Social Class and Inequality

Where it surfaces

• Resurrection

  The power imbalance between Nekhlúdoff, a wealthy prince, and Máslova, a former serf, highlights the theme of social class and inequality.

• I

  The contrast between the natural beauty of spring and the artificial, cruel world of men, where the poor are imprisoned and judged while the wealthy remain free, underscores class divisions.

• II

  The contrast between Katúsha's lowly birth and the wealthy landowners (the maiden ladies and Nekhlúdoff) illustrates the rigid class hierarchy that determines her fate.

• IV

  Nekhlúdoff's reflections on Missy's 'good breeding' and his awareness of class distinctions highlight the theme of social class and inequality.

• V

  Nekhlúdoff's sense of superiority and his irritation at Peter Gerasimovitch's familiarity highlight class distinctions and social hierarchies within the jury room.

• IX

  Maslova's status as an illegitimate meschánka and her past as a servant contrast with Nekhludoff's aristocratic position, underscoring the class divide that enables his exploitation.

• Chapter XIII

  The chapter contrasts Nekhlúdoff's privileged, idle life as a wealthy Guards officer with the peasants who receive his land but are judged as becoming poorer, highlighting class hypocrisy.

• XVIII

  Nekhlúdoff's treatment of Katúsha reflects the power imbalance between a nobleman and a peasant girl.

• Chapter XXIII

  Máslova's low social status as a former servant and prisoner makes her vulnerable to a hasty and unjust verdict, while the jury's weariness and biases override her innocence.

• The Sentence

  Maslova's powerless position as a peasant woman is contrasted with the president's casual dismissal of her fate, reflecting class-based disparities in justice.

• XXVI

  Nekhlúdoff's discomfort with the Korchágins' opulent lifestyle contrasts with the suffering of prisoners like Máslova.

• Chapter XXVII

  Nekhlúdoff's discomfort highlights the vast gulf between the privileged elite and the suffering he witnessed in court.

• XXVIII

  Nekhlúdoff's guilt over his wealth and privilege contrasts with Maslova's suffering as a prisoner.

• Chapter XXX: The Women's Cell

  The diverse backgrounds of the prisoners—from peasants to a deacon's daughter—illustrate how class and poverty lead to incarceration and unequal treatment.

• XXXI

  The prisoners discuss how lack of money leads to harsh sentences, contrasting with the wealthy who can hire skilled lawyers.

• XXXII

  The 'aristocracy' of the cell—those with money—share resources, while the red-haired woman's desperation for vodka underscores class divisions even among prisoners.

• XXXIII

  Nekhlúdoff's decision to give up his house and servants reflects his rejection of aristocratic privilege and his recognition of class-based injustice.

• Chapter XXXIV

  The contrast between the comfortable judges and the destitute boy highlights class-based injustice.

• XXXVII

  The contrast between Nekhlúdoff's comfortable life in a first-class carriage and Máslova's desperate run in the mud and rain underscores class divisions.

• XLV

  Nekhlúdoff's wealth and connections contrast with the dejected clients in Fanárin's waiting room, and the advocate's casual dismissal of the merchant's greed.

• XLVI

  The contrast between the prisoners' suffering and the authorities' power underscores class divisions, with Vasíliev's education and firmness making him a target.

• XLVIII

  Máslova's angry reminder of their class difference—'I am a convict, and you a prince'—underscores the insurmountable social divide.

• L

  Nekhlúdoff's ability to obtain special permissions through his aristocratic connections contrasts with the powerlessness of common prisoners like Máslova and the Menshóffs.

• LI

  The contrast between the inspector's comfortable home life and the squalid prison conditions underscores class divides.

• LII

  The peasant Menshóff is powerless against the public-house keeper, who uses wealth to manipulate the system, highlighting class-based injustice.

• LIII

  The contrast between Nekhlúdoff's freedom and the prisoners' helplessness, and the continued use of corporal punishment for those 'deprived of rights,' underscores class-based injustice.

• LVII

  Nekhlúdoff's discomfort at the social gathering contrasts with the frivolity of the upper class, while he seeks justice for the poor and imprisoned.

• II

  The contrast between Nekhlúdoff and the peasants—their thin faces, rough coats, and the steward's overfed appearance—underscores class divisions.

• IV

  Nekhlúdoff's walk through the village starkly contrasts his clean, well-dressed appearance with the peasants' bare feet, dirty clothes, and meager living conditions, highlighting the vast social divide.

