Red and Black: On the Semantic Invariant in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov

Abstract

The article examines the onomastic aspects of the Karamazov surname in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel The Brothers Karamazov, reviewing its primary interpretations. The majority of studies on this subject suggest a Turkic origin, associating the surname with the word qara ‘black’. Existing interpretations of the anthroponym are categorized based on two criteria: the way they interpret the method of encoding information into a literary name and the approach to tracing its transtextual connections. This analytical framework facilitates a novel interpretation of the surname Karamazov, revealing its embedded opposition of “red vs black” (qara ‘black’ vs. kirmiz ‘red’), which permeates various levels of the text, including etymological, historical, literary, textual, and intertextual dimensions. Additionally, the paper compares this opposition with a similar thematic contrast in Stendhal’s novel The Red and the Black, focusing on typological parallels rather than specific names, characters, or plot elements. The authors assert that Karamazov represents a distinctive feature of Russian literature, accommodating multiple interpretations supported by compelling and comprehensive motivations. This nuanced understanding is pivotal for decoding the text, as it underscores the oppositions and conflicts that shape the narrative across different layers of the novel.

Keywords

• dostoevsky
• etymology
• intertextuality
• literary onomastics
• text structure
• the brothers karamazov
• types of literary names