1. Compare the basic differences in the personalities and philosophies of Alyosha, Ivan, and Dmitri. 2. State briefly Fyodor Karamazov’s personality and indicate his relationship with each of his three sons. 3. How does Fyodor’s relationship with Smerdyakov differ from his relationship with his legitimate sons? 4. What influence does […]
Read more Study Help Essay QuestionsFyodor Dostoevsky Biography
Dostoevsky’s early education was in an army engineering school, where he was apparently bored with the dull routine and the unimaginative student life. He spent most of his time, therefore, dabbling in literary matters and reading the latest authors; the penchant for literature was obsessive. And, almost as obsessive was […]
Read more Fyodor Dostoevsky BiographyChronological Chart Day of the Murder
Rakitin discovers Alyosha and tempts him. Alyosha agrees to go to Grushenka’s house. Arrives at Grushenka’s and hears of her ex-lover’s return. Watches Grushenka leave to join her ex-lover. Returns to the monastery. At the monastery, dreams of the wedding in Cana and also undergoes his mystical experience. Ivan Awakens […]
Read more Chronological Chart Day of the MurderChronological Chart Day before the Murder
Is sent by Katerina to Captain Snegiryov’s house with money; learns Ilusha’s identity. Returns to Madame Hohlakov’s house; finds Katerina in hysterics. Leaves to find Dmitri. Hears from Smerdyakov that Ivan is in a restaurant waiting for Dmitri. Goes to the restaurant, discusses the idea of suffering with Ivan, and […]
Read more Chronological Chart Day before the MurderCharacter Analysis Grushenka
When she is first introduced, she is capricious and willful, but she has suffered a desertion by her former lover and has finally made herself financially independent so that she can be a “free-spirit.” Grushenka’s change of character begins with her captivating both father and son in the Karamazov family. […]
Read more Character Analysis GrushenkaCharacter Analysis Alyosha
Alyosha is no stock Christ-figure, however; of all the so-called good characters in Dostoevsky’s fiction, Alyosha seems to breathe the most life. This is partly due to the fact that he constantly moves among people and performs quiet acts of kindness and love, even though he is not always successful. […]
Read more Character Analysis AlyoshaCharacter Analysis Ivan
By nature Ivan is a very studious person who has strong intellectual inclinations, qualities that later dominate his personality. As a result, we come to know Ivan through his thoughts rather than through his actions; in other words, his intellect defines his essential nature. As an adult, Ivan seldom speaks, […]
Read more Character Analysis IvanCharacter Analysis Dmitri
Dmitri does not have the intellectual pretensions of Ivan and cannot understand his brother’s metaphysical concerns, nor is Dmitri as spiritual as his brother Alyosha, although he basically accepts God and immortality. He is, in fact, best represented as being caught midway between a sort of “Madonna-Sodom” opposition; he fluctuates […]
Read more Character Analysis DmitriCharacter Analysis Fyodor Karamazov
As is pointed out during Dmitri’s trial, he was never, in the truest sense, a father to any of his sons. When they were young, he was oblivious to their presence and relieved when relatives took them away. Later, he refused to give any of them money, and although the […]
Read more Character Analysis Fyodor KaramazovSummary and Analysis Part 4: Epilogue
Alyosha then goes to his brother and tells him that Katerina also will come, but Dmitri has weightier problems troubling him. He explains his desire to repent and, through suffering, to become a new human being. He fears only one thing: that he will be unable to carry out his […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 4: Epilogue