Summary
Defense attorney Fetyukovitch delivers a masterful demolition of the prosecution's robbery case against Dmitri. He systematically questions every assumption: Did the three thousand rubles ever exist? Only Smerdyakov claimed to see them, and that was days before the murder. The envelope on the floor proves nothing—old Fyodor could have opened it himself to impress Grushenka with loose bills instead of a sealed envelope. The bed wasn't disturbed, so how could Dmitri have found money under the mattress? Fetyukovitch contrasts this flimsy evidence with a real Petersburg robbery case where the stolen money was actually found on the thief. He argues that Dmitri's fifteen hundred rubles came from money Katerina gave him earlier—money he'd been saving in a pouch around his neck, torn between using it for Grushenka or returning it to preserve his honor. The lawyer portrays Dmitri as a man of contradictory impulses, capable of both wild spending and careful saving when motivated by love or honor. He dismisses the drunken letter as evidence, pointing out that Dmitri ran to his father's house not to steal but to find Grushenka in jealous desperation. The chapter demonstrates how skilled advocacy can unravel seemingly solid cases by questioning fundamental assumptions.
Coming Up in Chapter 91
Having dismantled the robbery charge, Fetyukovitch now turns to the ultimate question: did Dmitri actually commit murder at all? The defense prepares to challenge the prosecution's most basic assumption.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
There Was No Money. There Was No Robbery There was one point that struck every one in Fetyukovitch’s speech. He flatly denied the existence of the fatal three thousand roubles, and consequently, the possibility of their having been stolen. “Gentlemen of the jury,” he began. “Every new and unprejudiced observer must be struck by a characteristic peculiarity in the present case, namely, the charge of robbery, and the complete impossibility of proving that there was anything to be stolen. We are told that money was stolen—three thousand roubles—but whether those roubles ever existed, nobody knows. Consider, how have we heard of that sum, and who has seen the notes? The only person who saw them, and stated that they had been put in the envelope, was the servant, Smerdyakov. He had spoken of it to the prisoner and his brother, Ivan Fyodorovitch, before the catastrophe. Madame Svyetlov, too, had been told of it. But not one of these three persons had actually seen the notes, no one but Smerdyakov had seen them. “Here the question arises, if it’s true that they did exist, and that Smerdyakov had seen them, when did he see them for the last time? What if his master had taken the notes from under his bed and put them back in his cash‐box without telling him? Note, that according to Smerdyakov’s story the notes were kept under the mattress; the prisoner must have pulled them out, and yet the bed was absolutely unrumpled; that is carefully recorded in the protocol. How could the prisoner have found the notes without disturbing the bed? How could he have helped soiling with his blood‐ stained hands the fine and spotless linen with which the bed had been purposely made? “But I shall be asked: What about the envelope on the floor? Yes, it’s worth saying a word or two about that envelope. I was somewhat surprised just now to hear the highly talented prosecutor declare of himself—of himself, observe—that but for that envelope, but for its being left on the floor, no one in the world would have known of the existence of that envelope and the notes in it, and therefore of the prisoner’s having stolen it. And so that torn scrap of paper is, by the prosecutor’s own admission, the sole proof on which the charge of robbery rests, ‘otherwise no one would have known of the robbery, nor perhaps even of the money.’ But is the mere fact that that scrap of paper was lying on the floor a proof that there was money in it, and that that money had been stolen? Yet, it will be objected, Smerdyakov had seen the money in the envelope. But when, when had he seen it for the last time, I ask you that? I talked to Smerdyakov, and he told me that he had seen the notes two days before the catastrophe. Then why not imagine that old Fyodor Pavlovitch, locked up alone in impatient and hysterical expectation...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Assumption Demolition
The systematic questioning of foundational assumptions that seem to support a conclusion, revealing how seemingly solid cases can collapse when their underlying premises are examined.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to systematically question the foundation beneath any conclusion rather than accepting surface explanations.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone presents a problem with an 'obvious' cause—at work, in the news, in family conflicts—and ask yourself what assumptions that explanation requires.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Defense attorney
A lawyer who represents the accused in criminal cases, challenging the prosecution's evidence and arguments. In 19th century Russia, this was a relatively new role in the legal system, part of judicial reforms that introduced jury trials and adversarial proceedings.
Modern Usage:
Every criminal defendant today has the right to legal representation, whether a public defender or private attorney.
Burden of proof
The legal principle that the prosecution must prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt, not just suggest it might have happened. Fetyukovitch uses this by showing the prosecution can't even prove money existed to be stolen.
Modern Usage:
In any legal dispute, the person making the accusation has to prove it with evidence, not just suspicion.
Circumstantial evidence
Indirect evidence that suggests something might be true but doesn't directly prove it. The prosecution's case relies heavily on assumptions and inferences rather than concrete proof.
Modern Usage:
Most criminal cases today rely partly on circumstantial evidence, but it must form a convincing pattern pointing to guilt.
Character witness
Someone who testifies about a person's reputation and typical behavior patterns. Fetyukovitch uses this concept to argue Dmitri's contradictory nature explains his actions without requiring criminal intent.
Modern Usage:
In court cases today, people still testify about whether someone is the 'type of person' who would commit a crime.
Reasonable doubt
The standard for criminal conviction - if jurors have genuine uncertainty about guilt based on the evidence, they must acquit. Fetyukovitch systematically plants doubts about every aspect of the prosecution's case.
Modern Usage:
This remains the foundation of criminal justice - better to let a guilty person go free than convict an innocent one.
