Lise Character Analysis in The Brothers Karamazov

Named Liza, she is the daughter of Madame Khokhlakov and is usually referred to by the French variation of her name, Lise. She is fourteen years old when the novel begins and has suffered from paralysis of the legs for about six months. She is wheeled around “in a long, comfortable chair.” She has “a lovely little face, a bit thin from illness, but cheerful.” Her eyes are large, dark, and long-lashed and flash mischievously. She is in love with Alexei Fyodorovich, who agrees to marry her after he leaves the monastery. However, Lise later takes back her promise to marry Alexei after she regains her ability to walk. By the age of sixteen, her character hardens, as she adopts a dark view of humanity and develops a sexual interest in Ivan Fyodorovich.

Lise Character Timeline in The Brothers Karamazov

The timeline below shows where the character Lise appears in The Brothers Karamazov. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...were “built on the porch.” Madame Khokhlakov is waiting there now with her paralyzed daughter, Lise. Zosima has promised to see them, but he’s been very weak lately. (full context)

...porch “built onto the outside wall.” The widowed Madame Khokhlakov and her paralyzed fourteen-year-old daughter, Lise, are also on the porch. Zosima the elder appears on the porch and stands on... (full context)

...them away with her handkerchief. She tells him that the elder’s prayers have “healed” Liza (Lise) because her legs have grown stronger. Her color has also improved. Madame Khokhlakov tells her... (full context)

Madame Khokhlakov reminds him to bless Lise. Zosima teases Lise about laughing at Alexei and asks her why she does it. She... (full context)

...feels the little envelope in his pocket from Katerina’s maid. It contains a note from Lise. In it, she confesses to loving Alexei and having loved him since childhood. (full context)

Madame Khokhlakov then asks Alexei if he knows why Lise is in hysterics. Lise’s strained voice emerges from one of the side rooms and says... (full context)

...a rag with which to wrap his finger. Madame Khokhlakov shrieks at the ugly wound. Lise also sees Alexei’s finger and swings open the door to her room. Frightened, she demands... (full context)

Lise then asks Alexei to give her the letter that she sent him yesterday, which she... (full context)

Alexei announces that he must go to see Katerina Ivanovna. It upsets Lise that he’s leaving her, though he offers to return to her rooms before going back... (full context)

Madame Khokhlakov is again the first to meet Alexei. She whispers at how Lise now regrets, “almost to the point of tears,” having laughed at Alexei. On the other... (full context)

Alexei enters the room. Lise looks embarrassed and blushes. She asks about Alexei’s errand to give two hundred roubles to... (full context)

Lise asks Alexei to go to the door to see if Madame Khokhlakov is eavesdropping. He... (full context)

Lise again asks Alexei to see if her mother is eavesdropping and he asks her why... (full context)

Lise asks Alexei about his sadness. He admits that he’s sad, but he can’t quite explain... (full context)

Madame Khokhlakov then tells Alexei that she thinks Lise has gone mad. Though she trusts Alexei with her daughter, she doesn’t trust Ivan, who... (full context)

When Alexei enters Lise’s room, he finds her sitting in her former wheelchair. She doesn’t move but looks at... (full context)

Alexei says that her rich life is the cause of her discontent, but Lise doesn’t think it’s better to be poor. Lise says, in fact, that she’d love to... (full context)

Alexei says that Lise takes “evil for good,” which he chalks up to “a momentary crisis,” due to her... (full context)

Lise tells Alexei to go to his brother. She pushes him out the door and gives... (full context)

Alexei hands Lise’s letter to Ivan. Ivan laughs, recognizes the handwriting, and calls her a “little demon.” He... (full context)