# X: The Speech for the Defense. An Argument That Cuts Both Ways explained — The Brothers Karamazov > Chapter companion for The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. ## What happens Fetyukovitch delivers his defense speech for Dmitri Karamazov, arguing that the prosecutor's psychological reasoning is a double-edged sword. He refutes the chain of evidence by showing each piece separately is unproven, and contends that Dmitri's pity for Grigory proves his innocence of parricide. ## Themes in this chapter ### Justice and Injustice The defense challenges the prosecutor's psychological reasoning, arguing that justice requires scrutiny of each piece of evidence. ### Free Will and Responsibility Fetyukovitch argues that Dmitri's actions (pity for Grigory) show moral responsibility inconsistent with murder. ## Character check-ins ### Dmitri Karamazov The defendant, whose character and actions are analyzed by the defense. ### Fetyukovitch The celebrated defense counsel delivering the speech. ### Ippolit Kirillovitch The prosecutor whose psychological arguments are critiqued. ### Grigory The old servant attacked by Dmitri; his condition is central to the defense's argument. ## Key lines > profound as psychology is, it’s a knife that cuts both ways. Psychology can be used to argue either side of a case. _Fetyukovitch warns against over-reliance on psychological interpretation._ > there is an overwhelming chain of evidence against the prisoner, and at the same time not one fact that will stand criticism, if it is examined separately. The evidence seems strong as a whole, but each piece falls apart under scrutiny. _Fetyukovitch's central strategy: dismantle the prosecution's case piece by piece._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-x-the-speech-for-the-defense-an-argument-that-cuts-both-ways - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters