That is the beginning of a new story, the story of the gradual renewal of a man, of his gradual regeneration…
The narrator refuses a fairy-tale finish and chooses process: “gradual.” Repetition steadies the tone—change will be real and slow. It dignifies the long, ordinary work of becoming human. Artistically, it leaves the door open without spelling the path. The line validates Sonia’s faith and Porfiry’s patience. It’s also merciful to readers who need time to unlearn their own errors. Renewal, Dostoevsky says, is a story, not a moment.