Resurrection · Chapter
XXVI explained
Nekhlúdoff dines at the Korchágins' home, feeling increasingly repulsed by their superficiality and luxury.
What happens
Nekhlúdoff dines at the Korchágins' home, feeling increasingly repulsed by their superficiality and luxury. He is distracted by his memory of Máslova's trial and struggles to hide his distress from Missy, who presses him to explain his changed mood. The chapter highlights Nekhlúdoff's growing alienation from his former social circle.
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
- Social Class and Inequality
Nekhlúdoff's discomfort with the Korchágins' opulent lifestyle contrasts with the suffering of prisoners like Máslova.
- Hypocrisy of Religion and Morality
The Korchágins' refined manners and liberal talk mask their moral emptiness and cruelty.
Characters to notice
- Prince Dmitri Ivanovich Nekhludoff
Feels repulsed by the Korchágins' luxury and Missy's affected manner; preoccupied with Máslova's trial.
- Missy
Anxious to marry Nekhlúdoff; notices his distraction and tries to extract his intentions.
- Prince Korchagin
Old Korchágin, sensual and self-satisfied, recalls his cruel past as a commander.
- Ivan Ivanovitch Kolosoff
Liberal friend of Korchágin, argues against trial by jury.
- Katerina Alexeevna
Slavophil maiden lady, participates in the dinner conversation.
- Princess Sophia Vasilievna
Recumbent hostess, receives Nekhlúdoff in her cabinet.
Key passages
“Today he saw all the wrinkles of her face, knew which of her teeth were false, saw the way her hair was crimped, the sharpness of her elbows, and, above all, how large her thumbnail was and how like her father’s.”
Nekhlúdoff now noticed every flaw in Missy's appearance, including her false teeth and her father-like thumbnail.
Illustrates Nekhlúdoff's sudden disillusionment with Missy and his critical perception of her.
“He was ashamed of having hurt her, and yet he knew that the least weakness on his part would mean disaster, i.e., would bind him to her.”
Nekhlúdoff felt guilty for upsetting Missy but realized that any concession would trap him into marriage.
Highlights his internal conflict between politeness and his desire to avoid commitment.
