The Call of Kiev, Essay Example

Like Dimitri however, this optimism was short lived. Even though life was easier for the narrator in New York City, it wasn’t necessarily better or something he believed that would grow on him and be able to love. Ironically, Dimitri did break from prison and run away to America; Dimitri shared the same enthusiasm as the narrator about the country. Ultimately, both Dimitri and the narrator moved to America out of necessity rather than choice; Dimitri did so because of his patricidal conviction while the narrator did so because of the political asylum that the country would bring. Nonetheless, neither of the two were truly happy, although in both cases, contentment rather than happiness was the best possible situation available.

At the end of the paragraph, Dimitri says “cheered by the thought that I am running away not for pleasure, nor for happiness, but to another exile as bad, perhaps, as Serbia”. The narrator agrees with this sentiment; he says that when he is here food has no taste and flowers have no smell. He is unable to complain because life here is comfortable, it just isn’t same and he will never have the opportunity to experience the life he had while living in the Soviet Union again. Despite this, the narrator feels comfort in reading “The Brothers Karamazov”. Even years later, he continues to take this book from the library and re-read it because in doing so, his connection with Dimitri brings him home as the pages turn.