# Grushenka — The Brothers Karamazov character guide > Grushenka in The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Agrafena Alexandrovna, Agrafena, rogue Grushenka **First appearance:** 0017-part-i-book-iii-the-sensualists ## Snapshot A fiery, self-aware woman courted simultaneously by old Fyodor and his son Dmitri, and never merely the prize either man imagines. ## Who they are Grushenka holds court in a private room with a Pole and a pipe-smoking companion when Dmitri bursts in with a bundle of notes and a vow to make it his last night. She watches him with 'intense curiosity and still some uneasiness,' laughing off his dramatics while clearly measuring what he is capable of. Her refusal to be simply adored or simply bought is what makes her dangerous to both Karamazovs, and her choices drive the middle of the book. ## Relationships ### [Dmitri Karamazov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/dmitri_karamazov) _romantic_ Dmitri is passionately and obsessively in love with Grushenka, who initially toys with him but eventually reciprocates his devotion. ### [Alyosha Karamazov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/alysha_karamazov) _friendship_ Alyosha shows Grushenka genuine kindness and spiritual understanding, helping to soften her heart and redeem her character. ### [Dmitri Karamazov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/dmitri_karamazov) _romantic_ Dmitri is passionately and obsessively in love with Grushenka, who initially toys with him but eventually reciprocates his devotion. ### [Alyosha Karamazov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/alysha_karamazov) _friendship_ Alyosha shows Grushenka genuine kindness and spiritual understanding, helping to soften her heart and redeem her character. ### [Dmitri Karamazov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/dmitri_karamazov) _romantic_ Dmitri is passionately and obsessively in love with Grushenka, who initially toys with him but eventually reciprocates his devotion. ### [Alyosha Karamazov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/alysha_karamazov) _friendship_ Alyosha shows Grushenka genuine kindness and spiritual understanding, helping to soften her heart and redeem her character. ## In the story ### [Book III: The Sensualists](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-i-book-iii-the-sensualists) The object of both Fyodor and Dmitri's desires, her manipulative and sensual nature exacerbates the family feud. ### [IV: The Confession of a Passionate Heart—In Anecdote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-i-iv-the-confession-of-a-passionate-heart-in-anecdote) Briefly mentioned as having an eye for men and saying she would 'devour' Alyosha one day. ### [The Confession of a Passionate Heart—"Heels Up"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-i-v-the-confession-of-a-passionate-heart-heels-up) The object of Dmitri's passion; he describes her allure, her cunning, and his willingness to debase himself for her. ### [Both Together](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-i-x-both-together) Arrives unexpectedly at Katerina Ivanovna's house; engages in a tense conversation, initially promising to give up Dmitri but then withdrawing her promise. ### [At His Father's](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-ii-ii-at-his-father-s) Central to Fyodor's schemes and rivalry with Dmitri; Fyodor hopes to win her by having Dmitri imprisoned. ### [VII: And in the Open Air](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-ii-vii-and-in-the-open-air) Threatened Captain Snegiryov with dismissal if he prosecuted Dmitri for the assault. ### [VI: For Awhile a Very Obscure One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-ii-vi-for-awhile-a-very-obscure-one) Grushenka is mentioned by Smerdyakov as a potential wife for Fyodor Pavlovitch, which would affect the inheritance of the Karamazov brothers. ### [Book VII: Alyosha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-book-vii-alyosha) Offers kindness and comfort to Alyosha during his distress, showing a softer side. ### [II: A Critical Moment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-ii-a-critical-moment) Rakitin proposes visiting her, and Alyosha agrees. ### [An Onion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-iii-an-onion) Confesses her vengeful past and her plan to ruin Alyosha, tells the parable of the onion, and reveals her officer's imminent arrival. ### [Book VIII: Mitya](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-book-viii-mitya) The object of Dmitri's obsession; her potential departure drives his frantic actions. ### [I: Kuzma Samsonov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-i-kuzma-samsonov) The object of Dmitri's passion; she has left him last greetings but remains indecisive about her future. ### [Lyagavy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-ii-lyagavy) Constantly on Dmitri's mind; his anxiety about her drives his desperation. ### [Goldmines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-iii-goldmines) Mitya's jealousy centers on her; she sends him to Samsonov's and promises to meet him later. ### [IV: In the Dark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-iv-in-the-dark) Believed by Dmitri to be at Fyodor Pavlovitch's, but later revealed to have gone to Mokroe to see an officer. ### [A Sudden Resolution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-v-a-sudden-resolution) Has gone to Mokroe to meet her former officer, a fact that Dmitri learns from Fenya. ### [VI: "I Am Coming, Too!"