Characterization of characters in Dostoevsky's novel "The Brothers Karamozov"

        The main characters of Dostoevsky's novel The Brothers Karamazov are, as the title suggests, the members of the Karamazov "family," if it can indeed be called such. The only things that the members of this family share are a name and the "Karamazov curse," a legacy of base impulses and voluptuous lust. References to this tendency towards immorality are sprinkled heavily throughout the novel; phrases such as "a brazen brow and a Karamazov conscience," "voluptuary …

…a unique style of speaking that complements his character. Dostoevsky writes Ivan's dialogue, for example, in a very verbose, complex style that reinforces Ivan's characterization as an intellectual. He writes Dmitry's dialogue in a very random, disjointed style that underscores Dmitry's tendency to allow his passion and his emotions to cloud his logic. Finally, he writes Alyosha's dialogue in a simple style very similar to his own, as Alyosha is himself simple and unpretentious.ÿýOï