The Names
The people are described as they are when the story begins. In parentheses are the other names by which each is called. A Russian is addressed by first name and patronymic (a middle name formed from the father’s first name: Fyodorovich, “son of Fyodor,” Ivanovna, “daughter of Ivan”), by a short first name, by an affectionate diminutive, or by a familiar or slighting one. Which name is chosen is the distance between two people at that moment, and this translation keeps the name the Russian uses in each place.
The Karamazovs
- Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov · a landowner in his fifties, who started with next to nothing and made money; a sensualist who calls himself an “old buffoon.” He married twice and has three sons.
- Dmitri Fyodorovich Karamazov (Dmitri, Mitya, Mitenka, Mitka) · the eldest son, twenty-eight, by the first wife, Adelaida Ivanovna Miusova. A retired army officer, hot-tempered and free with money, he is quarreling with his father over his mother’s inheritance.
- Ivan Fyodorovich Karamazov (Ivan, Vanya, Vanechka) · the second son, twenty-four, by the second wife, Sofya Ivanovna. A university graduate and writer, known for an article on the church courts.
- Alexei Fyodorovich Karamazov (Alexei, Alyosha, Alyoshka, Alyoshenka, Alyoshechka, Lyosha) · the third son, twenty, Ivan’s full brother. The “hero” of this book, a novice at the town monastery under the elder Zosima.
- Pavel Fyodorovich Smerdyakov · Fyodor Pavlovich’s servant and cook, twenty-four. The child of a holy fool of the town, Stinking Lizaveta (Lizaveta Smerdyashchaya), brought up by the old servants. He has the falling sickness.
- Grigory Vasilyevich Kutuzov · Fyodor Pavlovich’s old servant, surly and devout. His wife is Marfa Ignatyevna.
Two Women
- Katerina Ivanovna Verkhovtseva (Katya, Katenka) · a colonel’s daughter, Dmitri’s fiancée, proud and high-minded.
- Agrafena Alexandrovna Svetlova (Grushenka, Grusha) · twenty-two, a beautiful woman living under the protection of the old merchant Samsonov. Both Fyodor Pavlovich and Dmitri are drawn to her.
The Monastery
- The elder Zosima · sixty-five, an elder living in the hermitage outside the monastery wall; people come from far away for his blessing.
- Father Paisy, Father Iosif · hieromonks close to the elder.
- Father Ferapont · an old ascetic monk who hates the institution of elders.
- Mikhail Osipovich Rakitin (Rakitin, Misha, Rakitka) · a seminarian who frequents the monastery, Alyosha’s friend, clever and sneering.
The Town
- Pyotr Alexandrovich Miusov · a relative of Dmitri’s mother, a Westernizing liberal who has lived long in Paris.
- Mrs. Khokhlakova (Katerina Osipovna) · a wealthy widow who talks breathlessly and leaps from topic to topic. Her daughter Lise (Liza), fourteen, cannot walk and spends her days in an invalid chair.
- Kuzma Kuzmich Samsonov · a rich old merchant, Grushenka’s protector.
- Pyotr Ilyich Perkhotin · a young official, an acquaintance of Dmitri’s.
- Nikolai Ilyich Snegiryov · a poor retired staff captain, living in a cottage with his sick wife, his daughters, and his son Ilyusha (Ilyushechka), nine.
- Maximov · an old landowner who lives as a hanger-on in one house after another and does not mind being laughed at.
- Kalganov · a young man of about twenty, a distant relative of Miusov’s.
- Fenya · Grushenka’s maid.
- Trifon Borisych (Trifon Borisovich) · the innkeeper at Mokroye, a large village some twenty versts from town.
The Boys
- Kolya Krasotkin (Nikolai Krasotkin) · a gymnasium pupil a little past thirteen, a ringleader who likes to talk like a grown-up and to show what he knows. He keeps a dog, Perezvon.
- Smurov, Kartashov · schoolmates of Kolya and Ilyusha.
The Law
- Ippolit Kirillovich · the assistant prosecutor, in court simply “the prosecutor.”
- Fetyukovich · a famous defense counsel from Petersburg.
- Nikolai Parfenovich Nelyudov · the investigator.
- Mikhail Makarovich Makarov · the district police chief.
- Herzenstube, Varvinsky · doctors.