The Wish That Stood Trial
Mitya is commanded to strip while peasants stand by; officials examine coat, trousers, and cap for blood and sewn money. Kalganov's tight suit is forced on him as if he were a clown. He rages, then collapses when his own words about the pillow and shut door are read back.
Key Insight
Vicarious guilt becomes physical once the room treats your body as the file. Nakedness and bloody linen are easier evidence than the distinction between a wish and a blow in a kitchen you never entered.
