The Brothers Karamazov: Part 3: Book 8, Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis

That morning, in the horse-drawn wagon, Dmitri decides to lend his “pair of fine dueling pistols” to a young official for ten roubles. Dmitri then goes to Fyodor’s gazebo, looking for Smerdyakov. Finally, he goes next door to Maria Kondratievna’s, where he hears about Smerdyakov’s illness. He also learns that Ivan left for Moscow on the same morning as Smerdyakov’s falling fit. He’s only worried about Smerdyakov because, with him ill, there will be no one to keep watch. He decides to go to Samsonov’s house to see if Grushenka is there.

Before heading to Samsonov’s, Dmitri goes back to 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 didn’t go to Madame Khokhlakov first, given that he knows her and she is of his social station, is because “he had almost broken off relations” with her and had only been slightly acquainted with her before. More importantly, Dmitri knows that she can’t stand him. She wanted Katerina Ivanovna to drop him and marry “the dear, chivalrously educated Ivan Fyodorovich, who has such beautiful manners.” She detests Dmitri’s manners.

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 Madame Khokhlakov’s home, she receives him promptly—a good sign. She tells him that she was expecting him. He discusses his business with her and mentions that he’s in a hurry. She asks him if he’s heard that the elder Zosima has died, and he says that he hasn’t.

Madame Khokhlakov says that she knows that Dmitri is “in a fever,” but she can help him. She mentions how she helped her cousin’s husband who was financially ruined, but she rescued him by sending him into horse-breeding. She asks Dmitri if he knows anything about horse-breeding. He says he doesn’t, and implores her to listen to him; he’s in despair. Madame Khokhlakov waves her hand at him and says he can tell her about that later. She knows that he needs three thousand roubles, but she’s prepared to give him much more.

Dmitri is overwhelmed by Madame Khokhlakov’s words. He then assures her that, though she has his “eternal gratitude,” he only needs three thousand roubles. Madame Khokhlakov asks him what he thinks about gold mines. Dmitri says he’s never thought anything about them. She says that, by his gait, she can tell that he’d “find many mines.” He asks her again about the three thousand, but she returns to the subject of mines, saying that he can make millions and help the poor.

Dmitri implores Madame Khokhlakov once again to give the three thousand roubles, but she seems not to know what he’s talking about. She then says that she hasn’t got three thousand. Dmitri becomes confused. When she said that it was as good as in his pocket, she was referring to the money he could make in the gold mines. She says that, at the moment, she has no money with her at all. Even if she did, she says, she wouldn’t give it to Dmitri—or to anyone. Lending money leads to quarrels, she says. Dmitri roars in anger and bangs his fist on the table. He leaves the house, beating his chest like a madman. Tears begin to run down his cheeks. He resolves that, if he can’t obtain the money, he’ll kill himself.

Dmitri enters the square and bumps into a little old woman whom he almost knocks over. He recognizes her as Samsonov’s serving woman. He asks her if Grushenka is now at Samsonov’s. She tells him that Grushenka left some time ago. Dmitri yells at her and accuses her of lying. The little old woman is frightened, but he quickly leaves her and goes to the widow Morozov’s house. Fenya is there, sitting in the kitchen. Dmitri runs in, causing Fenya to scream. She tells him that Grushenka hasn’t returned, but Dmitri also accuses her of lying before rushing out. Before leaving, he grabs a brass pestle off the table.