Karamazov Brothers by Fyodor Dostoyevski

modified 20/04/2024 23:56

This is, probably, the best book I’ve ever read, and, certainly, Dostoyevsky’s best book. I’ve read it in russian. What’s so great about it? It tells the story of the progression of 3 brothers (Dmiti, Aleosha and Ivan Karamazov). It’s, ultimately, I think, about change – and the life events that made them change and evolve. This is, at least, my interpretation of it. The change happens, I think, happens sequentially. But the pinnacle of it is reached at the end of the book. Aleosha’s evolution happens in the moment he kisses the earth, after ???, but it reaches its completion only at the end. Ivan’s evolution starts at his discussion with Aleosha just before leaving for Moscow, and completes only at the end, when he tells everyone that Smerdyakov is the actual killer, and brings the money as proof (that, obviously nobody believed in, but still). Dmitri’s evolution starts once he gets interrogated for killing his father, and reaches its completion at the end, once Katya visits him and makes peace with him. Brothers Karamazov is thus a book about change, but also about love – true, romantic and deep and mindless love, about brotherhood and brotherly love, about honesty, about society, about religion, nihilism, honesty, materialism. In short – it’s a book about life (which, obviously doesn’t say much), but these are my first impressions about it. I loved every bit of this book, and will continue thinking about it and its meaning.