Crime and Punishment Summary

On a July day in St. Petersburg, a young man named Rodion Romanych Raskolnikov slips out of his apartment.

He is a former student who appears preoccupied with something and lives in poverty.

The protagonist visits the apartment of a pawnbroker named Alyona Ivanovna to try and resolve an unknown deed that's been troubling him. He had previously pawned an item with her a month ago and now pawns an old watch for less than he expected. While the pawnbroker counts his money, he pays close attention to her actions and words, trying to remember everything. He hints that he may return with another item to pawn and then leaves.

As he walks down the street, he is tormented by inner conflict. Fortunately, he comes across a tavern where he stops to eat and drink and begins to feel better. While there, he meets Semyon Zakharovich Marmeladov, a retired official who is also a drunkard.

Raskolnikov receives Marmeladov's detailed account of his life, which includes information on his three young children, his consumptive wife Katerina Ivanovna, and his oldest daughter Sofya (Sonya), who had to engage in prostitution to support the family.

Marmeladov had recently gotten a job but nearly immediately lost it due to his drunkenness. He stole the money from his income and spent it all on alcohol while away from home for five days.

Raskolnikov is requested to drive Marmeladov home. Rodion does this while watching as Katerina Ivanovna drags her spouse by his hair and collapses on him.

Her actions were because she assumed her husband would have gone drinking with Raskolnikov, which led to her expulsion of him. As he left, he placed some coins on their windowsill in silence. Although he regretted his actions once outside, he knew he could not retrieve and return the money.

The following day, he wakes up feeling quite tired. Tea and some leftover food from the previous night's meal are brought to him by the landlord's servant, Nastasya. Unfortunately, the landlady no longer provides him with dinner as he needs to catch up on his rent. Nastasya informs him that he has received a letter, which causes him to feel uneasy. He requests her to exit the room and retrieve the letter for him.

The recipient received a letter from his mother, Pulcheria Alexandrovna, which mainly discussed Avdotya Romanovna, also known as Dunya. Dunya previously worked as a governess for the Svidrigailov family but was fired due to her husband's inappropriate feelings toward her. The wife falsely accused Dunya of starting the relationship and proceeded to damage her reputation in the community.

However, Svidrigailov eventually proved Dunya's innocence, and Marfa Petrovna worked hard to restore her honor. Marfa also arranged a meeting between Dunya and her relative, Pyotr Petrovich Luzhin, who later became engaged to Dunya. Pulcheria Alexandrovna and Dunya are excited to meet Rodion when they arrive in Petersburg soon after Luzhin.

Rodya leaves the house to explore and reflect. Although his mother tries to make everything seem significant, it is evident that Luzhin does not love Dunya and is not worthy of her. Despite knowing this, Dunya has decided to marry him to provide for her family financially. Disgusted and furious, Rodya cannot accept this act of selflessness; however, as soon as he decides to call off the engagement, he begins to doubt his own "right" to do so.

Raskolnikov realizes that he has already set out to meet his lone university buddy, Dmitri Prokofych Razumikhin. He plans to see Razumikhin the day following "that," or the unidentified deed. He ends up dozing off by the side of the road after becoming lost. In his visions, he sees some peasants brutally flogging an elderly nag until the wretched animal falls and dies.

Upon waking up in a sweat, he feels immense relief that it was a dream. He reconsiders his plan and realizes he can't execute it. As he heads home, he detours to Haymarket and overhears a conversation between some merchants and Lizaveta Ivanovna, the pawnbroker's half-sister. Lizaveta will be traveling for work the following evening. Raskolnikov sees this as a unique opportunity to act on his plan since Alyona Ivanovna will be alone then. He feels rejuvenated and better about his chances.

After returning home, he had a strange and uncomfortable sleep, making him worry that he might have missed his opportunity.

When he woke up in the evening, he started rushing around to prepare for the crime he planned to commit - killing and robbing the pawnbroker. He intends to conduct the ideal crime while maintaining total control over his reason and will and maybe utilize the rewards (i.e., the stolen items) to benefit others.

Raskolnikov travels to Alyona Ivanovna's house. Under the guise of having a fresh vow for her, he approaches. He pulls out his axe and begins hitting her on the head until she dies as she fights with the purposefully challenging knots.

The person appears nervous as they open a trunk full of items. Suddenly, they hear a footstep while putting something in their pockets. He becomes frozen and realizes with horror that someone has entered. He runs inside the room while holding the axe. Standing there, looking at her half-sister's body, is Lizaveta.

Rodya charges at her and uses the axe to murder both of them.

