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Ippolit Kirillovitch's Prosecutor Speech

Also known as the prosecutor's speech, The Prosecutor's Speech, the speeches for the prosecution, An Historical Survey, A Treatise On Smerdyakov, The End Of The Prosecutor's Speech.

Ippolit Kirillovitch's prosecutor speech begins after the evidence has closed and the court has briefly adjourned. Ivan's courtroom confession has unsettled the room, but Dmitri's Metropolis letter leaves the prosecutor triumphant and the defense shaken. The speech is the prosecution's chance to gather the whole case into one public accusation.

XII-VI. The Prosecutor’s Speech. Sketches Of Character

Ippolit begins with a passionate survey of social decay, the Karamazov family, and Dmitri's contradictions, presenting himself as one who can accuse and still understand the accused.

XII-VII. An Historical Survey

He moves through jealousy, money, the drunken letter, the brass pestle, and Dmitri's movements to argue that the murder was psychologically continuous and premeditated.

XII-VIII. A Treatise On Smerdyakov

The speech devotes a long section to Smerdyakov, arguing that the servant's guilt is unsupported and that Ivan's accusation is disordered by illness.

XII-IX. The Galloping Troika. The End Of The Prosecutor’s Speech.

Ippolit ends with the image of Russia's reckless troika and warns the jury that acquittal would justify the murder of a father by his son.

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Ippolit Kirillovitch's Prosecutor Speech