In the consternation that follow Zosima’s death, the condemnations of his life and role as elder, Alyosha emerged with a less cautionary, and emotionally-suppressed tone; however, Alyosha has not lost faith. Alyosha’s faith is reaffirmed by the narrator’s testaments that Alyosha showing love for Zosima and that his shock was not from a lack of miracle.
Alyosha’s despondent state subsequent to the death and humiliation of Zosima are indicative of his love for Zosima. His more-than-usual restiveness is accounted for by the narrator as a result of no one showing respect for the person Alyosha saw the most beauty in. Alyosha loved Zosima, and reaffirmed his faith by showing his ability to see love and the face of God in Zosima.
The narrator perspicaciously points out, and responds to the reader’s instinctive reflections of the temptations, specifically the miracle temptation in the Grand Inquisitor, that Alyosha is most of all shocked not by the lack of a miracle but the inundation of insults to Zosima. Alyosha “rejects” the lack of respect shown for Zosima. The injustice of it throws him off, not the fact that no miracle was performed. Thus, he struggles to understand how this works out but, seeing how he still loves Zosima, it appears as though he maintains his faith.
Zosima too accepted sweets and cards, so why must Alyosha refuse such offers? His acceptance of Rakitin’s invitation is just evidence of his embracement of Zosima’s instructions to go out in the world.
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