Aleksey Karamazov, a character in Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel "The Brothers Karamazov": characteristics

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Aleksey Karamazov is the key character in Dostoevsky's latest novel, The Brothers Karamazov. This hero does not seem to be the main one, since the main events are connected with the figure of his older brother, but this is only the first impression. The writer from the very beginning prepared for Alyosha a great future. Unfortunately, the reader should have learned about him from the continuation of the novel, but the second part was never written due to the unexpected death of the author.

A little about the work

"The Brothers Karamazov" is considered the pinnacle of Dostoevsky's writing skills. We can say that the author went to write this work all his life. It took two years to create a masterpiece, the work was completed in 1880.

The novel touches on very serious topics - morality, freedom, faith in God, the human essence. Dostoevsky raised all these questions in his works before, but they have never sounded so big.

Aleksey Karamazov is not just the hero of the novel, he is the very ideal character that the author has dreamed of creating all his life. Fedor Mikhailovich decided to show his formation. And in the first part of The Brothers Karamazov, he is at the beginning of his journey, he has not yet experienced anything, he has not yet reached spiritual perfection, he has only taken the first step towards it. But the second part of the novel was not destined to appear.

Prototype

Alexey Karamazov had a real prototype. This is the youngest son of the writer, the namesake of the hero, who died at the age of ten from epilepsy, which was transmitted to him from his father.

In addition, literary critic L. Grossman suggested that this character goes back to the hero of George Sand's novel Spiridon, who was a monk and bore the name Alexei. Among real persons, they also point to Alexei Khrapovitsky, who became a metropolitan.

The life of the hero before the start of the novel

So, if Alexei Fyodorovich Karamazov is declared the main character, why doesn't he look like him? The writer himself answers this question in the preface, saying that Alexei is still "an indefinite figure." His role will manifest itself with all its force in the second part of the novel, which will be the main one. Therefore, the character remained somewhat unfinished.

But back to the origin of our hero. He is the youngest of the three Karamazovs and is Ivan's half-brother. His mother, Sofya Ivanovna, was a "meek" hysteria. It was from her that the young man inherited religiosity. One episode from his childhood was very well remembered by the hero of the novel by F. M. Dostoevsky. This wasIt was a quiet summer evening, with the setting sun shining through the open window into the room. In the corner was an image with a lighted lamp, in front of which a sobbing mother was kneeling. She holds little Alyosha in her arms and prayerfully stretches him to the face of the Mother of God. This scene has a great sacred meaning. Sofya Ivanovna gives her son under the protection of the Mother of God. From that moment on, he became an initiate, under the blessing of higher powers.

He was brought up by strangers, because his mother died early. Without finishing the gymnasium course, Alyosha returned to his native city to look for his mother's grave. Old man Karamazov was greatly struck by the reason for the appearance of his youngest son in his house. Fyodor Pavlovich generally treated Alyosha in a special way, distinguishing him from his offspring.

Shortly after returning home, our hero went to the monastery as a novice to the elder Zosima, who was known as a sage and healer.

Appearance

After such a past, Alexei Karamazov may seem like a fanatic and ex alted eccentric. The description of appearance, however, tells a different story. Dostoevsky specifically endows his hero with he alth so that the reader does not have an erroneous opinion. Alexei is completely different from Prince Myshkin, with whom readers and critics often compared him.

Karamazov Jr. is notable for his physical and spiritual he alth: “a stately, red-cheeked, full of he alth, with a bright look … a nineteen-year-old teenager.” The young man is very handsome, of medium height, slender, with dark blond hair, dark gray shining eyes, regular features. Often itcould be seen thinking about something.

Alexey Karamazov from "The Brothers Karamazov" has a special gift - he easily wins people over. The young man is friendly, kind to everyone, does not remember insults, is not greedy, very chaste and bashful. Despite the fact that he does not take an active part in the main events, his image stands out from the rest of the characters.

