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ryokuwave 's review for:
The Brothers Karamazov
by Fyodor Dostoevsky
My most favorite book of all time. The quintessential work in examining human nature, philosophy, psychology, divinity. It is worthy of all its praises and earns every ounce of acclaim. There has never been something as profoundly human or as discerning in the divine.
This particular translation flows well and is much more understandable than traditional copies (e.g. Constance Garnett, Pevear-Volokhonsky). However, some of the more famous & profound quotes don't have as much flare in this iteration. Greatly pleased with this translation and its footnotes.
It is like a great river has poured out of Dostoevsky. How dense are its verses, full of great passion and sentimentality. There is no chapter without some great wisdom being spoken unto you. Moving and touching. There are many moments I want to note here that I've come to say are my favorite:
The entirety of Book VI: Russian Monk
Book IV: Lacerations, "And In The Fresh Air"
Epilogue, "The Speech at the Stone"
Book III: Sensualists, "Confession of an Ardent Heart, in Anecdotes"
Book IX: Preliminary Investigation, "The Evidence of the Witnesses. The Babe in Arms"
And of course, Book V: Pro & Contra, "The Grand Inquisitor"
There has never been a book that has so far exceeded my expectations as this one. And I have come to wish to experience it all again. There have never been as many times in a novel that I have been moved to tears and wept. It is a great privilege.
Alyosha, the protagonist, is so great in character that it has moved me to change. A symbol of virtue and compassion. Though he is surrounded by so many flawed, troubled people, he always makes it a point to act in great character. He is of great faith and great Love.
By contrast, Ivan, the antagonist, is of both brilliant intellect and charisma. He reasons righteousness out of his Godlessness. If there is great evil inflicted on the Innocent, how can I agree to God's world? Humanity, blessed by Freedom, sees free will. But this freedom has brought them great suffering and great Evil. How can humanity come to Love our Lord, God? It's this righteous sympathy that he has reasoned himself to reject God. But, in that case, let us live in Godlessness! But then "Everything is permitted." Ethics are arbitrary. It's brilliant, but it's not livable. No human can live with this worldview and hope to find Peace. And as a result, Ivan punishes himself with this turmoil to the point of insanity.
Mitya, has turmoil bounded by these two chasms. He is base. But, he clings to a great sense of honor. It is irrational behavior. He is the whip of self-laceration. But Alyosha's grace is what succeeds over all his brothers. Except for Smerdyakov, whose atheism suggests his suicide "woe to those who have slain themselves on Earth." So in Heart, Mind, and Soul exists for Dimitry, Ivan, and Alyosha respectively. And I suppose Smerdyakov is a black sheep that doesn't fit into this neat arrangement. How fitting.
In Alyosha's argument with Ivan, he cannot directly counter any of Ivan's reasonings. He isn't as intelligent. But his Love is his answer. In the Grand Inquisitor, the answer to the cardinal's argument is a kiss. There is no rebuttal to what logic has argued because the answer lies in something that transcends reason alone. The divine is not rational, but it has saved many lost souls. More than any earthly punishment or revenge or righteous retribution for any criminal. And for that, I will not argue for faith in God. I will argue for Love. Though it may not erase the reality of evil and pain, it is its answer. And if God is Love, then perhaps God is the answer.
This particular translation flows well and is much more understandable than traditional copies (e.g. Constance Garnett, Pevear-Volokhonsky). However, some of the more famous & profound quotes don't have as much flare in this iteration. Greatly pleased with this translation and its footnotes.
It is like a great river has poured out of Dostoevsky. How dense are its verses, full of great passion and sentimentality. There is no chapter without some great wisdom being spoken unto you. Moving and touching. There are many moments I want to note here that I've come to say are my favorite:
The entirety of Book VI: Russian Monk
Book IV: Lacerations, "And In The Fresh Air"
Epilogue, "The Speech at the Stone"
Book III: Sensualists, "Confession of an Ardent Heart, in Anecdotes"
Book IX: Preliminary Investigation, "The Evidence of the Witnesses. The Babe in Arms"
And of course, Book V: Pro & Contra, "The Grand Inquisitor"
There has never been a book that has so far exceeded my expectations as this one. And I have come to wish to experience it all again. There have never been as many times in a novel that I have been moved to tears and wept. It is a great privilege.
Alyosha, the protagonist, is so great in character that it has moved me to change. A symbol of virtue and compassion. Though he is surrounded by so many flawed, troubled people, he always makes it a point to act in great character. He is of great faith and great Love.
By contrast, Ivan, the antagonist, is of both brilliant intellect and charisma. He reasons righteousness out of his Godlessness. If there is great evil inflicted on the Innocent, how can I agree to God's world? Humanity, blessed by Freedom, sees free will. But this freedom has brought them great suffering and great Evil. How can humanity come to Love our Lord, God? It's this righteous sympathy that he has reasoned himself to reject God. But, in that case, let us live in Godlessness! But then "Everything is permitted." Ethics are arbitrary. It's brilliant, but it's not livable. No human can live with this worldview and hope to find Peace. And as a result, Ivan punishes himself with this turmoil to the point of insanity.
Mitya, has turmoil bounded by these two chasms. He is base. But, he clings to a great sense of honor. It is irrational behavior. He is the whip of self-laceration. But Alyosha's grace is what succeeds over all his brothers. Except for Smerdyakov, whose atheism suggests his suicide "woe to those who have slain themselves on Earth." So in Heart, Mind, and Soul exists for Dimitry, Ivan, and Alyosha respectively. And I suppose Smerdyakov is a black sheep that doesn't fit into this neat arrangement. How fitting.
In Alyosha's argument with Ivan, he cannot directly counter any of Ivan's reasonings. He isn't as intelligent. But his Love is his answer. In the Grand Inquisitor, the answer to the cardinal's argument is a kiss. There is no rebuttal to what logic has argued because the answer lies in something that transcends reason alone. The divine is not rational, but it has saved many lost souls. More than any earthly punishment or revenge or righteous retribution for any criminal. And for that, I will not argue for faith in God. I will argue for Love. Though it may not erase the reality of evil and pain, it is its answer. And if God is Love, then perhaps God is the answer.