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A review by achthiy
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Fyodor is a buffoon. And like Crime and Punishment I genuinely think this book is funny in its absurdity. Characters are consistently motivated, that is, motivated along their poorly established and misunderstood belief systems, and it leads them to contradict not only their best interests but also their personal desires. Harmony, collaboration, and understanding is intercepted early in these characters' thought processes - usually by ignorance or arrogance.
The anxious actions and decision making also reflects its existentialism. Most characters struggle w god's existence and divine guidance at some point in their development and different avenues are taken to alleviate the question. Faith is sometimes established thru interpretation of experience. Sometimes faith is maintained thru serving others. Some who are unable to come to terms w it worship some other sensation or seek meaning thru some other person. Fyodor is a great example of this and a great antagonist to all the brothers. He holds nothing sacred but is constantly possessed and overcome by feelings for brandy and women, and insecurity, narcissism and regret; which he indulges w no regard to the people around him or some holy consideration.
The parentage of each brother causes nothing but emotional strain and what they inherit is a mass of passionate feelings and untempered spiritual turmoil. They want for foundational beliefs and security in their close-knit and larger society. Instead their development and well-being has been carried along by random acts of grace and their relationships and community are constantly tested and shaken. They converge on their birthplace seeking understanding, justice and closure in an unjust, illogical, chaotic world. For all the established characteristics they have and archetypes they match they are all thwarted, subverted, challenged and changed. Except for one: the buffoon, likely a buffoon til his last breath, who never attempted to rise above what was inside and around him, and expressed himself shamelessly as a product of it.
The parentage of each brother causes nothing but emotional strain and what they inherit is a mass of passionate feelings and untempered spiritual turmoil. They want for foundational beliefs and security in their close-knit and larger society. Instead their development and well-being has been carried along by random acts of grace and their relationships and community are constantly tested and shaken. They converge on their birthplace seeking understanding, justice and closure in an unjust, illogical, chaotic world. For all the established characteristics they have and archetypes they match they are all thwarted, subverted, challenged and changed. Except for one: the buffoon, likely a buffoon til his last breath, who never attempted to rise above what was inside and around him, and expressed himself shamelessly as a product of it.
Just one part of my thoughts on this novel. Each brother could get a write-up that's twice as long detailing their experiences, relationships, beliefs and revelations. Outside of an analysis of the ideas I felt the novel explored I can say that it's a masterpiece of storytelling and characterization and probably one of the greatest literary achievements of all time (not that I would know but I bet it is) and I don't think anyone could, in good faith, argue that Dostoevsky isn't one of the greatest fiction authors to ever live.
One more thing: R.I.P, Dad