The Brothers Karamazov 2024 - Week 11

[Gem , Moderator]

The Brothers Karamazov
Week 11 - Part Four, Book XI

1) Book XI looks at Ivan's increasing guilt complex. Is Dostoevsky's use of the three interviews with Smerdyakov effective?

2) Do you find it interesting that Dostoevsky (in all his books) indicates that the result of involvement with crime is illness? In the case of this book, is everyone who falls ill guilty?

3) There is clearly a contrast between Lise and Grushenka. Lisa maintains she needs to suffer in order to learn, and she likes to make other people suffer while Grushenka, through her illness becomes regenerated. Is this an effective tool? Does it clearly show one as healthier than the other?

4) Why, do you think, Dmitri calmly accepts that he needs to be punished for a murder he did not commit?

5) While Smerdyakov admitted to the killing of Fyodor but dropped the guilt squarely in Ivan's lap. Smerdyakov states, "You murdered him; you are the real murderer; I was only your instrument, your faithful servant, and it was following your words I did it." Smerdyakov also reminds Ivan of the philosophy that "everything is lawful if there is no immortality" and that Ivan consented by going away. "By your consent to leave, you silently sanctioned doing it," he says. Do you agree or disagree? Do you think this concept is relevant to the real world, outside of the book?

[Neil]

1) The three interviews with Smerdyakov seem to provide a plausible explanation of the murder, but, despite the confession, I’m still not convinced that he (Smerdyakov) actually committed the crime.

2) yes, Dostoevsky seems to link illness with crime across the novels that I have read. Another link I noted (regarding crime and punishment) was the question whether Grusha would be allowed to follow Dimitri to Siberia.

4) I think that Ivan feels responsible for the murder by walking away after being warned by Smerdyakov that his father may be murdered. At the very least he would be guilty of what we call in the UK-gross negligence.

5) Again referring to the UK- people are generally judged on their “Acts and Omissions”. If for instance, someone said. “if you leave now—while you’re gone, I’m going to kill your father” and you walked away and did nothing, this could be construed as “ Aiding and Abetting” the offence.

The final chapter in this section seems to be too long and laboured. I just got the impression that Ivan is delirious and arguing with himself. Despite the final statement at the end of the section, (no spoilers here) I reiterate thatI am still not convinced that Smerdyakov was the killer.

[Nancy]

I'm also not sure that Smerdyakov is the murderer, but since the character is so unlikeable, I prefer to think him guilty rather than to think it of Dmitri or Ivan. Petty, but there I am. Actually, his story makes sense, and there is no real proof in the earlier chapters that Dmitri is the killer. As for Smerdyakov shifting blame onto Ivan, that's a low, sneaky blow and likely just his way of assuaging any guilt feelings he might have.

I have only read this novel and Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky, so I'm no expert, but there are certainly similarities in his handling of the connection between crime and mental illness. The other thing that struck me about the emotions of this novel is that almost all the major characters at some point succumb to hysteria. Dimitri in the previous section, Ivan and Grushenka in this section, and we have also seen some hysterical episodes with Katya, Lise, and Madame Khokhlakova. At times it seems that the only calm, rational character is Alyosha.