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Cristina Idelfonso Advanced Placement English Language Mr. Graham July 28, 2013 The Brothers Karamazov: Father Zossima The Brothers Karamazov is an impressive masterpiece of literature which presents a plethora of important characters and their roles. Fyodor Dostoevsky presents these characters and their important roles with the purpose of pouring all his deepest concerns of the human nature. Through all the different characters, Fyodor Dostoevsky expresses his views on the role of religion, evil, freedom, and whether God exists or not. Throughout this work of literature we explore the authors highlights on the conflict of the Karamazov family. Moreover, each character is very important in this story because each represents the affluent exploration of Fyodor Dostoevskys critical human questions. Fyodor Dostoevsky presents these characters to help answer the questions of mystery to human kind and to challenge us, readers, to reconsider the world. An important role in this story would be Father Zossima. Fyodor introduces Father Zossima as an austere voice attempting to help the burden of the Karamazov family and to save humanity from an uncontrolled and wicked society. In advance, Father Zossima also presents various methods to achieve what he is trying to attempt, and further, to justify the authors theistic-existentialist voice.

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Throughout Fyodor Dostoevskys story of the Brother Karamazov we explore various characters and their important roles. Dostoevsky introduces Father Zossima in an attempt to help the Karamazov family and to save the people from an amoral-evil society. The essence and nature of Father Zossima is extremely important throughout the story. Father Zossima is portrayed as a wise elder who acts as Alyoshas mentor. Both strong faith and religion are the significance of Father Zossima. Extremely alive and filled with strong faith, Father Zossima preaches strong messages to sinners. Everything good and wise action he does lead to his significance. Moreover, faith leads to Father Zossimas strong existentialism and abstinence from materialism. Zossimas existentialism produces his strong theist existentialist. As we explore more in depth, we realize that Father Zossima is the voice of Fyodor Dostoevskys voice. Father Zossimas faith is portrayed clearly to allow him awareness into the acts of the characters he meets. What defines Father Zossima is the stream of conscience introduced throughout the story. Zossimas sincere faith, preaching, teachings, and cherishes towards God is his essence. Furthermore, we explore how Father Zossimas essence and significance have a major effect on Alyosha. Father Zossima, as we explore further into the book, responds and acknowledges to various characters philosophy and behavior. An example can be Ivan Karamazov. Throughout this story, Ivan is portrayed as a brilliant student with an examining mind. Ivan questions the purpose of God and does not understand why suffering occurs in this world. We further explore Ivans reflection of mankind and how he specifies on his belief of freedom as a burden to mankind. Ivans philosophy is rationality. Skepticism and struggle to reconcile philosophy to religions is the major problem which Ivan carries. Father Zossima presents various words of wisdom. Zossima responds to Ivans philosophy through Alyosha. Father Zossima guides Alyosha

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throughout the story. Through Alyosha, as we explore in book five, chapter four, Father Zossima reminds Ivan of the sacrifice of Christ. Ivan explains to Alyosha about his pitiful and Euclidian understanding. Ivan cannot understand the suffering in the world. Further, Ivan takes the case of children suffering to make his case clearer to Alyosha. Through Alyoshas words, Father Zossima speaks. Fyodor Dostoevsky introduced these certain characters for a reason, to explore and examine critical human questions. As mentioned before, Ivan Karamazov takes the case of children to make his case clearer to Alyosha. Moreover, Ivan Karamazov gets to the point where he introduces his poem in prose. The Grand Inquisitor meditates on Ivans philosophy. It focuses on the conflict between the Inquisitor, who can be portrayed as Ivan, and Jesus. Ivan alludes to the New Testament in his prose. He refers to the biblical story of the temptations of Christ to justify Christs work in the name of humanity. Not only this, but further we explore The Grand Inquisitors hateful criticism towards Christ for rejecting Satans temptations. Ivan wants a God who is comprehensible. This introduces us to Alyoshas response and reactions towards Ivan. Since Father Zossima is the guide to Alyosha, Alyosha is portrayed as a wise and humble character. Through Alyoshas character, Father Zossima reacts to Ivans philosophy. Alyosha doesnt understand how Ivan can live with such a nihilistic view on the world. Alyoshas conclusion is that Ivans prose is absurd. But we explore that at the end of Ivans prose, Alyosha kisses Ivan, as Christ kissed the Inquisitor. Alyosha grows no hatred towards Ivan only because of his absurd philosophy; Alyosha remains loving Ivan. That is what Father Zossima teaches Alyosha. Father Zossimas wisdom and humbleness introduces us the character of Alyosha. The relationship of Alyosha and Father Zossima is extremely important. Through Father Zossima, Alyosha learns many important morals of life. Alyosha becomes the young man he is because of

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Zossimas guidance. Alyosha supplies a spiritual transformation throughout the story. Fyodor Dostoevsky places Alyosha as this certain character to help him answer the critical human questions. We explore that Alyosha is portrayed as the hero in this story. Alyosha is the hero because he is guided by the wise Father Zossima. Both these characters help Fyodor Dostoevsky exploration of human. Since Fyodor Dostoevsky, through this book, challenges readers to reevaluate the world, he introduces these important characters to help not only him, but the readers. Fyodor Dostoevsky wants readers to reconsider the world and their place in it. Overall, Father Zossima and Alyoshas part in this story is extremely important. We further explore Father Zossimas death. The father begins to become weak and frail which Alyosha notices. But Father Zossimas death serves as a symbolic meaning. The people know Father Zossimas death is a blessing because Father Zossima goes to a better place. Also, Father Zossimas death leads to Alyoshas next step. Alyosha is introduced as another Father Zossima. Father Zossimas guidance and wisdom shapes up Alyoshas character which at the end, serves as an important piece to the puzzle.