Crime and Punishment

Raskolnikov spends several days in fever, slipping in and out of consciousness. Nastasia and Razumikhin care for him. When Raskolnikov finally awakens, there is a man in his room who has brought 35 rubles from Raskolnikov’s mother. Though Raskolnikov tries to refuse the gift, Razumikhin insists he accept.

Razumikhin criticizes Raskolnikov for his lifestyle and scolds Raskolnikov for treating his landlord with such contempt: The landlord helped while Raskolnikov recovered from his strange and sudden fever. The chief police clerk Zametov also visited, Razumikhin explains. Raskolnikov becomes upset. Razumikhin tries to assuage his friend’s worries, saying Zametov only wanted to learn more about Raskolnikov. Razumikhin also mentions that even when Raskolnikov was unconscious in the depths of his fever, he still clutched on to his filthy socks. Raskolnikov is shocked that anyone would pay such close attention to him. He falls asleep, and Razumikhin takes some of the newly arrived money to buy Raskolnikov fresh clothes. With Nastasia’s help, they dress Raskolnikov in his new outfit. Raskolnikov struggles to distinguish reality from his fever dreams.

Doctor Zosimov returns to the apartment to check up on Raskolnikov. Razumikhin chats with the doctor, eager to know whether Raskolnikov will be well enough to attend a party Razumikhin is throwing that night to welcome his recently arrived uncle to the city. Zametov will also attend, along with Luzhin and many important members of the judiciary. Razumikhin and Zosimov discuss the murders of Aliona Ivanovna and Lizaveta. The painters who had been working in the empty apartment have been arrested for the crimes. Raskolnikov rouses himself from his feverish condition to listen to the news about the murders. Razumikhin explains in detail why the painters could not have killed Aliona Ivanovna and Lizaveta. The doctor notices that the conversation makes Raskolnikov excited, assuming that the patient’s interest in the grisly murders reflects a renewed interest in life itself.

Dunia’s fiancé Luzhin presents himself at Raskolnikov’s apartment dressed in a pompous, elaborate outfit. Though he seemingly expects everyone to know him by reputation alone, he struggles to introduce himself to the other people present. Raskolnikov studies Luzhin in sullen silence. Luzhin has made living arrangements for his fiancée and his future mother-in-law in a neighborhood known as a “dirty, smelly, disreputable” (143) place, blaming his unfamiliarity with Saint Petersburg. He claims to have already a secured a better, more lavish apartment, but notes that it is currently being decorated. He also mentions a friend named Lebeziatnikov, whose name Raskolnikov recognizes from his conversation with Marmeladov. Lebeziatnikov does not have a good reputation. The conversation moves on to a discussion of the murder. Razumikhin gives an update: The police are investigating anyone who recently pawned an item with Aliona Ivanovna. Raskolnikov cannot stop thinking about Luzhin. He accuses Luzhin of trying to make Dunia feel as though she is in his debt. Luzhin protests that the letter misrepresented him. Raskolnikov threatens to throw Luzhin down the stairs and tells Luzhin to go to hell. Razumikhin and Zosimov notice Raskolnikov’s sudden, unexpected outburst of emotion, and the close attention Raskolnikov paid to any news of the murder.

Later, Raskolnikov dresses in his new clothes and takes all of the money he has left. He slips out of the apartment unseen and walks toward the market. Along the way, he gives a little money to a 15-year-old girl who sings in the street. The streets are filled with raucous, drunken people and Raskolnikov wonders whether to stop and drink in the company of others. Since he has spent so much of his life trapped in a small space, he resolves to live life to its fullest. He goes to a clean restaurant, where he requests the previous five days’ worth of newspapers. He studies the papers for any news about the murders.

Police clerk Zametov approaches, astonished by Raskolnikov’s odd, erratic behavior. They discuss the murder case. Zametov believes the police are approaching the investigation in entirely the wrong manner. He believes that clearly an amateur clearly committed the crime. Raskolnikov silently resents this implication and launches into an explanation of how he would have hypothetically committed the crime and hidden the stolen goods. Raskolnikov’s rambling, violent imagination disturbs, but he blames Raskolnikov’s strange behavior on the recent fever. He is convinced Raskolnikov’s explanation is a practical joke.

Raskolnikov leaves the restaurant and runs into Razumikhin. Raskolnikov acts aggressively and insists that he does not want to be followed, nor does he want his friend’s kindness. He only wants to be left alone. Razumikhin is shocked. Like Zametov, he blames Raskolnikov’s odd behavior on the fever and insists that Raskolnikov attend his house party that evening.

Raskolnikov walks to a bridge where he sees a woman try to drown herself. The sight of a policeman rescuing the suicidal woman prompts Raskolnikov to realize that he came to the bridge with the same intention. He is disgusted that he would even think about killing himself, so he leaves the bridge and aimlessly wanders the streets until he returns to Aliona Ivanovna’s apartment block. He enters the crime scene and is shocked that the entire place has been repainted. The apartment is unrecognizable. The familiar sound of the doorbell, however, transports him back to the night of the murders. The painters arrive and demand to know what Raskolnikov is doing. Raskolnikov tells them to accompany him to the police station, where he intends to confess to his crimes. A crowd gathers to watch the scene, but assumes Raskolnikov is drunk or out of his mind, so they throw him out into the street.

As he walks to the police station, Raskolnikov comes across the aftermath of a traffic accident. A drunk man tripped and fell under a carriage, where he was gravely injured. Raskolnikov rushes toward the injured man through the chaotic street and recognizes him as Marmeladov. Raskolnikov offers money to anyone who will help take Marmeladov home.

When they arrive back at Marmeladov’s small, shared apartment, his wife Katerina Ivanovna is beside herself with worry. The children are still hungry and the family has no money for a funeral. She has no one to help her. Raskolnikov offers what little money he has for a doctor and for any other expenses. Someone sends for a priest and Katerina sends one of her young children to fetch Sonia. A doctor arrives and reveals that Marmeladov will die soon, so the last rites are performed. The dying Marmeladov mumbles an apology to Katerina and Sonia. Raskolnikov stares at Sonia, who is dressed in “cheap and gaudy” (169) streetwalker clothes and seems out-of-place in the small, dingy apartment. Marmeladov and Sonia feel deep shame that they should see each other in such a fashion. Katerina, meanwhile, works herself into a rage and coughs blood into a handkerchief, refusing to forgive her dying husband. Raskolnikov gives his money to Katerina and leaves.

Outside, he passes a familiar policeman, who notices that Raskolnikov is covered in blood. Raskolnikov returns home, but Sonia sends Polenka, one of her stepsisters, to find out more information about him to thank him for his kindness. Raskolnikov treats Polenka nicely and asks her to say a prayer on his behalf. Their interaction inspires Raskolnikov to abandon any notion of confessing to the murders. Instead, he visits Razumikhin to apologize for his bad behavior. Razumikhin accepts the apology, re-invites Raskolnikov into his party, and says that Zametov was worried that Raskolnikov was losing his mind. Raskolnikov does not want to come to the party, so Razumikhin offers to walk him home instead. At Raskolnikov’s house, they find Raskolnikov’s mother and sister waiting on the doorstep. They warmly embrace Raskolnikov, but all he can do is faint.