# IV: In the Dark explained — The Brothers Karamazov

> Chapter companion for The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

## What happens

Dmitri, driven by jealousy and suspicion, sneaks into his father's garden at night, convinced that Grushenka is with Fyodor Pavlovitch. He observes his father through the window, struggles with his hatred, and ultimately decides to attack. He retrieves a brass pestle, but is interrupted by Grigory waking up. Dmitri then flees, learns from a servant that Grushenka has gone to Mokroe to see an officer, and rushes to Fenya for more information.

## Themes in this chapter

### Fathers and Sons

Dmitri's intense hatred and rivalry with his father Fyodor Pavlovitch is central to this chapter, culminating in his violent intentions.

### Sensuality and Moral Degradation

Fyodor Pavlovitch's lecherous anticipation of Grushenka and Dmitri's jealous obsession highlight the theme of sensual degradation.

### Justice and Injustice

Dmitri's perception of his father as a tormentor and rival who has 'ruined his life' raises questions of personal justice and revenge.

## Character check-ins

### Dmitri Karamazov

Sneaks into his father's garden, watches him through the window, struggles with hatred, and retrieves a brass pestle before fleeing.

### Fyodor Pavlovitch Karamazov

Observed by Dmitri in his bedroom, wearing a new dressing-gown, waiting for Grushenka, and opening the window to call out.

### Grushenka

Believed by Dmitri to be at Fyodor Pavlovitch's, but later revealed to have gone to Mokroe to see an officer.

### Grigory

Wakes up from his sickbed after treatment, interrupting Dmitri's actions.

### Fenya

Rushes to the porter to prevent Dmitri from entering, and later is sought by Dmitri for information.

### Smerdyakov

Mentioned as possibly being in the plot and as having arranged the signal with Fyodor Pavlovitch.

## Key lines

> Where could she be except at Fyodor Pavlovitch’s? She must have run straight to him from Samsonov’s, that was clear now. The whole intrigue, the whole deceit was evident.

Dmitri is convinced that Grushenka has gone directly to his father's house after leaving Samsonov, believing the entire affair is a deception.

_Dmitri's jealous reasoning drives his actions._

> How red the whitebeam berries are!

Dmitri notices the bright red berries on a bush as he hides near the window.

_A moment of sensory detail amid his intense emotional state._

> God was watching over me then.

Dmitri later reflects that divine providence protected him at the moment he pulled out the pestle.

_Foreshadows Dmitri's later interpretation of events._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-iv-in-the-dark
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters