Chapter 3 content summary

Prince Nekhludolf was a juror at the Moscow District Court.Once he participated in the trial of a case in which two hotel waiters faked a prostitute's murder.Unexpectedly, from the characteristic eyes of the prostitute Maslova, he recognized her as Katyusha, whom he had loved passionately in his youth.So scenes from the past ten years ago unfolded in front of Nekh Liudolph: At that time, he was a college student, living in his aunt's manor during the summer to write a thesis.He is kind, enthusiastic, full of ideals, passionate about Western progressive ideas, and fell in love with Katyusha, the adopted daughter and maid of his aunt's family.They played and chatted together, and their feelings were pure and innocent.Three years later, Nekh graduated from university and joined the Guards Corps. He passed by his aunt's manor and met Katyusha again.In the solemn atmosphere of Easter, he looked at Katyusha's slender figure in a snow-white dress, her flushed face and her shiny black eyes, and experienced the pure love again. happy.However, after that, secular concepts and lust prevailed, and before he left, he took Katyusha and abandoned her.Later, when I heard that she had fallen, I completely forgot about her.Now, he was aware of his crime and his conscience was condemned, but he was afraid of being recognized by Maslova and would make a fool of himself on the spot, so he was very nervous and his thoughts were confused.The other judges and jurors were also absent-minded and made empty comments. As a result, Maslova was wrongly sentenced to four years of hard labor in Siberia.When Nekhludoff figured out the consequences of their negligence and saw Maslova crying and yelling for injustice after being sentenced, he was determined to seek a remedy from the judge and lawyers.A lawyer told him he should appeal.

Nekhliudov went to Missy's (thought to be his fiancée's) house for a dinner with mixed emotions.Originally, the luxurious style and elegant atmosphere here often made him feel comfortable and comfortable.But today he seems to see the essence of everyone, and finds everything disgusting: General Korchagin is rude and proud; Missy is eager to marry; the Duchess is putting on airs.He made an excuse to say goodbye early. When he returned home, he began to reflect and perform "soul purification", and found that he and the people around him were "shameful and abominable".His mother's behavior during her lifetime; his ambiguous relationship with the wife of the nobleman; he opposed the private ownership of land, but inherited his mother's estate for squandering; all these happened after the crime against Katyusha.He decided to change his whole life, and announced to the housekeeper the next day: Pack up, dismiss the servants, and move out of this big house.

Nekhludolf visited Maslova in prison and asked her about their children. She was surprised at first, but she didn't want to touch the trauma. , "Truth and Reality Treatise, treat him as a man who can be used, and ask him ten rubles for cigarettes and alcohol to anesthetize himself. The second time Nekhludolf visited the prison again and expressed his desire to atone for his sins, and even to marry her.At this time, Katyusha uttered a sad and angry accusation: "You use me for fun in this life, and you want to use me to save yourself in the next life!" Later, Nekh left Dov to help her fellow sufferers and improve her situation. She also quit smoking and drinking. Work hard to learn well.

Nekhliudov dispersed the land and ran to the upper strata of Petersburg, but the appeal was still rejected, so he had to petition the emperor and immediately returned to Moscow to go to Siberia with Katyusha.On the way, Katyusha was deeply infected by the noble sentiments of the political prisoners, forgave Nekhliudov, and agreed to marry Simonsson, who respected her and cared for her, for his happiness.Nekhludolf also got the inspiration from the Bible that "human beings should love each other and not hate each other".