It is fairly obvious that the names Dostoevsky uses for the characters in The Brothers Karamazov are important. Names are not only labels for identifying characters, but the meaning of names also point to their type of character or role in the overall theme of the story. For example, the name of the hero Alexei […]
The Meditator (or The Contemplator) by Ivan Kramskoy, 1876 In The Brothers Karamazov (Bk 3, Ch 6), Dostoevsky makes reference to the above painting in describing Smerdyakov: Yet he would sometimes stop in the house, or else in the yard or the street, fall into thought, and stand like that even for ten minutes. A physiognomist, studying him, […]
Because I once was an agnostic who thought he was a realist, this caught my attention (emphasis added): It is not miracles that bring a realist to faith. A true realist, if he is not a believer, will always find in himself the strength and ability not to believe in miracles as well, and if […]
There are several books of fiction on the edge my radar that I may someday read. Most of these books have been repeatedly mentioned in various blogs over the years that seemed good based on comments and reviews. I’m very picky about what I read, especially fiction. I finally read one these books last month, […]