Journal Five -1-14-08

Dmitry's Treatment Concerning Katerina.

In book three of The Brothers Karamazov, chapters one through five, the reader sees a side of Dmitry as he attempts to visit Katerina. From this reading it is easy to see that Dmitry lacks some moral characteristics, however, he is driven my conscience. Although his conscience would occasionally persuade him to do the right thing, this does not make him less of a scoundrel.

Upon receiving the not from Katerina, Alyosha begins to make his way to Katerina's house. However, along the way, he runs into Dmitry, Katerina's es-fiance. It is then that Dmitry told Alyosha of his past experiences with Katerina. He tells Alyosha how Katerina paid no attention Dmitry until he began to try to seduce her. He did this by offering her 4,500 rubles to pay off an outstanding debt of her fathers. However, has his plan was coming into place he began to feel bad and recognized that what he was doing was wrong. After this act of conscience he decided to give Katerina the money without trying to seduce her. Soon after, when Katerina receives and inheritance from a relative, she offers to marry Dmitry. Dmitry agrees, however, upon their arrival into the same town that Fyodor lives, he fell for Grushenka. Then he also stole 3,000 rubles from Katerina to finance his affair.

Taking away the fact the Dmitry stole from Katerina, it seems he did nothing wrong. What he did mean for evil in the beginning, turned out good. He did nothing wrong to Katerina at this stage. However, stealing from Katerina to finance an affair is unacceptable. If he really loved Grushenka then he needed to tell Katerina and stand on his own feet to support the two of them, instead of stealing from his ex-fiance.

The fact that he stole from Katerina to fiance his relationship with Grushenka is what makes him a scoundrel. Even though he tried to seduce Katerina, his conscience got the better of him, and his previous thoughts can be forgiven. However, stealing from his soon to be wife only to finance a side relationship is what makes Dmitry a scoundrel.