“But music makes me forget myself, my true position; it transports me to some other position not my own. Under the influence of music it seems to me that I feel what I do not really feel, that I understand what I do not understand, that I can do what I cannot do.”
Chapter 1: The Framing Narrative
The story begins on a train where passengers engage in a heated discussion about love, marriage, and jealousy. Pozdnyshev, a brooding and intense man, listens silently before revealing that he murdered his wife out of jealousy. His confession shocks the other passengers, and he begins to recount his tragic story.
Chapter 2: Pozdnyshev’s Early Life
Pozdnyshev describes his youth, filled with debauchery and superficial relationships. He admits to viewing women as objects of pleasure rather than equals. Despite his cynicism, he eventually marries, believing it will reform him. However, his possessive nature and distrust of women persist.
Chapter 3: Marriage and Growing Tensions
His marriage starts with passion but quickly deteriorates into mutual resentment. Pozdnyshev becomes increasingly jealous, scrutinizing his wife’s every interaction. Their arguments grow more frequent, and emotional intimacy fades. He admits to both loving and hating her, trapped in a cycle of suspicion.
Chapter 4: The Violinist’s Arrival
A handsome violinist, Trukhachevsky, enters their lives. Pozdnyshev’s wife, a talented pianist, begins rehearsing Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata with him. The music’s emotional intensity unnerves Pozdnyshev, who interprets their artistic connection as a sign of infidelity. His jealousy spirals out of control.
Chapter 5: The Breaking Point
One evening, Pozdnyshev returns home to find his wife and the violinist playing the sonata together. Convinced of their affair, he waits until Trukhachevsky leaves before confronting his wife. In a fit of rage, he stabs her to death with a dagger.
Chapter 6: Aftermath and Reflection
Pozdnyshev is acquitted due to lack of evidence, but his guilt consumes him. He reflects on the destructive nature of jealousy, societal hypocrisy around marriage, and the corrupting influence of sensuality. The novel ends with his bleak warning about the dangers of possessive love.
Key Ideas
- The destructive power of jealousy and possessiveness in relationships.
- A critique of societal norms surrounding marriage and sexuality.
- The tension between artistic passion and moral corruption.
- The dehumanization of women in patriarchal structures.
- The psychological torment of guilt and unresolved rage.
Who should read this book?
- Readers interested in psychological explorations of jealousy and marital strife.
- Those who appreciate Tolstoy’s moral and philosophical critiques.
- Fans of 19th-century Russian literature and its dark, introspective themes.