Cross-examination
The process of questioning witnesses to expose weaknesses, contradictions, or alternative explanations in their testimony. Fetyukovitch deconstructs Smerdyakov's claims about seeing the money.
Modern Usage:
Lawyers today still use aggressive questioning to challenge witness credibility and reveal holes in stories.
Characters in This Chapter
Fetyukovitch
Defense attorney
The skilled lawyer systematically dismantles the prosecution's case by questioning basic assumptions. He shows how the entire robbery charge depends on Smerdyakov's word alone, with no physical evidence the money ever existed.
Modern Equivalent:
The sharp defense attorney who finds the fatal flaw in what seemed like an airtight case
Dmitri Karamazov
Defendant
Though not speaking in this chapter, he's portrayed by his lawyer as a man of contradictory impulses - capable of both wild spending and careful saving when motivated by honor or love for Grushenka.
Modern Equivalent:
The impulsive guy who makes terrible decisions but has a code of honor about certain things
Smerdyakov
Key witness
Revealed as the only person who claimed to actually see the three thousand rubles. Fetyukovitch exposes how the entire case depends on believing this one witness about money that may never have existed.
Modern Equivalent:
The sketchy witness whose testimony doesn't hold up under scrutiny
Fyodor Karamazov
Murder victim
Though dead, his character becomes crucial to the defense - portrayed as someone who might have opened the envelope himself to show off loose bills rather than keeping money sealed away.
Modern Equivalent:
The show-off parent who changes their story to impress people
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Every new and unprejudiced observer must be struck by a characteristic peculiarity in the present case, namely, the charge of robbery, and the complete impossibility of proving that there was anything to be stolen."
Context: Opening his defense by attacking the foundation of the prosecution's case
This brilliant legal strategy goes straight to the heart of reasonable doubt. Instead of explaining away evidence, Fetyukovitch questions whether the evidence proves what the prosecution claims it proves.
In Today's Words:
Look, before we argue about whether he stole the money, can anyone actually prove there was money to steal?
"The only person who saw them, and stated that they had been put in the envelope, was the servant, Smerdyakov."
Context: Exposing how the entire case depends on one witness's testimony
This reveals the weakness of building a case on a single source, especially when that source has questionable motives and credibility. It's a masterclass in creating reasonable doubt.
In Today's Words:
Your whole case comes down to believing one guy, and that guy isn't exactly reliable.
"Note, that according to Smerdyakov's story the notes were kept under the mattress; the prisoner must have pulled them out, and yet the bed was absolutely unrumpled."
Context: Pointing out physical evidence that contradicts the prosecution's theory
This demonstrates how careful attention to physical details can destroy a narrative. If someone searched under a mattress for money, there should be signs of disturbance.
In Today's Words:
If he really dug around under that mattress looking for cash, wouldn't the bed be messed up?
Thematic Threads
Truth vs. Narrative
In This Chapter
Fetyukovitch shows how the same facts can support completely different stories about what happened
Development
Building from earlier courtroom scenes where different witnesses told conflicting versions of events
In Your Life:
You might see this when family members remember the same childhood event completely differently, or when workplace conflicts have multiple valid perspectives
Class Prejudice
In This Chapter
The defense challenges assumptions about how a 'wild' nobleman like Dmitri would behave with money
Development
Continues the book's exploration of how social class shapes expectations and judgments
In Your Life:
You might experience this when people make assumptions about your capabilities or character based on your job, education, or background
Evidence vs. Assumption
In This Chapter
The lawyer distinguishes between what was actually proven versus what people assumed must be true
Development
Intensifies the book's examination of how people construct truth from incomplete information
In Your Life:
You might see this when making medical decisions based on Dr. Google rather than actual tests, or judging coworkers based on rumors rather than direct experience
Honor and Contradiction
In This Chapter
Dmitri is portrayed as someone capable of both wild spending and careful saving when honor is at stake
Development
Develops the ongoing theme of how people contain contradictory impulses and motivations
In Your Life:
You might recognize this in yourself when you're financially irresponsible in some areas but extremely careful with money that represents something important to you
Skilled Advocacy
In This Chapter
Fetyukovitch demonstrates how professional expertise can reframe entire situations
Development
Introduced here as a counterpoint to the prosecution's confident but flawed case
In Your Life:
You might need this skill when advocating for yourself in healthcare, workplace disputes, or family conflicts where the initial narrative works against you
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
How does Fetyukovitch systematically dismantle the prosecution's case against Dmitri?
analysis • surface - 2
Why is questioning assumptions more powerful than presenting new evidence in this defense strategy?
analysis • medium - 3
Where have you seen people accept conclusions without questioning the assumptions underneath them?
application • medium - 4
When someone presents you with a 'solid case' for something important in your life, what questions would you ask to test its foundation?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about how easily we can be convinced of things that aren't actually proven?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Become the Assumption Detective
Think of a recent conclusion someone presented to you as fact—at work, in your family, or about your health. Write down that conclusion, then list every assumption it's built on. For each assumption, ask: What evidence actually supports this? What other explanations could fit the same facts? Practice dismantling the case like Fetyukovitch.
Consider:
- •Look for assumptions presented as facts without supporting evidence
- •Consider whether the person making the case benefits from you accepting their conclusion
- •Ask yourself what questions you avoided asking because the explanation seemed logical
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you accepted someone's explanation too quickly and later discovered it was built on shaky assumptions. What would you do differently now?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 91: The Defense Makes Its Case
As the story unfolds, you'll explore to challenge assumptions by examining evidence separately rather than as a chain, while uncovering circumstantial evidence can create compelling but false narratives. These lessons connect the classic to contemporary challenges we all face.