Short Fiction · Chapter
IX: The Investigation Continued explained
The examination of witnesses continues as the priest is expected to administer the oath.
What happens
The examination of witnesses continues as the priest is expected to administer the oath. The peasants stand in grim silence, with Yevséyitch at the front, while Bezrýlof mockingly congratulates Proskuróf on a temporary appointment, provoking a defensive outburst. The narrator then speaks with the prisoner, who reveals he killed out of a detached curiosity about whether a knife blade could have no effect, and expresses a fatalistic view of his own life and fate.
Themes in this chapter
Social Injustice and Class Division
The tension between the officials (Bezrýlof and Proskuróf) and the peasant witnesses, as well as the prisoner's resigned acceptance of a life of prison and violence, highlights class divisions and systemic injustice.
The Search for Meaning
The prisoner's explanation that he killed out of curiosity—'to know if it was possible that a knife-blade could have no effect'—reflects a nihilistic search for meaning or a test of reality.
Characters to notice
- Yevséyitch
Stands at the front of the crowd of witnesses, his face red and lips tight, evidently having reached a decision with the group.
- Proskuróf
The examiner, who reacts angrily to Bezrýlof's congratulations about a temporary appointment, withdrawing his hand and denying he is a 'calf'.
- Bezrúky
Sits on the bench, snapping his fingers, and mockingly congratulates Proskuróf on his appointment, laughing and clanking his spurs.
Key passages
“I simply wanted to know … if it was a possible thing that a knife-blade could have no effect.”
I just wanted to see whether a knife could fail to cut.
The prisoner explains his motive for the murder as a detached experiment.
“I squared up my accounts with the Lord a long time ago, and well I might! … Considering all my prayers, I shouldn't wonder if He were still my debtor.”
I settled my debts with God long ago; after all my prayers, He probably owes me.
The prisoner expresses a cynical, transactional view of his relationship with God.