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-vi-i-am-coming-too) Present at the inn with a Polish officer and others; Mitya yearns to see her and learns she is sitting quietly. ### [VII: The First and Rightful Lover](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-vii-the-first-and-rightful-lover) Initially uneasy but quickly asserts control, insisting Mitya stay and commanding the company. She drinks to Russia and scolds the quarreling Poles. ### [Delirium](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-viii-delirium) Confesses her past love for another man but ultimately declares her love for Mitya. She becomes increasingly drunk, dances, and then collapses, asking Mitya to take her away. ### [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) Rushes in to claim guilt and begs to be punished together with Dmitri, demonstrating her love and self-sacrifice. ### [VII: Mitya's Great Secret. Received with Hisses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-vii-mitya-s-great-secret-received-with-hisses) Mentioned as the woman Dmitri loves and for whom he spent the money at Mokroe. ### [VIII: The Evidence of the Witnesses. The Babe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-viii-the-evidence-of-the-witnesses-the-babe) Testifies calmly and frankly, confirming Mitya's statements about the money and his threats, but declares her faith in his noble heart and innocence. ### [IX: They Carry Mitya Away](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-ix-they-carry-mitya-away) Brought in for a brief farewell; she bows deeply to Mitya and vows to follow him forever, declaring him guiltless though self-doomed. ### [At Grushenka's](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-i-at-grushenka-s) Anxious and distressed, she discusses Mitya's strange behavior, her jealousy of Katerina Ivanovna, and her fears about the trial. ### [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) Used by Smerdyakov as a pretext to lure Fyodor Pavlovitch to open the door. ### [I: The Fatal Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-i-the-fatal-day) The other female rival; awaited with impatience; seen as a common Russian girl by the ladies. ### [II: Dangerous Witnesses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-ii-dangerous-witnesses) Referred to as Madame Svyetlov; Rakitin's testimony about her leads to his exposure for taking money to bring Alyosha to her. ### [IV: Fortune Smiles on Mitya](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-iv-fortune-smiles-on-mitya) Testifies, expressing belief in Dmitri's innocence and revealing Rakitin as her cousin, damaging his credibility. ### [VII: An Historical Survey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-vii-an-historical-survey) The object of both Dmitri and Fyodor Pavlovitch's passion; the prosecutor describes her as a 'heroine' who laughed at both men. ### [VIII: A Treatise on Smerdyakov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-viii-a-treatise-on-smerdyakov) Mentioned as one of the three persons who supported the theory of Smerdyakov's guilt, but her testimony is dismissed as lacking factual basis. ### [IX: The Galloping Troika. The End of the Prosecutor's Speech](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-ix-the-galloping-troika-the-end-of-the-prosecutor-s-speech) Referred to as the object of Dmitri's love, who rejects her first lover and promises Dmitri a new life. ### [XI: There Was No Money. There Was No Robbery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-xi-there-was-no-money-there-was-no-robbery) The woman Dmitri sought to run off with, mentioned as the object of his jealous torments. ### [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) Madame Svyetlov, whose absence from the house is key to Fetyukovitch's argument. ### [For a Moment the Lie Becomes Truth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-ii-for-a-moment-the-lie-becomes-truth) Enters unexpectedly, refuses to forgive Katya, but offers conditional forgiveness if Katya saves Mitya. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/endnotes) Referenced in a note explaining a proverbial expression. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/grushenka - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters