8Book Eight: Mitya
• 3.9Book Nine: The Preliminary Investigation
• 3.10Book Ten: Boys
• 3.11Book Eleven: Brother Ivan Fyodorovich
• 3.12Book Twelve: A Judicial Error
• 3.13Epilogue
• 4Themes
• 4.1Faith and atheism
• 4.2Freedom and mechanistic psychology
• 5Style
• 6Influence
• 7Translations
• 7.1Peter France
• 7.2List of English translations
• 8Adaptations
• 8.1Film
• 8.2Television
• 9Explanatory notes
• 10References
• 10.1Citations
• 10.2General bibliography
• 11External links

Background[edit]

Optina Monastery served as a spiritual center for Russia in the 19th century and inspired many aspects of The Brothers Karamazov.

Although Dostoevsky began his first notes for The Brothers Karamazov in April 1878, the novel incorporated elements and themes from an earlier unfinished project he had begun in 1869 entitled The Life of a Great Sinner.[2] Another unfinished project, Drama in Tobolsk (Драма. В Тобольске), is considered to be the first draft of the first chapter of The Brothers Karamazov. Dated 13 September 1874, it tells of a fictional murder in Staraya Russa committed by a praporshchik named Dmitry Ilynskov (based on a real soldier from Omsk), who is thought to have murdered his father. It goes on to note that the father's body was suddenly discovered in a pit under a house.[3] The similarly unfinished Sorokoviny (Сороковины), dated 1 August 1875, is reflected in book IX, chapter 3–5 and book XI, chapter nine.[4]

In the October 1877 Writer's Diary article "To the Reader", Dostoevsky mentions a "literary work that has imperceptibly and involuntarily been taking shape within me over these two years of publishing the Diary." The Diary covered a multitude of themes and issues, some of which would be explored in greater depth in The Brothers Karamazov. These include patricide, law and order, and a variety of social problems.[5]

The writing of The Brothers Karamazov was altered by a personal tragedy: in May 1878, Dostoevsky's 3-year-old son Alyosha died of epilepsy,[6] a condition inherited from his father. The novelist's grief is apparent throughout the book. Dostoevsky named the hero Alyosha, as well as imbuing him with qualities that he sought and most admired. His loss is also reflected in the story of Captain Snegiryov and his young son Ilyusha.

The death of his son brought Dostoevsky to the Optina Monastery later that year. There he found inspiration for several aspects of The Brothers Karamazov, though at the time he intended to write a novel about childhood instead. Parts of the biographical section of Zosima's life are based on "The Life of the Elder Leonid", a text he found at Optina and copied "almost word for word."[7]

Major characters[edit]

Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov[edit]

Main article: Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov

Fyodor Pavlovich, a 55-year-old sensualist and buffoon, is the father of three sons—Dmitri, Ivan and Alexei—from two marriages. He is rumored to have also fathered an illegitimate son, Pavel Fyodorovich Smerdyakov, whom he employs as his servant. Fyodor Pavlovich takes no interest in any of his sons, who are, as a result, raised apart from each other and their father. The relationship between Fyodor and his adult sons drives much of the plot in the novel.

Dmitri Fyodorovich Karamazov[edit]

Dmitri Fyodorovich (often referred to as Mitya) is Fyodor Karamazov's eldest son and the only offspring of his first marriage, with Adelaida Ivanovna Miusov. Dmitri is considered to be a sensualist, like his father, and regularly indulges in champagne-drinking and carousing. Dmitri is brought into contact with his family when he finds himself in need of his inheritance, which he believes is being withheld by his father. He was engaged to be married to Katerina Ivanovna, but breaks that off after falling in love with Grushenka. Dmitri's relationship with his father is the most volatile of the brothers, escalating to violence as he and his father begin fighting over his inheritance and Grushenka. While he maintains a relationship with Ivan, he is closest to his younger brother Alyosha, referring to him as his "cherub".