Aleksey Karamazov: Characteristics

Alyosha is Dostoevsky's new ideal hero. Prior to this, the author chose the sick and suffering. In Karamazov, however, there is no sign of illness. Therein lies his strength. He is spiritually and physically perfect. At the same time, he is a realist, standing firmly on the ground, he has Karamazov's power in him. And if she destroys his brothers and father, then our hero uses her only for good.

Alexey Karamazov is a character-doer. In the novel, he acts as an assistant, he is trusted by other characters, and he does not deceive their expectations. Here is how the author writes about this: "He was always active … he could not love passively … falling in love, he immediately began to help." In this he is not like the previous heroes of Dostoevsky, who were dreamers, wanted to do, but could not.

Inok

The image of Alyosha Karamazov is associated with a new type of Christian spirituality for the 19th century - monastic service in the world. To do this, a person undergoes monastic asceticism, but instead of staying in a monastery, he leaves and lives among ordinary people. Zosima predicts this path to the hero before his death: "He will come out of these walls … in the world he will be like a monk …". The elder also predicts Alyoshamany trials and misfortunes on the way, but they will bring him happiness and let him know what is most important in life. It was this fate that Dostoevsky prepared for the character, but it was to be realized in the second part of the novel. The first acts as a preface.

Alyosha's relationship with his brothers

The Karamazov brothers are very different, but at the same time they have something in common. This is an incredible force that comes from the earth and pushes them to recklessness. Most of all, Dmitry has it, which is why he comes into conflict with his father. In Ivan, it manifests itself in a different way - in his atheistic ideas and doubts. Only Aleksey can deal with it and direct it to a peaceful direction.

Dmitry, like Fyodor Pavlovich, patronizes the hero, but they collide with Ivan. The reason for this is faith, and in this matter not one of them can yield. The brothers have a different approach to the perception of the world. Alyosha, thanks to his faith in God, loves both people and the surrounding reality. Ivan first needs to understand and comprehend it. He cannot accept anything on faith, he needs to provide evidence. Here the author demonstrates the clash of a cold mind and Christian love.

But Alexei isn't firm enough yet to have no doubts. Dostoevsky always approached the psychological description of his characters very subtly, and The Brothers Karamazov was no exception. Dmitry, Alexei and Ivan face spiritual trials in their lives. The younger falls to doubt the highest justice. This happens after the death of Zosima. Everyone expected that the bodythe elder will not be subject to decay, thereby a miracle will be revealed. But that did not happen. Alexei begins to doubt what Zosima told him. The hero does not understand, where is the transformation of nature and the highest justice? He even begins to think that maybe Ivan was right in his statements. The hero begins to feel spiritual closeness with his atheist brother. More and more often he recalls their conversation.

However, Alyosha's rebellion, like Ivan's, is coming to an end. And if the older Karamazov denies God and plunges into madness, then the younger Karamazov has a vision of the resurrection.

Grushenka

The image of Alyosha Karamazov is also associated with Grushenka, who caused a conflict between Dmitry and his father. Our hero gets to it by accident - he is brought by Rakitin, represented by Dostoevsky as the real Mephistopheles.

As soon as Aleksey saw the girl, Karamazov's voluptuousness woke up in him. Grushenka spurs his interest by sitting down on her knees and offering champagne. But as soon as the beauty finds out about the death of Zosima, she is immediately transformed. Frightened, Grushenka jumps off Alyosha's knees and begins to cross herself. At this moment, the hero sees the true essence of the girl. He exclaims, pointing to her: "I have found a treasure - a loving soul." Grushenka's compassion helped Alexei's soul to be healed. And his sympathy for her supported the girl. So the heroine says about Karamazov Jr.: “He turned my soul upside down… he took pity on me first… all my life the one you were waiting for… who would have pity on me.”

In criticism, the episode of their meeting is considered the mystical betrothal of the bride-earth withfiance. Here Dostoevsky demonstrates the victory of resurrecting highly spiritual love over voluptuousness, earthly feeling. The souls of the heroes are aware of their kinship and mystical unity. They take each other's fault on themselves - "all are to blame for all." It is sin that unites people, making the whole world brothers and sisters.

After that, Grushenka becomes ready to share his redeeming feat with Mitya, and Alexei opens up for a mystical vision.

