Children In “The Brothers Karamazov

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Children in the Brothers Karamazov

Children are portrayed in “The Brothers Karamazov” as being mistreated by adults and

by God. Ivan, who is the most troubled by children’s sufferings, doesn’t want to forget them so

he keeps articles about the misfortunes dealt upon children. The story also incorporates tales of

children that are in the town, and surrounding areas, who become important to the plot of the

story. By the end of the book Dostoevsky wants you to feel such grief and sadness for the

children that it might even challenge your faith to God.

The first child I will mention is discussed in the “Peasant Women Who Have Faith”

chapter. A peasant woman goes to see Father Zosima because she has lost her son. The woman

is very distraught and says that she left her husband and the rest of her family because she

couldn’t take it anymore. This woman had already lost three other sons and just couldn’t stand

to lose another. Father Zosima tells her a story about a saint who comforts a grieving mother,

like herself, who had lost her only child. “Knowest thou not,” said the saint to her, “how bold

these little ones are before the throne of God? Verily there are none bolder than they in the

Kingdom of Heaven. Thou didst give us life, oh Lord, they say, and scarcely had we looked

upon it when thou didst take it back again. And so boldly they ask and ask again that God gives

them at once the rank of angels.” (41). After father Zosima tells her the story he says, “know

that your little one is surely before the throne of God, is rejoicing and happy, and praying to God

for you, and therefore weep, but rejoice.” (41). This idea is a polar opposite of Ivan’s view of

children. Father Zosima is not interested with what happens in this life but the next. It’s what a



monk does. Ivan’s view is more grounded and I shall me...