Rusminin answers “I'm confused to as 1.) why Smerdyakov...”

Sunny asked this question about The Brothers Karamazov:

I'm confused to as 1.) why Smerdyakov murdered Fydor? because Fydor didn't recognize him as his legitimate son? Was that the only reason? It's stated that Smer did not care for money, so what was his reason? 2.) Why did he commit suicide when he had no reason to? No one knew or prove his involvement in the murder. Guilt? Why, because he didn't believe in God.

Rusminin

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)[1) It was stated that Smerdyakov woudn't steal money outright, yet he still needed the money if he wanted to make something out of his life. In his own father's house he was no more than a lackey - no future prospects, basically no family, and the moment Fyodor dies and the brothers get the inheritance - he's out, since 2 of the brothers hate him, and Alyosha is almost indiffirent and wouldn't do much anyway. Also, Smerdyakov was smart - he understood perfectly that to make his plan a reality - open up a soup restaurant or go live and work in Paris - he's going to need the money. Smerdyakov is a brilliant portrayal of Russian serfs of that period - sure, technically he was a free man now since the serfdom law was abolished, but free to do what? Free to go or live where? The only bleak role in life intended for him was to serve tea and prepare food for his own father and brothers, who mostly view him as trash. He represents the very social reality that will soon lead to the Russian Revolution. And on top of that, as he himself hints - Ivan's idea that 'if there is no god - everything is permitted" made a great impression on him. There was also a 'spur of the moment' thing - his original plan was to let Dmitry murder Fyodor and only take the money, but Dmytry for his own personal reasons ran away. The moment was too perfect to let go. He certainly didn't have murderous intent from the beginning.
2) Most of the characters actions in this novel are not dictated by reason, but by their emotions and deep-seated psychological problems. Smerdyakov certainly felt guilt and self-loathing, which may have been amplified by his weak mental composition (with his epilepsy and sudden illness after the murder). Though one can speculate whether his suicide is plausible turn of events or this is the author's will and a way to underscore the theme of moral punishment. In Dostoevsky's book the killer can't just get off without any moral repercussions and the court of one's conscience (in christian terms of course) is the supreme court - the reader is free to accept or challenge this view and the inevitability of Smerdyakov's suicide respectively. (hide spoiler)]

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The Brothers Karamazov

by Fyodor Dostoevsky

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