# LVII explained — Resurrection

> Chapter companion for Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy.

## What happens

Nekhlúdoff visits the advocate to discuss the Menshóffs' case and the 130 wrongly imprisoned men. He then goes to Máslennikoff's house, where he is drawn into a social gathering before attempting to discuss business.

## Themes in this chapter

### Injustice of the Legal System

The advocate explains that no one is at fault for the 130 wrongly imprisoned men, illustrating the systemic evasion of responsibility.

### Social Class and Inequality

Nekhlúdoff's discomfort at the social gathering contrasts with the frivolity of the upper class, while he seeks justice for the poor and imprisoned.

## Character check-ins

### Prince Dmitri Ivanovich Nekhludoff

Seeks the advocate's help for the Menshóffs and the 130 imprisoned men, then visits Máslennikoff to request Máslova's transfer and the release of the innocent men.

### Fanarin

The advocate who promises to look into the Menshóffs' case and comments on the impossibility of assigning blame for the 130 men's imprisonment.

### Maslennikoff

The Vice-Governor, in high spirits after being honored by an important guest; he pulls Nekhlúdoff into the drawing-room before discussing business.

### Missy

Present at the social gathering, she blushes upon seeing Nekhlúdoff and invites him to visit her mother.

### Anna Ignatievna

Máslennikoff's wife, hosting the 'at-home' day; she greets Nekhlúdoff with feigned intimacy and praises her husband's kindness.

## Key lines

> Whose fault is it? No one's. Ask the Procureur, he'll say it is the Governor's; ask the Governor, he'll say it is the Procureur's fault. No one is in fault.

The advocate states that neither the prosecutor nor the governor will accept blame for the wrongful imprisonment of 130 men.

_Highlights the theme of systemic injustice and the diffusion of responsibility._

> Every such attention gave him the same sense of delight as is felt by an affectionate dog when its master pats it, strokes it, or scratches its ears.

Máslennikoff's joy at the important guest's attention is compared to a dog's pleasure at being petted.

_Illustrates Máslennikoff's servility and the social hierarchy._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/resurrection_se/chapters/lvii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/resurrection_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/resurrection_se/chapters