Crime and Punishment: Part Summaries

Raskolnikov lives in extreme poverty in a cramped room. We learn about his Superman theory through his article "On Crime"—that extraordinary people can transcend moral law. He plans to murder Alyona Ivanovna, an old pawnbroker. After careful preparation, he goes to her apartment with an axe hidden in his coat. He murders her brutally, but her innocent sister Lizaveta unexpectedly returns. Panicked, he kills her too. He hides stolen items under a rock without looking at them.

Key: The theory predicts he'll feel nothing; instead he immediately begins psychological collapse. Killing innocent Lizaveta makes rationalization impossible.

Raskolnikov develops severe fever and paranoia. He faints at the police station when they discuss the murder. He meets Marmeladov (later killed by carriage) and his family, including Sonya. He receives money from his mother and letter about his sister Dunya's planned marriage to wealthy Luzhin. His friend Razumikhin tries to help him, but Raskolnikov pushes everyone away. The psychological symptoms of guilt become undeniable.

Key: Raskolnikov can't control his physical and mental breakdown. Guilt manifests as disease.

Raskolnikov meets Porfiry Petrovich, who has read his article about extraordinary people. Their conversation is a chess match—Porfiry hints he suspects, Raskolnikov tries to deflect. Raskolnikov returns compulsively to the murder scene, ringing the bell. He has fever dreams about beating a horse to death (revealing his subconscious guilt). His mother and sister arrive, and he must pretend normalcy while falling apart.

Key: Porfiry knows but has no proof. He's playing psychological pressure game.

Raskolnikov confesses to Sonya, who is horrified but doesn't judge. She reads him the biblical story of Lazarus (resurrection). She begs him to confess publicly and accept punishment. Meanwhile, Svidrigailov overhears this confession. Luzhin tries to frame Sonya for theft but is exposed. Dunya breaks engagement with him. The pressure on Raskolnikov intensifies from all sides.

Key: Sonya becomes his path to redemption. Her faith offers what his reason can't: meaning through suffering.

Porfiry tells Raskolnikov he knows he's guilty and predicts he'll confess in the next few days. A housepainter falsely confesses, temporarily relieving pressure. Raskolnikov meets Svidrigailov multiple times—seeing in him what he could become if he successfully kills his conscience. His mother goes mad from grief. The psychological noose tightens from every direction.

Key: Confession becomes psychologically inevitable, not legally forced.

Svidrigailov commits suicide, showing Raskolnikov his potential future. Sonya threatens to leave unless Raskolnikov confesses. He goes to the police station but initially chickens out. Following Sonya's instructions, he kisses the earth at the crossroads and returns to confess: "I killed." He's arrested and sentenced to eight years in Siberia. Sonya follows him.

Key: Confession from exhaustion and need for Sonya's love, not genuine moral awakening (yet).

In Siberia, Raskolnikov initially remains proud and unrepentant. The other prisoners dislike him; he dislikes them. Sonya visits faithfully. Gradually, through her devoted love and the acceptance of suffering, he undergoes spiritual transformation. He picks up the New Testament she gave him. His love for her awakens, and with it, the possibility of redemption through faith. "But here begins a new story," Dostoevsky writes, declining to show this transformation in detail.

Key: Redemption told in summary, not shown dramatically—leaving readers to question its authenticity.