The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion
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The Brothers Karamazov
Fyodor Dostoevsky Collection
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The Brothers Karamazov 2024 - Week 2
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1. I see Fyodor Pavlovich as not only a buffoon, but also as a man who is narcissistic and paranoid. He wants all the attention all the time, and when he doesn't get the attention he acts out as if he is a child. That he has any relationships with his children is astounding.2. I don't know what underlying message there is, although there probably is one. The women portrayed so far seem to be desperate creatures, either because of poverty and overwork or because they are mentally unstable. Is this just blatant misogyny?
3. Lady Hohlakov is one of the few female characters so far who shows some intelligence, although she does have a bit of desperation about her daughter's condition. She speaks intelligently but is also clearly subject to Zosima-worship like the other women.
4. This was a very interesting conversation (although perhaps a little lengthy). I disagree with Ivan's point of view completely. As much as I am beginning to dislike Rakitin, I think he is correct that human can chose to be moral even without the influence of religion. There will always be evil in the world, but I think most people are trying to live what they perceive as moral lives.
5.(a) I have no idea why Zosima bowed to Dmitri, but I suspect a deeper meaning that we will discover later.
(b) I really believe Zosima's advice here was one of the best things I have ever read. Yes, I think that most of the characters are lying to themselves, but I wonder if that isn't just a part of our normal human frailty. I'm not sure if Fyodor has the moral sense to feel shame. No doubt we shall see!
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I have found this a bit slow so I downloaded an audio book and am reading the text with the audio book playing. That's helping me a lot.
I've read multiple review that say it's slow in the beginning but it gets better.
Week 2 - Part One, Book II
1) This week we are exposed to the character of Fyodor Pavlovich, up close and personal. What do you think of his character? Is he really as bad as the narrator made him seem in Book 1? Is he worse? Better? What did you think of his actions in the meeting with Zosima? Why does he act that way? He says he acts a buffoon to live up to people's expectations of him. Do you think that's the real reason? Why?
2) Chapter III is dedicated to the interactions between Zosima and the women who visit him. Why? Is there a message he is trying to convey? How are Russian women portrayed in that chapter and elsewhere in the novel so far?
3) In Chapter IV where we meet Lady Hohlakov, we see her having a crisis of faith. She is unsure about what happens when we die and she is agonizing about it. Zosima and Lady Hohlakov discuss faith, active love, and love for mankind. What did you think about the views expressed in this exchange?
4) Ivan wrote an article on the ecclesiastical courts. What are your comments on that whole article and conversation? I wonder why Ivan wrote about that, and is in favor of the church, when he himself is an atheist? Ivan argues that if people did not believe in God, we would become completely immoral and evil. But Rakitin gave an opposing view: "His whole theory is squalid. Mankind will find strength in itself to live for virtue, even without believing in the immortality of the soul! Find it in the love of liberty, equality, fraternity..." What do you think about these points of view? Why?
5) Why do you think about the following?
a) Why did Zosima bow to Dmitri, and ask for his forgiveness? Is it just to diffuse the situation? Or is there a deeper meaning?
b) Zosima told Fyodor, "Above all, do not lie to yourself," and he also said this to Lady Khoklakov when she was having her crisis of faith - "Above all, avoid lies, all lies, especially the lie to yourself. Keep watch on your own lie and examine it every hour, every minute." Do you think these individuals were lying to themselves?
Zosima to Fyodor - "And above all, do not be ashamed of yourself, for that is the cause of everything." Does Zosima think Fyodor is ashamed of himself? The shame is the cause of his wrong actions? How so?