The Karamazov Brothers - Fyodor Dostoevsky

In The Karamazov Brothers, Dostoevsky employs four main characters to weave his story and express his philosophical vision. First is Fyodor Karamazov, a corrupt and selfish father who neglects his three sons. His eldest, Dmitry, born from his first wife, is passionate and impulsive; Ivan, the second son from his second wife, is an intellectual skeptic who struggles with faith; and the youngest, Alyosha, is gentle and spiritual, embodying Christian love. Though the brothers share the same blood, they do not share the same beliefs or values.

Alyosha is the chosen hero of the story—handsome, kind-hearted, and deeply spiritual. Dostoevsky introduces Father Zosima as a revered elder monk, believed by many to perform miracles. The plot begins with the Karamazov family meeting Father Zosima, who serves as both witness and counselor in a scandal involving Fyodor and Dmitry. The scandal centers on their rivalry over the same woman, Grushenka, whose beauty and charm ignite jealousy, lust, and resentment between father and son. This moral and emotional conflict becomes the foundation of the novel’s tragedy. 

In the middle of the novel, Dostoevsky presents an allegorical poem written by Ivan, titled The Grand Inquisitor, which reveals Ivan’s deep doubt about his own faith. This long and complex narrative left me confused for a few days, as it raises difficult questions about belief and morality. Dostoevsky makes the reader wonder whether people can truly be good without believing in God. Through Ivan’s famous idea that “if God does not exist, everything is permitted,” he shows that without faith, there is no clear reason to choose good over evil.

The Grand Inquisitor scene and the story of Father Zosima serve as important subplots that reveal and shape the spiritual doubts of Ivan and Alyosha. Dostoevsky shows how Ivan and Alyosha struggle to understand belief in God in different ways—Ivan through reason, and Alyosha through emotion and faith. But Dmitry’s case is one of the main parts of the story and serves as the central event that brings all the characters together. It becomes the turning point of the novel. I like how the story suddenly feels like a detective or mystery novel during the investigation. Through this trial, Dostoevsky explores the courtroom atmosphere, the reactions of the townspeople, and the idea of circumstantial evidence. It even reminds me of the real-life Jessica Wongso “cyanide coffee” case in Indonesia, another example of how one crime can capture public attention and reveal so much about human nature and justice. 

I would love to talk about the women in this novel, there are Grushenka and Katerina. At first, Grushenka looks like a troublemaker, while Katerina seems proud and noble. The difference between them is very interesting to me—they act like they are competing with each other, and sometimes it even feels funny. But in the end, I really admire how Grushenka changes, because deep inside she has a kind and pure heart. Katerina, however, mostly wants to look good in front of others, but alas, she truly wounded by love and become emotional. This shows that social status does not always show the true nature of a woman’s heart.

Finanly, In your reading journey, you encounter many kinds of books—some you enjoy, some you adore, and some you regret ever reading. But once in a while, you come across a book that feels like a true gift, one you feel lucky to have read. The  Karamazov Brothers is one of those rare books for me. It feels like a privilege to experience it. I’m not used to philosophical reading, as I don’t have a strong background in philosophy, yet as I slowly made my way through this novel, I couldn’t bring myself to ignore it or give up on it. I can’t say that I truly understand everything, and honestly, I don’t even know how to write a proper review of it—because this book is truly outstanding, and it's very reflective of human nature, its philosophy feels close to real life. It made me think about faith, guilt, and the choices that define who we are. Yeah, I’ll admit it—I’m too dumb to properly review this masterpiece. But I truly enjoyed every part of this thick novel. It’s so thick that you could almost use it as a pillow—but instead of putting you to sleep, it keeps your mind awake with its depth and brilliance. That's way you must read it. 

Ruang Buku Megga Rated : ✬✬✬✬✬(5/5)

Title : The Karamazov Brothers

Author : Fyodor Dostoevsky, Ignat Avsey (Translator)
Publisher : Oxford World Classics

Year :  2008 (First Published in 1880)
Format / Pages : Softcover / 1012 pages
ISBN : 9780199536375