Character guide

Alyosha Karamazov

major

Also known as Alyosha, Alexey Fyodorovitch, Alexey, little Alexey

The youngest Karamazov brother, a novice monk and spiritual seeker.

Dmitri Karamazov

major

Also known as Mitya, Dmitri Fyodorovitch, Dmitri Fyodorovitch Karamazov, the younger Karamazov

The eldest Karamazov brother, a passionate and impulsive former officer.

Ivan Karamazov

major

Also known as Ivan Fyodorovitch, Ivan Fyodorovitch Karamazov, brother Ivan

The intellectual middle brother, a writer and atheist tormented by doubt.

Fyodor Pavlovitch Karamazov

major

Also known as Fyodor Pavlovitch, old Karamazov, old Fyodor Pavlovitch

The debauched and greedy father of the Karamazov brothers.

Grushenka

major

Also known as Agrafena Alexandrovna, Agrafena, rogue Grushenka

A beautiful and fiery woman courted by both Fyodor and Dmitri.

Smerdyakov

major

Also known as VI Smerdyakov, the deceased Smerdyakov

The Karamazovs' servant and Fyodor's illegitimate son, a brooding valet.

Katerina Ivanovna

supporting

Also known as Katya, Fatal Katya, Katerina Ivanovna's

Dmitri's proud and tormented fiancée, later a key figure in the trial.

Father Zossima

supporting

Also known as Zossima, The elder Zossima, blessed Father, Father

The revered elder and spiritual mentor to Alyosha at the monastery.

Kolya Krassotkin

supporting

Also known as Kolya, Krassotkin, little Kolya

A bright and proud schoolboy who becomes a friend of Alyosha.

Ilusha

supporting

Also known as VII Ilusha, III Ilusha

A sickly young boy whose death deeply affects the schoolboys.

Rakitin

supporting

Also known as Mr. Rakitin, Even Rakitin

A cynical seminarian and friend of Alyosha, often scheming.

Lise Hohlakov

supporting

Also known as Lise, Alexey Fyodorovitch, Lise

A young, impulsive girl in love with Alyosha, daughter of Madame Hohlakov.

Madame Hohlakov

supporting

Also known as Hohlakov

A wealthy, gossipy widow and mother of Lise.

Grigory

supporting

Also known as old Grigory, Grigory Vassilyevitch, the same Grigory

The loyal old servant of Fyodor Pavlovitch.

Pyotr Ilyitch Perhotin

supporting

Also known as Pyotr Ilyitch, Perhotin, Dear Pyotr Ilyitch

A young official and friend of Dmitri, involved in the investigation.

Nikolay Parfenovitch Nelyudov

supporting

Also known as Nikolay Parfenovitch, young Nikolay Parfenovitch, Nikolay

The examining magistrate who leads the preliminary investigation.

Ippolit Kirillovitch

supporting

Also known as Ippolit, poor Ippolit Kirillovitch

The prosecutor in Dmitri's trial.

Fetyukovitch

supporting

Also known as The counsel Fetyukovitch, the celebrated Fetyukovitch

The famous defense attorney for Dmitri at his trial.

Captain Snegiryov

supporting

Also known as Snegiryov, the captain

A poor, humiliated retired captain and father of Ilusha.

Fenya

minor

Also known as the terror-stricken Fenya, Poor Fenya

Grushenka's young maid and confidante.

Maximov

minor

Also known as old Maximov

A garrulous old landowner and hanger-on at Mokroe.

Pyotr Alexandrovitch Miüsov

minor

Also known as Miüsov, Pyotr Alexandrovitch, Pyotr

Fyodor's cousin and a liberal intellectual.

Pyotr Fomitch Kalganov

minor

Also known as Kalganov, young Kalganov, Panie Kalganov

A young, wealthy relative of Miüsov, present at key scenes.

Kuzma Samsonov

minor

Also known as Samsonov, old Samsonov, the old widower Samsonov

A wealthy merchant and Grushenka's former protector.

Lyagavy

minor

Also known as II Lyagavy, this Lyagavy

A peasant timber merchant with whom Dmitri negotiates.

Trifon Borissovitch

minor

The innkeeper at Mokroe.

Marfa Ignatyevna

minor

Also known as Marfa

Grigory's wife and a servant in the Karamazov household.

Lizaveta Smerdyastchaya

minor

Also known as Lizaveta, Stinking Lizaveta, stinking Lizaveta

A mute holy fool and mother of Smerdyakov.

Father Païssy

minor

Also known as Father Païssy, reverend Father

A stern and learned monk at the monastery.

Father Ferapont

minor

Also known as Father Ferapont, holy Father

An ascetic and fanatical monk opposed to Father Zossima.

