"Is there in the whole world a being who would have the right to forgive and could forgive? I don't want harmony. From love for humanity I don't want it. I would rather be left with the unavenged suffering. I would rather remain with my unavenged suffering and unsatisfied indignation, even if I were wrong. Besides, too high a price is asked for harmony; it's beyond our means to pay so much to enter on it. And so I hasten to give back my entrance ticket, and if I am an honest man I am bound to give it back as soon as possible. And that I am doing. It's not God that I don't accept, Alyosha, only I most respectfully return him the ticket."
- Ivan Karamzov; quoted from Chapter 35 (Rebellion) of The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- Ivan Karamzov; quoted from Chapter 35 (Rebellion) of The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
This quote is an extract from the passionate philosophical debate between Ivan and Alyosha Karamazov. This is one of my favorite quotes in all of literature and probably my favorite quote from the book. The Brothers Karamazov has been critically acclaimed by a number of diverse thinkers such as: Albert Einstein, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Sigmund Freud, Kurt Vonnegut, Martin Heidegger, and many others. This book captured and defined so many aspects of life for me. The dramatic scenes, the unforgettable characters, the ardent philosophical debates between the characters illustrate so many aspects of life. In this sense, Dostoevsky is the greatest writer. His spiritual understanding, the intensity of the emotions being delivered, the ingenuity fused with ample madness have conveyed his novels of being composed in a lunatic asylum. Dostoevsky has often been criticizing for his messy style and his lack of artistic direction but Life itself lacks artistic direction; in its core Life is contradictory, intense, happy, imbued with both despair and hope. Dostoevsky is one the few writers who created characters that encompassed so many paramount images life. His characters were massive, they were Herculean in many ways, they would conquer the plot and escape the confines of the pages haunting the mind of the reader.
Characters of Dostoevsky's universe are usually dark, brooding, and disturbed individuals. Often troubled by the suffering of the innocents, the problem of evil, alienation, and the lack of inherent meaning to life. Dostoevsky has once been referred to as "The Shakespeare of the lunatic asylum." My favorite character of Dostoevsky's novels would probably have to be either Fyodor Karamazov, Ivan Karamazov, or Raskolnikov. Ivan and Raskolnikov were the cariactures of one of favorite character type, the intellectual rebellion. Fyodor Karamazov has been defined as a horrid, sensual, and sentimental individual. Yet Fyodor's personality is one of a comical despair, Dostoevsky referred to him as a character that captures the essence of life and once wrote that "... deep down we are all Fyodor Pavlovich."
But enough digressions let's get to the quote shall we? This quote discusses the problem of evil. Ivan comes to conclude that all the unjust suffering of humanity (mainly innocent children) cannot be requited for or justified for a grand design or plan. His deep compassion for humang beings inhibits him from accepting that a just God could allow such evils to exist in such a world plagued by injustice. Moreover he asserts that the children are innocent, lovable, and they are sinless. They did not eat the apple therefore they should not be condemned like their fathers. Ivan is truly fascinating not only because of the depth of his personality but moreover his moral ambiguity and contradictory attitude towards life; a truly realistic character. In many ways Ivan was a reflection of himself, Dostoevsky wrestled with his doubts and many problems of faith his entire life. I myself have acknowledged my veneration for Dostoevsky; I truly revere his writing because it managed to possess so much life with mere letters. Dostoevsky's sincere ardor and incredible insights into the complexity of the human psyche make him one of the greatest writers to have ever lived. He is both revered and in subsequent times has been deeply understood by many critics despite that fact Dostoevsky's popularity in Russia remains only matched by his rival Leo Tolstoy. And that is the essence of writing and composition, to create art is to make people reflect like mirrors, it is to better humanity and help in further progression.
Characters of Dostoevsky's universe are usually dark, brooding, and disturbed individuals. Often troubled by the suffering of the innocents, the problem of evil, alienation, and the lack of inherent meaning to life. Dostoevsky has once been referred to as "The Shakespeare of the lunatic asylum." My favorite character of Dostoevsky's novels would probably have to be either Fyodor Karamazov, Ivan Karamazov, or Raskolnikov. Ivan and Raskolnikov were the cariactures of one of favorite character type, the intellectual rebellion. Fyodor Karamazov has been defined as a horrid, sensual, and sentimental individual. Yet Fyodor's personality is one of a comical despair, Dostoevsky referred to him as a character that captures the essence of life and once wrote that "... deep down we are all Fyodor Pavlovich."
But enough digressions let's get to the quote shall we? This quote discusses the problem of evil. Ivan comes to conclude that all the unjust suffering of humanity (mainly innocent children) cannot be requited for or justified for a grand design or plan. His deep compassion for humang beings inhibits him from accepting that a just God could allow such evils to exist in such a world plagued by injustice. Moreover he asserts that the children are innocent, lovable, and they are sinless. They did not eat the apple therefore they should not be condemned like their fathers. Ivan is truly fascinating not only because of the depth of his personality but moreover his moral ambiguity and contradictory attitude towards life; a truly realistic character. In many ways Ivan was a reflection of himself, Dostoevsky wrestled with his doubts and many problems of faith his entire life. I myself have acknowledged my veneration for Dostoevsky; I truly revere his writing because it managed to possess so much life with mere letters. Dostoevsky's sincere ardor and incredible insights into the complexity of the human psyche make him one of the greatest writers to have ever lived. He is both revered and in subsequent times has been deeply understood by many critics despite that fact Dostoevsky's popularity in Russia remains only matched by his rival Leo Tolstoy. And that is the essence of writing and composition, to create art is to make people reflect like mirrors, it is to better humanity and help in further progression.
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