Listen "Dostoyevsky: Introduction to The Brothers Karamazov (1/4)"
Episode Synopsis
The Brothers Karamazov (1880) is the pinnacle of Dostoyevsky’s literary and intellectual work. His critique of European Enlightenment ideas, including atheism, utilitarianism, socialism and utopianism, find their culmination in this profound tome. Dostoyevsky wrestles with the problem of evil, unlike in his previous major novels, and also perfects his summary of the problem of atheism: “Without God, anything is permissible.” Dostoyevsky also ventures forth into existential territory, asking and answering questions regarding the goodness of life in the face of suffering and whether free will is a gift or a curse. All of this and more in a riveting murder mystery, featuring love triangles and prison escapes, pious monks and the lowest sinners.The featured oil on canvas is called Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoi (1837–1887). It was painted in 1883. I chose it because I think it perfectly depicts Grushenka: beautiful, mischievous and immoral. Grushenka is a central character in The Brothers Karamazov because she directly instigates the feud between Dimitri and Fyodor that leads to critical circumstantial evidence in Dimitri's murder trial.The featured piece is Piano Concerto No. 1 (Op. 23) - Allegro Non Troppo E Molto Maestoso by Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840–1893), a Russian composer and contemporary of Dostoyevsky.LinksVisit our website: https://www.wellreadchristian.comCheck our our blog: https://www.wellreadchristian.com/blogFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellreadchristianTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/WellReadChrist1Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfGxz4OH1-hVD0fL9AWR4Xg
More episodes of the podcast Well Read Christian
Orwell: Reflections On 1984 (2/2)
21/04/2022
Orwell: Introduction to 1984 (1/2)
24/03/2022
Romance... Who Needs It, or Must Have It?
24/02/2022
Why Christianity is Not Taken Seriously
27/01/2022
Glory to the Newborn King!
23/12/2021
Bonhoeffer: What is the Church? (2/2)
18/11/2021
Bonhoeffer: The Spy-Theologian (1/2)
21/10/2021