Section 6: Chapter 8 Summary

In Chapter eight, Mme. Petrovich chides Vladimir and makes him describe his evening at Princess Zasyekin's. She wishes that he would study for his exam instead of spending so much time with Zinaida. After breakfast, Vladimir and his father walk through the garden, and his father also asks for a full account of his evening. Vladimir has a curious relationship with his father; at times, his father is very kind and Vladimir confides in him, but then M. Petrovich will abandon his son. Vladimir sees his father as the ideal man, but only once did his father tenderly caress Vladimir to the point that he nearly cried. M. Petrovich's tenderness never gives Vladimir hope for the future because he knows that his father will coldly abandon him. Later in life, Vladimir comes to the conclusion that his father cares nothing about...