Crime and Punishment & Other Great Novels of Dostoevsky

by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Genre

Classics, Fiction, Philosophy, Psychology

Contents

Chapter 2 The Alarm

Previous: Book IX The Preliminary Investigation Next: Chapter 3 The Sufferings of a Soul

Overview

News of Fyodor Pavlovitch’s murder reaches the police captain’s bustling house, drawing the town’s authorities together. Marfa’s alarm triggers an on-site inquiry that finds Grigory wounded, the brass pestle, and an emptied envelope meant for Grushenka. Convinced Dmitri is fleeing to Mokroe, officials dispatch Mavriky ahead and pursue at dawn, while the doctor remains to examine Smerdyakov.

Summary

At the sociable home of police captain Mihail Makarovitch, the prosecutor, investigating lawyer, and others are gathered when Pyotr Ilyitch arrives to find the room abuzz: Fyodor Pavlovitch has been murdered. The gathering of officials proves fortuitous as they pivot from leisure to urgent action.

The alarm originates with Marfa Ignatyevna, awakened by Smerdyakov’s epileptic scream. Discovering Grigory battered and bleeding in the garden, she glimpses Fyodor Pavlovitch lying motionless in a pool of blood. With neighbors Marya Kondratyevna and Foma, she secures help and informs the authorities.

Officials conduct an immediate inquiry at the house. They find Fyodor Pavlovitch dead with his skull smashed, likely by the same brass pestle discovered by the fence. An envelope labeled as a 3,000-rouble “present” for Grushenka lies torn and empty, its pink ribbon discarded. Revived briefly, Grigory mutters accusations of parricide, reinforcing suspicion of Dmitri.

Pyotr Ilyitch’s testimony that Dmitri loaded pistols and talked of shooting himself intensifies the prosecutor’s resolve to act swiftly. Believing Dmitri to be carousing before suicide, they decide to pursue him at Mokroe.

To avoid alarm, they dispatch rural officer Mavriky Schmertsov ahead to keep watch, with landlord Trifon Borissovitch quietly assisting by securing the pistol case. Near sunrise, the police captain, prosecutor, and investigating lawyer set out for Mokroe, while the district doctor remains to perform the autopsy and study Smerdyakov’s severe, recurring epileptic fits.

Who Appears

Ippolit Kirillovitch (the prosecutor)

Leads the inquiry; seizes on evidence and Pyotr Ilyitch’s account to pursue Dmitri to Mokroe.
Mihail Makarovitch Makarov (police captain)

Hosts officials; coordinates the search and dispatches forces toward Mokroe.
Nikolay Parfenovitch Nelyudov

Investigating lawyer; joins the on-site inquiry and the pursuit.
Pyotr Ilyitch Perhotin

Reports Dmitri’s threats and pistols, reinforcing urgency to capture him.
Marfa Ignatyevna

Raises the alarm, finds Grigory wounded, and sees Fyodor Pavlovitch dead.
Grigory Vasilievich

Found bleeding in the garden; mutters that the father has been murdered.
Mavriky Mavrikyevitch Schmertsov

Rural police officer sent ahead to watch Dmitri discreetly in Mokroe.
Trifon Borissovitch

Mokroe landlord; quietly assists Mavriky and secures Dmitri’s pistol box.
Varvinsky (district doctor)

Stays to examine the body and study Smerdyakov’s severe epileptic fits.
Smerdyakov

In protracted epileptic seizures; his scream wakes Marfa and prompts discovery.
Marya Kondratyevna

Neighbor who helps carry Grigory and recalls a scream around eight o’clock.
Fyodor Pavlovitch Karamazov

Victim; found with skull crushed, room undisturbed, money envelope emptied.
Dmitri (Mitya) Karamazov

Prime suspect believed to be at Mokroe; said to have loaded pistols and boasted.