The Gambler · Chapter
XII explained
The Grandmother, impatient and irritable, returns to the casino and loses heavily at roulette, including a large sum on zero.
What happens
The Grandmother, impatient and irritable, returns to the casino and loses heavily at roulette, including a large sum on zero. She then confronts the General and Polina about the General's plan to marry Mlle. Blanche, and offers Polina a place in her Moscow home. Polina hesitates, citing her responsibility for her younger siblings. The Grandmother later cashes securities and continues gambling, ignoring advice from Alexei and De Griers.
Themes in this chapter
Addiction and Self-Destruction
The Grandmother's compulsive gambling, despite heavy losses and her own frustration, illustrates the destructive pull of addiction.
Money and Moral Corruption
The Grandmother's squandering of funds meant for a church, and the General's pursuit of Mlle. Blanche for her money, highlight moral decay tied to wealth.
Family, Inheritance, and Betrayal
The General's marriage plans and the family's anticipation of the Grandmother's death for inheritance reveal betrayal and familial greed.
Characters to notice
- Grandmother
Impatient and irritable after gambling losses; confronts the General and Polina about the General's marriage plans; offers Polina shelter in Moscow; continues gambling despite advice.
- Alexei Ivanovitch
Accompanies the Grandmother to the casino, advises her on betting, and helps cash securities; is blamed by the Grandmother for her losses.
- Polina Alexandrovna
Called by the Grandmother; confirms the General's engagement to Mlle. Blanche; declines immediate departure with the Grandmother due to her siblings.
- The General
Appears with De Griers; is dismissed by the Grandmother after she learns of his marriage plans; visibly distressed by Mlle. Blanche's flirtation with the Prince.
- De Griers
Accompanies the General; attempts to advise the Grandmother on gambling but is dismissed; his presence is noted during the casino scene.
- Mlle. Blanche
Mentioned as the object of the General's marriage plans; flirts with the Prince at the casino, ignoring the General.
Key passages
“The Grandmother was in an impatient, irritable frame of mind. Without doubt the roulette had turned her head, for she appeared to be indifferent to everything else, and, in general, seemed much distraught.”
The Grandmother was restless and short-tempered, clearly obsessed with roulette to the point of distraction.
Highlights her gambling addiction and its effect on her demeanor.
“To think that that accursed zero should have turned up now ! she sobbed. The accursed, accursed thing! And, it is all your fault, she added, rounding upon me in a frenzy.”
She cried out in frustration that zero finally appeared after she stopped betting on it, and blamed Alexei for the loss.
Shows her irrational anger and the volatility of gambling.
“Prascovia, is what I have just heard through a side wind true—namely, that this fool of a stepfather of yours is going to marry that silly whirligig of a Frenchwoman—that actress, or something worse?”
The Grandmother asked Polina if it was true that the General planned to marry the frivolous Frenchwoman, Mlle. Blanche.
Reveals the family scandal and the Grandmother's contempt for the match.