The Brothers Karamazov Book Study
Discussion Questions for 04/13/2021 - Book 13
Hello fellow readers!
CONGRATULATIONS everyone! We have done it. We have listened and read and discussed our way to the finish line. Thirteen chapters – in thirteen weeks. We have completed The Brother’s Karamazov! There are so many questions NOT answered.
Does Dmitri escape?
Does Grushenka stick with him?
Does Ivan recover?
Do Katrina and Ivan stay together?
What happens to Liza and Alyosha?
Some critics suggest that Dostoevsky did not finish the book because he was becoming ill. The book was published serially from January 1879 to November 1880. He died in February 1881, so he may have felt the need to finish earlier than he had anticipated.
It also seems likely that these plot issues are not really the point of the novel.
Since Dostoevsky ends the novel with Alyosha, let’s start with that as our opening question:
When have you given or received an inspiring speech like Alyosha gave to the boys. “Remember this….”
Here is a painting by Alexander Adreyevich Ivanov that the Daily Kos points to as a way to get our head around the centrality of Alyosha to the novel, even though while he spends most of his time on the periphery.
The Defense
Interesting that Fetyukovich admits that the grand scope of evidence looks bad for Dmitri, but that each bit of evidence can be pulled apart. Which of Fetyukovich’s arguments worked for you?
In the end, it seems that part of the novel’s premise, is that the real judgment of Dmitri’s soul could not possibly take place in a courtroom. The idea that no human judgment can supplant the judgment of one’s own conscience first appears in Book I, when Zosima argues against Ivan’s proposals for the ecclesiastical courts by pointing out that no court could hope to judge a man as he must judge himself. Is Dmitri harder on himself than anyone else? How does this relate to your own experiences?
In the Epilogue, Katerina and Dmitri’s reconciliation is surprising to me. I have never understood movies where people are screaming hateful words at each other one moment and then suddenly fall into each other’s arms in passionate embrace. That is what this feels like. What did you think? Certainly, their forgiveness for each other stands in contrast to Grushenka’s all too human refusal to forgive Katerina ……yet.
The novel’s last words are so at odds with most of the rest of the story. The schoolboys are chanting, “Hurrah for Karamazov!” The use of the family surname is significant here, since throughout the novel, characters have discussed “the Karamazov quality” and “the Karamazov legacy” as being defined by Fyodor Pavlovich’s violence, uncontrolled passion, and lust. The final words of the novel imply that the Karamazov legacy has changed: it is no longer defined by Fyodor Pavlovich, but by Alyosha. Has the Karamazov family been redeemed?
After we wrap our final chapter analysis, we will spend our last 30 minutes hearing from everyone together. People have credited this novel with changing their lives! Has it at least changed your insights or opinions? Do you see yourself differently?
For our final wrap up we are asking each of us to name one of the big ideas you will take away from this book. Don’t stress about finding THE MOST IMPORTANT message – just a takeaway that has spoken to you. There will likely be about 30 of us….so spend 15-30 seconds telling us your one takeaway! We are very excited to hear them.
See you Tuesday,
Laura, Ross and Dave
ZOOM LINK:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87547123806