The Complexities of Man
Thoughts on The Brothers Karamazov.
Russian literature is known for tackling complex issues like morality, good and evil, or what it means to truly be free. Some of the first books mentioned when Russian literature is discussed are War & Peace, Crime & Punishment, or, the book I recently finished, The Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Dostoevsky’s final novel brings all of these themes, and others, into one story.
If you read The Brothers Karamazov for the plot alone, you’ll find it slow-paced, and may get frustrated with the characters’ inability to give a succinct explanation or response. If, however, you pick it up for the purpose of being pulled into the labyrinth of human psychology, you will definitely be rewarded. Here are just a few of my favorite quotes from the maze:
“Taking freedom to mean the increase and prompt satisfaction of needs, they distort their own nature, for they generate many meaningless and foolish desires, habits, and the most absurd fancies in themselves….to satisfy it, they will sacrifice life, honor, the love of mankind, and will even kill themselves if they are unable to satisfy it….I ask you: is such a man free?”
“Obedience, fasting, and prayer are laughed at, yet they alone constitute the way to real and true freedom.”
“Schoolboy, do not stoop to lying, first; and second, not even for a good cause.”
Another interesting concept Dostoevsky incorporated into the novel was that of lying to oneself. Each character struggles with this in some capacity throughout the story. Justifying their actions, trying to convince themselves and others their love is true, or wanting to believe they can fix another’s attitude or life. The elder, Zosima, describes the issue:
“Above all, do not lie to yourself. A man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point where he does not discern any truth either in himself or anywhere around him, and thus falls into disrespect towards himself and others. Not respecting anyone, he ceases to love, and having no love, he gives himself up to passions and coarse pleasures, in order to occupy and amuse himself.”
This is not just a shared trait among the characters in the book, but in all of us. Generally, we’re aware when we lie to others, but do we always know when we are deceiving ourselves? Intentional, deep self-examination is necessary to uncover such lies. This examination is intimidating, but settling for my truth instead of the truth out of laziness, or fear to confront the complexities of our humanity, will lead to worse consequences.
Seeing our own issues through fictional characters can be easier than truly confronting ourselves. Reading The Brothers Karamazov can be that first step into the labyrinth of self-awareness.
