The Brothers Karamazov: Epilogue, Chapter 2 Summary & Analysis

Two days after the verdict, Dmitri succumbed to nervous fever. He was sent to the town hospital’s section for convicts but, at Alexei’s request, Dr. Varvinsky arranged for him to be placed apart from the convicts. He is in the same room Smerdyakov occupied. Alexei walks in and finds Dmitri sitting on a cot, wearing a hospital robe. Dmitri is certain that Katerina Ivanovna won’t come, but he also feels that it’s impossible for her not to come. Alexei understands how he feels. Alexei says that she will come; he just doesn’t know when. He reports that Katerina has also said that, if Ivan doesn’t recover, she’ll make arrangements for the escape herself.

Alexei asks if Grushenka knows about the escape. Dmitri says she does, but she won’t come this morning. She seems fine with Katerina Ivanovna making all of the arrangements, however, and knows that she loves Ivan and not Dmitri. Dmitri expresses his love for Grushenka and how desperate he is to be with her.

Dmitri tells Alexei that, if he does run away, he won’t be running with joy or happiness in his heart. He loves Russia and knows that Grushenka won’t fare particularly well abroad either. His plan is that, when they arrive, they’ll “set to work, digging the land.” They’ll go to the West. They’ll learn English and, as soon as they do, they’ll return to Russia—but not to Skotoprigonyevsk—as American citizens. He asks if Alexei approves, and Alexei says that he does.

Suddenly, Katerina Ivanovna appears in the doorway. She rushes toward Dmitri and seizes hold of his hands. She says that she’s come to embrace him. Though their love is gone, she says, and they both love other people, she wants to be sure that they’ll care for each for eternity. Dmitri asks Katerina if she believes that he killed his father. She says that she doesn’t, but persuaded herself that she did, out of hatred. She rises suddenly, gives a loud cry, and steps back. Grushenka comes into the room.

Grushenka stares at Katerina Ivanovna and says that they’re both “wicked.” Dmitri reproaches Grushenka for not forgiving Katerina, and Alexei scolds him for this. Grushenka insists that it was just Katerina’s “proud lips speaking, not her heart.” She then runs out. Dmitri tells Alexei to go after her. Katerina also leaves. Alexei tells her that Dmitri didn’t know that Grushenka would come. She asks him to drop the subject and says she can’t go to Ilyusha’s funeral, though she sent flowers and promises to assist the family financially in the future.