My favorite part of The Brothers Karamazov is chapter five, where Ivan explains his poem, The Grand Inquisitor. In this chapter, Ivan tells his brother Alyosha a story set in Seville, Spain during the time of the Inquisition. Christ returns to Earth, and people immediately recognize him and follow him as he heals the sick. However, the Cardinal Grand Inquisitor orders Christ to be arrested.
That night, the Grand Inquisitor visits Christ in his cell and explains why he has taken him prisoner. He argues that Christ’s return interferes with the Church’s work. The Inquisitor believes that people cannot handle the freedom Christ offers and need the Church’s guidance for security and order.
Despite the Inquisitor’s lengthy speech, Christ remains silent. At the end, Christ kisses the Inquisitor, who then decides to release him, telling him never to return. This chapter in chapter is a powerful exploration of faith, freedom, and authority.