Speculating upon Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamozov”, it is particularly about the chapter titled “The Grand Inquisitor” that deserves to be thoroughly addressed. To be precise, one has to be conscious that this very chapter occurs as a parable in the novel written by one of Russia’s greatest short-story writers. Significantly, “The Grand Inquisitor” should not be underestimated from the perspective of an in-depth psychological penetration that Dostoevsky here methodically cultivates. As mentioned previously, “The Grand Inquisitor” should be viewed as a parable mainly encapsulated in Ivan’s story that he tells his brother Alyosha. Specifically speaking, the story itself gravitates towards the harsh reality that the Spanish Inquisition sought to impose. More importantly, however, it centres around the Christ’s second coming to the Earth. As the chapter unfurls, one cannot help but become aware that Ivan sharpens his focus on the Grand Inquisitor having a face-to-face contact with the incarcerated Christ. And by experiencing the story through the protagonist’s eyes with great emphasis on the reasons why the humankind can be characterized by mostly resisting Jesus, Dostoevsky provides an element of scale to contemplation. After a thorough contextual analysis, one can assume that a Russian novelist might share the opinion that the return of Jesus Christ would only jeopardize both security and equanimity.
Peering deep into the pages of Dostoevsky’s truly thought provoking chapter, one can come across multiple clues that the author could initially plant. But on further pondering, it is only after pulling oneself into specific sentences that an individual can gain a full understanding of what “The Grand Inquisitor” may convey indeed. The first quote that I would like to draw special attention to is as follows: “man is created weaker and more base than you supposed” (Dostoevsky, 1993, p. 294). Obviously, the significance of this quote cannot be understated. Since it rests upon the claim that a human has been mistakenly identified as capable of passing through any kind of challenge, the suggestion comes to directly allude to a deeply-seated misinterpretation that many rely on. Surely, I would consider the given quote as the one that plays a crucial role in intending the masses to apply critical thinking skills before taking a stance towards certain life issues.
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Another quote, which is not less worth the attention, says that “man is constituted as a mutineer; can mutineers ever be happy?” (Dostoevsky, 1993, p. 289). I am firmly minded to claim that this extract may potentially evoke many responses in readers. Of course, the story that Ivan tells Alyosha seems to predispose the audience to conceive of a negative sentiment towards Christ’s return as wholly adequate. Nonetheless, the quote does the opposite in terms of the conclusion it leads to. Although the Inquisitor’s perspective influences readers in a way that they are most likely to justify his sceptical attitude towards the supremacy of Christ, he still fails to enhance credibility by indicating people’s rebellious nature. To put the matter differently, suggesting that Jesus disregarded numerous instructions and warnings, on the one hand, increases the probability of his existence, whereas, on the other, alludes to the same sets of principles among people. As a result, the second quote gives the chance to draw parallels between certain aspects of Messiah’s life and those of common people.
The third quote that I qualify as imperative to make mention of is the following one: “Enslave us if you will, but feed us” (Dostoevsky, 1993, p. 291). It becomes apparent that people position themselves as remarkably prone to invisible beliefs; on the reverse side, they have been strongly associated with a failure to learn how properly handle their lives. In other words, they often appear to be unable to take care of themselves, which in turn results in a strong desire to be governed by institutionalized organ of the public’s control. Yes, the third citation definitely makes sense, and, thus, needs to be taken into account whilst evaluating the extent to which an individual can live an uncontrolled life.
The fourth quote that, in my view, sheds the light to many universal things is as follows: “'the kiss burns within his heart, but the old man remains with his former idea” (Dostoevsky, 1993, p. 301). Certainly, it captures my attention due to multiple reasons. Of all, however, I would highlight the one that deals with its potential to ascertain the true nature/morals of humanity. It is my belief that changing somebody’s mind can be extremely hard to do regardless of being driven by false or misleading representations. No matter how much truth the outsider may attempt to inject in someone’s mind, he/she will most likely not renounce the former ideas. The last quote serves as a wake-up call to abstain oneself from holding inaccurate beliefs irrespective of whether they come as fully crystallized patterns so far.
In sum, one has to know that “The Grand Inquisitor” provides an insightful reflection upon whether life can only be liveable under the impact of illusion. In addition, the chapter brings into sharp focus the debate about the chances of being responsible for oneself throughout life. Overall, I would indisputably recommend Dostoevsky’s novel “The Brothers Karamazov” in general and the chapter “The Grand Inquisitor” in particular to those seeking to take an excursus into the very source/origin of thoughts.
References
Dostoevsky, F. (1993). The Brothers Karamazov. (D. McDuff, Trans.). New York: Penguin
Books. (Originally published 1880).
