Nihilism in Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky's fiction characters

The preferential aim of this research, conducted through the works of Dostoyevsky, is try to make sense of the relationship between Dostoevsky's fiction character and Nihilism which is a philosophical concept. For this purpose, firstly thoughts with Nietzsche?s nihilism are briefly reviewed. This review, prior to an analysis on Dostoevsky's novels, led to the creation of a philosophical order. Among the works of Dostoevsky, From Underground, Demons, and The Brothers Karamazov are examined. In other works are consulted when needed. The main character of Notes From Underground, the underground man?s relation with nihilism is analyzed by intellectual developments of the period are also taken into consideration. In literature, Bazarov, the main character of Turgenev?s Fathers and Sons is the first nihilistic character. For this reason, Turgenev's this novel is analyzed to explain contrasts between Bazarov and the underground man. Of the character of Demons; Stavrogin, Kirillov and Shatov are analyzed, and nihilistic features of them are explained by taking Russian political and social atmosphere of the period into account. Of the character of The Brothers Karamazov; Dimitri Karamazov, İvan Karamazov, Alexei Karamazov, Father Zosima and Smerdyakov are analyzed. Relations of these characters with nihilism are tried to be analyzed connected with understanding of God and the Christian faith. At the conclusion part, Dostoevsky?s and Nietzsche?s conceptions of nihilism are tried to be interpreted by comparing.