A boundary and a watchman motif in the novel “The brothers Karamazov” by F.M. Dostoevsky

The article considers the role of “boundary” in the novel “The Brothers Karamazov” and focuses on the watchman motif as an object of research. The author expresses a supposition that it is this motif that mainly clarifies the theme of estrangement in the novel and shows what exactly is meant by the boundary for the characters and what exactly separates them; what follows the overstepping of the borders, and also how outcoming your own inner limits, as well as realizing the absence of borders and universal interconnectedness of the world influence the self-conscience of characters and determine their actions. The main attention is given to the following three situations: how Dmitri watches over Grushen'ka; how the characters watch Feodor Pavlovich's house; and how Dmitri is watched by other characters. The author draws the conclusion that throughout the whole novel none of the watchmen copes with his task. The only exception being God who prevents Dmitri fromcommitting a patricide. The most interesting “watchman” character is Ivan Karamazov, in whose literary image the Old Testament Cain and the mythological Sphinx coexist. In the beginning of the novel the protagonist accepts his role as a “watchman” and protects his father, whereas afterwards he consciously abandons this role, at the same time relieving himself of being responsible for his brother Dmitri. The article shows that Ivan's rejection of being a watchman is determined by the fact that the Old Testament story of Cain and Abel is all in the past, with no continuation in the present. The miscomprehension of the interrelation between the Bible events and the events in the novel reality, the invasion of other people's privacy (personal boundaries), the inner boundaries of estrangement - all these factors become a barrier. Overcoming this barrier to a great extent defines the possibility of achieving freedom and communion with the brotherhood for the characters in the novel.