How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #10
"Oh, but I'm sorry you repudiate the confession, Ippolit—it is sincere; and, do you know, even the absurd parts of it—and these are many" (here Ippolit frowned savagely) "are, as it were, redeemed by suffering—for it must have cost you something to admit what you there say—great torture, perhaps, for all I know. Your motive must have been a very noble one all through." […] Ippolit beamed with gratification. "And yet I must die," he said, and almost added: "a man like me." […] "[Ganya] has developed the idea—or pretends to believe—that in all probability three or four others who heard my confession will die before I do. There's an idea for you—and all this by way of consoling me! Ha! ha! ha! In the first place they haven't died yet; and in the second, if they did die—all of them—what would be the satisfaction to me in that? He judges me by himself. But he goes further, he actually pitches into me because, as he declares, 'any decent fellow' would die quietly, and that 'all this' is mere egotism on my part. He doesn't see what refinement of egotism it is on his own part—and at the same time, what ox-like coarseness! […] Well—leave me now! Au revoir. Look here—before you go, just give me your opinion: how do you think I ought to die, now? I mean—the best, the most virtuous way? Tell me!"
"You should pass us by and forgive us our happiness," said the prince quietly. (4.5.165-181)
Of course, it makes total sense that for Ganya, the schadenfreude of watching other people die before him is somehow totally comforting. (Ooh, you want to know what that awesome German word means? It might well be Shmoop's favorite word ever: "the pleasure derived from the misfortune of another person." You know, like how we enjoy watching celebrities get busted for bad behavior, for example.)