The beginning of The Brother’s Karamazov presents the character of Zosima as the antithesis of the Karamazovs. Zosima is honored and respected throughout the land as a holy saint of God, a righteous man, and a wise counselor. People traverse many miles to come and see this revered man. However, as Zosima dies he tells Alyosha and a few close monks of his past, and it is revealed that Zosima indeed has Karamazov blood. The difference between the Karamazovs and Zosima, nevertheless, lies in his eventual conquer of his Karamazov tendencies. Karamazov blood is the nature of all mankind. Humans are born with a selfish, sensual, and sinful nature. Fyodor and Dmitri’s erotic desires are the greatest example of Karamazov blood. Conversely, as the novel progresses, even Alyosha is revealed to have Karamazov blood. Zosima grew up with many Christian morals, however, when he was sent off to the Cadet Corps in Petersburg, he began to live a different type of life. His actions often became cruel and hedonistic. The military life suited him well, he acquired a nice sum of money, and he even fell in love with a girl. However, he did not want to give up his sensual, free bachelor’s life for a marriage to this upstanding, wealthy, and educated girl. Later when Zosima came back to this girl’s town after being stationed somewhere else for a few months, she was already married to an upstanding landowner. Zosima became enraged to know she had been seeing the man when Zosima had also been pursuing her. Zosima made up his mind to take revenge and challenged the man to a duel. All these actions reflect the irascible, sensual Karamazov blood in Zosima’s veins. Nonetheless, on the night before and morning of the duel he had a sort of awakening and something changed within him. Zosima allowed the man to shoot at him in the duel and then Zosma threw his gun aside and asked for forgiveness. Unlike Fyodor and Dmitri, Zosima overcomes or somehow subdues his Karamazov blood. After the duel incident, Zosima resigns for his regiment and announces his decision to become a monk. He leaves behind worldly success, military renown, erotic gratification, and his own reputation. In conclusion, Zosima did at one time allow his actions to be governed by Karamazov blood, but in the end, he defeats its influence.
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Blog 02-01-08
The beginning of The Brother’s Karamazov presents the character of Zosima as the antithesis of the Karamazovs. Zosima is honored and respected throughout the land as a holy saint of God, a righteous man, and a wise counselor. People traverse many miles to come and see this revered man. However, as Zosima dies he tells Alyosha and a few close monks of his past, and it is revealed that Zosima indeed has Karamazov blood. The difference between the Karamazovs and Zosima, nevertheless, lies in his eventual conquer of his Karamazov tendencies.
Karamazov blood is the nature of all mankind. Humans are born with a selfish, sensual, and sinful nature. Fyodor and Dmitri’s erotic desires are the greatest example of Karamazov blood. Conversely, as the novel progresses, even Alyosha is revealed to have Karamazov blood.
Zosima grew up with many Christian morals, however, when he was sent off to the Cadet Corps in Petersburg, he began to live a different type of life. His actions often became cruel and hedonistic. The military life suited him well, he acquired a nice sum of money, and he even fell in love with a girl. However, he did not want to give up his sensual, free bachelor’s life for a marriage to this upstanding, wealthy, and educated girl. Later when Zosima came back to this girl’s town after being stationed somewhere else for a few months, she was already married to an upstanding landowner. Zosima became enraged to know she had been seeing the man when Zosima had also been pursuing her. Zosima made up his mind to take revenge and challenged the man to a duel. All these actions reflect the irascible, sensual Karamazov blood in Zosima’s veins. Nonetheless, on the night before and morning of the duel he had a sort of awakening and something changed within him. Zosima allowed the man to shoot at him in the duel and then Zosma threw his gun aside and asked for forgiveness.
Unlike Fyodor and Dmitri, Zosima overcomes or somehow subdues his Karamazov blood. After the duel incident, Zosima resigns for his regiment and announces his decision to become a monk. He leaves behind worldly success, military renown, erotic gratification, and his own reputation. In conclusion, Zosima did at one time allow his actions to be governed by Karamazov blood, but in the end, he defeats its influence.
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