Original Text(~250 words)
Chapter I. The Beginning Of Perhotin’s Official Career Pyotr Ilyitch Perhotin, whom we left knocking at the strong locked gates of the widow Morozov’s house, ended, of course, by making himself heard. Fenya, who was still excited by the fright she had had two hours before, and too much “upset” to go to bed, was almost frightened into hysterics on hearing the furious knocking at the gate. Though she had herself seen him drive away, she fancied that it must be Dmitri Fyodorovitch knocking again, no one else could knock so savagely. She ran to the house‐porter, who had already waked up and gone out to the gate, and began imploring him not to open it. But having questioned Pyotr Ilyitch, and learned that he wanted to see Fenya on very “important business,” the man made up his mind at last to open. Pyotr Ilyitch was admitted into Fenya’s kitchen, but the girl begged him to allow the house‐porter to be present, “because of her misgivings.” He began questioning her and at once learnt the most vital fact, that is, that when Dmitri Fyodorovitch had run out to look for Grushenka, he had snatched up a pestle from the mortar, and that when he returned, the pestle was not with him and his hands were smeared with blood. “And the blood was simply flowing, dripping from him, dripping!” Fenya kept exclaiming. This horrible detail was simply the product of her disordered imagination. But although not “dripping,” Pyotr Ilyitch had himself...
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Summary
Pyotr Ilyitch Perhotin finds himself in an impossible position after witnessing Dmitri's bloody hands and erratic behavior. Despite his natural inclination to avoid scandal and confrontation, his conscience won't let him ignore what might be a murder. He visits Fenya, Grushenka's maid, who confirms his worst fears: Dmitri had taken a pestle, returned with blood on his hands, and confessed to killing someone before racing off again. Now Perhotin faces a choice that will define him. He could walk away, mind his own business, avoid the social awkwardness of late-night visits to strangers. Instead, he chooses the harder path. Rather than going directly to check on Fyodor Pavlovitch (which would be logical but potentially embarrassing), he visits Madame Hohlakov to verify whether she really gave Dmitri the money he claimed to have. Her hysterical reaction confirms she gave him nothing, and she provides written testimony to that effect. What makes this chapter profound is watching an ordinary man wrestle with extraordinary circumstances. Perhotin isn't a hero by nature—he's cautious, concerned about appearances, and would prefer a quiet life. But when faced with potential murder, his moral compass overrides his comfort zone. His decision to act on his suspicions, despite the personal cost, sets in motion the official investigation that will dominate the novel's final act. Dostoevsky shows us how individual conscience, when activated, becomes the foundation of justice itself.
That's what happens. To understand what the author is really doing—and to discuss this chapter with confidence—keep reading.
Terms to Know
House-porter
A live-in servant who controlled access to wealthy Russian households, acting as gatekeeper and security. They decided who could enter and when, especially during nighttime hours.
Modern Usage:
Like a doorman at an apartment building or security guard who decides whether to let visitors up to see residents.
Pestle
A heavy tool used with a mortar to grind spices and medicines. In this context, it becomes a potential murder weapon that Dmitri grabbed in his rage.
Modern Usage:
Any heavy kitchen tool that could become dangerous in anger - like a rolling pin or meat tenderizer during a domestic dispute.
Official career
Perhotin's professional reputation and advancement in government service. In 19th-century Russia, getting involved in scandals could destroy a civil servant's prospects.
Modern Usage:
Like worrying that getting involved in workplace drama or police matters could hurt your career advancement or professional reputation.
Moral obligation vs. self-preservation
The internal conflict between doing what's right and protecting yourself from consequences. Perhotin knows he should report potential murder but fears the personal cost.
Modern Usage:
The dilemma of whether to report workplace harassment, testify in court, or speak up about wrongdoing when it might hurt you personally.
Written testimony
Legal documentation of facts that can be used in court. Madame Hohlakov provides written proof she didn't give Dmitri money, creating official evidence.
