Background to The Brothers Karamazov

Dostoevsky: The Brothers Karamazov

In this course, Professor Carol Apollonio (Duke University) explores Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov. In the first lecture, we introduce Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov and its significance within Russian literature. In the second lecture, we examine the context of The Brothers Karamazov, and provide a brief overview of its characters and plot. In the third module, we explore the profound themes of The Brothers Karamazov against a backdrop of cosmic indifference and divine grace. In the fourth module, we track the devil's influence throughout Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov as it relates to fatherhood, the Devil, evil twins and temptation. In the final lecture, we investigate Dostoevsky's vision of faith and grace as a response to the demonic temptations and atheistic perspectives presented in the novel.

Background to The Brothers Karamazov

In this lecture, we explore Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov and its significance within Russian literature, focusing on: (i) Dostoevsky's status as a profound psychologist and philosopher who tackles fundamental questions of existence, morality, and the nature of evil; (ii) the historical context of Dostoevsky's life (1821-1881) amid significant social and political changes in Russia, including the clash of Western ideas and traditional values; (iii) Dostoevsky's early literary career, beginning with his first novel Poor Folk and his subsequent arrest for revolutionary activities, which shaped his worldview; (iv) the aftermath of the Crimean War and the reforms of Tsar Alexander II, which influenced the younger generation's radicalization and engagement with Western thought; (v) the evolution of Dostoevsky's writing style following his return from Siberia, marked by major works like Notes from Underground and Crime and Punishment; (vi) the thematic exploration in The Brothers Karamazov of family dynamics, existential crises, and the struggle between faith and doubt, reflecting the broader societal tensions of the time; (vii) the importance of engaging with Dostoevsky's literature through a nuanced understanding of its artistic depth, avoiding reductive biographical interpretations.