Multinational Research Society Publisher

Between Crime, Sin and Salvation: The Function of the Value of Mercy in Dostoevsky's Novels


Sr No:
Page No: 1-4
Language: English
Authors: Ethem Gürhan*
Received: 2025-06-10
Accepted: 2025-06-28
Published Date: 2025-07-01
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Abstract:
Dostoevsky’s novels are profound literary works that boldly explore the darker aspects of human nature, moral dilemmas, and conflicts of conscience. This study examines the concept of compassion, one of the core human values frequently addressed in Dostoevsky’s major works, from a multidimensional perspective. In Dostoevsky’s narrative universe, compassion is not merely an individual virtue but is also constructed as a form of theological, ethical, and philosophical resistance. It plays a central role in both the characters’ internal processes of transformation and their interactions with society. In particular, Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov, The Idiot, and Demons illustrate how compassion serves as a bridge of forgiveness between the sinner and the victim. Beyond simple acts of pity or forgiveness, compassion in these works becomes a profound ethical principle that enables individuals to confront their own existence. Through the spiritual turmoil, sins, and internal struggles of his characters, Dostoevsky questions the relationship between humanity and God. In this context, compassion emerges as a terrestrial reflection of divine justice. Moreover, in Dostoevsky’s texts, compassion functions as a moral counterbalance to social disintegration. The ethical movement that begins with the individual’s inner purification also carries the potential for reconstructing the social order. Ultimately, Dostoevsky’s portrayal of compassion transcends personal conscience, presenting a universal moral appeal to humanity. The aim of this study is to reveal the function of this ethical call within the framework of intertextual analysis.
Keywords: Dostoevsky, compassion, morality, theology, values education

Journal: MRS Journal of Arts, Humanities and Literature
ISSN(Online): 3049-1444
Publisher: MRS Publisher
Frequency: Monthly
Language: English

Between Crime, Sin and Salvation: The Function of the Value of Mercy in Dostoevsky's Novels