# Pyotr Ilyitch Perhotin — The Brothers Karamazov character guide

> Pyotr Ilyitch Perhotin in The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Pyotr Ilyitch, Perhotin, Dear Pyotr Ilyitch

**First appearance:** 0064-part-iii-i-the-beginning-of-perhotin-s-official-career

## Snapshot

A young town official and casual friend of Dmitri, he lends money, witnesses scenes, and later finds himself testifying about what he saw.

## Who they are

Pyotr Ilyitch Perhotin is a minor provincial official who moves easily between the tavern, the police station, and the Karamazovs' tangled affairs, partly out of friendship and partly out of curiosity. He lends Dmitri small sums and observes his wild swings between bravado and desperation, which makes him an uncomfortable witness once the investigation begins. His ordinary, slightly vain respectability throws Dmitri's extravagance into relief and gives the reader a ground-level view of how the scandal spreads through the town.

## In the story

### [A Sudden Resolution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-v-a-sudden-resolution)

Becomes suspicious of Dmitri's bloodied appearance and sudden wealth, decides to investigate by going to Grushenka's lodging.

### [Book IX: The Preliminary Investigation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-book-ix-the-preliminary-investigation)

A witness who testifies about Dmitri's behavior on the night of the murder.

### [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)

Visits Fenya and Madame Hohlakov to investigate Dmitri's actions and the source of his money.

### [The Alarm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-ii-the-alarm)

Provides key evidence about Dmitri's intention to shoot himself and his purchase of wine and provisions.

### [IV: The Second Ordeal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_brothers_karamazov_se/chapters/part-iii-iv-the-second-ordeal)

Mentioned as the friend from whom Dmitri borrowed ten roubles on the security of his pistols.

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

A regular visitor; involved in a dispute with Rakitin over poetry.

### [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)

Mentioned as the friend with whom Dmitri left his pistols in pledge.

## Links

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