The Gambler

Content Warning: The source material depicts addiction to gambling as well as stereotypes and generalizations based on nationality.

The Gambler is an 1866 novel by Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky. The novel begins as Alexey Ivanovich, the novel’s narrator, returns to the gambling resort town of Roulettenburg, where he has been tutoring for an aristocratic Russian family headed by a former general. Alexey is in love with the general’s stepdaughter, Polina, but believes that he is not wealthy enough to marry her. When the general’s aunt arrives and gambles away Polina’s and the general’s inheritance, Polina’s wealthy suitor, a Frenchman named Marquis des Grieux, abandons her. Trying to seize his chance, Alexey plays roulette, attempting to win enough money for Polina to accept him. Alexey wins huge sums, but Polina believes that Alexey is trying to buy her love, and thus leaves him for a wealthy Englishman, Mr. Astley. Alexey goes to Paris with the general’s fiancée, who spends all his money. The novel ends with Alexey meeting Astley in another German gambling town a year later, where Astley tells him that Polina still loves Alexey. However, Alexey has by now become addicted to gambling and is unable to pursue Polina.

This guide refers to the Penguin 2010 edition, translated by Ronald Meyer.

Plot Summary

Alexey Ivanovich, the novel’s narrator, returns to the German gambling resort of Roulettenburg after a two-week absence. There, he has been working as a tutor for a Russian family, the head of whom is a retired general. The general, while of aristocratic lineage, is in debt to a Frenchman attached to their party, Marquis des Grieux. The general is also in love with a young French woman, Mlle Blanche. However, Blanche will only marry the general when his sick aunt in Moscow has died and he is able to claim the inheritance. Meanwhile, Alexey is in love with the general’s stepdaughter, Polina. Polina is in debt to an unknown person, and she gives Alexey money to gamble with and win for her at roulette. Alexey loses everything that she gives him. When Alexey tells Polina that he can only win when he needs the money himself, Polina asks why he needs money. Alexey says it is so that he can become a different person in her eyes, which Polina sees as Alexey wanting to buy her respect. She therefore tests Alexey’s love by asking him to insult a baroness near the casino. When Alexey does so, risking a potential scandal, the general dismisses Alexey because of a complaint from the baroness’s husband. In response, Alexey promises to confront the baron.

In Chapters 7 to 12, des Grieux goes to see Alexey on the general’s behalf to ask him to call off his plans to see the baron. He tells Alexey that the general is willing to re-instate him if he relents. When this does not work, des Grieux gives Alexey a note from Polina asking him to abandon his plan, which makes Alexey agree. Later that day, Alexey meets Mr. Astley, an Englishman attached to their group, who explains to him why the general is so concerned about the baron. The reason is that the previous year, Blanche had been told to leave the casino after she had lost all her money then asked the baron to stake money for her, eliciting a complaint from the baroness. As such, the general wants to avoid attention from the baron as it could cause a scandal for Blanche and threaten the general’s marriage to her. The general’s aunt then arrives and starts playing roulette, at first winning large sums. She becomes obsessed with gambling, though, going back to the gaming tables and losing all her money. The day after the arrival of the general’s aunt, known as Grandmother, Polina shows Alexey a letter from des Grieux. In it, des Grieux says that he cannot marry her because of the loss of Grandmother’s inheritance, and hence his financial ruin, as the general cannot now pay back the money he owes him. Des Grieux offers to return to Polina a mortgage worth 50,000 francs, the value of her dowry, which the general had squandered. Polina sees this as evidence that des Grieux is only interested in her to improve his financial situation and wishes to throw the 50,000 francs back in his face.

To save Polina’s honor by getting the money to return to des Grieux, and to become rich enough to marry her, Alexey plays roulette. He wins 200,000 francs and tries to give 50,000 francs to Polina. However, after spending the night with Alexey, she throws the money in his face, seeing him as no different than des Grieux, and runs off to Mr. Astley. Having heard about his winnings, Blanche invites Alexey to go with her to Paris. Alexey agrees and spends three weeks with her, becoming depressed by the experience. Alexey then goes to Homburg and Roulettenburg before—after time in prison—going back to Homburg where he becomes addicted to gambling. There he meets Astley, who has been sent by Polina to tell Alexey that she loved him. Alexey thus resolves to quit Homburg, and gambling, and find Polina. However, the memory of an occasion when he won big with his last few gulden causes him to remain in the town for another day, gambling.