The first four chapters (and I’m guess the rest, too) of Book 3 seem to be dealing with the idea of how to face cruelty and trickery from others with compassion. The boys who throw rocks and the boy who bites Alyosha, his father insisting on remaining wicked by paying women to sleep with him, Lise claiming her letter was a joke, and Father Ferapont’s strange behavior towards everyone, Zosima especially.

All tests.