Resurrection

Prince Dmitri Ivanovich Nekhlyudov is the novel’s protagonist and a classic example of a dynamic character undergoing moral transformation. A privileged aristocrat at the start, Nekhlyudov is detached from meaningful purpose, drifting through shallow social routines and an impending marriage of convenience. The pivotal moment of recognition—serving as a juror in the trial of Katerina Maslova, the woman he once seduced and abandoned—awakens his dormant conscience. This confrontation with his past sets him on a redemptive journey, both literal and spiritual, through Russia’s legal and penal systems.

Over the course of the novel, Nekhlyudov evolves from a passive observer to a man committed to justice, even at the cost of personal comfort. His arc is marked by increasing acts of sacrifice: He abandons his inheritance, gives up his engagement, and distances himself from his social circle. However, his progress is not linear: At times, he is hindered by pride and uncertainty, particularly in his complicated feelings for Maslova. As he learns more about the corruptions of the legal and social systems in Russia, he becomes more convinced of the need for personal and societal transformation.  

By the final chapters, Nekhlyudov has been shaped by suffering, humility, and spiritual insight.