Chapter 3 Summary

This year, 1880, is the hardest year of Ivan's life because he is passed over for a promotion. He is a public prosecutor with a generous salary, but it doesn't keep up with his standard of living. What offends him most of all is that others seem to see his struggles as quite ordinary.

In the summer of this year, Ivan takes a leave of absence from work and takes his family to stay with his wife's brother's family. He does this to save money, but without his work to distract him Ivan falls into a profound depression. He decides the solution is to obtain a new job, of any kind at all, as long as it carries a salary of at least 5,000 rubles.

Ivan stumbles into a position in Petersburg, where his career began 17 years ago. This new position places him two steps...