Modern Usage:
Like getting something in writing via text or email to protect yourself legally, or documenting incidents for HR or police reports.
Disordered imagination
How trauma and fear can make people exaggerate or misremember events. Fenya's terror makes her see more blood than was actually there.
Modern Usage:
How witnesses to accidents or crimes often give conflicting accounts because stress affects memory and perception.
Characters in This Chapter
Pyotr Ilyitch Perhotin
Reluctant witness
A cautious civil servant forced to choose between personal safety and moral duty. His decision to investigate despite his fears sets the official murder investigation in motion.
Modern Equivalent:
The coworker who has to decide whether to report what they saw to HR or police
Fenya
Traumatized witness
Grushenka's maid who confirms Perhotin's worst fears about Dmitri. Her terror and exaggerated account of the blood reveal how trauma distorts memory.
Modern Equivalent:
The neighbor who calls 911 after witnessing a domestic dispute
Dmitri Fyodorovitch
Suspected murderer
Though not physically present, his violent actions haunt the chapter. The pestle, bloody hands, and confession create mounting evidence against him.
Modern Equivalent:
The ex who shows up drunk and angry, making threats everyone takes seriously
Madame Hohlakov
Hysterical witness
Her reaction to Perhotin's late-night visit confirms she didn't give Dmitri money, destroying his alibi. Her written testimony becomes crucial evidence.
Modern Equivalent:
The dramatic friend who gets involved in everyone's business but provides important information
House-porter
Reluctant gatekeeper
Initially refuses entry but eventually lets Perhotin in after learning it's official business. Represents the ordinary person caught up in extraordinary events.
Modern Equivalent:
The security guard who has to decide whether to let someone into the building after hours
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to assess when situations demand action despite personal cost versus when caution is wisdom.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when your gut tells you something's wrong—practice gathering facts before either acting or dismissing the feeling.
You have the foundation. Now let's look closer.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"And the blood was simply flowing, dripping from him, dripping!"
Context: Describing Dmitri's hands when he returned without the pestle
Shows how trauma amplifies memory - the blood probably wasn't actually dripping, but fear makes her remember it that way. This exaggeration will complicate the investigation.
In Today's Words:
There was blood everywhere - it was horrible!
"This horrible detail was simply the product of her disordered imagination."
Context: Explaining that Fenya's account of dripping blood was exaggerated
Dostoevsky reminds us that eyewitness testimony is unreliable, especially under stress. Truth becomes harder to find when fear distorts memory.
In Today's Words:
She was so scared she was seeing things worse than they actually were.
"He had snatched up a pestle from the mortar, and when he returned, the pestle was not with him."
Context: Describing what Fenya witnessed about Dmitri's actions
The missing pestle becomes crucial evidence suggesting murder. The simple, factual tone makes it more chilling than dramatic language would.
In Today's Words:
He grabbed something heavy that could be used as a weapon, and he didn't have it when he came back.
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Reluctant Courage
The internal struggle between self-preservation and moral obligation that transforms ordinary people into reluctant heroes when they witness wrongdoing.
Thematic Threads
Moral Responsibility
In This Chapter
Perhotin wrestles with whether to act on his suspicions about Dmitri, ultimately choosing conscience over comfort
Development
Building from earlier themes of family duty and social obligation into individual moral courage
In Your Life:
You face this when you witness workplace harassment, unsafe conditions, or family abuse—do you speak up or look away?
Class Anxiety
In This Chapter
Perhotin worries about the social awkwardness of late-night visits and potential embarrassment with upper-class Hohlakov
Development
Continues the novel's exploration of how social position affects moral choices
In Your Life:
You might hesitate to report problems because you fear how it will look to supervisors or people with more status.
