Dostoevsky and the Problem of Freedom
A close reading of The Brothers Karamazov, and the questions that refuse to leave us.
Dr. Elena MarkhamProfessor of Literature · Georgetown University Academic affiliation verifiedThe Brothers Karamazov
A reading, together.LIVE SEMINAR · AUTUMN 2026About this seminar
Few novels ask more of us than The Brothers Karamazov. A family drama, a murder mystery, and an argument about how to live, it brings the largest questions into the most intimate human encounters.
Across 6 evenings, we’ll read slowly and talk openly. Elena will offer context and guide our discussion, but the heart of each meeting is a conversation: what surprised us, what troubled us, and what we might see differently together.
Bring a marked-up book, your questions, and a willingness to change your mind.
What we’ll explore
What does Dostoevsky mean by freedom?
Can morality survive without God?
Why does suffering play such a central role?
What makes Ivan’s rebellion so powerful?
Our reading plan
A little preparation. A much richer conversation.
WEEK 1The Karamazov family
Books I–II: meet the family and trace the tensions that set the novel in motion. Allow 2–3 hours of reading.
WEEK 2Faith and doubt
Books III–IV: pay attention to Alyosha and the competing voices of faith. Allow 2–3 hours of reading.
WEEK 3Rebellion
Book V: bring one passage from Ivan’s conversation with Alyosha. Allow 2–3 hours of reading.
WEEK 4The Grand Inquisitor
Revisit “The Grand Inquisitor.” Consider what freedom costs. Allow 2–3 hours of reading.
WEEK 5Guilt and responsibility
Books VI–IX: follow the movement between intention and responsibility. Allow 2–3 hours of reading.
WEEK 6Judgment and redemption
Books X–XII and the epilogue: return to the questions we began with. Allow 2–3 hours of reading.
Who this is for
You don’t need a degree or a background in literature. You do need curiosity, a willingness to read before we meet, and respect for perspectives different from your own. First-time readers and returning readers are equally welcome.
Dr. Elena Markham
Professor of Literature
Georgetown University
Elena studies the nineteenth-century novel and the questions it asks of ordinary life. Her teaching makes room for close reading, honest disagreement, and the unexpected connections readers bring to a text.
Meet Dr. Elena MarkhamA note on our evenings
- Live, professor-led discussion in a small cohort
- Read before each meeting; a reading guide is included
- Cameras encouraged, and listening is welcome too
- A shared conversation, with room for disagreement
From fellow readers
“Elena helped us notice things I had read straight past. The conversations stayed with me well into the following week.”
Verified attendee · August 2026“A thoughtful group and a professor who made space for real questions. The reading was demanding, but very worthwhile.”
Verified attendee · August 2026“I appreciated the balance of context and discussion. I came away with a fuller understanding, and a few new questions.”
Verified attendee · August 2026