A review by mikathereviewer
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

For I'm a Karamazov. For when I do leap into the pit, I go headlong with my heels up, and am pleased to be falling in that degrading attitude, and pride myself upon it. And in the very depths of that degradation I begin a hymn of praise.

• Themes & symbolism

This book is about the brothers Karamazov and how their different traits and actions made their family name not a shame any longer but something prideful.

The novel explores themes such as good vs evil, faith vs doubt, consequences of free will, suffering and most importantly the complexity of family relationships.

Just like any Fyodor Dostoevsky work, it's about the human condition. While being similar to other works like Crime and Punishment, the central plot follows a family full with tragedies this time. All three brothers search for meaning in life while facing challenges. Not only do the brothers question their own morality and the nature of humankind, the reader is prompted to ask themselves how guilt and sin but also faith and spirituality shapes humanity.

What I enjoyed the most was how it made me engage in the story not just mental but also emotional. It made me reflect on my own as well as other's traits, especially about the good vs evil aspect in this book. 

• Characters & Plot

In fact, Dmitri (also known as Mitya) was my favourite character for representing both good and evil. While he was full of hatred,

especially towards his father Fyodor,

he was also capable of real, deep love for Grushenka. I never stopped believing that he will find his way to the right path, that he won't walk the path of the wicked. I was rooting for him until the very last moment.

Dmitri might have acted impulsive most of the time, but his actions were led by true passion. I love passionate characters. Characters who know what they want and how to get it. While it might sound at first like nothing stops him and he is a lost cause, he was capable of learning, learning how to be a good person. I loved seeing his character development and how his actions kept influencing the story.

While Dmitri was also driven by sensuality, it made room for exploring themes such as redemption and guilt for his own actions and its consequences. Many might say that a character symbolising desire, passion and even sensuality might not be the most appealing one, but I see beauty in it. We are all passionate, have own desires and even some of us are sensual. I don't think anyone should be ashamed to seek pleasure in something they love to do. Dmitri fought for his love Grushenka, he wasn't the kind to give up easily. He was eager. He was also earnest for being able to show genuine emotions.

Dmitri Karamazov is a scoundrel, but not a thief.

The family dynamic was at the start of the novel filled with tragedy and suffering. But what used to be hatred, distrust and betrayal turned into love, support and forgiveness.

The Karamazov family was divided into four different aspects of human nature. As I mentioned above, Dmitri, the oldest, represented passion and desire. Ivan, the middle child, embodies doubt and atheism. He faces internal struggles with faith as he doubts the existence of God. Ivan searches for free will and morality. Alexey, the youngest, represents faith and spirituality. He helped and supported Dmitri with his internal and external struggles.

From all the three brothers, he probably helped the most to make their family name something to be proud of instead of ashamed. He guided many other characters as he worked as a monk in a monastery.

With him, the novel explored faith, spiritual and redemption.

Since Ivan's and Alexey's beliefs are different it not only leads to internal but also external conflict. While they both love eachother as brothers, their different beliefs creates tension in their relationship. Both brothers try to convince eachother of their own view points, causing a conflict. What I found astonishing was how they still managed to show respect and seek help from the other despite their differences. It shows how much they love eachother and it was truly amazing seeing them together, not fighting even though they don't share the same beliefs. They couldn't accept their opposite beliefs, but they respected them, putting it aside for the sake of their relationship. This showed, from both sides, that they valued tolerance and let the other have freedom of their own beliefs. Ivan showing Alexey the Grand Inquisitor poem shows that he trusts him a lot and isn't afraid to show his own opinion about religion. Despite their differences they still accepted their different paths and it was so lovely seeing this. I wish more people would be like these two. It shouldn't matter if one is religious or not, we are all humans and that's the only thing matering.

I don't accept this world of God's, and, although I know it exists, I don't accept it at all. It's not that I don't accept God, you must understand, it's the world created by Him I don't and cannot accept.

Ivan and Alexey both embody the faith vs doubt aspect of this novel and I think Dostoevsky did a great job at doing so. There are of course other character like Father Zosima and Smerdyakov who embodied it as well, but the two brothers were the main focus and in my opinion the most lovely pair.

