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“I am that very insect, brother, and those words are precisely about me. And all of us Karamazovs are like that, and in you, angel, the same insect lives and stirs up storms in your blood. Storms, because sensuality is a storm, more than a storm!”
Although his quote in Chapter 3 of Book 3 can be used to characterize all three of the Karamazov brothers, it describes Dmitri more so than the other two. Dmitri is a man ruled by pleasure and desire. He desires wealth, adventure, and the love of a woman more than anything else. This characteristic of Dmitri’s informs many of his actions throughout the novel, including his pursuit of Grushenka, his quest for money, and his many brawls with other characters. The quote discusses his attraction to sensuality, as seen by his romantic pursuits, but the bodily pleasure of sensuality can also translate to his quest for wealth and excitement.
“But I always liked side-paths, little dark back-alleys behind the main road- there one finds adventures and surprises, and precious metal in the dirt.”
This quote from the third book of the novel juxtaposes Dmitri with his two brothers, particularly in terms of decorum and their approach to reputation. Both Ivan and Alyosha are known as proper and well-mannered men. Ivan is known for his pursuit of intelligence and study whereas Alyosha is a reputable man of faith. Dmitri, on the other hand, has no proclivity towards gentleness or good manners. This quote exemplifies his draw to the rough and dangerous. Dmitri prefers to travel in dark side streets or alleys. He looks for his treasures down in the dirt rather than up in the sky. Dmitri is less intimidated by violence or danger, as proven by his tendency toward fighting.
“I can see the sun, but even if I cannot see the sun, I know that it exists. And to know that the sun is there—that is living.”
Compared to previous quotes by Dmitri, this quote from Chapter 4 of Book 11 expresses a nearly opposite and uncharacteristic desire of his. This statement comes while Dmitri is being held captive in prison for the murder of his father. Although the novel up to this point has presented Dmitri as a brutal and pleasure-driven man, the trials he faces, including his pursuit of Grushenka and his rivalry with his father, have resulted in dire circumstances. Dmitri eventually recognizes his circumstance as a product of his actions and dedicates his life to God. This quote is his grandest statement of faith, representing the result of his character arc.
