Resurrection · Chapter
XIX explained
Nekhlúdoff, in a state of moral turmoil, sits in the jurymen's room smoking and listening to the frivolous talk around him.
What happens
Nekhlúdoff, in a state of moral turmoil, sits in the jurymen's room smoking and listening to the frivolous talk around him. When the court reconvenes, he is seized with fear and self-loathing, feeling himself a scoundrel. The examination of witnesses begins, including the mistress of the brothel, Kitáeva, who gives a polished account. Máslova's gaze fixes on Nekhlúdoff, and he is haunted by a memory of a dreadful night, fearing she has recognized him. He experiences a mixture of loathing, pity, and a desire to escape, likening his feelings to those of killing a wounded bird.
Themes in this chapter
Moral Awakening and Redemption
Nekhlúdoff's intense self-loathing and recognition of his own scoundrel behavior mark the beginning of his moral awakening, as he confronts his past and his role in Máslova's downfall.
Injustice of the Legal System
The trial proceedings, with the frivolous jury and the polished testimony of Kitáeva, highlight the superficiality and inherent injustice of the legal process, which fails to address the true moral culpability.
Sexual Exploitation and Women's Position
Máslova's past as a prostitute and her current status as a prisoner underscore the exploitation of women, while Kitáeva's testimony reveals the commodification of women's bodies in the brothel system.
Characters to notice
- Prince Dmitri Ivanovich Nekhludoff
Sits in the jurymen's room, tormented by guilt and self-disgust; he fears Máslova has recognized him and feels a loathing mixed with pity.
- Katerina Maslova
Brought back into court; her gaze fixes on Nekhlúdoff, and she appears serious and severe, though she does not recognize him.
- Carolina Albertovna Kitaeva
The mistress of the establishment where Máslova worked; she testifies with a German accent, giving a polished account of the events.
- Peter Gerasimovitch
Joking with the Jewish clerk in the jurymen's room, contributing to the frivolous atmosphere.
- Theropont Smelkoff
Mentioned by the merchant as the subject of sympathy for his way of spending time; his death is the subject of the trial.
Key passages
“He now felt the same loathing and pity and vexation as when, out shooting, he was obliged to kill a wounded bird. The wounded bird struggles in the game bag. One is disgusted and yet feels pity, and one is in a hurry to kill the bird and forget it.”
Nekhlúdoff's emotional state is compared to that of a hunter who must finish off a wounded bird, feeling both disgust and pity, and wanting to end the suffering quickly to forget it.
This metaphor captures Nekhlúdoff's conflicted feelings of revulsion and compassion toward Máslova and his own guilt, as he wishes to escape the painful situation.
“He thought of that dreadful night, with its mist, the ice breaking on the river below, and when the waning moon, with horns turned upwards, that had risen towards morning, lit up something black and weird.”
Nekhlúdoff recalls a haunting night of mist and breaking ice, with a crescent moon illuminating a dark, strange shape, which he associates with Máslova's eyes.
This memory symbolizes Nekhlúdoff's guilt and the dark, unresolved past he shares with Máslova, linking her gaze to a sinister, unforgettable moment.