After hearing someone outside, Raskolnikov hooks the door latch and crouches behind it to listen. The guests sense that something is wrong and leave to seek assistance. Despite almost falling, Rodya manages to quietly slip out of the flat, escape the building, and make it home without any disturbance.

Rodya is awoken from a restless sleep by Nastasya, who is accompanied by the caretaker and summons him to the police station. Despite feeling unwell, he becomes anxious and wonders why he has been called, but ultimately decides to go. Upon arriving at the station, despite his nerves, Rodya learns he is being asked to pay off a promissory note he made for his landlord a while back.

He follows the clerk's instructions and writes a declaration of his promise to pay, feeling relieved. Meanwhile, while Raskolnikov is unconscious, Nikodim Fomich and Ilya Petrovich, the police head, discuss the murders.

Standing up, he realizes that everyone is looking at him strangely. Ilya Petrovich starts asking him about his whereabouts the previous night, and Nikodim Fomich criticizes Ilya Petrovich, resulting in Raskolnikov getting fired. After ensuring his apartment hasn't been searched, Rodya heads home and retrieves all the stolen items he had hidden in various places. He eventually finds them in an empty courtyard behind a stone.

Raskolnikov visits Razumikhin, who is surprised to see him. But Raskolnikov leaves quickly, which upsets and angers Razumikhin. Later, Raskolnikov goes home and goes to bed. The next day, he becomes unconscious due to a sickness developing for a while.

After being sick, Razumikhin takes care of Rodya, who wakes up to find his mother has borrowed money using her pension as collateral. Razumikhin has become friends with many people in Rodya's life, and he even finds Rodya's promissory note and uses some money to buy himself slightly worn clothes.

While checking on Rodya, Dr. Zossimov and Razumikhin begin discussing the killings. Razumikhin is trying to clear Nikolai Dementiev, who was employed as a painter in residence during the crime. To do so, he has become acquainted with Zamyotov, a clerk at the police station. Raskolnikov finds the entire situation to be distressing.

During the conversation, Dunya's fiancé, Pyotr Petrovich Luzhin, appears. He visits Rodion, but unfortunately, their interaction turns sour, and Rodya throws him out after a heated argument.

Rodya ordered everyone else to leave and then left the place alone. He wandered around and ended up at the Crystal Palace bar, where he met Zamyotov. Rodya played a trick on the clerk by making him believe he was the killer and then caught him off guard by accusing him of thinking that way. Zamyotov was left with the impression that Rodya was not the killer when he left.

Razumikhin was angry with Rodya for leaving without caring for himself, especially since he was unwell. After their argument, he met Rodya as he left and invited him to a party he was hosting that evening. Rodya left, and Razumikhin went to speak with Zamyotov, feeling frustrated.

As Rodya makes his way to the river, he comes across Alyona Ivanovna's home, which is renovating. Curiosity leads him to enter the flat, where he startles the workers with his questions about blood and the constant doorbell ringing. Eventually, the workers call the police on this erratic behavior, but Rodya is instructed to leave the premises.

The man stands in the street, uncertain about leaving. He approaches the area where there seems to be some commotion. It turns out that Marmeladov, who was intoxicated, was struck by a carriage.

Assuming command, Rodya drives Marmeladov to his flat. They sent a physician and a priest. Additionally, Sonya is requested, and Marmeladov passes away in her arms after pleading for mercy. Rodya gives Katerina Ivanovna all the remaining money he has, which was given to him by his mother, for the burial, before leaving.

After feeling revitalized, Rodya stops by Razumikhin's place on his way home. He is accompanied by a very drunk Razumikhin, who walks him home. Upon opening the door, they see Rodya's mother and sister inside.

Exhausted, Rodya collapses. Once he regains his strength, he becomes demanding and sour, insisting that Dunya end her engagement with Luzhin. Razumikhin is indignant but takes the ladies under his wing. He drives them home and falls in love with Dunya at first sight. Razumikhin promises to update them on Rodya's condition and keeps his word despite the ladies' initial hesitation.

The morning after his drunken behavior, he feels ashamed. However, upon meeting with the women, they are kind and appreciative. They bombard him with questions about Rodya and even show him a letter Luzhin wrote to them, requesting a meeting at 8:00 pm and explicitly forbidding Rodya's attendance. When they visit Rodya, they find him with Zossimov, and the atmosphere is tense. Rodya seems distant and strange. He informs Dunya that she must choose between him and Luzhin. She asks that he and Razumikhin attend the meeting at 8:00.

