Dmitri enters the courtroom exquisitely dressed in a new frock coat. The judge then reads the indictment against him and asks for his plea. Dmitri responds, “I plead guilty to drunkenness and dissipation . . . to idleness and debauchery . . . but I am not guilty of the […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 4: Book XIISummary and Analysis Part 4: Book XI
On his way to question Dmitri, Alyosha stops and visits Lise, whom he finds feverish and excited. She tells him that she longs to be punished and castigated by God and says that she regularly prays to suffer torture, for she can no longer respect anything or anyone. She continuously […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 4: Book XISummary and Analysis Part 4: Book X
On the day before Dmitri’s trial, young Kolya is staying with two children of his mother’s tenant. He feels uneasy because he has an urgent errand to attend to and leaves as soon as the servant returns. His errand turns out to be a visit to Ilusha. Kolya knows that […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 4: Book XSummary and Analysis Part 3: Book IX
Perhotin has no choice; it is his duty to report all that has happened to the police. But when he arrives, he finds that others also have news to report to the police. Marfa has sent word to them that Fyodor has been murdered. An investigation follows, and it is […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 3: Book IXSummary and Analysis Part 3: Book VIII
Dmitri pawns his watch, hires transportation to the neighboring town, and finds the merchant. Unfortunately, the man is thoroughly drunk. Dmitri tries to sober him up but is unable to, so he waits until the next day. The merchant remains in a stupor, so Dmitri returns to town, hoping to […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 3: Book VIIISummary and Analysis Part 3: Book VII
Discontented monks and enemies of Father Zossima are not long to act. Quickly they announce that the decaying body is proof that the elder was no saint; at last the doctrine he preached is proved to be incorrect. The townspeople are confused. Tradition and superstition are embedded in their nerves. […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 3: Book VIISummary and Analysis Part 2: Book VI
These pleas to Alyosha are Father Zossima’s last requests. Now he tells all assembled the reasons why Alyosha is so very special to him. Once, the elder says, he had an older brother who influenced him tremendously. Alyosha bears a particularly strong resemblance to that brother — physically and spiritually. […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 2: Book VISummary and Analysis Part 2: Book V: Chapters 6-7
Smerdyakov confesses to Ivan that he too is troubled because of the rivalry between Fyodor and Dmitri for Grushenka. He also fears that the strain of worry might bring on an epileptic seizure. Furthermore, he says, he knows that Dmitri has learned the secret signals that Grushenka is to use […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 2: Book V: Chapters 6-7Summary and Analysis Part 2: Book V: Chapter 5
That night, He receives a visitor. The Grand Inquisitor enters the darkened cell and begins a severe reprimand of Christ for appearing again and hindering the work of the church. The Grand Inquisitor explains to Christ that, because of His rejection of the three temptations, He placed an intolerable burden […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 2: Book V: Chapter 5Summary and Analysis Part 2: Book V: Chapters 1-4
Meanwhile, Madame Hohlakov, who has eavesdropped on the conversation, stops Alyosha as he is leaving and expresses deep disapproval of the match. Alyosha assures her that the marriage is yet far in the future, that Lise is much too young to marry presently. Alyosha, then, puzzling over Dmitri’s actions of […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 2: Book V: Chapters 1-4