• V

  Nekhlúdoff's conversation with the boys reveals the extreme poverty of families like Martha's, directly caused by his own land ownership and the imprisonment of her husband for cutting trees.

• VI

  The stark contrast between Nekhlúdoff's wealth and the peasants' destitution is highlighted through his encounters with beggars and the dispute over the cows.

• VII

  The communication gap between Nekhlúdoff and the peasants illustrates the vast social divide, where even a generous offer is interpreted as a cunning trick due to class-based suspicion.

• VIII

  Contrast between the suffering of the poor (woman with children, dying baby) and the lavish life of the rich.

• Nekhlúdoff's Return to Town

  Nekhlúdoff contrasts the well-fed townspeople with the impoverished peasants he has just seen, highlighting the deep class divide.

• XII

  Nekhlúdoff contrasts the luxury of the new palace with the suffering of the peasant workers, highlighting the vast divide between the rich and the poor.

• XIV

  Nekhlúdoff's argument with his aunt about the peasants' suffering versus aristocratic luxury highlights the deep class divisions and economic injustice in Russian society.

• XV

  Nekhlúdoff's discomfort in aristocratic circles and the contrast between the luxurious lives of the elite and the suffering of prisoners underscore class divisions.

• Chapter XVI

  The Petersburg elite's casual discussion of Kámenski's duel contrasts with the indifference to the fates of common prisoners like Máslova.

• XVII

  The dinner party's luxury and the sermon's audience of wealthy elites highlight the vast class divide.

• Chapter XVIII

  Nekhlúdoff contrasts the clean, well-fed officials with the prisoners and peasants, reflecting the vast social divide in Russian society.

• Chapter XXIII

  Selenin's compromises are driven by the pressures of his aristocratic social class and the expectations of his family and peers, which trap him in a life he finds meaningless.

• XXIV

  The advocate's stories of high-placed criminals avoiding punishment underscore the class-based nature of justice.

• Nekhlúdoff's Classification of Prisoners and His Search for Justice

  The fifth class of prisoners are those sinned against by society, such as Okhótin and Fédoroff, whose backgrounds reflect class-based oppression.

• XXXI

  Nathalie's horror at her brother marrying a convict woman highlights class prejudices, while the land reform debate underscores economic inequality.

• XXXIII

  Nekhlúdoff claims the law is an instrument for upholding the existing order beneficial to the upper class.

• XXXV

  The stark contrast between the dehumanized prisoners and the wealthy family in the carriage highlights the deep class divisions in Russian society.

• XXXVI

  Nekhlúdoff's ability to hire a carriage and buy refreshments contrasts sharply with the convicts' deprivation, and the crowd's comments reflect awareness of the unequal treatment of prisoners.

• XXXVII

  The contrast between the value placed on a horse (the bay stallion) and the indifference toward the dead convicts underscores the dehumanization of the lower classes.

• Chapter XXXVIII

  Nekhlúdoff's ability to bribe the sergeant to speak with prisoners contrasts with the powerlessness of the convicts.

• Chapter XXXIX

  The contrast between the Korchágins' luxurious first-class travel and Nekhlúdoff's choice of third-class carriage underscores the theme of class division. Nekhlúdoff's decision to travel with Tarás reflects his growing identification with the lower classes.

• XLII

  The contrast between the wealthy Korchágins and the exhausted workmen highlights the vast social and economic divide in Russian society.

• I

  The contrast between the treatment of criminal convicts and political prisoners highlights class and status divisions within the penal system.

• IX

  Nekhlúdoff's privileged position contrasts sharply with the suffering and degradation of the prisoners, highlighting class divisions.

• XI

  The stark contrast between Nekhlúdoff's privileged background and the prisoners' harsh living conditions highlights class disparities.

• XII

  The chapter contrasts the peasant Nabátoff and the factory worker Kondrátieff, showing how class background shapes their revolutionary ideals and personal attitudes.

• XIV

  Máslova and Nabátoff emphasize that the common people are dreadfully wronged, highlighting class injustice.

• XIX

  The chapter highlights how officials and lawyers profit from the suffering of the lower classes, while the poor are systematically degraded.

• XXII

  The General's high position allows him to be a 'little Tsar' and accept bribery, while lower officials are forced to take bribes due to poverty.

• XXIV

  Nekhlúdoff's enjoyment of the General's luxury contrasts sharply with the prison conditions and Máslova's suffering, highlighting class divides.