When Sonya enters the room, Luzhin's letter's critical comments about her make both her and Rodya feel slightly uneasy, even though Rodya introduces her to his mother and sister. After a brief visit, Rodya's family leaves, and he asks Razumikhin, who is related to the detective investigating the murder case, about visiting Porfiry Petrovich.

Rodya then tells Sonya to wait and follows up by asking for her address and promising to call her later. When they part ways on the street, a stranger overhears Sonya calling Rodya by name and follows her home, discovering that he lives next door to her.

Rodya enters Porfiry Petrovich's apartment in a good mood. However, he is surprised to find Zamyotov there, which shocks him. Upon discussing criminal psychology, Porfiry brings up an essay Rodya wrote called "On Crime," where he discusses the psychology of criminals and presents his viewpoint.

Rodya believes that exceptional individuals possess unique ideas and are considered leaders, while the rest of the population comprises the masses. He believes these leaders should be allowed to commit crimes if it is necessary to promote their views. Unfortunately, Rodya loses his composure when Porfiry becomes elusive during their conversation, and things do not go well.

The following day, Porfiry invites him to his workplace. To meet with Dunya and her mother, Rodya and Razumikhin depart. As they get close, Rodya abruptly informs Razumikhin that he has got to work and won't be able to meet up with them immediately. After returning to his apartment, he checks to see if he left any signs before leaving. The keeper mentions a craftsman asking about Rodya-the craftsman glances at Rodya before leaving quietly. Rodya catches up with him and asks about his day, but the craftsman accuses him of murder and disappears abruptly.

Rodya, who is weak, returns to his room and lies down. This unidentified man, who seems to know everything, is often on his mind. He considers how he failed to complete the crime, demonstrating that he is not an "extraordinary" guy but rather a "louse." He slumbers and experiences nightmares.

When he wakes up, a stranger is in his room. Arkady Ivanovich Svidrigailov is the name the individual uses to identify himself.

Following a weird exchange, Rodya asks the man what his business is. In response, he states that he has come to make Dunya an offer of 10,000 roubles to end her engagement with Luzhin. Rodya first refuses to deliver the message to her but eventually agrees. Svidrigailov tells Rodya that Marfa Petrovna, who recently passed away, gave Dunya 3,000 roubles in her will as he left.

When Razumikhin arrives to pick up Rodya, they proceed to their appointment, where Rodya entrusts the care of his family to Razumikhin. Dunya says she wants Luzhin and Rodya to reunite at the meeting. However, Luzhin declines, and soon after another argument breaks out, Dunya, enraged and humiliated, calls off the engagement and throws Luzhin out.

Luzhin leaves, enraged with Rodya and clinging to the notion that he could mend fences with Dunya and her mother.

Everyone is thrilled, particularly over Marfa Petrovna's legacy to Dunya, and they immediately begin making plans for the future. However, Rodya quickly departs, wanting privacy. Razumikhin pursues him. Once more, Rodya entrusts Razumikhin with the protection of his family. As they walk down the corridor together, Rodya appears to reveal his terrible truth to Razumikhin.

Rodya approaches Sonya right away. He chastises her while also kissing her foot. He wonders how she has managed to keep her soul pure and finds out that it is because of her unwavering faith in God. Suspecting her to be a "holy fool," he requests that she recite the account of Lazarus from the Bible to him.

He then leaves after committing to return the next day and inform her who killed Lizaveta. Svidrigailov is seated on the opposite side of the door and has listened attentively to the entire talk.

Rodya visits Porfiry Petrovich's office the following day. Once more, the talk fails because Rodya can't understand Porfiry. A psychological cat-and-mouse game is being played. Porfiry makes oblique allusions to Rodya's actions to highlight how human nature is on the investigator's side since it will ultimately force the offender to lose control. Rodya bursts into anger and anxiety at Porfiry's persistent attempts to expose him through falsehoods.

When Nikolai Dementiev, the house painter suspected in the murder case, barges in as he is about to leave, he kneels and utters a confession, which throws Porfiry off and makes Raskolnikov happy.

After spending some time at home, Rodya leaves to attend Marmeladov's memorial dinner. He runs into the tradesman who had accused him of being a murderer at his door. The man apologizes for his misgivings. He departs from Rodya, a changed man, renewed by the realization that Porfiry no longer has anything to base his assumptions on.

Luzhin, who is distraught at losing Dunya, devises a scheme to disgrace Raskolnikov in the eyes of his family by accusing and slandering Sonya to win back Dunya's favor. In front of his roommate, Andrei Semyonovich Lebezyatnikov, Luzhin summons Sonya in and offers her 10 roubles from a big stack of money he had been counting before Marmeladov's memorial feast.

