Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov is an intricate display of the depravity present in all humanity. Often either the characters or the narrator comments on how they themselves are in love with depraved or tragic situations. Questions of faith in the divine are often brought up as a way to condemn or justify behavior. Ultimately, Dostoevsky creates a universe, not unlike reality, in which moral corruption runs rampant with or without the presence of a Higher Power. However, Dostoevsky offers slight hope in the way of the Karamazov family. While many of characters outside of the Karamazov blood line equate the last name with indecency, deceit, and debauchery, Dostoevsky seems to imply a definition that serves as a harsh juxtaposition with these
…show more content…
However, the author also describes this process proceeding at different speeds for each of the brothers. The opening of the novel portrays Alexei Fyodorovich Karamazov as “an early lover of mankind,” (Dostoevsky, 18). Before the major events of the novel Alexie has already faced his suffering assigned to all Karamazov’s by “struggling with the darkness of worldly wickedness” (Dostoevsky, 18). He has chosen the path of a monk as an attempt to accept the will of God in an effort to walk “towards the light of love” (Dostoevsky, 18). The novel mainly focuses on Alexie’s struggle to have faith in humanity. Instead of reaching his love out into the world, Alexie was “prepared to shut himself up in [the monastery] for the rest of his life,” (Dostoevsky, 18). When Alexie is first introduced, he was not able to separate “worldly wickedness” from humanity. These feelings are especially apparent during his family’s first meeting with the elder Zosima. As his family met with the elder to discuss the inheritance dispute, their actions caused the “blood to rush to Alyosha’s cheeks,” because his “forebodings were beginning to come true,” (Dostoevsky, 39). The sin present in all humanity, most clearly in his family, causes him great shame. Alexie had so little faith in
However, the author also describes this process proceeding at different speeds for each of the brothers. The opening of the novel portrays Alexei Fyodorovich Karamazov as “an early lover of mankind,” (Dostoevsky, 18). Before the major events of the novel Alexie has already faced his suffering assigned to all Karamazov’s by “struggling with the darkness of worldly wickedness” (Dostoevsky, 18). He has chosen the path of a monk as an attempt to accept the will of God in an effort to walk “towards the light of love” (Dostoevsky, 18). The novel mainly focuses on Alexie’s struggle to have faith in humanity. Instead of reaching his love out into the world, Alexie was “prepared to shut himself up in [the monastery] for the rest of his life,” (Dostoevsky, 18). When Alexie is first introduced, he was not able to separate “worldly wickedness” from humanity. These feelings are especially apparent during his family’s first meeting with the elder Zosima. As his family met with the elder to discuss the inheritance dispute, their actions caused the “blood to rush to Alyosha’s cheeks,” because his “forebodings were beginning to come true,” (Dostoevsky, 39). The sin present in all humanity, most clearly in his family, causes him great shame. Alexie had so little faith in