Madame Katerina Osipovna Khokhlakov Character Analysis in The Brothers Karamazov

The devout mother of Lise. She is a wealthy woman and is always tastefully dressed. She is still “fairly young and quite attractive”—in fact, she is no more than thirty-three years old and has been widowed for about five years. She is “slightly pale, with lively and almost completely black eyes.” She goes to Zosima, the Elder with Lise to receive his blessings, in the hope that her daughter will walk again. When she visits, Madame Khokhlakov and her daughter wait in the quarters set aside for gentlewomen. She tries to convince Dmitri Fyodorovich to go to the mines to prospect for gold; Madame Khokhlakov despises Dmitri, due to what she perceives as his poor manners, and would prefer that Katerina Ivanovna marry Ivan Fyodorovich.

Madame Katerina Osipovna Khokhlakov Character Timeline in The Brothers Karamazov

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

...him. For “higher ladies,” there are “two small rooms” that were “built on the porch.” Madame Khokhlakov is waiting there now with her paralyzed daughter, Lise. Zosima has promised to see them,... (full context)

...are about twenty women near the wooden 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... (full context)

Zosima goes up to Madame Khokhlakov , who quietly sheds tears and wipes them away with her handkerchief. She tells him... (full context)

Madame Khokhlakov notes how healthy and cheerful Zosima looks. She then says that she’s suffering from a... (full context)

Zosima encourages Madame Khokhlakov to do what she can, and says that she’s already done a lot by speaking... (full context)

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

The note that Madame Khokhlakov gave Alexei, saying that he should visit Katerina Ivanovna at once, “awakened some tormenting feeling... (full context)

...to return the next day. As he leaves, the maid gives Alexei a letter from Madame Khokhlakov . (full context)

...that Rakitin is looking for him. He has come from town with a letter from Madame Khokhlakov . She tells him that Zosima’s prophecy about Prokhorovna’s son, Vasenka, has come true—he is... (full context)

Alexei reaches Madame Khokhlakov ’s stone house—one of the best and most beautiful homes in town. Madame Khokhlakov also... (full context)

Madame Khokhlakov then asks Alexei if he knows why Lise is in hysterics. Lise’s strained voice emerges... (full context)

Alexei asks Madame Khokhlakov for a rag with which to wrap his finger. Madame Khokhlakov shrieks at the ugly... (full context)

...her, though he offers to return to her rooms before going back to the monastery. Madame Khokhlakov leaves with Alexei and tells him, “in a quick whisper,” about the comedy that’s ensuing... (full context)

As Ivan leaves, Alexei calls after him. He blames himself for Ivan’s spiteful words, though Madame Khokhlakov compares him to “an angel” and assures him that he did nothing wrong. Katerina Ivanovna... (full context)

Madame Khokhlakov is again the first to meet Alexei. She whispers at how Lise now regrets, “almost... (full context)

Lise asks Alexei to go to the door to see if Madame Khokhlakov is eavesdropping. He tells Lise that no one is there. Lise then summons Alexei back... (full context)

...Alexei to see if her mother is eavesdropping and he asks her why she suspects Madame Khokhlakov of “such meanness.” Lise says that it isn’t meanness and that she, too, eavesdrops on... (full context)

Alexei tries to leave without seeing Madame Khokhlakov , but she appears to him anyway as soon as he goes down the stairs.... (full context)

Mikhail Rakitin is present, after having been sent “on a special errand from Madame Khokhlakov .” After learning that she wouldn’t be admitted to the hermitage, she immediately dispatched Rakitin... (full context)

...and Alexei says he does. He mentions that he has to stop off to see Madame Khokhlakov to give her the requested report. Rakitin then stops suddenly, takes Alexei by the shoulder,... (full context)

...his room, washes up, combs his hair, brushes his clothes, gets dressed, and goes to Madame Khokhlakov ’s. His plan is to borrow the three thousand roubles from her. The reason he... (full context)

Dmitri figures that, being so against his marrying Katerina Ivanovna, Madame Khokhlakov will give him the three thousand roubles to be rid of him. When he enters... (full context)

Madame Khokhlakov says that she knows that Dmitri is “in a fever,” but she can help him.... (full context)

Dmitri is overwhelmed by Madame Khokhlakov ’s words. He then assures her that, though she has his “eternal gratitude,” he only... (full context)

Dmitri implores Madame Khokhlakov once again to give the three thousand roubles, but she seems not to know what... (full context)

...force his way into his home at midnight. So, Pyotr Ilyich decides to go to Madame Khokhlakov ’s to ask if she had given Dmitri three thousand roubles. If the answer is... (full context)

...carrying a wad of money. Dmitri said that he got the three thousand roubles from Madame Khokhlakov , in exchange for agreeing to go to the gold mines. Madame Khokhlakov says that... (full context)

...Grushenka.” Everyone listens attentively. He talks, too, about the despair he felt when he left Madame Khokhlakov ’s. He says that he had the thought of putting a knife into someone just... (full context)

...reminds Dmitri that he told Pyotr Ilyich about three thousand roubles that he got from Madame Khokhlakov . Dmitri doesn’t confirm that. He then briefly tells them, upon request, the story of... (full context)

...with “her generous heart” and the securities he was willing to offer to Samsonov and Madame Khokhlakov , she would’ve given him the three thousand roubles. Dmitri says that such a thing... (full context)

Alexei first goes to Madame Khokhlakov ’s house. She says that she’s preparing to go to Dmitri’s trial. She’ll be carried... (full context)

Alexei says that he needs to leave to get to Dmitri in time. Madame Khokhlakov asks Alexei what a “fit of passion” is. He isn’t sure how to respond. She... (full context)

Madame Khokhlakov then tells Alexei that she thinks Lise has gone mad. Though she trusts Alexei with... (full context)

...product of his environment. Alexei mentions the vindictive article that Rakitin has already written about Madame Khokhlakov . (full context)

...read. Four of the witnesses are absent, including Pyotr Alexandrovich Miusov, who is in Paris, Madame Khokhlakov , Maximov, who is ill, and Smerdyakov, who is dead. Most people don’t yet know... (full context)

...the crime, including the adventures with Samsonov and Lyagavy. He also mentions his going to Madame Khokhlakov . The prosecutor claims that, if Fenya had mentioned that Grushenka was in Mokroye with... (full context)