The Brothers Karamazov: Part 3: Book 9, Chapter 4 Summary & Analysis

Dmitri tells the authorities that he pawned his pistols for ten roubles after he got back to town. They are surprised to learn that he went thirty miles out of town. He tells them he went to Samsonov to borrow three thousand roubles from him “on the best security.” Ippolit Kirillovich asks why he needed that amount. Dmitri calls this detail a trifle and doesn’t answer. He then tells him that they should unlearn and then adjust their “official method of interrogation.” Ippolit Kirillovich expresses appreciation for Dmitri’s “sensible advice,” and then says that they must still know why he needed three thousand roubles.

Dmitri says that he needed it to repay a debt, but he won’t say to whom. They tell him to write down that he won’t reveal the name of his debtor. However, they tell him that he could be doing himself harm by refusing to answer the question. He does offer to tell them about how Samsonov "hoodwinked” him two days earlier, now recognizing that he had been made a fool. He also describes his trip to see Lyagavy and his “jealous torments over 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 to get the three thousand roubles.

Dmitri then gets to the point in the story when he learns about Grushenka deceiving him and leaving Samsonov’s, though she told him that she would be there until midnight. He talks about wanting to kill Fenya but not having time. The district attorney stops him and takes the brass pestle out of his briefcase. He asks Dmitri if he recognizes the object. Dmitri says that he does. The district attorney asks how Dmitri got hold of it. Dmitri tells them how he took it from the mortar on Fenya’s table and ran. They ask him what his purpose was, and Dmitri says that he had no purpose. He then says that he grabbed it to “keep off the dogs” or “because it was dark.” The district attorney asks him if he always grabs a weapon because it’s dark. Dmitri then cries out in annoyance, saying it’s impossible to talk to these men.

Annoyed, Dmitri tells them that they can go ahead and record that he took the pestle to kill his father, if that’ll please them. Ippolit Kirillovich expresses understanding but tells him that it’s essential that they hear the story. Dmitri repeats that he doesn’t know why he took it. He says that he often dreams that someone is chasing him in the dark, but he doesn’t want to record this. He says that now, it's happening in real life: he’s the wolf and they’re the hunters.