Crime and Punishment Plot Overview

Rodion Raskolnikov, former law student, is living in poverty and contemplates murdering the mean pawnbroker Alyona Ivanovna. While contemplating this act, Rodion meets a drunkard whose daughter (Sonya) has turned to prostitution to support his family and finds out his sister (Dunya) is planning to marry a wealthy man (Luzhin). Raskolnikov decides to kill the wench, but during the murder is forced to murder Alyona’s sister Lizaveta when she walks in on him. Raskolnikov barely manages to escape unnoticed and falls into a fervor, worrying about evidence. Raskolnikov feverishly wanders St. Petersburg, finds his friend Razumikhin before leaving quickly, and happens upon the drunkard again. He’d been hit by a carriage, and Raskolnikov leaves all of his money with his wife for the funeral. Dunya’s fiance visits Raskolnikov while he’s recovering from his illness; Raskolnikov thinks him foolish and realizes his sister is only trying to secure money for him. Raskolnikov is angered by this unnecessary sacrifice. Raskolnikov meets with detective Porfiry Petrovich in the hopes of getting his property that Alyona had, and Porfiry immediately begins toying with the notion that Raskolnikov is the killer (stressing Raskolnikov out to no end).

Raskolnikov, Dunya, and Luzhin meet for dinner, and Raskolnikov convinces Dunya to finally spur Luzhin away. Raskolnikov goes to Sonya for emotional release, and finally confesses to her that he killed Alyona. She’s initially shocked, but forgives him quickly and tells him to repent, much to Rodion’s surprise. Unfortunately, Svidrigai?lov (a cruel man after Dunya’s hand) eavesdropped on this confession. Svidrigai?lov confronts Raskolnikov, and alludes to blackmail. Meanwhile, Porfiry is convinced Raskolnikov is the murderer (though without evidence) and tries to get him to confess. Svidrigai?lov finds Dunya wants nothing to do with him, and shoots himself. Raskolnikov is on his way to the police station to confess when he hears of this and hesitates: with his only adversary dead, he could get away with the killing.

Only Sonya’s appearance convinces Rodion to give in. Rodion is sentenced to eight years in Siberia, and begins the process of psychological healing. Razumikhin and Dunya elope.Rodion Raskolnikov, former law student, is living in poverty and contemplates murdering the mean pawnbroker Alyona Ivanovna. While contemplating this act, Rodion meets a drunkard whose daughter (Sonya) has turned to prostitution to support his family and finds out his sister (Dunya) is planning to marry a wealthy man (Luzhin). Raskolnikov decides to kill the wench, but during the murder is forced to murder Alyona’s sister Lizaveta when she walks in on him. Raskolnikov barely manages to escape unnoticed and falls into a fervor, worrying about evidence. Raskolnikov feverishly wanders St. Petersburg, finds his friend Razumikhin before leaving quickly, and happens upon the drunkard again. He’d been hit by a carriage, and Raskolnikov leaves all of his money with his wife for the funeral. Dunya’s fiance visits Raskolnikov while he’s recovering from his illness; Raskolnikov thinks him foolish and realizes his sister is only trying to secure money for him. Raskolnikov is angered by this unnecessary sacrifice. Raskolnikov meets with detective Porfiry Petrovich in the hopes of getting his property that Alyona had, and Porfiry immediately begins toying with the notion that Raskolnikov is the killer (stressing Raskolnikov out to no end). Raskolnikov, Dunya, and Luzhin meet for dinner, and Raskolnikov convinces Dunya to finally spur Luzhin away.

Raskolnikov goes to Sonya for emotional release, and finally confesses to her that he killed Alyona. She’s initially shocked, but forgives him quickly and tells him to repent, much to Rodion’s surprise. Unfortunately, Svidrigai?lov (a cruel man after Dunya’s hand) eavesdropped on this confession. Svidrigai?lov confronts Raskolnikov, and alludes to blackmail. Meanwhile, Porfiry is convinced Raskolnikov is the murderer (though without evidence) and tries to get him to confess. Svidrigai?lov finds Dunya wants nothing to do with him, and shoots himself. Raskolnikov is on his way to the police station to confess when he hears of this and hesitates: with his only adversary dead, he could get away with the killing. Only Sonya’s appearance convinces Rodion to give in. Rodion is sentenced to eight years in Siberia, and begins the process of psychological healing. Razumikhin and Dunya elope.

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