# Grigory — The Brothers Karamazov character guide > Grigory in The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** old Grigory, Grigory Vassilyevitch, the same Grigory **First appearance:** 0018-part-i-i-in-the-servants-quarters ## Snapshot Fyodor Pavlovitch's old servant, faithful to a master he knows is vile, he raised the Karamazov boys when their father would not. ## Who they are Grigory Vassilyevitch has served the Karamazov house for decades, a stern, honest man whose loyalty to Fyodor Pavlovitch survives every humiliation the old buffoon inflicts on him. He and his wife brought up Dmitri and the other boys after their mother's death, so his blunt judgments carry the weight of a witness who saw the family's cruelty from the kitchen. His stubborn, unglamorous decency becomes one of the moral measuring sticks against which the sons' chaos is read. ## In the story ### [II: He Gets Rid of His Eldest Son](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-i-ii-he-gets-rid-of-his-eldest-son) Faithful servant who takes care of three-year-old Mitya when his father abandons him. ### [III: The Second Marriage and the Second Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-i-iii-the-second-marriage-and-the-second-family) The servant who champions Sofya Ivanovna's cause and later cares for the boys after her death. ### [The Third Son, Alyosha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-i-iv-the-third-son-alyosha) The faithful servant who shows Alyosha his mother's grave and maintains the tombstone. ### [In the Servants' Quarters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-i-i-in-the-servants-quarters) The faithful, stern old servant who has cared for the Karamazov children, protects Sofya Ivanovna's memory, and is deeply affected by the birth and death of his six-fingered child. ### [Lizaveta](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-i-ii-lizaveta) Grigory discovers Lizaveta in the garden after she gives birth, saves the baby, and brings it home to be raised by him and Marfa. He defends Fyodor Pavlovitch against rumors about the assault. ### [VI: Smerdyakov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-i-vi-smerdyakov) Mentioned as Smerdyakov's harsh caretaker who beat him for hanging cats, taught him to read, and slapped him for questioning Scripture. He is also present at the dinner table. ### [VII: The Controversy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-i-vii-the-controversy) Relates the martyrdom story and angrily opposes Smerdyakov's reasoning, defending traditional faith. ### [Over the Brandy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-i-viii-over-the-brandy) Sent away by Fyodor with a dismissive command to go to Marfa. ### [IX: The Sensualists](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-i-ix-the-sensualists) Struggles with Dmitri at the entrance, is struck down, and later expresses feeling insulted by Dmitri's attack. ### [VII: "It's Always Worth While Speaking to a Clever Man"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-ii-vii-it-s-always-worth-while-speaking-to-a-clever-man) Grigory, who has been unwell for three days, is completely laid up by lumbago, adding to Fyodor Pavlovitch's troubles. ### [IV: In the Dark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-iv-in-the-dark) Wakes up from his sickbed after treatment, interrupting Dmitri's actions. ### [The Alarm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-ii-the-alarm) Found wounded in the garden after being attacked; he identifies the attacker as Dmitri. ### [III: The Sufferings of a Soul, the First Ordeal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-iii-the-sufferings-of-a-soul-the-first-ordeal) Mentioned as alive and recovering from the blows inflicted by Dmitri, which brings Dmitri relief. ### [IV: The Second Ordeal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-iv-the-second-ordeal) Mentioned as the old man whose head Dmitri broke, leading to potential punishment. ### [V: The Third Ordeal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-v-the-third-ordeal) Referenced as the servant who caught Mitya on the fence and was struck with the pestle. ### [VI: The Prosecutor Catches Mitya](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-vi-the-prosecutor-catches-mitya) His testimony about the open garden door is used against Mitya, contradicting Mitya's account. ### [VIII: The Third and Last Interview with Smerdyakov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-viii-the-third-and-last-interview-with-smerdyakov) Attacked by Dmitri and left senseless; Smerdyakov used his incapacitation to commit the murder. ### [II: Dangerous Witnesses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-ii-dangerous-witnesses) Testifies about the Karamazov family life, Dmitri's childhood, and the scene at the dinner-table. He maintains his composure but is cross-examined about drinking a strong decoction, which may have affected his perception. ### [X: The Speech for the Defense. An Argument That Cuts Both Ways](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-x-the-speech-for-the-defense-an-argument-that-cuts-both-ways) The old servant attacked by Dmitri; his condition is central to the defense's argument. ### [XII: And There Was No Murder Either](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-xii-and-there-was-no-murder-either) The old servant who was knocked down and whose testimony is questioned. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/grigory - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters