Thoughts on Love, Anger and Injustice from The Brothers Karamazov

This is an anger-inducing period to live through in the United States of America (and that’s saying something, because if you study history you know that every period of our history has involved some kind of murder, extortion, exploitation, etc.). As I sit in bed, or on my couch, or in my office, scrolling through posts about ICE in Minneapolis and Neo-Nazis in DC, the injustice is suffocating.

I empathize with Ivan’s anger in The Brothers Karamazov. In “Rebellion“, Ivan cannot understand how a just God would allow innocent children to suffer. He rejects the idea of a “Day of Judgement” where this suffering would be justified, because “if the suffering of children goes to make up the sum of suffering needed to buy truth, then I assert beforehand that the whole of truth is not worth such a price” (260). I agree. How can we rationalize the suffering of children? There is no “answer” that justifies cruelty, especially cruelty towards innocent people – except that free will exists, and ego drives people with power to use their free will to destroy rather than uplift those around them.

Ivan’s response is righteous anger. He tells Alyosha: “I need retribution, otherwise I will destroy myself. And retribution not somewhere and sometime in infinity, but here and now, on earth, so that I see it myself” (259). But anger alone is not an answer – as Ivan admits, anger will only lead to self-destruction. Righteous anger can be useful to the extent that it leads you to do something. Plus, isn’t personal action more satisfying than divine retribution?

“The Grand Inquisitor” teaches us how to act. Ivan tells the story of the Grand Inquisitor of the Spanish Inquisition arresting Jesus Christ. The Grand Inquisitor rages against Christ’s “promise of freedom” (268), telling him that humanity must be enslaved for its own good, because human beings are weak, and feeble, and depraved, and “never, never will they be able to share among themselves” (269). I understand the Grand Inquisitor’s perspective! It is easy to feel angry at all of the people who are complicit in the injustice happening in our country, and in our world. It is easy to believe that people are weak, and to feel angry that people have so easily succumbed to the manipulation of a tyrant. It is also to not think, to lose myself in doomscrolling and entertainment, and to selfishly care only for my own needs (because it’s hard enough to take care of myself, let alone anyone else).

The Grand Inquisitor tells Christ: “Be angry! I do not want your love, for I do not love you” (273). Throughout the story, Christ is silent. At the end of the Grand Inquisitor’s speech, Christ’s only response is to “gently [kiss] him on his bloodless, ninety-year-old lips” (279). It is an act of love, not anger, that leads the Grand Inquisitor to release Christ from prison – even though “the old man holds to his former idea” (279).

I do not believe that love alone is the answer (that sounds like a sing-along-song for children). However, I believe that Ivan is right. If anger overwhelms us, we will destroy ourselves. Anger is exhausting – it increases our own suffering and causes us to shut down, because we can only hold anger in our hearts for so long before we feel defeated by it, and we can no longer act. We must choose to love, because love can fuel our action far more than anger ever will. Compassion is healing, so I choose to be overwhelmed with love and compassion for all the people who are suffering in the world. I choose to feel gratitude for all the people who are actively organizing and fighting to prevent this suffering to the best of their abilities. And from that place of love and compassion, I am able to take action.

Here’s a list of ways you can take action today!

You can sign these petitions:

You can donate to organizations:

Monarca is a coalition network in Minnesota that provides training and resources to community members who want to understand their rights and support immigrants.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) advocates for civil rights, from protecting immigrants from unjust detention to challenging discriminatory policies.
The National Immigration Law Center focuses on defending the rights of low-income immigrants by creating and advocating for policies that improve access to healthcare, education, and housing.
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center provides immigrants with legal information and resources needed to navigate the immigration system
Impact Fund (Immigrant Rights Portfolio), National Immigrant Justice Center, and the Immigrant Defense Project are all organizations you can donate to to fund lawyers fighting ICE through legal channels.