Truth vs. Appearance
In This Chapter
Perhotin seeks verification of Dmitri's claims rather than accepting surface explanations, getting written testimony from Hohlakov
Development
Echoes the novel's ongoing tension between what seems true and what is actually true
In Your Life:
You encounter this when someone's story doesn't add up—do you dig deeper or accept the convenient explanation?
Individual Agency
In This Chapter
Despite his cautious nature, Perhotin chooses to act independently rather than delegate responsibility to others
Development
Shows how personal choice can override natural temperament when stakes are high enough
In Your Life:
You discover this when crisis forces you to step up beyond your comfort zone, revealing strength you didn't know you had.
Social Networks
In This Chapter
Perhotin navigates multiple relationships—Fenya, Hohlakov, the authorities—to piece together the truth
Development
Demonstrates how individual actions ripple through community connections
In Your Life:
You see this when one person's crisis affects everyone in your circle—coworkers, family, neighbors—requiring careful navigation.
Modern Adaptation
When Your Gut Says Something's Wrong
Following Ivan's story...
Marcus works third shift security at a medical complex. Around 2 AM, he notices Dr. Richardson leaving the clinic looking shaken, with what appears to be blood on his scrubs. Richardson claims he stayed late for paperwork, but Marcus knows the clinic closed at 6 PM. His gut screams something's off, but Richardson is respected, well-connected, and Marcus is just security. He could ignore it—who'd believe him anyway? Instead, Marcus reviews the security footage, documents the timeline, and checks with the night cleaning crew. They confirm Richardson wasn't scheduled to be there. Now Marcus faces the choice: file an incident report that could destroy a doctor's career over what might be nothing, or stay quiet and potentially enable something terrible. His supervisor will hate the paperwork. Administration will question why he's making waves. But if something happened to a patient and he said nothing, Marcus knows he couldn't live with himself. So he writes the report, knowing it might cost him his job but understanding that some things matter more than keeping the peace.
The Road
The road Perhotin walked in 1880, Marcus walks today. The pattern is identical: conscience versus comfort, the weight of potential knowledge, the choice between personal safety and moral obligation.
The Map
This chapter provides a framework for acting on moral intuition despite social pressure. Marcus learns to document facts, verify suspicions, and choose the path he can live with long-term.
Amplification
Before reading this, Marcus might have convinced himself to look the other way, avoiding confrontation at all costs. Now he can NAME the conscience-versus-comfort pattern, PREDICT the long-term weight of inaction, and NAVIGATE toward the choice that preserves his integrity.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What specific evidence does Perhotin gather before taking action, and why does he choose this approach rather than going directly to check on Fyodor?
analysis • surface - 2
What internal conflict does Perhotin experience between his natural caution and his moral obligation, and how does he resolve it?
analysis • medium - 3
Think of a workplace, school, or community situation where someone might witness wrongdoing but hesitate to report it. What fears hold people back in these situations?
application • medium - 4
If you were in Perhotin's position - having witnessed suspicious behavior that might indicate serious harm - what steps would you take to balance moral responsibility with personal protection?
application • deep - 5
What does Perhotin's choice reveal about the relationship between individual conscience and collective justice? How do ordinary people become the foundation of accountability?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Moral Courage Decision Tree
Create a personal decision-making framework for situations where you witness potential wrongdoing. Start with a real or hypothetical scenario where you might need to choose between staying quiet and speaking up. Map out the key questions you would ask yourself, the evidence you would gather, and the support systems you would activate before taking action.
Consider:
- •What level of evidence or certainty would you need before acting?
- •Who in your life could provide guidance or support if you decided to speak up?
- •How would you protect yourself from potential retaliation while still doing the right thing?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you witnessed something wrong but chose not to act, or when you did speak up despite personal risk. What did you learn about yourself and your values from that experience?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 55: When Authority Responds to Crisis
In the next chapter, you'll discover institutional responses to crisis reveal both competence and limitation, and learn the way social networks activate during emergencies. These insights reveal timeless patterns that resonate in our own lives and relationships.