Ivan explores the consequences of free will with his skepticism towards faith. He sees religion as robbing the freedom of humans, making them feel more safe in a controlled environment than being in control themselves. What I didn't expect was that this had a positive message as well: Freedom is meant to make one grow morally. While freedom can be scary for some, having to manage their own free will and the possible consequences resulting from it, it also gives the opportunity to grow from it. This is definitely a topic that not everyone will agree on, depending if they are religious or not since Ivan is criticising faith. While Dmitri is definitely expressing his emotions and opinions without holding back, it seems for me that Ivan to a certain degree does the same. His skepticism can make himself to a target since many centuries ago it wasn't as accepting as it is nowadays to not belief in God. Although Alexey showed acceptance, not everyone will do.

The symbolic of what Ivan is expressing is the Grand Inquisitor poem which is the critique of religion. It is rejecting freedom for control. It tells how the majority wants control and security over freedom and free will. It can definitely be offending for some, but it's also thought-provoking. It puts religion in another light. In addition, it can also be interpreted in many ways, making it hard to say if it's 'right' or 'wrong'.

I personally wasn't a fan of the religious aspect as I don't like conversations dominated by religion, if put in a good or bad light, doesn't matter. I see potential for it being thought-provoking and making one think about the faith vs doubt theme about this book more, but for me it wasn't as interesting than the good vs evil as well as the redemption themes. (That's probably also why I prefer Crime and Punishment over The Brothers Karamazov).

So long as man remains free he strives for nothing so incessantly and so painfully as to find some one to worship. But man seeks to worship what is established beyond dispute, so that all men would agree at once to worship it. For these pitiful creatures are concerned not only to find what one or the other can worship, but to find something that all would believe in and worship; what is essential is that all may be together in it. This craving for community of worship is the chief misery of every man individually and of all humanity from the beginning of time.

While my favourite character was Dmitri, I also loved his relationship towards his younger brother Alexey. They had so many differences than just that Dmitri is the oldest and Alexey the youngest. Their beliefs and morals were contrasting eachother making one think that at first they wouldn't get along well. How could an impulsive individual who seeks pleasure be friends with someone who is gentle and believs in faith? Despite all these differences which could lead to conflicts, they still managed to bond strongly as the story progressed. Since I was believing from the beginning that Dmitri isn't just solely bad or evil, I was starting to like Alexey a lot too for supporting Dmitri and leading him to the right path.

“Listen, brother, once for all,” he said. “This is what I think about it. And you know that I would not tell you a lie. Listen: you are not ready, and such a cross is not for you. What's more, you don't need such a martyr's cross when you are not ready for it. If you had murdered our father, it would grieve me that you should reject your punishment. But you are innocent, and such a cross is too much for you.[...]”

Since they both have their own internal conflicts and a shared external conflict it makes them connect with eachother more. I like the good vs evil character construction. There is so much to like about it. Alexey calms Dmitri down when he is about to act impulsively again and it's just so wonderful to see how their relationship isn't damned just 'cause they have contrasting personalities, morals and beliefs. While Alexey helps Dmitri to the path of redemption, Dmitri also offers his trust in Alexey, saying that he can only trust him and entrust him to deliver important messages. So, it's not a one-sided support as Dmitri shows his gratitude by believing in his younger brother and trusting him a lot.

“Alexey! You tell me. It's only you I can believe; was she here just now, or not? I saw her myself creeping this way by the fence from the lane. I shouted, she ran away.”
“I swear she's not been here, and no one expected her.”
“But I saw her.... So she must ... I'll find out at once where she is.... Good-by, Alexey! Not a word to Æsop about the money now. But go to Katerina Ivanovna at once and be sure to say, ‘He sends his compliments to you!’ Compliments, his compliments! Just compliments and farewell! Describe the scene to her.”

It was also so heartwarming to see that Alexey believes his older brother's words just by hearing them, not having to see any proof of it. This shows that Alexey trusts him back, that they show mutual trust.

“Hush! What do you mean?” he faltered helplessly.
“The whole truth, the whole, don't lie!” repeated Mitya.
“I've never for one instant believed that you were the murderer!” broke in a shaking voice from Alyosha's breast, and he raised his right hand in the air, as though calling God to witness his words.
Mitya's whole face was lighted up with bliss.
“Thank you!” he articulated slowly, as though letting a sigh escape him after fainting. “Now you have given me new life. Would you believe it, till this moment I've been afraid to ask you, you, even you. Well, go! You've given me strength for to-morrow. God bless you! Come, go along! Love Ivan!” was Mitya's last word.

