Devil by destiny, angel by choice

Perhaps the most fascinating character in the novel ‘The Brothers Karamazov’ is that of the “devil” who comes to visit Ivan(main portagonist of novel); an elderly Russian man having shabby clothes and polite air. This character may be contrasted to Goethe’s Mephistopheles in that while the latter wanted to do evil but did only good the former wanted to do good but did only bad. The devil(who had tempted christ earlier) tells Ivan he is no longer interested in being a fallen angel, that he has suffered enough and now all he wants to be agreeable and recognized as a gentleman. He claims he loves human beings genuinely and that he will give away all his powers and “social position” to live the life of an old merchant’s wife who does household chores, loves precious stones and light candles in church. But unfortunately he cannot do that, because he has been decreed by God to be an agent of negation. His existence is necessary for life, for without him the world would be an endless hossana (hymm to God)- deprived of necessary criticism that causes events to happen. He tells Ivan that when Jesus embraced a sinner with love in the heavens, all the angels sung with joy, he too wished to join the choir but he did not because that would mean the end to all progress. The devil also evaluates(tacitly) Neitzche’s concept of Übermensch critically. He goes on to discuss his own realm, where exist, like on earth, scandals, superstitions and old ladies who believe in legends and tells how much his society has borrowed from earth. His conversation with Ivan includes critique of a number of subjects like medicine, sciences, philosophy, punishments and love etc. He sincerely wished someday his suffering shall end and he too shall be able to lead a respectable and joyous life.