The Gambler

1. Plot Summary

Alexei Ivanovich, a Russian tutor, works for a financially ruined aristocratic family in the fictional German town of Roulettenburg. He becomes entangled in the household’s emotional turmoil and unstable finances—particularly through his passion for Polina, the stepdaughter of General.

Obsessed with roulette and haunted by love, Alexei swings between defiance, humiliation, and addiction. When the eccentric grandmother arrives and unexpectedly indulges in gambling, the family’s schemes unravel further.

By the novel’s end, Alexei has lost Polina, most of his money, and his dignity—all to the roulette table. His descent reflects both self-destruction and a tragic awareness of helpless freedom.

2. Main Characters

Name	Traits & Role
Alexei Ivanovich	Narrator; proud, vulnerable, obsessed with gambling and Polina
Polina	Cold, ambiguous; object of Alexei’s tormenting affection
The General	Status-obsessed aristocrat chasing inheritance and prestige
Madame de Cominges	Sly, affluent Frenchwoman; manipulates family dynamics
Grandmother	Unpredictable, bold; defies age and expectation through gambling

3. Major Themes

• Gambling and Addiction: A visceral portrait of obsession and loss of self-control
• Love and Power: Affection entangled with dependence, humiliation, and emotional volatility
• Social Collapse: The General’s desperation exposes hypocrisy and decay
• Free Will vs. Compulsion: Alexei’s choices blur the line between freedom and self-sabotage

4. Conclusion

*The Gambler* is not just a tale of roulette—it’s a raw study of passion, pride, and fragility. Dostoevsky’s personal connection infuses the novel with authenticity and urgency, making it one of his most intimate psychological works. The roulette table becomes a metaphor for existential risk, emotional dependency, and the perils of unchecked desire.