Merely meeting this girl changes the state of mind of Karamazov Jr. All protest in him disappears, he no longer blames the higher powers for anything and does not require an answer. Leaving Grushenka's house, the young man humbly returns to the monastery, where he stands at the coffin of the elder and begins to pray.

The insight of someone else's soul

In how quickly Alyosha managed to understand the essence of the girl, whom everyone considered an evil whore, there is a similarity between the hero and Myshkina, his peculiar predecessor. One glance at Nastasya Filippovna was enough for the prince to comprehend her suffering.

Dostoevsky knowingly endows his main characters with the gift of seeing people's souls. This feature tells readers that these characters are able to see the truth where no one can recognize it. Hence their religiosity - they do not need proof to know the truth, which is that God exists.

Alyosha's monologues in The Brothers Karamazov

As we learned, Alexei is the central character of the novel, so all his speeches and reasoning are extremely important for understanding Dostoevsky's intention. The character pays most attention to issues of faith and attitude to life and the world. The main thing for him is love: "Everyone must first of all love life … love before logic." He says these words during a dispute with Ivan. This refers to spiritual, higher love, and not bodily.

Another famous speech about children, in which he says that they are the most pure and innocent creatures. It is no coincidence that the hero closely converges with schoolchildren.

Aleksey is the mouthpiece of Dostoevsky himself, proclaiming the principles and ideals of the writer.

Divine Illumination

The Brothers Karamazov was conceived as a description of Alexei's spiritual development. Therefore, the brightest scene of the novel is the enlightenment of the hero. This happens after a divine vision descends on him.

After that, he comes out of his cell, falls to the ground and kisses her. At that moment, he felt how "the threads of all God's worlds converged in his soul", he wanted to forgive everyone and ask for forgiveness himself. Aleksey comprehends the "world harmony", to which all the heroes of Dostoevsky so strive. The writer himself calls him "new Adam", who, weeping and crying, kisses Mother Earth, defiled by his fall.

Alyosha's Karamazov power is transformed into a divine one. He finds the answer to the question “how can one forgive the death of a child,” which tormented Ivan so much. It's simple - in a perfect world everyone will be forgiven.

A new mystical experience transforms not only the hero, but also the world that surrounds him. In the novel, we can see only the beginning of this - Alexei bases the "universal brotherhood" onIlyusha's grave, which includes only children so far. As opposed to social anthills, the new community is built on love and personal freedom. Sincere affection for the deceased boy united his friends and laid the foundation for their brotherhood.

The novel, despite the fact that Dmitry is innocently accused of killing his father, ends with the triumph of faith in the resurrection.

A little about other characters

How the first part of the cycle was conceived by Dostoevsky "The Brothers Karamazov". The main characters had to go through the path of spiritual improvement or degradation. The author shows us the revival of Grushinka and Alexei, just as we see how Ivan, seized with madness, dies, and Smerdyakov chooses the path of suicide. But the fate of Dmitry is not completely clear. The author gives him hope for transformation - he will have to endure his catharsis in hard labor.

The fate of Alexei, Mitya and Grusha is clear to the reader, only the future of Ivan remains hidden. So it remains unknown whether Dostoevsky wanted to give his hero a second chance or doomed him to final self-destruction.

What awaited Alexei in the second part

In conclusion, let's talk a little about the future of the protagonist. The second novel was supposed to begin at a time when Alexei was already 33 years old. This figure further assures us that Karamazov Jr. is a Christ-like character. If we connect the life of the hero with the gospel events, then the description of his youth can be correlated with the temptation of faith.

A. S. Suvorin, a friend of the writer, said in his memoirs thatDostoevsky planned to execute Alyosha. The search for truth was to be brought to the scaffold of the hero. However, not all critics agree with this and believe that many of the author's own remarks rule out such an ending. Literary critics in general for a long time treated the image of Alyosha without due attention, carried away by such bright heroes as Dmitry and Ivan.

Nevertheless, the author's preface to the novel puts everything in its place and clearly points to Karamazov Jr. as a key character.