# The Brothers Karamazov — Character guide

> Key figures in The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

- [Alyosha Karamazov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/alysha_karamazov.md): The youngest Karamazov brother, a novice monk and spiritual seeker.
- [Dmitri Karamazov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/dmitri_karamazov.md): The eldest Karamazov brother, a passionate and impulsive former officer.
- [Ivan Karamazov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/ivan_karamazov.md): The intellectual middle brother, a writer and atheist tormented by doubt.
- [Fyodor Pavlovitch Karamazov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/fyodor_pavlovitch_karamazov.md): The debauched and greedy father of the Karamazov brothers.
- [Grushenka](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/grushenka.md): A beautiful and fiery woman courted by both Fyodor and Dmitri.
- [Smerdyakov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/smerdyakov.md): The Karamazovs' servant and Fyodor's illegitimate son, a brooding valet.
- [Katerina Ivanovna](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/katerina_ivanovna.md): Dmitri's proud and tormented fiancée, later a key figure in the trial.
- [Father Zossima](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/zossima.md): The revered elder and spiritual mentor to Alyosha at the monastery.
- [Kolya Krassotkin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/kolya_krassotkin.md): A bright and proud schoolboy who becomes a friend of Alyosha.
- [Ilusha](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/ilusha.md): A sickly young boy whose death deeply affects the schoolboys.
- [Rakitin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/raikitin.md): A cynical seminarian and friend of Alyosha, often scheming.
- [Lise Hohlakov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/lise_hohlakov.md): A young, impulsive girl in love with Alyosha, daughter of Madame Hohlakov.
- [Madame Hohlakov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/madame_hohlakov.md): A wealthy, gossipy widow and mother of Lise.
- [Grigory](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/grigory.md): The loyal old servant of Fyodor Pavlovitch.
- [Pyotr Ilyitch Perhotin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/pyotr_ilyitch_perhotin.md): A young official and friend of Dmitri, involved in the investigation.
- [Nikolay Parfenovitch Nelyudov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/nikolay_parfenovitch.md): The examining magistrate who leads the preliminary investigation.
- [Fetyukovitch](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/fetyukovitch.md): The famous defense attorney for Dmitri at his trial.
- [Captain Snegiryov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/snegiryov.md): A poor, humiliated retired captain and father of Ilusha.
- [Maximov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/maximov.md): A garrulous old landowner and hanger-on at Mokroe.
- [Pyotr Alexandrovitch Miüsov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/pyotr_alexandrovitch_miusov.md): Fyodor's cousin and a liberal intellectual.
- [Pyotr Fomitch Kalganov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/kalganov.md): A young, wealthy relative of Miüsov, present at key scenes.
- [Kuzma Samsonov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/samsonov.md): A wealthy merchant and Grushenka's former protector.
- [Lyagavy](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/lyagavy.md): A peasant timber merchant with whom Dmitri negotiates.
- [Marfa Ignatyevna](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/marfa.md): Grigory's wife and a servant in the Karamazov household.
- [Lizaveta Smerdyastchaya](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/lizaveta.md): A mute holy fool and mother of Smerdyakov.
- [Father Païssy](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/father_paissy.md): A stern and learned monk at the monastery.
- [Father Ferapont](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/father_ferapont.md): An ascetic and fanatical monk opposed to Father Zossima.
- [Smurov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/smurov.md): A schoolboy and friend of Kolya Krassotkin.
- [Pan Vrublevsky](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/pan_vrublevsky.md): A Polish companion of the Pole at Mokroe.
- [Pan Mussyalovitch](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/mussyalovitch.md): A Polish officer and card player at Mokroe.
- [Doctor Herzenstube](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/dactor_herzenstube.md): A kind-hearted German doctor in the town.
- [Doctor Varvinsky](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/varvinsky.md): A young doctor who testifies at the trial.
- [Varvara Alexyevna](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/varvara.md): Ilusha's older sister who cares for him.
- [Marya Kondratyevna](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/marya_kondratyevna.md): A neighbor of the Karamazovs, fond of Smerdyakov.
- [Mamsel Fenardi](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/fenardi.md): A performer at the fair mentioned in passing.
- [Perezvon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/perezvon.md): Kolya's dog, who plays a role in the schoolboys' story.
- [Zhutchka](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/zhutchka.md): Ilusha's lost dog, later replaced by Perezvon.
- [Mavriky Mavrikyevitch](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/mavriky_mavrikyevitch.md): A retired military officer and friend of the family.
- [Nastya](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/nastya.md): A servant girl in the Hohlakov household.
- [Yulia](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/yulia.md): A servant girl in the Hohlakov household.
- [Matvey](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/matvey.md): A coachman or servant mentioned in the narrative.
- [Gorstkin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/gorstkin.md): A peasant who negotiates with Fyodor Pavlovitch.
- [Plotnikov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/plotnikov.md): The shopkeeper from whom Dmitri buys provisions.
- [Belyavsky](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/belyavsky.md): A young man mentioned as a suitor of Katerina Ivanovna.
- [Von Sohn](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/von_sohn.md): A wealthy man mentioned in a scandalous anecdote.
- [Yefim Petrovitch Polenov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/yefim_petrovitch_polenov.md): A landowner who was a guardian of the Karamazov boys.
- [Adelaïda Ivanovna Miüsov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/adelaida_ivanovna.md): Fyodor Pavlovitch's first wife and mother of Dmitri.
- [Sofya Ivanovna](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/sofya_ivanovna.md): Fyodor Pavlovitch's second wife and mother of Ivan and Alyosha.
- [Markel](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/markel.md): Father Zossima's elder brother who died young.
- [Father Anfim](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/father_anfim.md): An old monk who traveled with Father Zossima.
- [Father Varsonofy](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/varsonofy.md): An elder at the monastery mentioned in passing.
- [Dardanelov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/dardanelov.md): A teacher at the school attended by Kolya and Ilusha.
- [Madame Svyetlov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/madame_svyetlov.md): A woman mentioned as Grushenka's possible alias.
- [The widow Morozov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/the_widow_morozov.md): A wealthy widow who owns a house in the town.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters