The Brothers Karamazov · Chapter
The Alarm explained
The authorities learn of Fyodor Pavlovitch's murder and organize a search for Dmitri, who is suspected of parricide.
What happens
The authorities learn of Fyodor Pavlovitch's murder and organize a search for Dmitri, who is suspected of parricide. Marfa Ignatyevna discovers the body after being awakened by Smerdyakov's epileptic fit, and the investigation begins.
Themes in this chapter
Justice and Injustice
The chapter sets up the legal machinery for Dmitri's arrest and trial, highlighting the tension between presumed guilt and the search for truth.
Fathers and Sons
The murder of Fyodor Pavlovitch by his son Dmitri (suspected) underscores the destructive conflict between generations.
Characters to notice
- Pyotr Ilyitch Perhotin
Provides key evidence about Dmitri's intention to shoot himself and his purchase of wine and provisions.
- Dmitri Karamazov
The prime suspect; believed to have murdered his father and fled to Mokroe.
- Fyodor Pavlovitch Karamazov
Found murdered in his home, with his skull battered in and the envelope for Grushenka torn open and empty.
- Smerdyakov
Suffers a severe epileptic fit; the doctor doubts he will survive the night.
- Grigory
Found wounded in the garden after being attacked; he identifies the attacker as Dmitri.
- Marfa Ignatyevna
Discovers the body of Fyodor Pavlovitch and raises the alarm.
Key passages
“One piece of Pyotr Ilyitch’s evidence made a great impression on the prosecutor and the investigating magistrate, namely, his idea that Dmitri Fyodorovitch would shoot himself before daybreak, that he had resolved to do so, had spoken of it to Ilyitch, had taken the pistols, loaded them before him, written a letter, put it in his pocket, etc.”
Pyotr Ilyitch's testimony that Dmitri planned to commit suicide before dawn and had prepared his pistols and a letter greatly influenced the prosecutor and magistrate.
This evidence heightens the urgency to arrest Dmitri before he can harm himself.
“Marfa Ignatyevna, the wife of old Grigory, who had been knocked senseless near the fence, was sleeping soundly in her bed and might well have slept till morning after the draught she had taken. But, all of a sudden she waked up, no doubt roused by a fearful epileptic scream from Smerdyakov, who was lying in the next room unconscious.”
Marfa Ignatyevna was awakened from a deep sleep by Smerdyakov's epileptic scream, which led her to discover the crime.
Smerdyakov's fit inadvertently triggers the discovery of the murder.