The Brothers Karamazov

The Brothers Karamazov

by

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Fyodor Pavlovich’s first wife, the mother of Dmitri Fyodorovich, and the cousin of Pyotr Alexandrovich Miusov. She belonged to the wealthy and aristocratic Miusov family. Adelaida is beautiful and has a dowry that includes twenty-five thousand roubles, a small village, and a “rather fine townhouse.” Thus, no one in her family could understand why she married Fyodor, whom they regarded as a “runt,” other than for the sheer excitement of breaking away from her social class and its expectations. She is described as “hot-tempered,” “bold, dark-skinned, impatient,” and “strong”—qualities that are particularly on display when she develops contempt for her husband and beats him in anger. She abandons Fyodor for “a destitute seminarian” and leaves Dmitri with his father. She dies in St. Petersburg of either typhus or starvation.
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Adelaida Ivanovna Character Timeline in The Brothers Karamazov

The timeline below shows where the character Adelaida Ivanovna appears in The Brothers Karamazov. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1: Book 1, Chapter 1: Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov 
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...Alexei. Dmitri, also called Mitya, was born to Fyodor’s first wife—the beautiful, wealthy, and aristocratic Adelaida Ivanovna Miusov. It’s unclear what Adelaida wanted with Fyodor beyond the “piquancy from elopement.” As... (full context)
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Immediately after their marriage, Adelaida realizes that she feels contempt for Fyodor, who “filched” twenty-five thousand roubles in cash from... (full context)
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Soon after Adelaida’s departure, Fyodor sets up “a regular harem” in his home and drinks constantly. During his... (full context)
Part 1: Book 1, Chapter 2: The First Son Sent Packing
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Around this time, Adelaida’s cousin Pyotr Alexandrovich Miusov returns from Paris. He has a splendid estate, valued “at about... (full context)
Part 1: Book 1, Chapter 3: Second Marriage, Second Children
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...orgies at the house, in front of his wife. Grigory, who hated his former mistress, Adelaida, takes Sofia’s side. On one occasion, he breaks up an orgy and drives the “loose... (full context)
Part 1: Book 3, Chapter 2: Stinking Lizaveta
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...was even a “piquancy” about her. Around this time, he found out that his wife, Adelaida Ivanovna, was dead. His companions laughed at his opinion and then went on their way. (full context)