The character of Dimitri was initially inspired by a convict, D.I. Ilyinsky, whom Dostoevsky met while in prison in Siberia. Ilyinsky, who is described in Dostoevsky's memoir-novel Notes From the House of the Dead as "always in the liveliest, merriest spirits", was in prison for murdering his father in order to obtain his inheritance, although he always steadfastly maintained his innocence. He was later freed after another man confessed to the crime.[8]

Ivan Fyodorovich Karamazov[edit]

Ivan Fyodorovich (sometimes also referred to as Vanya) is the 24-year-old middle son, and the first from Fyodor Pavlovich's second marriage. Ivan is reserved and aloof, but also intellectually brilliant. His dictum "if there is no God, everything is lawful" is a recurring motif in the novel. At first, Ivan seems not to have much time for his brother Alyosha, but later their bond and mutual affection deepens. However, he finds his father repulsive, and also has a strong antipathy towards Dmitri. Ivan falls in love with Katerina Ivanovna, who was Dmitri's betrothed, but she does not start to return his feelings until the end. Fyodor Pavlovich tells Alyosha that he fears Ivan more than he fears Dmitri.

Some of the most memorable and acclaimed passages of the novel involve Ivan, including the chapters "Rebellion" and "The Grand Inquisitor" from Book V (Pro and Contra), and the three conversations with Smerdyakov and the subsequent chapter "Ivan's nightmare of the devil" in Book XI (Ivan). The book entitled "Pro and Contra" is primarily about "the inner debate taking place in Ivan between his recognition of the moral sublimity of the Christian ideal and his outrage against a universe of pain and suffering."[9] Ivan's rejection of God is posited in terms of the Christian value of compassion—the value that Dostoevsky himself (through the character of Prince Myshkin in The Idiot) called "the chief and perhaps the only law of all human existence."[9] Thus Ivan's rejection of God is justified by the very principle at the heart of Christianity. For Ivan the absurdity of all human history is proven by the senselessness of the suffering of children: if reason or rationality is the measure, God's world cannot be accepted. All the examples Ivan gives of horrors perpetrated against children were taken by Dostoevsky from actual newspaper accounts and historical sources.[10]

Alexei Fyodorovich Karamazov[edit]

Main article: Alexei Fyodorovich Karamazov

Alexei Fyodorovich (often referred to as Alyosha) is, at age 20, the youngest of the brothers. He is the second child of Fyodor Pavlovich's second wife, Sofya Ivanovna, and is thus Ivan's full brother. The narrator identifies him as the hero of the novel in the opening chapter, as does the author in the preface. At the outset of the events, Alyosha is a novice in the local Russian Orthodox monastery. His faith is in contrast to his brother Ivan's atheism. The Elder, Father Zosima, who is a father figure and spiritual guide to Alyosha throughout the book, sends him into the world, where he becomes involved with the extreme personalities and fraught relationships in his family and elsewhere. At all times he acts as a compassionate and insightful peace maker, and is loved by virtually everyone.

In creating the character of Alyosha, Dostoevsky was in large part addressing himself to the contemporary Russian radical youth, as a positive alternative to the atheistic approach to justice and attainment of the good. Alyosha embodies the same aspiration to a society governed by goodness and compassion that is contained in the Socialist ideal, but not divorced from faith in God, from faith in the immortality of the soul in God, or from the Orthodox Christian tradition in Russia.[11]

Pavel Fyodorovich Smerdyakov[edit]

Pavel Fyodorovich Smerdyakov is the son of "Reeking Lizaveta", a mute woman of the street who died alone giving birth to the child in Fyodor Pavlovich's bathhouse: the name "Smerdyakov" means "son of the reeking one". He is rumored to be the illegitimate son of Fyodor Pavlovich. He was brought up by Fyodor Pavlovich's trusted servant Grigory Vasilievich and his wife Marfa. Grigory tutored him and attempted to give him religious instruction, but Smerdyakov responded with ingratitude and derision. On one occasion Grigory had struck him violently across the face: a week later Smerdyakov had his first epileptic seizure. The narrator notes that as a child, Smerdyakov was fond of hanging cats and giving them ritualistic burials. Grigory told him: "You're not human. You're the spawn of the mildew on the bathhouse wall, that's who you are"—a remark for which Smerdyakov never forgave him. Smerdyakov becomes part of the Karamazov household as a servant, working as Fyodor Pavlovich's lackey and cook. Generally contemptuous of others, Smerdyakov admires Ivan and shares his atheism. Despite his evident shrewdness, other characters—particularly Ivan, Dimitri and Fyodor Pavlovich—underestimate his intelligence.

