LV explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Revolution and Resistance

  Véra Doúkhova's detailed account of her revolutionary activities and the girl who falsely confessed to shooting a gendarme highlight the themes of political resistance and sacrifice.

Characters to notice

• Prince Dmitri Ivanovich Nekhludoff

  Visits Véra Doúkhova in prison and listens to her revolutionary story and requests.

• Vera Doukhova

  Thin, yellow, with large kind eyes; recounts her involvement in the Nardovólstvo and asks Nekhlúdoff to help her friends.

• Katerina Maslova

  Mentioned by Véra Doúkhova, who advises Nekhlúdoff to have her transferred to the political ward or hospital.

Key passages

• “Through a door, at the back of the room, entered, with a wriggling gait, the thin, yellow Véra Doúkhova, with her large, kind eyes.”

  Véra Doúkhova, thin and yellow-skinned, entered through a rear door with a wriggling walk, her large, kind eyes prominent.

  Describes Véra Doúkhova's appearance and entrance.

• “She told him all the secrets of the Nardovólstvo , 20 evidently convinced that he was pleased to hear them.”

  She shared all the secrets of the Nardovólstvo, clearly believing he was interested in hearing them.

  Highlights her trust in Nekhlúdoff and her revolutionary fervor.

• “When an inquiry was instituted, this girl said that it was she who had fired, although she had never had a revolver in her hands, and would not have hurt a fly.”

  During the investigation, the girl claimed she fired the shot, even though she had never held a revolver and would never harm anyone.

  Illustrates the altruistic self-sacrifice of the general's daughter.