Old Karamazov Readings

So I have had lapse or two in regards to keeping up with my Karamazov blogs. In fact, this is the first one, so I will start on book two.

When Muisov, Fyodor, Ivan, Alyosha, and Zosima gather in the church to discuss matters, we see a great contrast of characters. Fyodor is making a fool of himself with what he is saying, which makes Ivan very embarrassed. Muisov, already irritated that Fyodor dragged him to a church when he knows full well that he (Muisov) is an atheist, is further angered by Fyodor. Zosima, however, is not bothered at all by his behavior. In fact, when Zosima comments on Fyodor and how he is essentially lying to himself, and how one cannot love mankind before he is himself trustworthy and trusts others, we see exactly how much of a contrast there is between this holy man and the others. Muisov is plagued by anger, Fyodor is basically the antithesis of the holy man, and even Alyosha's faults come through when he shows embarrassment at not only his family but also at the fact that the little girl Lise pointed out that he no longer visits her, even though they were once schoolmates.

The scene with the women only amplifies this contrast, as Zosima tells even a murderer that her crimes will be forgiven if she only repents. This chapter, I believe, is probably the greatest one in this book when it comes to defining who the characters are and where their allegiances lie.

Later, when Dmitri arrives, we encounter the love triangle between the Karamazovs. As they are arguing about the courts and separation of church and state, Fyodor starts prodding Dmitri about how he has left his fiancee for a woman named Grushenka. Dmitri then angrily points out that he is only talking about this because Fyodor has tried to steal Grushenka multiple times from Dmitri, and then we realize that Ivan is trying to take Dmitri's fiancee. Fyodor then leaves the room, and only comes back to unleash a tirade about the stupidity of monastic life and to tell Alyosha to come home. Zosima, in a strange turn of events, kneels down before Dmitri, as a sign that he can see that this argument between the family members can and will end with bloodshed, and he wants to acknowledge that fact now. The chapter ends with Zosima telling Alyosha that he should leave the monastery, and Alyosha's conversation with Rakitin.