We are reading the second book — the first day of the story
In February, we'll be reading Book Two of The Brothers Karamazov. This pivotal section launches the main narrative, following several intense hours at the monastery.
Greetings to all Dostoevsky enthusiasts!
Our main discussions will take place from February 10 to 21 (with a break), and I've divided our article into two parts.
Before our discussions begin (prior to February 10), I'll publish an article about the Optina Pustyn Monastery, exploring the prototypes of Elder Zosima and Dostoevsky's visit there with philosopher Vladimir Solovyov.
February also commemorates Dostoevsky's death — he died on February 11 by the new calendar, though his tombstone shows January 28 (old style). Fyodor Mikhailovich's end was sudden and painful. He died from a lung hemorrhage brought on by smoking — a habit that had dominated his life. He and his brother had even run a tobacco business together. Despite his deteriorating lungs, Dostoevsky smoked until his very last moments. In a tragic turn, he sent his son to buy cigarettes, and passed away while the boy was at the store.
On February 9, the anniversary of his death, I'll publish a brief article about his relationship with tobacco.
You can download a bookmark with chapter titles and characters who appear in the second book. There are two pages - the bookmarks differ in that the second version includes the dates of our chapter discussions.
The original title is “Неуместное собрание”. In Avsey's translation it's "An Unseemly Encounter." A more literal translation would be "An Inappropriate Gathering." How is this part titled in your translation?
The narrator, who names the parts and chapters, is already preparing us for what will be an unpleasant meeting. Given the gathering's mix of people with such different temperaments and worldviews, we can anticipate an escalation into argument or scandal—just as Alyosha warns at the end of the first book. New characters will join this gathering, and we'll see how each one contributes to the tension.
This book contains eight chapters. Chapter 5 presents the greatest challenge, as it delves into Ivan's article and its complex philosophical arguments.
Time
We are moving into the main story of the novel, which spans several days. In Book Two, we are at the beginning of the first day. It's a warm late August outside. All the action in this part takes place over several hours. It begins at 11:30 AM when people start gathering for the meeting with Elder Zosima. They depart around 1:30-2:00 PM after all the events. So in reality, this is quite a fast-paced sequence of events for the characters.
Place
Monastery Optyna Pystyn.
The map shows modern buildings, though some didn't exist at the time, but the layout matches that of the mid-19th century. I've marked in orange the approximate path the characters take in the first chapter after leaving their carriages — through the monastery to reach Zosima in the skete (the hermitage).
The monastery territory (A) lies at the bottom of the map.
At the top is the territory of the Skete (B) — a monastic community in Eastern Christianity that offers monks both isolation and the benefits of communal services, shared resources, and protection.
At point 1 are the Skete gates, where Fyodor Pavlovich frantically crossed himself before all the depicted saints.
Near point 2 is where the characters' meeting took place, in what was Elder Ambrose of Optina's meeting room — he being one of the prototypes for Zosima.
Point 3 marks the presumed location of the refectory, where the characters were invited to dine after their meeting.
New Characters
Female characters make their first appearance in this part (who will have their own voice, unlike the brothers' mothers who were described in two sentences before they died). While some speak directly, others we'll come to know only through men's descriptions. The novel begins to paint a picture of these women's lives and destinies—though the outlook has been grim so far, with both of Karamazov's wives meeting tragic ends.
Several new male characters also emerge, with the seminarian Mikhail Rakitin, Alyosha's friend, playing an especially significant role. We'll explore the significance of their names and meanings as the story unfolds.
The narrator's identity becomes a subject of fresh speculation, adding another layer of intrigue to the narrative.
The fifth chapter will focus on Ivan's article and the reform it discusses. The 1860s marked a transformative period under Alexander II, who introduced sweeping changes across Russian society. Beginning with the emancipation of serfs in 1861, reforms touched every sphere of life.
The article examines the judicial reform of 1864. This reform brought significant changes: courts opened their doors to the public, made prosecutor and defense attorney presentations mandatory, and established a jury system. Jurors would now decide cases based on evidence and arguments from both sides. The reform also created a system of preliminary investigation, where an independent court investigator gathered evidence and testimonies. These changes sparked intense public debate about ecclesiastical courts: would they remain under Church control, or would the state's influence grow?
While ecclesiastical courts operated separately from civil courts in theory, Alexander II's reforms to civil proceedings inevitably affected them. The Synod recognized the need to adapt, leading to broader discussions about church-state relations. Questions arose about their respective jurisdictions—which matters belonged to legal courts, and which to ecclesiastical ones.
In the mid-19th century, ecclesiastical courts oversaw cases involving clergy, religious and moral offenses, and divorce proceedings. The system suffered from an overly formal approach to evidence and inconsistent punishments.
When the judicial reform of 1864 transformed civil courts, it became clear that ecclesiastical courts needed similar changes, as both systems shared common legal standards. Yet despite this necessity, the church resisted reform.
The civil court reform established crucial principles: judicial independence, equality before the law, transparency, the right to defense, and public participation.
These changes to ecclesiastical courts triggered intense debates throughout the 1860s and 1870s. The Holy Synod engaged in these discussions as the church gradually adapted to the new legal landscape.
Congratulations on beginning to read the second part.
I hope you'll enjoy reading and analyzing it. It should be noted that it's written with a great deal of humor. And remember that this is still fiction, and Dostoevsky doesn't express exclusively his own worldview through the narrator. He presents different viewpoints across a broad spectrum: from atheistic and nihilistic to religious fanatics. Therefore, some things will resonate with you, while others might be unpleasant to read.
The map, bookmark & picture are great additions to Book 2. I also appreciate your description of the bigger picture on what life was like before heading into chapter 5. Thank goodness you will be there guiding us through it.
I'm so happy, Dear Dana. Thank you for your guide, otherwise it would be very difficult for me to approach Dosto. Hugs from Mexico City