Reminiscences of antiquity in Dostoevsky's novel The Brothers Karamazov: formulating the research problem

The article for the first time raises the question of the need for a full-scale study of the links between Dostoevsky’s creative works with the traditions of ancient Greek and Roman cultures, in particular the study of their specific functions in the writer’s artistic world. The purpose of the work is to identify the references to antiquity in the novel The Brothers Karamazov and to analyze the way they function in the artistic structure of the text. The author cites and comments upon the direct references to antiquity: names and surnames (Dmitry Karamazov, Dardanelov, etc.), Latin expressions representing religious, theatrical and legal themes or realities (geographic names: Syracuse, Troy), personalities (Euclid, Diogenes, Alexander the Great, Aesop), images of antiquity (Roman patrician, hetaera, Venus de Milo). The appeal of the Russian writer to the ancient tradition makes it possible to reveal the image more deeply, emphasize its symbolism, express its attitude to the character or event, primarily with the help of the comic effect. The conclusion is made about the specifics of the writer’s individual style when working with the reminiscences of antiquity. The article outlines the vector of further scientific research into the reception of antiquity in Dostoevsky’s works.