Character namesRussian and romanizationFirst name, nicknamePatronymicFamily nameФёдор

FyódorПа́влович

PávlovichКарама́зов

KaramázovДми́трий, Ми́тя

Dmítry, MítyaФёдорович

FyódorovichИва́н, Ва́ня

Iván, VányaАлексе́й, Алёша

Alekséy, AlyóshaПа́вел

PávelСмердяко́в

SmerdyakóvАграфе́на, Гру́шенька

Agraféna, GrúshenkaАлекса́ндровна

AleksándrovnaСветло́ва

SvetlóvaКатери́на, Ка́тя

Katerína, KátyaИва́новна

IvánovnaВерхо́вцева

VerkhóvtsevaИлья́, Илю́ша

Ilyá, IlyúshaНикола́евич

NikoláyevichСнегирёв

Snegiryóvста́рец Зо́сима

stárets ZósimaAn acute accent marks the stressed syllable.

Agrafena Alexandrovna Svetlova[edit]

Agrafena Alexandrovna Svetlova, usually referred to as 'Grushenka', is a beautiful and fiery 22-year-old woman with an uncanny charm for men. In her youth she was jilted by a Polish officer and subsequently came under the protection of a tyrannical miser. The episode leaves Grushenka with an urge for independence and control of her life. Grushenka inspires complete admiration and lust in both Fyodor and Dmitri Karamazov. Their rivalry for her affection becomes the main focus of their conflict, a state of affairs that Grushenka is happy to take advantage of for her own satisfaction and amusement. Belatedly, she realizes that she truly loves Dimitri, and becomes ashamed of her cruelty. Her growing friendship with Alyosha leads her toward a path of spiritual redemption, and hidden qualities of gentleness and generosity emerge, though her fiery temper and pride remain intact.

Katerina Ivanovna Verkhovtseva[edit]

Katerina Ivanovna (sometimes referred to as Katya) is Dmitri's beautiful fiancée, despite his open forays with Grushenka. Her engagement to Dmitri is chiefly a matter of pride on both their parts, Dmitri having bailed her father out of a debt. Katerina is extremely proud and seeks to act as a noble martyr. Because of this, she cannot bring herself to act on her love for Ivan, and constantly creates moral barriers between him and herself.

Father Zosima, the Elder[edit]

Father Zosima is an Elder and spiritual advisor (starets) in the town monastery and Alyosha's teacher. He is something of a celebrity among the townspeople for his reputed prophetic and healing abilities. His spiritual status inspires both admiration and jealousy among his fellow monks. Zosima provides a refutation to Ivan's atheistic arguments and helps to explain Alyosha's character. Zosima's teachings shape the way Alyosha deals with the young boys he meets in the Ilyusha storyline.

Dostoevsky's intent with the character of Zosima (as with Alyosha) was to portray the Church as a positive social ideal. The character was to some extent based on Father Ambrose of the Optina Monastery, who Dostoevsky had met on a visit to the monastery in 1878. For Zosima's teachings in Book VI, "The Russian Monk", Dostoevsky wrote that the prototype is taken from certain teachings of Tikhon of Zadonsk and "the naïveté of style from the monk Parfeny's book of wanderings".[12] The style and tone in Book VI, where Zosima narrates, is markedly different from the rest of the novel. V. L. Komarovich suggests that the rhythm of the prose is "a departure from all the norms of modern syntax, and at the same time imparts to the entire narration a special, emotional colouring of ceremonial and ideal tranquility."[13]

Ilyusha[edit]

Ilyusha (sometimes called Ilyushechka) is a local schoolboy, and the central figure of a crucial subplot in the novel. Dimitri assaults and humiliates his father, the impoverished officer Captain Snegiryov, who has been hired by Fyodor Pavlovich to threaten Dmitri over his debts, and the Snegiryov family is brought to shame as a result.

