Resurrection · Chapter
XVIII explained
Nekhlúdoff recalls his past with Katúsha and his cowardly abandonment after seducing her.
What happens
Nekhlúdoff recalls his past with Katúsha and his cowardly abandonment after seducing her. He remembers giving her money and trying to forget his sin, but the memory returns painfully. Schönbock visits and they leave together, Nekhlúdoff suppressing his guilt.
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 struggles with guilt over his past actions, hinting at a potential moral awakening.
- Social Class and Inequality
Nekhlúdoff's treatment of Katúsha reflects the power imbalance between a nobleman and a peasant girl.
Characters to notice
- Prince Dmitri Ivanovich Nekhludoff
Reflects on his past seduction of Katúsha and his attempts to forget his guilt.
- Katerina Maslova
Mentioned as the object of Nekhlúdoff's past sin; he gave her money and left.
- Schonbock
Visits Nekhlúdoff at his aunts' house, flaunts generosity, and leaves with him.
Key passages
“He gave her what seemed to him a liberal amount, considering his and her station.”
He gave her money that he thought was generous given their different social positions.
Highlights Nekhlúdoff's attempt to assuage his guilt through material compensation.
“In his soul—in the very depths of his soul—he knew that he had acted in a base, cruel, cowardly manner.”
Deep down, he recognized that his behavior was vile, heartless, and cowardly.
Shows Nekhlúdoff's internal conflict and awareness of his moral failing.
