Crime and Punishment (1866), Fyodor Dostoevsky's psychological novel, follows a destitute student's murder of a pawnbroker, driven by a theory of superior beings transcending morality, and his ensuing guilt, paranoia, and path to redemption in 19th-century St. Petersburg.
Main Characters
·
Rodion Raskolnikov: Impoverished ex-student and
protagonist; intellectually arrogant, he kills pawnbroker Alyona to test his
"extraordinary man" theory but collapses under guilt and feverish
torment.
·
Sonya Marmeladova: Pure-hearted young prostitute
supporting her family; embodies Christian compassion, urging Raskolnikov to
confess and find spiritual renewal.
·
Dunya Raskolnikova: Raskolnikov's proud, devoted
sister; rejects exploitative suitor Luzhin to protect her family, mirroring her
brother's moral struggles.
Minor Characters
·
Porfiry Petrovich: Shrewd police investigator
psychologically cornering Raskolnikov without direct evidence, representing
justice's patient pursuit.
·
Dmitri Razumikhin: Raskolnikov's loyal, practical
friend and fellow student; provides comic relief and support, eventually
courting Dunya.
·
Svidrigailov: Sinister, wealthy ex-officer obsessed
with Dunya; his suicidal end reveals parallels to Raskolnikov's inner darkness.
·
Marmeladov: Sonya's drunken, self-pitying father
whose tavern tales introduce her plight and Raskolnikov's world.
Plot Summary
Tormented by poverty, Raskolnikov
murders pawnbroker Alyona and her sister Lizaveta, stealing trinkets he hides;
paranoia mounts as he encounters Marmeladov and learns of Sonya's sacrifices.
Porfiry subtly interrogates him while Dunya rejects Luzhin and faces
Svidrigailov's advances; Sonya reads Lazarus to him, planting confession's seed
amid his fevered visions.
Raskolnikov confesses publicly, receiving a Siberian sentence; through Sonya's
devotion, he achieves genuine repentance and rebirth.
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