The Grand Inquisitor And The Devil Character Analysis

Ivan, despite being extremely intellectual and analytical seems to use fiction and fantasy more than you would expect from someone of his intellectual standing. In the novel he creates two different characters, the Grand Inquisitor and the Devil. These two fictional characters are used to portray the internal conflict that Ivan is struggling through. They give us insight into Ivan’s mind, although in a strange way. Both the Grand Inquisitor and the Devil are personifications of Ivan’s thoughts. Through these two characters we can see how much he is struggling with himself, especially during his encounter with the Devil as he doesn't seem able to realize that these views are his own. These fictional characters only emphasize how tormented Ivan …show more content…
Ivan does not believe that Christ acts in the same way towards humanity, due to the problem of suffering and the implication that man is weak and the problem we face with free will. Ivan’s attitude towards this issue comes from doubt and his skepticism that makes it impossible for him to see any good in humanity. This chapter gives us insight into Ivan’s pessimistic views on the world and humanity. Although his argument may not reside well with many, it is quiet compelling and should be looked at with an open mind to get the full effect, just like Berdjaev …show more content…
Ivan views the world rationally and analytically and doesn't accept anything that he can not reduce down to understandable knowledge. His religious doubt leads him to create different philosophical beliefs and we see them come to life through the creation of his two fictional characters, the Grand Inquisitor and the Devil. These characters gives us insight into Ivan’s beliefs on religion and humanity and allow us to see how many of his views have stayed the same and how many have changed, as they occur during different critical points in the novel. We especially see Ivan’s paradoxical views during his encounter with the Devil as he tries to convince himself that the devil is only a figure of his imagination, while also hoping that he was real. Ivan’s continuous use of rationale and analytical thinking lead him to become very pessimistic and skeptical about the world and humanity. The murder of his father by Smerdyakov sent Ivan over the edge as he was now faced with the guilt of having unknowingly giving permission for the murder. As the novel progresses, Ivan continually resists the idea that he has and moral responsibility for the actions of others. After his encounter with Smerdyakov and the realization that he really does play a role in the actions of others, his whole philosophy comes crashing down. It is this collapse of the one thing he held to such a high standard that sends him into an emotional and mental