ren’s Reviews > The Brothers Karamazov > Status Update

"Ivan stood up from his chair, 'I say to you again, that if I've not killed you, it is solely because you're necessary to me for tomorrow, remember that. Do not forget it.'
'Alright, then. Kill me, sir. Kill me, now.' Smerdyakov said, strangely, all of the sudden, looking at Ivan. 'You wouldn't even dare to do that.' He added with a smile. 'You wouldn't dare to do anything. Bold man that you once were, sir.'"

"You're very clever, sir, you like money, I know that, you like esteem also, because you're very proud, you like the charms of the fair sex, and most of all, you like living in peaceful prosperity, not having to bow to anyone, that more than anything, sir. You will not want to spoil your life forever by accepting such shame at the trial..."

"Whatever you may say, all your life, you've considered me a marsh fly and not a man.
Well, who will believe you? And what single piece of proof have you got?"

"You will be too ashamed, if you confess it all on yourself, even worse it will be completely useless, because, you see, I will just say straight out that I never ever said anything of the kind to you, and that you are either of some kind of illness, which I dare say you are, or that you are so sorry for that fine brother of yours, that you're sacrificing yourself and have thought all this up to incriminate me."

"'We shall go to court together,' Ivan repeated. 'And if you refuse, then no matter, I shall confess alone.'
Smerdyakov was silent for a moment, as though he were pondering. 'That will not be, sir, not in any account. And neither will you go.' He resolved at last, in a categorical manner that allowed of no appeal.
'You do not understand me.' Ivan exclaimed in a voice of rebuke."

"The narrator paused, Ivan had listened to him all the while in deathly silence, never moving a muscle, never releasing him from his gaze. Smerdyakov, on the other hand, had merely glanced at him from time to time, for the most part averting his eyes as he delivered his narrative. Upon its conclusion, he seemed himself to be in a state of agitation and was breathing heavily. Sweat had appeared on his face."

"... He didn't even utter a squeak, only suddenly he sank down; and a second time, I got him, and then a third, and at the third go, I could feel I had broken his skull. He suddenly rolled over in his back, with his face up, all covered in blood. I had a look, there was no blood on me, he hadn't splashed. I wiped the paperweight, put it back on the table, took the money, and flung the envelope on the floor."

"Suddenly, he believed me, and he fair shook - terrible, he was in love with her, and he stuck himself right out the window. Then I snatched up that very same cast iron paperweight that sat on his honor's table, about three pounds I should think it weighed. Swung it up, and then hit him right on the temple with one corner of it..."

"'So I have it? I have that craving, did I?!' Ivan ground out again.
'Beyond a doubt, you had it. And by agreeing as you did that day, in silence, you determined me upon that deed, sir.' Smerdyakov said, giving Ivan a resolute stare. He was very weak, and spoke quietly and wearily but something inward and concealed was afire in him, and he plainly had some ultimate resolve, Ivan sensed this. 'Continue.'"

"And afterwards, you would not be able to chase me up at all, because then I would tell ill to the authorities, that's to say, not that I'd done the robbery or murder, but that you, yourself, had put me up to rubbing and murdering, only I had not agreed.
And I would reveal the craving you had for the death of your parent. They would've believed it, and you would be covered in shame for all the rest of your life."