"The Grand Inquisitor" by Fyodor Dostoevsky is an attempt to reevaluate the role of religion in everyday life as well as the difference between the Eastern Church and the Western Church. The parable leaves more questions than answers, so to understand what the author tries to point out, one has to be fully acquainted with the writer’s philosophy, though some of his ideas sound quite controversially now. Readers have to keep historical context in mind whilst reading the parable.
It is quite possible that - when reading - the majority of the readers ask themselves if the Grand Inquisitor is mad. He is so obsessed with guarding the Church that he turns into a maniac. He condemns to death by fire without pity or even a moment of hesitation. He doesn’t really care if a person is guilty or not, a mere thought against the Church is a good enough reason for punishing. It seems the Grand Inquisitor doesn’t even think of people as people. He calls them cattle and rebels. The new Tower of Babel is his biggest fear, for he understands that it will mean the end of his reign too. Power that he has over people doesn’t let him think straight. On the one hand, he enjoys it immensely. On the other hand, he hates it, thinks of it as a burden, a cross that he has to carry. The Grand Inquisitor has gone too far to stop. Even Christ himself is viewed by him as a heretic. He has so many questions to Him, but Son of God doesn’t give any, He just looks at one of the fiercest guardians of His Church with kindness, keeping silence. The Grand Inquisitor’s decision to let Him go symbolizes that his heart hasn’t turned into a stone yet. He is still capable of compassion and understanding, the only problem is that he doesn’t allow himself to show it.
Fyodor Dostoevsky believed that the world was about to change. The Western Church’s domination would come to its end. The Eastern Church would be able to unite people. It would be a new world order. He believed that it would be a better, more harmonious place to live. People would change too, there wouldn’t be hatred and evil anymore. The writer also believed that Slavic peoples would play a special role in that transformation. It seems that Fyodor Dostoevsky’s predictions are doomed to extinction, for it is impossible to unite the whole world around the Easter Church. That wouldn’t be the harmonious world, for sure.
"The Grand Inquisitor" by Fyodor Dostoevsky is the parable that is definitely worth reading. However, to understand it better, it would be reasonable to read the Brothers Karamazov as well. It will help to understand both the historical context and the author’s view better.
