F. M. Dostoevsky is one of the greatest writers in the world. His work is permeated with spirituality and thoughts about good and evil.
Among the novels of the writer, a special place is occupied by The Brothers Karamazov. The work consists of 4 parts and an epilogue. In this article we will retell Dostoevsky’s story “Boys”. It refers to the fourth part of the novel, the tenth book.
F. M. Dostoevsky, the story "Boys". "Kolya Krasotkin"
In the first part, the author introduces us to the widow who lives with her son. She loves her boy so much, Kolya Krasotkina, that she devotes all herself to his upbringing, training.
Summary (Dostoevsky, "Boys") is to describe the nature of the widow's son and his interaction with others. We learn that this is an educated guy. He is brave, can stand up for himself. However, the boy is so proud and desperate that he is ready for madness to defend his honor. So, once he lay down between the rails, and a train swept over him.
Upon learning of this, his mother was in fits for several days. In the gymnasium where Kolya studied, the authorities did not like such a message. However, teacher Dardanelov, in love with Krasotkin's mother, stood up for the guy. But Kolya is against this relationship and makes it clear to the widow. He shows his superiority over the teacher, asking him a question to which he does not know the answer.
The guy starts a dog, teaches her commands and tyranny her. However, the dog loves the owner.
At the end of this chapter about Kol Krasotkin, we learn that this is the same guy who was stabbed with a knife by Ilyusha Snegirev.
Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov, Boys. "Children"
In this part we learn that other people live in the house where Kolya Krasotkin lives with his mother, dog and maid Baba Agafya: a doctor with two children and a maid Katerina. On the described day, the main character was going to go on an important business, but was forced to sit with "bubbles". So he called the doctor’s children Nastenka and Kostya. There were no adults at home except him. Katerina was about to give birth, so she, the mother of Krasotkin and the doctor went to the midwife, and Agafya went to the market. To entertain the children, Kolya showed them a cannon. When the Krasotkin’s servant returned, he confronted her.
"Schoolboy"
Kolya, together with a younger boy, Matvey Smurov, decided to visit the sick and dying Ilyusha Snegirev. Summary (Dostoevsky, "Boys") can be continued by the fact that Krasotkin dares others around the road: traders, guys, men. He considers himself smarter than others and shows it to people in every possible way. When they get to Ilyusha’s house, Krasotkin orders Smurov to call Alyosha Karamazov.
The bug
When Karamazov goes to Krasotkin, Kolya is noticeably nervous. He had long dreamed of meeting him. Kolya tells Alyosha about their friendship with Ilyusha, about how he stabbed him with a knife. And the thing was this: the boys were friends, Snegirev idolized Krasotkin, however, the more he reached out to him, the stronger Kolya repelled him with his coldness. Once Ilyusha did a vile thing: he put a pin in the bread and threw it to the Bug. The dog ate, screeched and ran away. After such an act, Kolya said that he did not want to deal with him. Everyone laughed at Ilyusha, offended him, and at that moment he kicked Krasotkin.
When Snegirev became seriously ill, he said that God had punished him so much for the dog that he might have killed.
Colin's dog nicknamed Chime was like a bug. The guys went home, and Kolya promised to surprise him with the unusual appearance of the dog.
"Ilyushin’s bed"
Summary (Dostoevsky, "Boys") of this part includes a description of the character of Kolya. Krasotkin showed himself to be a proud, narcissistic and boastful guy. He brought a dog (Chime) and said that it was actually a bug. Kolya admitted that he kept the dog at home to teach his commands in order to return him to Ilya and surprise him with the skills that the animal acquired.
By that time, the sick boy was presented with a thoroughbred puppy to make him feel easier.
Krasotkin defiantly behaves in front of everyone. He gives his cannon to Ilyusha, puts in place one boy who dared to say that he knows the answer to the question that confused the teacher. He tries to impress Alyosha, telling different stories about himself and showing off his knowledge. And then the doctor comes.
"Early development"
Here is a dialogue between Alyosha and Kolya. Krasotkin again tries to impress Karamazov. He shares his thoughts on medicine, faith, attributing his judgments to famous philosophers, critics and writers. To which Karamazov answers him that these are not his words, that his self-conceit is a matter of age. Kolya finds out how Alyosha treats him.
Ilyusha
How does Dostoevsky complete his work (summary)? “Boys” is a story that ends with the doctor reporting that the patient has only a short time to live. He looked disgustedly at these people. Krasotkin began to pest him, but Alyosha stopped him. They went to Ilyusha, everyone was crying. In tears, Kolya ran home, promising to return in the evening.