Dmitry initially resembles a scoundrel with his intentions to deceive Katerina, but his remorse for his intentions and self-loathing reveal that he is not a complete scoundrel. Taking Fyodor as a relative standard, Dmitry is definitely not a scoundrel. He repents for his deceptive intentions, gives money for Katerina’s welfare, and attempts to reconcile his theft against Katerina.
Although Dmitry originally planned to trick Katerina into sleeping with him, he recognizes the immorality of this plan. When Katerina visits Dmitry in his room, he is able to sees her as beautiful as a result of perceived morality and not sensuality. This distinction of beauty foils for Dmitry his own scoundrel-like qualities, and introspectively decides against tricking Katerina.
Encompassing more of his moral similarities with Alyosha than those of his father, Dmitry decided to give Katerina 4500 roubles in exchange for nothing. Dmitry sympathizes with the resulting situation of her father’s debt, and reveals emotions of self-hatred for his iniquitous thoughts.
Following his marriage to Katerina, Dmitry uses 3000 roubles, which Katerina instructed him to send to her sister-in-need, for debauchery; however, he later repents and seeks Alyosha’s aid in procuring 3000 roubles to return to Katerina. As Katerina bowed before him upon receiving the 4500 roubles, Dmitry wishes through the representation of Alyosha to bow before for Katerina to signify his respect and adoration for her.
Since Dmitry repents, and truly feels remorse, following his immoral actions, he is not a scoundrel. Dmitry shares some of the magnanimous qualities of his brother Alyosha in the light that he recognizes the truth in various situations, although variably some time after the situation. Like his father though, he appears to have developed a cyclical nature to such an extent that he recognizes his wrongs clearly but continues to commit them, thus making him all the more tragic of a character.
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