Synopsis[edit]

Book One: A Nice Little Family[edit]

The opening of the novel introduces the Karamazov family and relates the story of their distant and recent past. The details of Fyodor Pavlovich's two marriages, as well as his indifference to the upbringing of his three children, is chronicled. The narrator also establishes the widely varying personalities of the three brothers and the circumstances that have led to their return to their father's town. The first book concludes by describing the mysterious Eastern Orthodox tradition of the Elders. Alyosha has become devoted to the Elder at the local monastery.

Book Two: An Inappropriate Gathering[edit]

Book Two begins as the Karamazov family arrives at the monastery so that the Elder Zosima can act as a mediator between Dmitri and his father in their dispute over the inheritance. It was the father's idea, apparently as a joke, to have the meeting take place in such a holy place in the presence of the famous Elder. Fyodor Pavlovich's deliberately insulting and provocative behaviour destroys any chance of conciliation, and the meeting only results in intensified hatred and a scandal. This book also contains a scene in which the Elder Zosima consoles a woman mourning the death of her three-year-old son. The poor woman's grief parallels Dostoevsky's own tragedy at the loss of his young son Alyosha.

Book Three: Sensualists[edit]

An original page of book 3, chapter 3 of The Brothers Karamazov

The third book provides more details of the love triangle among Fyodor Pavlovich, his son Dmitri, and Grushenka. Dmitri hides near his father's home to see if Grushenka will arrive. His personality is explored in a long conversation with Alyosha. Later that evening, Dmitri bursts into his father's house and assaults him. As he leaves, he threatens to come back and kill him. This book also introduces Smerdyakov and his origins, as well as the story of his mother, Lizaveta Smerdyashchaya. At the conclusion of this book, Alyosha is witness to Grushenka's humiliation of Dmitri's betrothed Katerina Ivanovna.

Book Four: Lacerations/Strains[edit]

This section introduces a side story which resurfaces in more detail later in the novel. It begins with Alyosha observing a group of schoolboys throwing rocks at one of their sickly peers named Ilyusha. When Alyosha admonishes the boys and tries to help, Ilyusha bites Alyosha's finger. It is later learned that Ilyusha's father, a former staff-captain named Snegiryov, was assaulted by Dmitri, who dragged him by the beard out of a bar. Alyosha soon learns of the further hardships present in the Snegiryov household and offers the former staff captain money as an apology for his brother and to help Snegiryov's ailing wife and children. After initially accepting the money with joy, Snegiryov throws it to the ground and stomps it into the mud, before running back into his home.

Book Five: Pro and Contra[edit]

Here, the rationalist and nihilistic ideology that permeated Russia at this time is defended and espoused by Ivan Karamazov while meeting his brother Alyosha at a restaurant. In the chapter titled "Rebellion", Ivan proclaims that he rejects the world that God has created because it is built on a foundation of suffering. In perhaps the most famous chapter in the novel, "The Grand Inquisitor", Ivan narrates to Alyosha his imagined poem that describes an encounter between a leader from the Spanish Inquisition and Jesus, who has made his return to Earth. The opposition between reason and faith is dramatised and symbolised in a forceful monologue of the Grand Inquisitor who, having ordered the arrest of Jesus, visits him in prison at night.

Why hast Thou come now to hinder us? For Thou hast come to hinder us, and Thou knowest that...We are working not with Thee but with him [Satan]...We took from him what Thou didst reject with scorn, that last gift he offered Thee, showing Thee all the kingdoms of the earth. We took from him Rome and the sword of Caesar, and proclaimed ourselves sole rulers of the earth...We shall triumph and shall be Caesars, and then we shall plan the universal happiness of man.

The Grand Inquisitor accuses Jesus of having inflicted on humankind the "burden" of free will. At the end of the Grand Inquisitor's lengthy arguments, Jesus silently steps forward and kisses the old man on the lips. The Inquisitor, stunned and moved, tells him he must never come there again, and lets him out. Alyosha, after hearing the story, goes to Ivan and kisses him softly on the lips. Ivan shouts with delight. The brothers part with mutual affection and respect.

