Suffering In Dostoevsky's Brothers Karamazov

Dostoevsky’s Brothers Karamazov revolves around the central idea that good cannot exist without evil because suffering is essential to salvation. Throughout the work of literature, everyone suffers, including the innocent. This concept of innocent suffering leads many people to doubt the good of the world and God; however, people, such as Ivan Karamazov, fail to realize that one cannot experience good if they do not know evil. The idea that suffering leads to salvation is developed in the Brothers Karamazov because of Ivan’s conversation with the devil, Jesus Christ’s role in Christianity, and the suffering of the innocent. The concept that suffering leads to salvation is seen in Jesus Christ’s role in Christianity because through the shedding …show more content…
The suffering of children is a very prominent image throughout the story; it is the main reason as to why Ivan doubts the justness of God. In Ivan’s debate about whether or not God exists, he brings the suffering of children to Alyosha’s attention. Ivan asserts that he doubts God because he believes He is unfair. Ivan tells Alyosha the “innocent must not suffer for another’s sins, and especially such innocents!”(426). Ivan thinks it’s unfair that the most innocent inhabitants on earth must suffer for the rest of the world’s sins. Ivan goes on and tells extremely cruel stories about the suffering of children. The children’s innocence and cruel treatment alludes to Jesus Christ, like the children, Jesus was completely free from sin; however, He had to suffer for the rest of the world’s sins. However, through the innocent Jesus’s suffering, salvation became attainable to mankind forever. The concept of the innocent suffering is seen explicitly in the Book of Job. Job was a devout and pious follower of the Lord. One day, Satan came before the Lord and told the Lord “put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face”(Job 1:11). The Lord allowed the devil to do as he wishes to Job’s possession. Innocent Job had everything taken away from him in an instant. Upon this realization, Job fell upon the ground and said “the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord”(Job 1:21). Through Job’s suffering, Job realized the mercy of God and never doubted His grace. Ultimately, Job’s suffering did not corrupt but only lead him to God’s grace; therefore, leading him closer to harmony and union with God. The suffering of the innocence allows both those who are innocent and