Summary—Chapter 1: In the Servant’s Quarters
The narrator tells the story of Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov’s
servant Grigory, who briefly cares for each of the three Karamazov brothers
when they are young. Grigory’s wife gives birth to a child with
six fingers. The child dies two weeks after it is born. The night Grigory
buries it, his wife hears a baby crying in the distance. When Grigory
goes to investigate, he discovers a newborn child lying next to
a young girl, who has just given birth and is dying.
Summary—Chapter 2: Stinking Lizaveta
The girl whom Grigory sees giving birth is Lizaveta, often
called “stinking Lizaveta.” Lizaveta is extremely slow-witted and
cannot talk. The people of the town are appalled that someone has
seduced this helpless young girl, and they agree that the only man
vile enough to do so is Fyodor Pavlovich. Grigory and his wife adopt
the baby, and Fyodor Pavlovich names him Smerdyakov.
Summary—Chapter 3:
The Confession of an Ardent Heart. In Verse
Alyosha leaves the monastery, as he has been
ordered to do by both Zosima and his father. A wealthy gentlewoman
friend of the Karamazovs, Madame Khokhlakov, has given Alyosha a
note from Katerina, Dmitri’s abandoned fiancée, asking him to visit
her. Somewhat nervous about the prospect, Alyosha sets off for Katerina’s
house before returning to his father’s. Alyosha assumes that he
will not see Ivan or Dmitri at Katerina’s house, though he thinks
he would like to talk to Dmitri before he sees Katerina. Taking
a shortcut to Katerina’s house, he is surprised by Dmitri, who intercepts
him on the path.
Summary—Chapter 4:
The Confession of an Ardent Heart. In Anecdotes
Dmitri relates his history with Katerina to Alyosha. Dmitri
first met Katerina when she was the daughter of the commanding officer
of a camp where Dmitri was stationed as a soldier. Katerina ignored Dmitri
until he attempted to trick her into sleeping with him by offering 4,500 rubles
to pay off an obligation of her father’s. As he began to
put his plan into motion, he was suddenly overcome with self--disgust,
and, looking at the beautiful, innocent Katerina, decided to give
her the money without even trying to seduce her. When she inherited
a large amount of money from a relative, she offered to marry Dmitri.
But when they returned to Fyodor Pavlovich’s town, Dmitri fell swiftly
for Grushenka. He even stole 3,000 rubles
from Katerina in order to finance his debauchery with Grushenka.
Summary—Chapter 5: The Confession of an Ardent Heart.
“Heels Up”
Dmitri asks Alyosha to tell Katerina that the engagement
is officially off. He also asks Alyosha to procure 3,000 rubles
from their father so that he can pay Katerina back and ease his
conscience. Dmitri knows that Fyodor Pavlovich has 3,000 rubles
readily available because Fyodor Pavlovich has assembled that very
sum of money in the hopes of buying Grushenka’s affections.
Summary—Chapter 6: Smerdyakov
Alyosha goes to his father’s house, where he finds his
father drinking. Ivan sits by Fyodor Pavlovich disapprovingly. Smerdyakov
and Grigory are arguing, and Ivan and Fyodor Pavlovich are listening
in on their argument. Smerdyakov is a sullen and gloomy young man who
despises everyone in the house, including his adoptive parents. He
works as a cook for Fyodor Pavlovich. Most of the household considers
him a responsible person despite his churlish attitude, because
once, when Fyodor Pavlovich lost 300 rubles
in a drunken stupor, Smerdyakov found and returned the money to
him.