Book Six: The Russian Monk[edit]

The sixth book relates the life and history of the Elder Zosima as he lies near death in his cell. Zosima explains that he found his faith in his rebellious youth, after an unforgivable action toward his trusted servant, consequently deciding to become a monk. Zosima preaches people must forgive others by acknowledging their own sins and guilt before others. He explains that no sin is isolated, making everyone responsible for their neighbor's sins. Zosima represents a philosophy that responds to Ivan's, which had challenged God's creation in the previous book.

Book Seven: Alyosha[edit]

The book begins immediately following the death of Zosima. It is a commonly held perception in the town and the monastery that true holy men's bodies are incorrupt, i.e., they do not succumb to putrefaction. Thus, the expectation concerning the Elder Zosima is that his deceased body will not decompose. It therefore comes as a great shock that Zosima's body not only decays, but begins the process almost immediately following his death. Within the first day, the smell is already unbearable. For many this calls into question their previous respect and admiration for Zosima. Alyosha is particularly devastated by the sullying of Zosima's name due to nothing more than the corruption of his dead body. One of Alyosha's companions in the monastery—Rakitin—uses Alyosha's vulnerability to set up a meeting between him and Grushenka. However, instead of Alyosha becoming corrupted, he acquires new faith and hope from Grushenka, while Grushenka's troubled mind begins the path of spiritual redemption through his influence: they become close friends. The book ends with the spiritual regeneration of Alyosha as he embraces and kisses the earth outside the monastery (echoing, perhaps, Zosima's last earthly act before his death) and cries convulsively. Renewed, he goes back out into the world, as his Elder instructed.

Book Eight: Mitya[edit]

This section deals primarily with Dmitri's wild and distraught pursuit of money for the purpose of running away with Grushenka. Dmitri owes money to his fiancée Katerina Ivanovna, and will believe himself to be a thief if he does not find the money to pay her back before embarking on his quest for Grushenka. Dmitri approaches Grushenka's benefactor, Samsonov, who sends him to a neighboring town on a fabricated promise of a business deal. All the while Dmitri is petrified that Grushenka may go to his father and marry him because of his wealth and lavish promises. When Dmitri returns from his failed dealing in the neighboring town, he escorts Grushenka to her benefactor's home, but later discovers that she has deceived him and left early. Furious, he runs to his father's home with a brass pestle in his hand, and spies on him from the window. He takes the pestle from his pocket. There is a discontinuity in the action, and Dmitri is suddenly running from his father's property. The servant Gregory tries to stop him, yelling "Parricide!", but Dmitri hits him in the head with the pestle. Dmitri, thinking that he has killed the old man, tries to attend to the wound with his handkerchief, but gives up and runs away.

Dmitri is next seen in a daze on the street, covered in blood, with a pile of money in his hand. He soon learns that Grushenka's former betrothed has returned and taken her to a nearby lodge. Upon learning this, Dmitri loads a cart with food and wine and pays for a huge orgy to finally confront Grushenka in the presence of her old flame, intending all the while to kill himself at dawn. The "first and rightful lover" is a boorish Pole who cheats the party at a game of cards. When his deception is revealed, he flees, and Grushenka soon reveals to Dmitri that she really is in love with him. The party rages on, and just as Dmitri and Grushenka are making plans to marry, the police enter the lodge and inform Dmitri that he is under arrest for the murder of his father.

Book Nine: The Preliminary Investigation[edit]

Book Nine introduces the details of Fyodor Pavlovich's murder and describes the interrogation of Dmitri, who vigorously maintains his innocence. The alleged motive for the crime is robbery. Dmitri was known to have been completely destitute earlier that evening, but is suddenly seen with thousands of rubles shortly after his father's murder. Meanwhile, the three thousand rubles that Fyodor Pavlovich had set aside for Grushenka has disappeared. Dmitri explains that the money he spent that evening came from three thousand rubles that Katerina Ivanovna gave him to send to her sister. He spent half that at his first meeting with Grushenka—another drunken orgy—and sewed up the rest in a cloth, intending to give it back to Katerina Ivanovna. The investigators are not convinced by this. All of the evidence points toward Dmitri; the only other person in the house at the time of the murder, apart from Gregory and his wife, was Smerdyakov, who was incapacitated due to an epileptic seizure he suffered the day before. As a result of the overwhelming evidence against him, Dmitri is formally charged with the murder and taken away to prison to await trial.

