F. M. Dostoevsky, "Crime and Punishment": a summary

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The novel "Crime and Punishment", a summary of which is given here, was written by F. M. Dostoevsky in the 60s of the 19th century. Many years have passed since then, and it still arouses burning interest among readers. The events described in it are relevant in our time.

Meet Rodion Raskolnikov

Rodion Raskolnikov is a former student who lives in the attic of an old house. He has no money, he owes the mistress of the house for everything. He is dressed badly. In such rags, even a tramp would be embarrassed to go out into the street. At present, he lives by pawning his few valuable things to an old pawnbroker. The day came when he had to take his last treasure to her. Rodion plans to kill the old woman. On the way to her, he reflects on how good it would be to rid the world of this "old and evil widow." Having pawned his silver watch, the former student goes home, and on the way he enters a tavern, where he meets Marmeladov, a drunken official. He tellsRodion about his bitter life, that his wife Katerina Ivanovna makes his daughter Sonya go to the panel to cope with poverty. The novel "Crime and Punishment" begins with a description of the living conditions and appearance of the protagonist. Its content is summarized in this article.

Murder of the old pawnbroker

Acquaintance with Marmeladov makes a great impression on Raskolnikov. He was especially shocked by the story of Sonechka, who is forced to become a prostitute in order to save herself and her family from poverty. The next morning he receives a letter from his mother, in which she writes about her visit to him with his sister Dunya, who is about to get married. A certain Luzhin turned out to be her suitor - a prudent and deceitful man. Rodion's mother hopes that her daughter's fiancé will provide funds for the restoration of her son's studies. Reflecting on the victims of Sonechka and Dunya, Rodion becomes even more strengthened in his desire to kill the old pawnbroker in order to rid this world of such a vile person who profits from the misfortune of other people. The day has come when he fulfills his plan. However, things did not go as he expected. When he hacked the old woman to death with an ax, her sister Lizaveta returned to the apartment. To get rid of the witness, Raskolnikov kills her too. He then steals valuables from the victims' apartment and flees the crime scene. He hides what he has stolen and does not dare to use it. The chain of circumstances that led the protagonist to the idea of a crime can be easily traced in the novel Crime and Punishment. The summary does not allow to convey all the details of this crime.

Rodion is suspected of a crime

After the perfect murder, Raskolnikov feels sick and broken. From the people around him, his feverish state did not hide. It begins to seem to him that everyone around knows about his terrible secret. Rodion goes to the investigator Porfiry Petrovich in order to allegedly find out the fate of his valuable things, pawned from the old woman. In fact, he hopes to deflect suspicion from himself. An experienced investigator quickly guesses that the killer of old women is now in front of him, but he cannot prove anything. Comprehension by the main character of his terrible act is colorfully conveyed by the author in the novel "Crime and Punishment". The summary does not allow to fully convey the torment and mental anguish of Rodion Raskolnikov.

The death of Marmeladov and Raskolnikov's acquaintance with Sonya and Katerina Ivanovna

Wandering around St. Petersburg, our hero reflects on whether he did the right thing by committing a murder. At this time, a tragedy occurs on the road - the carriage runs over a person who receives terrible injuries. It turns out to be Marmeladov. Rodion rushes to the rescue and gives his last money for a doctor for a drunk official. However, this can no longer help Marmeladov, and he soon dies. In the house of a former official, he meets his daughter Sonechka and his wife Katerina Ivanovna. The decline of moral and family values can be traced in the novel "Crime and Punishment", the heroes of which are rejected by society. Acquaintance of the protagonist with Sonya is his hope for a brighter future, forunderstanding on her part and reconciliation with other people.

Raskolnikov confesses murder to Sonya

Rodion feels lonely among people. His soul yearns for understanding. In the hope of this, he becomes close to Sonechka Marmeladova. It seems to him that it is she, who, like him, has transgressed the law and corrected human moral principles, is able to understand him. Raskolnikov confesses to her the murder of the old women. Sonya assures him that he needs to surrender and be punished in order to atone for this grave sin. Indeed, an innocent person, the house painter Mikolka, confessed to this murder. However, the young man does not agree with her. He hopes to still "fight". Arriving at his home, he finds Porfiry Petrovich there, who came to convince the criminal to turn himself in to the police. Before going for it, Rodion says goodbye to his family and Sonechka. He makes an official statement to the police. Raskolnikov is sent to hard labor in Siberia. Sonya settles next to him. Gradually, the killer becomes convinced that the crime is a great sin, and it must be atoned for. Rodion picks up the Gospel.

This episode ends the author of the novel "Crime and Punishment". The summary of the work cannot convey the full depth and significance of the events taking place in it. Therefore, it is worth reading it in the original.