I must confess, this particular read has been a long time coming. I started it on audio tape when I used to drive a lot. I never finished it before I began primarily flying, instead of driving. Then I started reading the book, but had to set it aside when some writing assignments piled up. I would regularly muses that I needed to finish the book, but 936 pages of a Russian novelist seemed daunting, even if it was considered a classic. I believe it was Mark Twain who opined that a classic book was one that everyone wanted to read, but never did. Nevertheless, this summer, with a bit more time on my hands, I finished it at long last! I once read a survey of Christian ministers in which they were asked to list the top five books they had read. Somewhat surprisingly, this book was on many of their lists.
Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky was born in Moscow in 1821. His life was as dramatic as his novels. His father was brutal when drunk, which ultimately led his serfs to pour vodka down his throat until he strangled. After Dostoevsky’s first short story in 1849, he was arrested for supposed subversion to Tsar Nicholas I. For eight months the guards gave him the silent treatment, even wearing velvet soled boots to prevent any noise. One day he was taken before a firing squad while facing an open grave. At the last moment an order arrived commuting his sentence. He was then given four years of hard labor in a Siberian prison. Ten years after being imprisoned, he was finally released. It was through these ordeals that Dostoevsky developed his conservative and religious views on life that permeate his writings.
This book was Dostoevsky’s last, published in 1880, one year before his death. “I’d die happy if I could finish this final novel, for I would have expressed myself completely” he said. This book provides a sweeping summary of his life and thoughts. It certainly deserves to be placed in the “classic” category.
Due to the vast sweep of this novel, and also not wanting to give away all of the details in this review, I’ll just make some general comments. Dostoevsky had told his brother when he was eighteen, “Man is a mystery . . . I occupy myself with this mystery, because I want to be a man” (xi). In this classic novel, we see five men striving to find meaning in life and seeking to satisfy and control the passions that drive them toward excess and even to their doom.
Fyodor Karamazov is the father (7). He is a carnal, self-absorbed, passionate, lusty businessman. He elopes with a young lady from a higher station than he and then crassly mistreats her. Eventually she abandons him and ultimately dies. She left behind a son, Mitya. Fyodor utterly neglects his son and the child is eventually taken to be raised by others. Mitya grows up to understand that he is entitled to an inheritance from his mother’s estate and expects his father to pay it to him. Fyodor, however, manipulates his son and gives him small handouts until he claims he has repaid his son all that is owed.
Fyodor married a second time, but with little more success. Two additional sons were born to him, Ivan, and then Alexei. These too, were taken from the home and raised by others. Finally, Fyodor had an illegitimate son, named Smerdyakov, whose mother was a homeless woman who died in childbirth.
Each of these sons convenes in the town of Fyodor and a crisis ensues. The Karamazovs are driven by passion. Fyodor is a lustful, crass man who enjoys acting like a buffoon. He declares, “I have, indeed, been taking offense all my life because I enjoyed it and felt it was beautiful” (51). The story will reach a crisis when Fyodor begins to lust after the same woman his oldest son, Mitya loves. Mitya is a former soldier who follows his passions. Yet, despite throwing himself passionately into love affairs, he strives to be honorable and true to his convictions. He would claim, “. . . for all my beastly desires, I am, after all, an honorable man” (134). Ivan, throws himself into intellectualism. Yet, he, too, battles his passions. His family all see him as superior to them in intellect, yet he battles his own desires and personal struggles and will ultimately suffer intense inner turmoil as he struggles to not be like his father. Alexei aims his passion into religion. It is said that “he longed to escape from darkness into the light” (29). Smerdyakov is the final son. He has been rejected by his father as a true son and his mother was the laughingstock of the town. He longs to make something of himself but know that his station will not allow it.
The plot of the story centers around the murder of Fyodor. All of the evidence points to Mitya. The book moves (at times slowly) toward the court scene where Mitya is fighting for his life. There are several surprises in the book. Dostoevsky also delves into the inner struggles of the Karazamovs as they seek to be true to themselves. There are moments when the reader is left helplessly watching as Mitya behaves in a way that seems to prove he is the murderer. At other times we watch Ivan seemingly going mad as he knows the truth but cannot save his brother because of his own demons that haunt him. Alexei is the godly son, loved by all, yet seemingly deferential to his older brothers who seem larger than life to him.
As a classic, Russian novel, there are some features that can be difficult for a modern reader accustomed to reading nothing longer than a mid-sized blog. Dostoevsky can engage in some prolonged conversations that seem unnecessary to the overall plot. Dostoevsky will also engage in prolonged philosophical and theological discussions that seem a bit far-fetched for a group of passionate Russian men. Nevertheless, there are some moments that are thought-provoking, such as the tale of the Grand Inquisitor, when Jesus returns to check on people and he is arrested and interrogated by the leader of the Church. The discussion between Ivan and the devil is also captivating. Huge issues such as the existence of God and the question of why innocent people suffer is discussed throughout the book. Overall we see four young men who have seemingly been cursed by fate. Having been birthed to a carnal, sensuous father, each man strives to escape his genetic destiny, yet seems to be pulled into the abyss despite their desperate attempts to escape. Of Mitya he writes, “It was obvious that this was a man on the brink of disaster, looking desperately for a way out, without which there would be nothing left for him but to plunge in to the abyss” 447).
Dostoevsky also inserts humor throughout the book. He pokes fun at women or hypocrites, or even other nationalities. At one point Mitya considers immigrating to America, but then recoils at the thought, worrying that living in America would be worse than being exiled to Siberia! Of the Germans, he writes, “Although as a matter of principle, the best way of handling the Germans is to strangle them” (667).
Each of the characters in the book, struggles with life and meaning and being true to themselves. Some have rid themselves of their belief in God, while others are desperately holding on to it. Each is trying to determine what principles they ought to live their life. Some feel that “everything is possible” while others struggle with feelings of duty and honor. Dostoevsky does a tour de force of life’s largest questions. He reveals the weakness of character, self-doubt, and ruinous passions that seem to manipulate people much like the Greeks believed the gods did from Mount Olympus.
It is also interesting that Dostoevsky struggled with epilepsy and the villain of the story does as well.
Interestingly, after devoting over 900 pages to the novel, Dostoevsky leaves a number of loose ends. We don’t know how any of the Karamazov bothers turn out. Much is left hanging. Alexei, who chose to believe in God, is Dostoevsky’s hero. He emerges as the one brother who is happy and advancing in his life, when the others have been immobilized. Interestingly, even Alexei’s love interest, chooses to give herself to evil and to break off her engagement to the kindest, godliest of the men in her life. It demonstrates how difficult it is to stay true to God and to one’s principles. Perhaps it is because Alexei is not beset with pride that he is able to overcome the temptations that drive his brothers to the brink. Mitya takes pride in his honor as an officer. Ivan takes pride in his intelligence. As a result, they struggle to find happiness. Alexei, in his simple faith, is able to pass through the mind fields that seem to consume so many others.
This book is certainly worth making the effort to read through the over 900 pages. It is probably not a book for everyone. Many will be lost in the extended dialogue or extensive philosophical or theological discussions and allusions. However, for those who persevere, they will have covered much of the waterfront on what it means to face our past, our family, or weaknesses and temptations and to rise above them to find joy in life.
Rating: 4
