The Character Ivan in Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov and the Contradiction of the Russian Character

Dat Thanh Nguyen1, Quynh Thi Nguyen2
1Doctor of Philosophy, Ho Chi Minh City University of Theatre and Cinema, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
2PhD Candidate in Philosophy, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Published: 30/07/2026
: Dat Thanh Nguyen, Quynh Thi Nguyen. The Character Ivan in Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov and the Contradiction of the Russian Character. Cultura Científica, 2026 Issue 24. pg. 982-995.

Abstract

The term “Russian character” denotes the distinct traits and identity of the Russian people, reflecting the Russian soul in their thoughts, actions, and interpersonal relationships. In the novel  The Brothers Karamazov, the Russian character is portrayed by Fyodor Mikhaylovich Dostoevsky as a vivid and polychromatic tableau of Russian society. Through the language of realism, the hidden depths of the Russian character are revealed by the novel’s figures, most notably Ivan, who embodies the inherent contradictions of the Russian character. The novel contribution of this article lies in its analysis of Ivan Karamazov as the most prominent philosophical focal point—a calculating intellectual archetype perpetually seeking his true identity amidst a chaotic and uncertain world. This paper affirms Dostoevsky’s innovative contributions to perceiving the contradictions of the Russian character, which are manifested across various members of the Karamazov family and associated figures; however, it is only through Ivan that these elements are pushed to their absolute limits, culminating in the agonizing torment of fate.

Keywords: Ivan Karamazov, Russian character, contradiction/paradox, existentialism, psychoanalysis

Resumen

The term “Russian character” denotes the distinct traits and identity of the Russian people, reflecting the Russian soul in their thoughts, actions, and interpersonal relationships. In the novel  The Brothers Karamazov, the Russian character is portrayed by Fyodor Mikhaylovich Dostoevsky as a vivid and polychromatic tableau of Russian society. Through the language of realism, the hidden depths of the Russian character are revealed by the novel’s figures, most notably Ivan, who embodies the inherent contradictions of the Russian character. The novel contribution of this article lies in its analysis of Ivan Karamazov as the most prominent philosophical focal point—a calculating intellectual archetype perpetually seeking his true identity amidst a chaotic and uncertain world. This paper affirms Dostoevsky’s innovative contributions to perceiving the contradictions of the Russian character, which are manifested across various members of the Karamazov family and associated figures; however, it is only through Ivan that these elements are pushed to their absolute limits, culminating in the agonizing torment of fate.

Palabras clave: Ivan Karamazov, Russian character, contradiction/paradox, existentialism, psychoanalysis
Dat Thanh Nguyen
Doctor of Philosophy, Ho Chi Minh City University of Theatre and Cinema, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Quynh Thi Nguyen
PhD Candidate in Philosophy, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

How to cite:

Dat Thanh Nguyen, Quynh Thi Nguyen. The Character Ivan in Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov and the Contradiction of the Russian Character. Cultura Científica, 2026 Issue 24. pg. 982-995.

Publication History

Copyright © 2026, Dat Thanh Nguyen, Quynh Thi Nguyen. Published by Cultura Científica. This article is published as open access under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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