Resurrection · Chapter
The Indictment explained
The chapter presents the formal indictment against Katerina Máslova, Euphemia Botchkova, and Simeon Kartinkin for the poisoning and robbery of merchant Smelkóff.
What happens
The chapter presents the formal indictment against Katerina Máslova, Euphemia Botchkova, and Simeon Kartinkin for the poisoning and robbery of merchant Smelkóff. The indictment details the events leading to Smelkóff's death, the theft of money, and the accusations among the defendants. Máslova reacts emotionally during the reading, particularly when Botchkova and Kartinkin implicate her.
Themes in this chapter
Injustice of the Legal System
The indictment process shows the legal system's reliance on circumstantial evidence and the shifting blame among the accused, highlighting potential miscarriages of justice.
Sexual Exploitation and Women's Position
Máslova's role as a prostitute ('Lúbka') and her exploitation by Smelkóff and the brothel system are central to the charges against her.
Characters to notice
- Katerina Maslova
Accused of poisoning and robbery; reacts with shock and attempts to speak when Botchkova and Kartinkin implicate her.
- Euphemia Botchkova
Co-accused; denies involvement and blames Máslova for the theft and poisoning.
- Simeon Kartinkin
Co-accused; initially confesses to theft and supplying powders, then retracts and accuses Máslova.
- Theropont Smelkoff
The deceased merchant; the indictment details his death and the circumstances surrounding it.
- Carolina Albertovna Kitaeva
Brothel-keeper; mentioned as the person to whom Máslova sold the diamond ring.
Key passages
“blushing scarlet, began to say something, but was stopped by the usher.”
Máslova turned bright red and tried to speak, but the court usher silenced her.
This shows Máslova's emotional reaction to the false accusations being read against her.
“The indictment concluded as follows:— “In consequence of the foregoing, the peasant of the village Bórki, Simeon Kartínkin, thirty-three years of age, the meschánka Euphémia Bótchkova, forty-three years of age, and the meschánka Katerína Máslova, twenty-seven years of age, are accused of having on the 17th day of January, 188‒, jointly stolen from the said merchant, Smelkóff, a ring and money, to the value of 2,500 roubles, and of having given the said merchant, Smelkóff, poison to drink, with intent of depriving him of life, and thereby causing his death.”
The indictment formally charges Kartinkin, Botchkova, and Máslova with stealing 2,500 roubles and a ring from Smelkóff and poisoning him to death.
This summarizes the legal charges against the three defendants.