Smurov

minor

Also known as Clever little Smurov, little Smurov

A schoolboy and friend of Kolya Krassotkin.

Mihail Makarovitch

minor

Also known as Makarovitch, Mihail Makarovitch Makarov

The police captain in the town.

Andrey

minor

A coachman who drives Dmitri to Mokroe.

Pan Vrublevsky

minor

Also known as Vrublevsky, panie Vrublevsky, the huge Vrublevsky

A Polish companion of the Pole at Mokroe.

Pan Mussyalovitch

minor

Also known as Mussyalovitch

A Polish officer and card player at Mokroe.

Doctor Herzenstube

minor

Also known as Herzenstube

A kind-hearted German doctor in the town.

Doctor Varvinsky

minor

Also known as Varvinsky

A young doctor who testifies at the trial.

Madame Krassotkin

minor

Also known as Krassotkin

Kolya's widowed mother.

Kartashov

minor

A schoolboy friend of Kolya.

Nina

minor

Ilusha's sickly younger sister.

Varvara Alexyevna

minor

Also known as Varvara

Ilusha's older sister who cares for him.

Marya Kondratyevna

minor

Also known as Marya

A neighbor of the Karamazovs, fond of Smerdyakov.

Agafya Ivanovna

minor

Also known as Agafya

A servant in the Karamazov household.

Afanasy Pavlovitch

minor

Also known as Afanasy

A servant of Fyodor Pavlovitch.

Mamsel Fenardi

minor

Also known as Fenardi

A performer at the fair mentioned in passing.

Perezvon

minor

Kolya's dog, who plays a role in the schoolboys' story.

Zhutchka

minor

Ilusha's lost dog, later replaced by Perezvon.

Mavriky Mavrikyevitch

minor

Also known as Mavriky Mavrikyevitch Schmertsov

A retired military officer and friend of the family.

Misha

minor

A schoolboy friend of Kolya.

Kostya

minor

A schoolboy friend of Kolya.

Nastya

minor

A servant girl in the Hohlakov household.

Yulia

minor

A servant girl in the Hohlakov household.

Matvey

minor

A coachman or servant mentioned in the narrative.

Timofey

minor

A servant in the Karamazov household.

Gorstkin

minor

Also known as This Gorstkin

A peasant who negotiates with Fyodor Pavlovitch.

Nazar Ivanovitch

minor

An inn servant at Mokroe.

Plotnikov

minor

The shopkeeper from whom Dmitri buys provisions.

Kolbasnikov

minor

A merchant mentioned in the narrative.

Tuzikov

minor

A merchant mentioned in the narrative.

Gridyenko

minor

A merchant mentioned in the narrative.

Belyavsky

minor

Also known as Belyavsky—he

A young man mentioned as a suitor of Katerina Ivanovna.

Von Sohn

minor

A wealthy man mentioned in a scandalous anecdote.

Sabaneyev

minor

A landowner mentioned in passing.

Nazaryev

minor

A merchant mentioned in the narrative.

Yefim Petrovitch Polenov

minor

Also known as Yefim Petrovitch

A landowner who was a guardian of the Karamazov boys.

Adelaïda Ivanovna Miüsov

minor

Also known as Adelaïda Ivanovna

Fyodor Pavlovitch's first wife and mother of Dmitri.

Sofya Ivanovna

minor

Also known as Sofya

Fyodor Pavlovitch's second wife and mother of Ivan and Alyosha.

Markel

minor

Father Zossima's elder brother who died young.

Father Iosif

minor

Also known as the gentle Father Iosif, Gentle Father Iosif

A gentle monk at the monastery.

Father Anfim

minor

An old monk who traveled with Father Zossima.

Father Varsonofy

minor

Also known as Varsonofy, The elder Varsonofy

An elder at the monastery mentioned in passing.

The Father Superior

minor

Also known as Father Superior

The head of the monastery.

Dardanelov

minor

A teacher at the school attended by Kolya and Ilusha.

Alexey Ivanitch Tchizhov

minor

Also known as Tchizhov, Alexey Ivanitch

A merchant mentioned in the narrative.

Anna Fyodorovna

minor

A woman mentioned in the narrative.

Arina Petrovna

minor

Also known as Arina

A woman mentioned in the narrative.

Pavel Pavlovitch Korneplodov

minor

Also known as This Korneplodov

A landowner mentioned in the narrative.

Madame Svyetlov

minor

Also known as Svyetlov

A woman mentioned as Grushenka's possible alias.

The widow Morozov

minor

Also known as Morozov

A wealthy widow who owns a house in the town.

Tatyana

minor

A servant in the Hohlakov household.

Vassya

minor

A schoolboy friend of Kolya.