Crime and Punishment & Other Great Novels of Dostoevsky
by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Contents
Chapter 2 At His Father’s
Overview
Alyosha finds Fyodor Pavlovich battered from Dmitri’s attack and seething with paranoia about Ivan and Grushenka. Fyodor oscillates between prosecuting Dmitri, bribing him to leave, and crushing him outright, ultimately choosing inaction while plotting. The scene sharpens the family’s rifts and underscores Fyodor’s reckless desire and manipulative calculations.
Summary
Alyosha visits his father, Fyodor Pavlovich, as requested. He finds Fyodor alone, bruised and bandaged from Dmitri’s assault, irritable and suspicious. Fyodor complains about cold coffee, refuses hospitality, and immediately maligns Ivan, accusing him of plotting to take Katerina Ivanovna and to thwart Fyodor’s pursuit of Grushenka.
Fyodor airs his nihilistic creed, boasting he will live for pleasure, hoard his money, and leave no will. He vacillates over prosecuting Dmitri: Ivan has discouraged it, and Fyodor hopes news of his beating might drive Grushenka to abandon Dmitri and turn to him. He drinks brandy despite Alyosha’s concern.
Fyodor probes whether money could buy Dmitri off for years and make him renounce Grushenka, briefly considering offering a thousand or two (even three), then abruptly retracts the idea, vowing instead to “crush” Dmitri. Alyosha confirms Katerina remains loyal to Dmitri, which further enrages Fyodor.
Dismissive yet oddly affectionate toward Alyosha, Fyodor tells him to return the next day for fish soup. After Alyosha departs, Fyodor secretly takes another drink and immediately falls asleep, leaving his schemes unresolved and his hostility toward Dmitri and Ivan unabated.
Who Appears
- Fyodor Pavlovich KaramazovBruised from Dmitri’s assault; rails at Ivan; schemes over Grushenka; vacillates on prosecuting Dmitri; drinks and vows to crush him.
- Alexey (Alyosha) KaramazovVisits his father, checks on his condition, counsels restraint on drinking, and reports Katerina’s loyalty to Dmitri.
- Marfa IgnatyevnaOpens the gate for Alyosha and informs him that Ivan is out and Grigory is ill.