The Brothers Karamazov

THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV: - is a novel written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky and published in 1879-80. This book is generally considered to be his masterpiece and probably greatest novel. Although it is the story of Fyodor Karamazov and his sons Alyosha Dmitry and Ivan it is also a story of patricide and Dostoyevsky introduces a love-hate struggle with psychological and spiritual implications. There persists a search for faith for God throughout the novel which is the central idea of the work. Ivans repudiation of Gods world is elucidated in the famous Legend of the Grand Inquisitor. There is a response to Ivan that is contained in the preaching of the monk Zosima. It clearly states that the secret of universal harmony is achieved not by the mind but by the heart. Alyosha Dostoyevskys attempts to create a realistic Christ figure.The focuses on Dostoyevskys theological and philosophical themes: the origin of evil the nature of freedom and the craving for faith. While tracing the dynamics of Ivans guilt the author provides a psychological justification for Christian teaching.