The Grand Inquisitor is a story within a story, told by the character Ivan Karamazov in the novel The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. It is a philosophical and theological exploration of the nature of faith, freedom, and the role of the Church in society. The story takes place in 16th-century Seville, where Jesus Christ has returned to Earth and is arrested by the Grand Inquisitor, who accuses him of leading people astray and undermining the authority of the Church. The Grand Inquisitor argues that people are too weak and sinful to be given the freedom to choose their own path, and that the Church must therefore provide them with guidance and protection. Jesus remains silent throughout the story, and the Grand Inquisitor eventually sentences him to death by burning. The story raises profound questions about the nature of faith, the limits of freedom, and the role of authority in society.