The Ridiculous Jew

Justice, Truth, Crime, and Punishment: The Brothers Karamazov Jury Trial

“…The fact that Fetyukovich actually thinks that Dmitri is guilty but still represents him is the strongest evidence that he takes this case to pursue self-aggrandizement, publicity, and "advancing his personal and political agenda." 27 Fetyukovich skillfully pokes holes in the prosecution's case and attacks the credibility of its witnesses, 28 but is "not interested in Dmitri as a person; he 'vouches' for his client from purely technical and strategic considerations." 29 In fact, the defense attorney explicitly admits that it was "certain juridical fact" and "characteristic peculiarities" that urged him to take the case.…”

“…27 Fetyukovich skillfully pokes holes in the prosecution's case and attacks the credibility of its witnesses, 28 but is "not interested in Dmitri as a person; he 'vouches' for his client from purely technical and strategic considerations." 29 In fact, the defense attorney explicitly admits that it was "certain juridical fact" and "characteristic peculiarities" that urged him to take the case. 30 Through the character of the defense attorney, Dostoevsky comments on the unjust nature of the Westernized court system by pointing out that once the witness examinations conclude, Fetyukovich's theatrical routine is the only word representing Dmitri.…”

“…6 However, Dostoevsky also grew to believe that Russia should follow in the footsteps of European domination and exploitation in order to spread those values. 7 His seemingly paradoxical belief that Russia should become simultaneously more Russian and more European mirror the contemporaneous Russian dilemma in which "the old order has come to an end and in which the outlines of a new order are not yet distinguishable." 8 Dostoevsky also undertook intensive reading of political disputes and trial proceedings; this gave him an extensive breadth of knowledge about the reformed judicial system, enabling him to write his very own, historically accurate trial proceeding in The Brothers Karamazov.…”

“…9 Even before he wrote this novel, Dostoevsky composed opinion pieces that were frequently published in newspapers and journals, declaring what he thought judges should have decided in various cases. 10 As a result of his broad and purposeful reading of literature from Russia and elsewhere, Dostoevsky developed both an infatuation and a concern for the increased European influence on Russian culture, especially in the judicial realm. 11 Dostoevsky thus orchestrated a Westernized jury trial in The Brothers Karamazov to serve as, "the perfect vehicle for advancing his moral, religious, and political ideas."…”

“…Although European culture fascinated Dostoevsky, he also feared that European modernization would monopolize Russia's future. 16 Consequently, Dostoevsky portrays the Europeanized jury trial as an anti-Russian institution because it purportedly attains truth through deceit and theatrics; the attorneys on both sides intentionally distort reality in order to win the trial. Instead of proposing an alternative to the Europeanized jury trial, Dostoevsky adopts a reluctant acceptance but continues to criticize the system: he resentfully recognizes that, "The future…belongs to the world of the court, that is, to Western law and jurisprudence."…”