Resurrection · Chapter
XIV explained
Nekhlúdoff visits his aunts' estate on his way to join his regiment, driven by a desire to see Katúsha.
What happens
Nekhlúdoff visits his aunts' estate on his way to join his regiment, driven by a desire to see Katúsha. He arrives on Good Friday, is warmly welcomed, and his old feelings for her resurface. Despite an inner spiritual struggle, he decides to stay for Easter, attending the midnight mass.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This scene is the dramatic climax because it forces Nekhlúdoff to confront the central moral crisis of the nov…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Moral Awakening and Redemption
Nekhlúdoff experiences an inner struggle between his spiritual self and animal self upon seeing Katúsha again.
- Love and Sacrifice
Nekhlúdoff's reawakened feelings for Katúsha and his decision to stay for Easter, despite knowing it may lead to no good.
Characters to notice
- Prince Dmitri Ivanovich Nekhludoff
Arrives at his aunts' estate, feels joy at seeing Katúsha, and struggles between his spiritual and animal selves.
- Katerina Maslova
Brings Nekhlúdoff soap and towels; her presence reawakens his old feelings.
- Countess Katerina Ivanovna Tcharsky
One of Nekhlúdoff's aunts; welcomes him warmly and mentions they have been to communion.
- Princess Sophia Vasilievna
Nekhlúdoff's other aunt; not well, tired from church.
- Tikhon
The manservant who helps Nekhlúdoff change and answers his questions.
- Matrona Pavlovna
The old servant preparing to go to church for the blessing of Easter bread.
- Schonbock
Nekhlúdoff's friend; he is telegraphed to come meet him at the aunts' instead of Odessa.
Key passages
“In Nekhlúdoff, as in every man, there were two beings: one the spiritual, seeking only that kind of happiness for himself which should tend towards the happiness of all; the other, the animal man, seeking only his own happiness, and ready to sacrifice to it the happiness of the rest of the world.”
Nekhlúdoff, like all people, contains a dual nature: a spiritual self that desires universal happiness, and an animal self that pursues personal gratification at others' expense.
This passage highlights the central internal conflict driving Nekhlúdoff's moral struggle.
