# Kolya Krassotkin — The Brothers Karamazov character guide

> Kolya Krassotkin in The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Kolya, Krassotkin, little Kolya

**First appearance:** 0074-part-iv-i-kolya-krassotkin

## Snapshot

A precocious schoolboy who lectures on socialism and dog etiquette, desperate to seem older than his thirteen years.

## Who they are

Kolya Krassotkin is the self-appointed intellectual of the local schoolboys, a boy who quotes Rakitin, declares himself a Socialist, and keeps a dignified silence when impressed. He worships Alyosha but would never admit it, and his pride has kept him from joining the other boys in visiting the dying Ilusha. His eventual surrender to that visit—and the tenderness beneath his swagger—makes him a small but luminous portrait of adolescence straining toward goodness.

## Relationships

### [Alyosha Karamazov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/alysha_karamazov)

_friendship_

Alyosha becomes a kind mentor to the precocious and rebellious schoolboy Kolya, guiding him toward humility and faith.

### [Alyosha Karamazov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/alysha_karamazov)

_friendship_

Alyosha becomes a kind mentor to the precocious and rebellious schoolboy Kolya, guiding him toward humility and faith.

### [Alyosha Karamazov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/alysha_karamazov)

_friendship_

Alyosha becomes a kind mentor to the precocious and rebellious schoolboy Kolya, guiding him toward humility and faith.

## In the story

### [A Meeting with the Schoolboys](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-ii-iii-a-meeting-with-the-schoolboys)

Mentioned as having been stabbed by the solitary boy with a penknife.

### [Book X: The Boys](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-book-x-the-boys)

Kolya is the leader of the schoolboys, proud and intellectually precocious, but he is moved by Alyosha's kindness and begins to question his treatment of Ilusha.

### [I: Kolya Krassotkin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-i-kolya-krassotkin)

Introduced as a bold, vain, and mischievous thirteen-year-old who lies down on railroad tracks as a bet, later becomes more thoughtful after his mother's hysterics.

### [II: Children](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-ii-children)

Left in charge of the house and the two young lodgers; prepares to go out on urgent business.

### [The Schoolboy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-iii-the-schoolboy)

Kolya walks with Smurov through the marketplace, discussing socialism, habit, and peasant life, and reveals his intention to visit Ilusha.

### [IV: The Lost Dog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-iv-the-lost-dog)

Meets Alyosha for the first time, explains his role in Ilusha's life and the incident with Zhutchka.

### [By Ilusha's Bedside](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-v-by-ilusha-s-bedside)

Arrives unexpectedly, bringing Zhutchka and orchestrating a joyful reunion.

### [Precocity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-vi-precocity)

Engages Alyosha in a philosophical debate about God, socialism, and Voltaire; reveals his insecurity and desire for respect; confesses his love and admiration for Alyosha.

### [VII: Ilusha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-vii-ilusha)

Visits Ilusha, insults the doctor by calling him 'apothecary', and promises to return after dinner with his dog Perezvon.

### [Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-epilogue)

Present at the gathering, deeply affected by Ilusha's death and Alyosha's words.

### [III: Ilusha’s Funeral. The Speech at the Stone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-iii-ilusha-s-funeral-the-speech-at-the-stone)

Foremost among the boys, greets Alyosha, asks about Dmitri's guilt, and expresses a desire to sacrifice himself for truth.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters/kolya_krassotkin
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/characters