The Brothers Karamazov: Part 3: Book 8, Chapter 4 Summary & Analysis

Dmitri goes to his father’s house, assuming that Grushenka ran straight to Fyodor. He jumps over the wattle fence and into Fyodor’s garden. He sees a light on in Fyodor’s bedroom and assumes that Grushenka is there. He sees his father through the window, wearing a “new striped silk dressing gown” and “a fine Dutch shirt with gold studs.” Fyodor stands near the window, then jerks his head up, as though to listen to something. Hearing nothing more, he goes to pour himself a glass of cognac. Dmitri realizes that he’s likely alone. When Fyodor turns to look out the window, Dmitri jumps back into the shadows.

Dmitri makes up his mind. He reaches out and taps out the signal agreed upon between Fyodor and Smerdyakov: twice slowly and three more times, quickly. This signal means that Grushenka has arrived. Fyodor opens the window and sticks his head all the way out, calling for Grushenka. Dmitri realizes that he’s alone for sure. Fyodor says that he has a present, and Dmitri thinks that his father is referring to the envelope with the three thousand roubles. Dmitri watches Fyodor from the side, feeling loathing for the sight of his profile. Dmitri is suddenly beside himself and takes the brass pestle out of his pocket.

Just then, Grigory wakes up, feeling a pain in the small of his back. Smerdyakov “lay in the next room without moving” and Marfa Ignatievna is also still. Grigory remembers that he didn’t lock the garden gate that evening. He limps down the porch steps, wincing with pain, and sees that the gate is open. He hears a noise and sees that his master’s window is open. He wonders why it’s open; it’s not summer. Grigory sees a figure running in the darkness and goes after him. He reaches the fence just as the intruder does, and clutches his leg with both hands. Suddenly, Grigory recognizes the man—the “monster” and “parricide.” He shouts, “Parricide!” Then, he falls “as if struck by a thunderbolt.” Dmitri throws the brass pestle in the grass. Grigory’s head is covered with blood.

Dmitri takes out a white handkerchief and puts it to Grigory’s head. He then wonders why he’s bothering. If he killed Grigory, there’s nothing more to do. Dmitri stuffs the blood-soaked handkerchief back into his pocket and runs into the street. He goes back to the widow Morozov’s and knocks at the gate. The head porter, Nazar Ivanovich, opens the gate and lets him in. He tells Dmitri that Grushenka left about two hours ago for Mokroye to see an officer. Dmitri leaves and runs to see Fenya.