# Madame Hohlakov — The Brothers Karamazov character guide

> Madame Hohlakov in The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Hohlakov

**First appearance:** 0033-part-ii-iv-at-the-hohlakovs

## Snapshot

A wealthy, still-young widow with lively black eyes, she wheels her paralyzed daughter to the elder's door and talks far more than she listens.

## Who they are

Madame Hohlakov moves through the town's drawing rooms as a woman of rank, estate business, and restless nerves, devoted to her fourteen-year-old daughter Lise, who cannot walk. She craves the elder's blessing, society's notice, and some answer to her own half-confessed fears, yet her vivacity keeps sliding into gossip and self-dramatization. Her visits and letters pull the Karamazov circle into the monastery's orbit and make her household a stage for the novel's arguments about faith, hysteria, and love.

## Relationships

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

_social_

Madame Hohlakov is a gossipy and meddling acquaintance who involves herself in Dmitri's romantic affairs.

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

_social_

Madame Hohlakov is a gossipy and meddling acquaintance who involves herself in Dmitri's romantic affairs.

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

_social_

Madame Hohlakov is a gossipy and meddling acquaintance who involves herself in Dmitri's romantic affairs.

## In the story

### [III: Peasant Women Who Have Faith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-i-iii-peasant-women-who-have-faith)

A wealthy widow who, with her paralyzed daughter Lise, waits in a separate part of the portico to receive the elder's blessing.

### [IV: A Lady of Little Faith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-i-iv-a-lady-of-little-faith)

The sentimental society lady who expresses gratitude, delivers Katerina Ivanovna's note, and confesses her doubts about faith and love.

### [I: Father Ferapont](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-ii-i-father-ferapont)

Madame Hohlakov writes an enthusiastic letter to Alyosha describing the fulfillment of Zossima's prophecy about the widow's son, urging that the 'miracle' be reported to the monastery.

### [IV: At the Hohlakovs’](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-ii-iv-at-the-hohlakovs)

Agitated and nervous, she discusses the miracle, the tragedy in the drawing-room, and the situation with Katerina Ivanovna and Ivan.

### [V: A Laceration in the Drawing-Room](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-ii-v-a-laceration-in-the-drawing-room)

Interjects with blunt comments, suggesting Katerina's feelings are only a momentary reaction to yesterday's insult.

### [I: The Engagement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-ii-i-the-engagement)

Intercepts Alyosha, distressed by the engagement and Katerina Ivanovna's condition; urges him to cheer Lise.

### [Book VIII: Mitya](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-book-viii-mitya)

Dmitri attempts to borrow money from her but is turned down.

### [Goldmines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-iii-goldmines)

She misunderstands Mitya's request for money, instead offering advice about goldmines, and refuses to lend him three thousand roubles.

### [I: The Beginning of Perhotin’s Official Career](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-i-the-beginning-of-perhotin-s-official-career)

Receives Perhotin late at night, denies giving Dmitri money, and fears Dmitri has killed his father.

### [II: The Injured Foot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-ii-the-injured-foot)

Nervous and talkative, she discusses Lise's fits, Ivan's visits, and the upcoming trial.

### [III: A Little Demon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iv-iii-a-little-demon)

Mentioned as having kept Alyosha and as reading books that Lise steals.

## Links

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