Book Ten: Boys[edit]

Boys continues the story of the schoolboys and Ilyusha last referred to in Book Four. The book begins with the introduction of the young boy Kolya Krasotkin. Kolya is a brilliant boy who proclaims his atheism, socialism, and beliefs in the ideas of Europe. Dostoevsky uses Kolya's beliefs, especially in a conversation with Alyosha, to satirize his Westernizer critics by putting their words and beliefs in the mouth of a young boy who doesn't really understand what he is talking about. Kolya is bored with life and constantly torments his mother by putting himself in danger. As part of a prank Kolya lies between railroad tracks as a train passes over and becomes something of a legend for the feat. All the other boys look up to Kolya, especially Ilyusha. Since the narrative left Ilyusha in Book Four, his illness has progressively worsened and the doctor states that he will not recover. Kolya and Ilyusha had a falling out over Ilyusha's maltreatment of a local dog: Ilyusha had fed it a piece of bread in which he had placed a pin, at the bidding of Smerdyakov. But thanks to Alyosha's intervention the other schoolboys have gradually reconciled with Ilyusha, and Kolya soon joins them at his bedside. It is here that Kolya first meets Alyosha and begins to reassess his nihilist beliefs.

Book Eleven: Brother Ivan Fyodorovich[edit]

Book Eleven chronicles Ivan Fyodorovich's influence on those around him and his descent into madness. It is in this book that Ivan meets three times with Smerdyakov, desperately seeking to solve the riddle of the murder and whether Smerdyakov, and consequently he himself, had anything to do with it. In the final meeting Smerdyakov confesses that he had faked the fit, murdered Fyodor Pavlovich, and stolen the money, which he presents to Ivan. Smerdyakov expresses disbelief at Ivan's professed ignorance and surprise. Smerdyakov claims that Ivan was complicit in the murder by telling Smerdyakov when he would be leaving Fyodor Pavlovich's house, and more importantly by instilling in Smerdyakov the belief that, in a world without God, "everything is permitted." The book ends with Ivan having a hallucination in which he is visited by the devil, in the form of an idle and parasitic former 'gentleman', who torments him by personifying and caricaturing his thoughts and ideas. The nightmare is interrupted by a knocking at the window: it is Alyosha, who has come to inform him that Smerdyakov has hanged himself. Although the Devil disappears, Ivan remains in a delirium and converses irrationally. Alyosha is shocked at his brother's condition and tries to pacify him, but Ivan's raving becomes increasingly incoherent. Eventually he falls into a deep sleep.

Book Twelve: A Judicial Error[edit]

This book details the trial of Dmitri Karamazov for the murder of his father. The courtroom drama is sharply satirized by Dostoevsky. The men in the crowd are presented as resentful and spiteful, and the women as irrationally drawn to the romanticism of Dmitri's love triangle with Katerina and Grushenka. Ivan's madness takes its final hold over him and he is carried away from the courtroom after his attempt to give evidence about Smerdyakov descends into incomprehensible raving. The turning point in the trial is Katerina's damning testimony. Shocked by Ivan's madness, she passionately defends him and abandons her 'honourable' approach to Dimitri. She produces a letter drunkenly written by Dmitri saying that he would kill his father. The section concludes with lengthy and impassioned closing remarks from the prosecutor and the defence counsel and the verdict that Dmitri is guilty.

Epilogue[edit]

The final section opens with discussion of a plan developed for Dmitri's escape from his sentence of twenty years of hard labor in Siberia. The plan is never fully described, but it seems to involve Ivan and Katerina bribing some guards. Alyosha cautiously approves, because he feels that Dmitri is not emotionally ready to submit to such a harsh sentence, that he is innocent, and that no guards or officers would suffer for aiding the escape. Dmitri and Grushenka plan to escape to Amer