Chapters 7 and 8 Summary

Luzhin is a frequent visitor to the woman's family. The future mother-in-law still cannot grasp Luzhin's personality or profession. She imagines that he must have terrible, hidden dimensions behind his boorish exterior. Luzhin seems largely disinterested and disengaged, failing even to keep up his end of a conversation. The mother is very concerned for her daughter's future. She is surprised, however, when Luzhin formally requests her daughter's hand in marriage. The mother has her reservations, but the daughter insists that it is no business of her parents. The engagement, now formalized, picks up speed.

Chapter eight begins. Luzhin visits his fiance's home, oblivious to the unconcealed disapproval of his future mother-in-law. He is enamored by the familiar, old-fashioned Russian aesthetic of the home. The future father-in-law makes the mistake of trying to talk to Luzhin about chess, inviting an unwanted lecture...