The Brothers Karamazov

1. How does Fyodor turn his wife's abandonment into something that benefits him?

2. Why do you think Adelaide married Fyodor in the first place, and what does this tell us about how people can misread each other?

3. How does Fyodor react when confronted about his son's care and education, and what does this reveal about his character?

4. Why do you think both Fyodor and Miüsov use elaborate justifications for essentially abandoning Mitya rather than simply admitting they don't want the responsibility?

5. Why did Sofya choose to marry Fyodor when she knew he was a bad man?

6. What does Fyodor's treatment of his wives and children reveal about his character and motivations?

7. How does Alyosha's response to his toxic family environment differ from what most people would do?

8. Why do you think Alyosha's schoolmates stopped mocking him and started protecting him instead?

9. What makes Alyosha different from how we might expect a 'religious' young man to be?

10. Why does Alyosha choose complete devotion to Elder Zossima rather than a more moderate approach to faith?

11. Why does Miusov become increasingly irritated when the monastery doesn't treat him with special deference, despite his wealth and education?

12. What does Kalganov's embarrassment about giving money to beggars reveal about how social expectations can make us ashamed of our better impulses?

13. Why does Fyodor choose to act like a buffoon in the monastery instead of showing respect?

14. What does Fyodor mean when he says he performs foolishness because he believes everyone already sees him as lower than themselves?

15. What specific approach does Father Zossima use with each woman who comes to him, and how does it differ from what they might expect from other religious leaders?