| Author |
Dostoyevsky, Fyodor, 1821-1881 |
| Translator |
Blavatsky, H. P. (Helena Petrovna), 1831-1891 |
| Title |
The Grand Inquisitor
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| Note |
Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grand_Inquisitor
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 64.2 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
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| Credits |
Produced by Jake Jaqua. HTML version by Al Haines.
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| Summary |
"The Grand Inquisitor" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a philosophical narrative extracted from the larger work, "The Brothers Karamazov," written in the late 19th century. This thought-provoking piece can be classified as a religious and philosophical allegory that critiques organized religion, particularly Roman Catholicism, and explores the themes of freedom, faith, and human nature. Set during the Spanish Inquisition, it poses profound questions about morality, authority, and the essence of belief in the face of suffering. The story unfolds in a dramatic dialogue between the Grand Inquisitor, a powerful figure in the Church, and Jesus, who has returned to earth during a time of oppression and persecution. The Inquisitor condemns Jesus for the burden of freedom He offered humanity, which he believes leads to chaos and suffering. He argues that people prefer to relinquish their freedom for the sake of comfort and guidance provided by authority figures like himself. The narrative culminates in a powerful moment when Jesus responds not with words, but with a silent act of love, leaving the Inquisitor torn between his beliefs and the truth embodied in Christ. This intense exchange highlights the tension between faith and reason, individual freedom and the desire for security, making "The Grand Inquisitor" a timeless exploration of the human condition. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PG: Language and Literatures: Slavic (including Russian), Languages and Literature
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| Subject |
Jesus Christ -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Christian fiction
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
8578 |
| Release Date |
Jul 1, 2005 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Dec 26, 2020 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
3862 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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