This study critically investigates the systematic identification, comparison, and evaluation of Orthodox Christian soteriological thought in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s major novels, drawing methodological support from approaches commonly employed in contemporary Chinese literary studies. Using a cross-sectional, corpus-based textual analysis, the research codes and examines four of Dostoevsky’s key novels to uncover the structural differentiation and diachronic evolution of Orthodox Christian concepts of salvation embedded within his narrative discourse. Quantitative and qualitative analyses reveal that Dostoevsky consistently constructs salvation through five interrelated theological constructs, including sin, suffering, faith, repentance, and redemption; however, the author has relied on varying narratives that emphasise and symbolise different functions across different works. The findings demonstrate that although all five constructs are present throughout the selected novels, suffering emerges as the most prominent and recurrent element of Dostoevsky’s salvation framework, exhibiting the highest index values across diverse narrative contexts. This predominance reflects the foundational theological role of suffering within Orthodox Christianity and underscores Dostoevsky’s persistent engagement with suffering as a necessary pathway toward spiritual transformation. Furthermore, the paired concepts of sin and repentance are systematically employed to portray personal moral collapse and subsequent spiritual restoration, with repentance aligning closely with Orthodox doctrinal interpretations rather than abstract moral remorse. Faith constitutes another central dimension of salvation in Dostoevsky’s oeuvre, particularly dominating The Idiot and Crime and Punishment, while appearing more selectively in the other novels examined. The representation of faith frequently manifests through Christ-like figures and emphasises moral regeneration achieved through sustained spiritual commitment rather than instantaneous redemption. Overall, this study demonstrates that Dostoevsky’s soteriological vision is both theologically coherent and narratively differentiated, offering a quantitatively validated and theoretically grounded understanding of Orthodox Christian salvation as articulated in his literary works.
