Who Dmitri Karamazov is
Dmitri Karamazov lives by feeling, with a taste for wine, love and grand gestures. He can be generous and noble, yet he also acts recklessly and suffers over his own behavior.
As the eldest Karamazov brother, he brings his grievances into a family already marked by neglect. His father insists that Dmitri has received more money than he is owed.
What Dmitri Karamazov wants
Dmitri wants both the inheritance he believes is his and a sense of personal honor. Those desires clash with his debts and with money he borrows from Katerina Ivanovna and spends on pleasure.
Dmitri Karamazov and the others in the story
Dmitri is engaged to Katerina Ivanovna, whose gratitude toward him is tangled with duty and wounded pride. Yet he is carried away by Grushenka, whom his father also hopes to win with gifts and promises.
With Alyosha, Dmitri speaks openly, pouring out his heart in a night of confession. At the monastery meeting, Father Zosima bows before him, a gesture that leaves Dmitri troubled and ashamed.
Questions
Who is Dmitri Karamazov?
Dmitri is the eldest Karamazov brother, a passionate former army officer caught between generosity and recklessness.
Why does Dmitri quarrel with his father?
They dispute Dmitri's maternal inheritance and both desire Grushenka. Dmitri believes his father has cheated him, while his father claims he has already paid enough.
Is Dmitri Karamazov good or bad?
Dmitri is neither simply good nor simply bad. He admires honor and acts generously, but his passions also lead him into shame and violence.
