The Brothers Karamazov: Part 2: Book 5, Chapter 7 Summary & Analysis

When Ivan enters the house, Fyodor appears in a hurry to tell him something. However, Fyodor then turns and disappears back up the stairs. Smerdyakov says that he’s angry about something. Half an hour later, after the house is locked up, Fyodor starts wandering through the rooms, trembling in expectation of the secret knocks. Ivan goes to bed around two. He feels, however, an urge “to go downstairs, unlock the door, [and] go out to the servants’ cottage” for the express purpose of beating Smerdyakov. He feels the need to take revenge on someone and even feels hatred for Alexei, in recollection of the day’s conversation.

Ivan wakes up the next morning at about seven o’clock. He goes downstairs to have tea. He greets his father “affably” and announces that he’s leaving for Moscow in an hour and “for good.” Fyodor listens but expresses no grief or surprise. He then asks Ivan to stop off at Chermashnya again. Ivan says that he can’t because he has to catch a train. Fyodor insists that he go as a favor to him. He has a woodlot there “on waste lands.” A little merchant named Lyagavy, who calls himself Gorstkin, has come along, he says, and wants to offer eleven thousand for the lot. However, the priest at Ilyinskoye says he’ll only be in Chermashnya for another week.

Ivan suggests that the priest settle things with Lyagavy. Fyodor says that won’t work because the priest “has no eye for business.” Also, Lyagavy is a liar. Ivan says that he has no “eye” either, but Fyodor says that he’ll do fine because he’ll tell him Lyagavy’s “signs.” He tells Ivan to watch the merchant’s “red, ugly, thin little beard.” If it shakes and he looks angry when he talks, then he’s telling the truth. If he strokes his beard with his left hand and chuckles, he’s lying. He says that Ivan should never look into the man’s eyes, which are “murky water.” If Ivan is able to settle with him, Fyodor says, he should send a note “at once.” Ivan should insist on eleven thousand and knock no more than a thousand off of the asking price.

Once again, Ivan says that he has no time, and, once again, Fyodor asks Ivan to do his father a favor. Ivan says that he’ll decide whether or not he’ll go when he sets off on his trip. Fyodor scribbles a note for Ivan to present to Lyagavy. Then the horses are sent for and cognac is served “with a bite to eat.” Fyodor says goodbye to Ivan on the porch and asks if he’ll return, because he’ll always be glad to see him. Smerdyakov, Grigory, and Marfa also come out to say goodbye. Ivan gives them each ten roubles. While Ivan sits in the carriage, Smerdyakov runs up to smooth out the rug and says that “it’s always interesting to talk with an intelligent man.”

The carriage races off. Ivan finds that he feels very good. He wonders what Smerdyakov meant with his parting words. The carriage pulls up to Volovya station. Ivan gets out and is surrounded by coachmen. He haggles with them over a ride to Chermashnya, which is eight miles away by country road. He’ll go in a hired carriage. Ivan then decides not to go to Chermashnya and asks one of them to see Fyodor and tell him that he didn’t go. Ivan gives the man, whose name is Mitri, a tip for this service.

Ivan boards the seven o’clock train to Moscow, feeling as though he has left behind “the old world forever.” Then, a feeling of grief overcomes him and he feels that he has acted like “a scoundrel.” He recalls how happy his father was with his decision just hours before. Meanwhile, back at the house, Smerdyakov goes to the cellar for something and falls from the top step. Marfa hears his cry and goes to him. She sees that he hasn’t broken any bones, but he doesn’t regain consciousness and he suffers recurring fits. Fyodor sends for Dr. Herzenstube, who examines Smerdyakov and concludes that he suffered an extraordinary fit. Smerdyakov is put to bed in the cottage, in a small room next to Grigory and Marfa’s. Then, Fyodor learns that Grigory, too, is bedridden. His back has gone out.

Fyodor still awaits Grushenka’s arrival that evening. He paces the rooms and listens for the knocks. However, he’s also on the alert for the possibility that Dmitri could be watching out for her to knock at the window. Fyodor’s heart is “bathed in [sweet] hopes,” for he is sure that Grushenka will come.