Document Type
Humanities
Abstract
This paper analyzes the mysterious character of Pavel Smerdyakov from Dostoevsky’s novel, The Brothers Karamazov, by examining his loveless upbringing, motives for murdering Fyodor Karamazov, and his final conversations with Ivan Karamazov, to argue that Smerdyakov committed suicide out of guilt from his crime. Smerdyakov may have had a potential conversion to Christianity which would have triggered an identity crisis in which he was tormented between accepting Christ’s love and hanging on to his lifelong hatred. Thus, he would have committed suicide out of remorse from his sin like the biblical Judas and an inability to choose between conversion or denial. Smerdyakov's potential conversion and gifting of “onions” (Dostoevsky’s metaphor for a selfless, redemptive act) prior to his death suggests that he, himself, may be redeemed, which offers an element of hope to his tragic end.
Recommended Citation
Munzar, Abigail M.
(2026)
"The Secret of Smerdyakov,"
Global Tides: Vol. 20, Article 7.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/globaltides/vol20/iss1/7
Included in
Christianity Commons, Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons, Russian Literature Commons
