The Brothers Karamazov Research Paper

The Brothers Karamazov is a novel that was written in the late 1800’s by Fedor Dostoevsky. In it Dostoevsky questions the existence of God; the role of religion, and concepts having to do with guilt and innocence. Fyodor Karamazov, the family patriarch, is murdered, and it is suspected that one of his sons is guilty of the crime. The story follows the Karamazov family, and the search for the true perpetrator. The Brothers Karamazov is Dostoevsky’s final novel; in it he heavily uses themes of religion, innocence and guilt, fatherhood, and spiritual themes of all kinds. Dostoevsky was born in Moscow on October 30, 1821, into a privileged family. His father was a doctor, and was extremely harsh towards Dostoevsky; his mother was religious, and died prior to Dostoevsky’s sixteenth birthday. Dostoevsky attended the School of Military Engineers in St. Petersburg in accordance to his father’s wishes. He graduated and went into the Czar’s army, and was later put in prison, where he was nearly executed. He was later released, but had to serve in the army at Semipalatinsk where he met his future wife. In 1859 he was granted amnesty for his crimes; he returned to St. Petersburg. He eventually died in January 28, 1881 from a hemorrhage in his throat less than one year after The Brothers Karamazov was published (Dostoevsky).

After a series of misunderstandings, Dmitrii Karamazov is placed under arrest for the crime. Dmitrii goes before a judge, and due to an overwhelming amount of evidence against him, he is found guilty. It is later revealed that the true killer is Smerdyakov, Fedor’s assistant, and illegitimate son. Though Dmitrii is innocent in actuality, he suffers a mental breakdown, and is sentenced to twenty years in prison. The novel ends with the surviving members of the family planning to free Dmitrii