Ask A Brother Karamazov

Everyone’s got problems, and in today’s newsletter, I’ve asked readers from all over to share theirs with none other than Alexei (Alyosha) Fyodorovich Karamazov, the youngest of the three brothers from Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel of the same name. Here he takes time out of his busy God-fearing schedule to respond to our readers’ everyday issues (with a little help from ChatGPT).

Dear Alyosha,

My car has been making a strange noise lately. It's kind of a grinding sound when I start it up in the morning, but then it goes away after a while. I've taken it to a mechanic, but they couldn't find anything wrong. Should I be worried? How can I get rid of this annoying noise?

Sincerely,

Bothered in Berlin

Dear Bothered,

Strange noises can be unsettling, much like the discord in the soul of man. When I think of such sounds, I am reminded of the inner turmoil that my brothers and I face. Take my brother Dmitri, for example—he is beset by passions that roar like the grinding gears of your car. Yet, despite his tumultuous nature, there is a kernel of goodness in him, as there is in all of us. Once, Father Zosima told me that we must embrace suffering and find the divine spark within. Perhaps your car's noise is a reminder of the divine symphony of the universe. Even the most vexing sounds can lead us to greater understanding. Embrace the noise, Bothered, and seek the deeper truth it signifies.

In faith,

Alyosha