Resurrection · Chapter
XVI explained
Nekhlúdoff, returning from church, breaks the fast with his aunts and drinks.
What happens
Nekhlúdoff, returning from church, breaks the fast with his aunts and drinks. He is awakened by Katúsha, who calls him to dinner. He attempts to embrace her, but she resists, blushing and telling him not to. Later, he follows her into a room where she is making a bed, and his animal passion overcomes his spiritual love. He forces himself on her, despite her pleas, and plans to visit her at night, though she verbally refuses. Matróna Pávlovna interrupts, and Nekhlúdoff spends the rest of the evening in a daze, unable to see Katúsha alone.
Themes in this chapter
Sexual Exploitation and Women's Position
Nekhlúdoff's predatory pursuit of Katúsha, a servant, exemplifies the sexual exploitation of women in a patriarchal society, where her resistance is overridden by his animal passion.
Moral Awakening and Redemption
Nekhlúdoff's internal struggle between his spiritual love and animal passion sets the stage for his later moral awakening, as he feels disgust and shame but fails to act rightly.
Characters to notice
- Prince Dmitri Ivanovich Nekhludoff
Struggles with his animal passions, overriding his spiritual love for Katúsha; he pursues her despite her resistance.
- Katerina Maslova
Tries to avoid Nekhlúdoff's advances, showing fear and piteousness; her verbal refusals are contradicted by her tremulous confusion.
- Matrona Pavlovna
Interrupts Nekhlúdoff's encounter with Katúsha, reproaching her for taking the wrong blanket and watching her closely.
Key passages
“The animal man inside him had now not only lifted its head, but had succeeded in trampling underfoot the spiritual man of the days of his first visit, and even of that every morning.”
Nekhlúdoff's base instincts had completely overpowered his earlier moral and spiritual self.
Highlights the internal conflict and the dominance of animal passion over spiritual love.
“This kiss was very different from that first thoughtless kiss behind the lilac bush, and very different to the kiss this morning in the churchyard. This was a dreadful kiss, and she felt it.”
Unlike the innocent kisses earlier, this kiss was forceful and terrifying, and Katúsha recognized its wrongness.
Contrasts the purity of earlier moments with the corruption of Nekhlúdoff's current actions.