Sonya then makes her way to the lunch, where Rodya is seated next to Katerina Ivanovna and several other unappealing visitors. When Luzhin walks in, the meal is going horribly and about to get violent.

He charges Sonya with robbing him of 100 roubles. She claims otherwise, but a search reveals the cash in her pocket. However, Lebezyatnikov, who has been observing, declares that Luzhin had put the money on Sonya without her knowledge before the police could be contacted. Rodya approaches to discuss Luzhin's likely reason.

Luzhin flees before being mistreated by the corporation. The Marmeladovs are ejected from their apartment, Sonya rushes wildly home, and Katerina Ivanovna leaves to seek retribution.

Rodya visits Sonya's home and tells her about his crime. She initially reacts with horror and disbelief, but eventually, she hears his justifications and witnesses his suffering. She instructs him to confess his wrongdoing publicly. Even though he knows he will eventually be locked up, he rejects the concept.

When Lebezyatnikov enters, he informs the group that Katerina Ivanovna has gone insane and is forcing her kids to perform publicly for cash. Sonya leaves. Rodya returns home. Dunya enters, astonished.

She assures him that she can help him if he needs it and that Razumikhin has informed her that Rodya is suspected of murder. He walks outside again after she has left and runs into Lebezyatnikov, who shows him where Katerina Ivanovna and her kids are.

Children are afraid as Katerina Ivanovna is on the verge of a psychotic break. She won't return to the flat. She falls while running after the children as they try to escape. She is brought to Sonya's apartment later in her consumption, where she dies.

Svidrigailov promises Rodya that he will support her family before quoting a few passages to prove that he has been listening to her confession to Sonya. Fearing the worst, Ryda enters a period of haziness and wanders.

One day, Razumikhin enters his room to express his outrage at how Rodya has treated his family. Rodya recommends the women to Razumikhin as he departs and even speculates that Dunya could already be in love with him.

Razumikhin exits, jubilant, then pops his head back in to inform Rodya that the painter Nikolai confessed to the killings; Porfiry himself had informed Razumikhin of the development.

Rodya is ready to leave the house to find Svidrigailov, unburdened by this unexpected development when Porfiry enters. They take a seat. Porfiry informs Rodya that he should surrender himself in because he is aware of his guilt. He urges Rodya to be optimistic about life since he still has the rest of his life ahead of him. Porfiry bids Rodion farewell after informing him that he will likely have him arrested in the next two days.

Rodya departs to look for Svidrigailov. He comes upon him at a bar. Svidrigailov receives a direct warning from Rodya that if he attempts to use his knowledge of Rodya's secret to blackmail Dunya, Rodya will murder him.

While rather inebriated, Svidrigailov discusses Marfa Petrovna and his failed effort to seduce Dunya. He also informs Rodion about his newest fiancée, a 16-year-old. Disgusted by him, Rodya stands up to go. Around that exact moment, they both go. Before Rodya is persuaded that Svidrigailov has no arrangements to see Dunya that day, he follows Svidrigailov for a little while. He goes his way.

To meet with Svidrigailov, who had sent her a letter exposing Rodya's secret and offering to give proof, Dunya joins the scene very quickly. He brings her to his flat, pretending to show her the proof but just trying to extort her. She realizes too late that she and he are confined to the same space. But she has a gun with her, threatening to shoot him if he approaches. She lowers the pistol, moving him and changing his menacing approach. He clarifies that she will never be able to love him, and he orders her to go right now. He leaves his flat and wanders about the rest of the day, taking care of business before shooting himself the following morning.

Rodya visits his mother for the final time before turning himself in later that day. Then, as he dashes home, he sees Dunya waiting for him. He departs from her and heads over to Sonya. He receives a cross from her. While he can't comprehend why he should go because he still does not perceive his deed as a criminal, he rushes out angrily without even saying goodbye to her.

He walks to the train station, and Sonya follows. After learning that Svidrigailov has passed away, he departs astonished and without confessing. However, Sonya awaits him, so he returns upstairs and confesses.

After being sent to Siberia, Sonya pursues Rodya. Dunya marries Razumikhin. Died was Pulcheria Alexandrovna. Regarding Rodya, Sonya writes to the Razumikhins. He is socially awkward and despised by his other inmates.

He becomes unwell. Sonya becomes unwell during the conclusion of his illness, and he misses her. She goes to him when she is well again, and he finally confesses his sins to her while wailing. He is restored, can love Sonya, and anticipates his life with her after realizing his fault.

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