The suffering of each character was significant for the story too. While Ivan internally struggled with the evil in world, his other brothers like Alexey experienced moments where he doubted faith, his struggle with spiritual growth and seeing the darker side of humanity forces him to confront his idealstic views with the real world. They all struggle external and internal which leads this story to be so impactful. Where great suffer is, is also spiritual growth. This theme shows how suffering and struggle as well as tragedies can turn into something positive.
I believe that this is one of the most relatable themes in this book as everyone suffered in life at some point and we are still going, not giving up. While suffering isn't great, it makes one grow from it, learn from it. Often times, after sorrow comes happiness, making it all redeeming.

You will see great sorrow, and in that sorrow you will be happy. This is my last message to you: in sorrow seek happiness.

Fyodor was the father of the three sons, making him important as well. He embodies sensuality, corruption and egoism. He lacks any morals and is acting on his own behalf, not caring for others. He makes the family divide and put his family name into shame.
I didn't like him as there was nothing to like.

Dmitri was likeable as despite his bad traits there was still hope left for him to turn into a better man, but for Fyodor, that hope is all lost, he can't be saved anymore, making him solely important for the plot and how he influenced the brother's relationships.

Fyodor was solely important for the plot and how he influenced the brother's relationships.

Lastly, for the characters, I want to mention Grushenka and Katerina for having a strong impact on the emotional conflicts of the male characters. Both woman were loved by the Karamazov brothers and the brothers internal struggle with whom they love added tension and drama to the story. Yes, so many themes and even romance is playing a big role for this novel too. Quite a lot of themes. After all, this book is almost 900 pages long, a perfect length to explore complex family dynamics and many themes. While both Grushenka and Katerina complicated the family relationship, it made it so excellent for diving even deeper into the human condition.

(By the way, love triangles are one of my favourite tropes for romance stories. So, I was cheering for my preferred couple like always. It also added even more to the tension near the middle of the book).

• The Ending of the Novel

The story ends with leaving the reader to ponder about justice and how one should be punished for their own sins and how the innocent should be treated.

It also leaves a positive note about the family dynamic. I felt hopeful at the end for all three brothers.

Even though all three brothers follow a different path, have different beliefs and morals, they still manage to confront their external struggle: Their family dynamic. This adds to the emotional impact of this book and makes one see the importance of love and support while facing challenges in life.

‘I exist.’ In thousands of agonies—I exist. I'm tormented on the rack—but I exist! Though I sit alone on a pillar—I exist! I see the sun, and if I don't see the sun, I know it's there. And there's a whole life in that, in knowing that the sun is there.

• Why it's so amazing

All characters are complex and have a certain depth, making them hard to understand at first but also so compelling for having so many layers. Dostoevsky follows as always a narrative about the human condition and while the length of the book and the year it was originally published in might make some fret away: I can assure that the themes discussed in this novel are themes we all experienced at some point in life. After all, we are all humans and Dostoevsky does a great job in depicting different human conditions in different characters. While I could identify the most with Dmitri, others might identify the most with Alexey, for instance. They aren't the same, they all have their own distinguishing personality, morals and beliefs. Yes, they are flawed, but who is perfect? No one. What I always love about Dostoevsky's characters is how awfully realistic they are. I read so many books and Dostoevsky's characters are one of few who actually made me relate to them so strong that I think of them years after I finished the novel. 

For the plot: It's also amazing. It's not solely about philosophical conversations, it also includes a murder mystery, making the story feel more alive with the diversity it shows. When the murder mystery plot started I went into detective mode, making it more fun to read than having just one long plot that is dragging itself for 800+ pages.

• Should you read it?

Not everyone likes to read something psychological and philosophical, but for those that want to read something about the human condition that feels as realistic as if you are part of the story yourself: read The Brothers Karamazov. It can definitely be hard to read the first Dostoevsky book. For the writing style and narrative is unique and not like other books, but once one gets used to it, from my experience at least, it's worth it.

• Final thoughts

While I did like almost everything, I still struggled a lot with the religious aspects. Yes, Fyodor Dostoevsky also included them in other of his works, but this time it felt like it was just too much for me to handle. I would have loved to give this book 5 stars, but since I had such a struggle to read through the religious conversations of the characters, I will only give it 4. The book is still worth reading, especially as it's a classic and high-regarded. The religious stuff this time was just overwhelming, I liked everything else.