Fyodor Dostoevsky The Grand Inquisitor Analysis
In 1880, 19th century writer Fyodor Dostoevsky published one of the most famous novels in world literature called The Brothers Karamazov. Many honor this work as a representation of humanity’s struggles and sins, but Dostoevsky also incorporates what he believed to be the most fundamental issues of his time. His works are formed in the context of a religious consciousness that hold criticisms in direct relation to Russia’s affiliation with the West, as well as the analysis of Orthodox culture. Enlisting the views of Nikolaĭ Berd︠i︡aev and John Moran, this essay will provide a partial moral and historical evaluation of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s parable The Grand Inquisitor within his book The Brother’s Karamazov, but will primarily provide an analysis
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In his book, The Brothers Karamazov, Dostoevsky states that “socialism is not only a problem of labour or of what is called the fourth class but is even more concerned with atheism, a modern incarnation of godlessness, the tower of Babel built without God, not to raise earth to heaven but to bring heaven down to earth.” The inquisitor also states “all has been given by Thee to the Pope… and all, therefore, is still in the Pope’s hands, and there is no need for Thee to come now at all” (The Grand Inquisitor 4). In both quotes Dostoevsky presents his fear of the Russian goal, that is, to form a concrete economic and political organization of society that would bring the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth. However, as admitted by the Inquisitor, it would not really be God’s kingdom since the Church has perverted the word of God and Christian values in order to perpetuate its own authority. Though, a socialist himself so to speak: an “Orthodox Christian socialist,” Dostoevsky was hostile to revolutionary socialism at every turn, and was intent solely on the City of God and not the construction of any sort of tower of
In his book, The Brothers Karamazov, Dostoevsky states that “socialism is not only a problem of labour or of what is called the fourth class but is even more concerned with atheism, a modern incarnation of godlessness, the tower of Babel built without God, not to raise earth to heaven but to bring heaven down to earth.” The inquisitor also states “all has been given by Thee to the Pope… and all, therefore, is still in the Pope’s hands, and there is no need for Thee to come now at all” (The Grand Inquisitor 4). In both quotes Dostoevsky presents his fear of the Russian goal, that is, to form a concrete economic and political organization of society that would bring the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth. However, as admitted by the Inquisitor, it would not really be God’s kingdom since the Church has perverted the word of God and Christian values in order to perpetuate its own authority. Though, a socialist himself so to speak: an “Orthodox Christian socialist,” Dostoevsky was hostile to revolutionary socialism at every turn, and was intent solely on the City of God and not the construction of any sort of tower of