113: The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky 2/2
In Part 2, The Brothers Karamazov transforms from a philosophical slog into page-turning murder mystery.
Nathan and David wrestle with Dostoevsky’s central question: What happens when your core beliefs crash into reality? Ivan’s rationalism can’t prove the truth. Dmitri sits in prison for a crime he may not have committed. And Alyosha discovers that love without reason might be the only thing that matters.
Did Dmitri kill his father? Did Smerdyakov? Can we ever really know—and does it even matter? This episode explores why certainty might be the real crime, why this “impossible” Russian novel is unputdownable, and how a 145-year-old book about patricide ends with unexpected hope.
Fair warning: We spend the first 40 minutes on plot, then things get… weird. Bring your questions about justice, truth, and whether you’re responsible for everyone else’s problems.
Spoiler-heavy. As usual, this episode is for readers who’ve already finished the book or don’t mind knowing whodunit (or didn’tdunit).
