Even if you managed to get acquainted with the work of Dostoevsky in the summer, of course, you cannot remember everything: some little things are forgotten, the names of minor characters are erased from memory, but in literature lessons you always need to be prepared for the most tricky questions. During school hours, there is not enough time at all to turn over the Crime and Punishment, so we offer you a brief retelling of the chapters. And if you still think that the whole essence of this story is the murder of an old woman, we suggest you take a couple of minutes to read analysis of this book.
I part
The protagonist Rodion Raskolnikov is a former student living in a closet located in St. Petersburg (here is his detailed description). Only in the novel is it not a majestic city at all: stuffiness, stink, crush, drunk people and crushing poverty are described (here is a description of the capital). In the first chapter, the readers are immediately given a portrait of the old percent-old woman Alena Ivanovna, consisting of repulsive features: a decrepit and greedy woman mired in greed. Raskolnikov goes to the old woman to look around and check his feelings, lays expensive things to her.
The Marmeladov family also does not take long to wait, and the former official, an alcoholic Semyon Marmeladov, gets acquainted with Raskolnikov in a binge (here is an analysis of the episode). There he tells Rodion about his family living in poverty and about his daughter Sonya, who lives “on a yellow ticket” to feed her father’s family. The main character also receives a letter from his mother, which tells about Raskolnikov’s sister Duna, landowner Svidrigailov and businessman Luzhin. The owner of the house where she served as a governess insulted Dunya with her harassment. Now she can no longer work. And she takes a desperate step - an engagement with a wealthy but unloved man - Luzhin (here is their description and significance in the novel).
Immediately in the first part, Raskolnikov decides what crime to be. He has a noble goal, but he is tormented by doubts about the correctness of this act. However, he sees signs that are pushing him to kill: an accidentally heard conversation between a student and an officer in a tavern about the justice of a possible murder of an old woman, that Lizaveta (Alena Ivanovna’s sisters) will not be home tomorrow night (the reasons for this decision are described in detail). The first part ends with a crime committed by Raskolnikov: the author describes the deliberate murder and robbery of an old woman-percent-bearer and the accidental murder of her pregnant sister Lizaveta. Rodion is very afraid, he does not even manage to make a decisive blow the first time. The victim’s sister, whom he also doesn’t leave alive, finds him with an open body. Then, as if in a fever, he leaves the house, taking the values that accidentally caught his eye, even without really searching the apartment. On the way, he was barely hiding from random passers-by in the entrance, so as not to be recognized.
II part
All subsequent parts of the novel can be called the punishment of the protagonist, immediately after the crime he experiences horror, confusion and fear. Raskolnikov was called to the police office, which undoubtedly frightened him: however, the reason for the call was the landlady’s complaint for non-payment. An inexperienced criminal begins to give himself out when he faints during an accidentally heard conversation about the murder of an old percent-woman.
Raskolnikov hides everything stolen under a stone in an unfamiliar courtyard, and even this makes it clear to the reader how useless the hero’s crime was. Rodion, weakened and sick from stress, is helped by a friend at the University of Razumikhin, providing him with food and clothing (here is their comparative characteristic). In the same part, Raskolnikov's unsuccessful acquaintance with Luzhin will take place. Both men immediately imbued each other with mutual antipathy. The brother is tormented, he is not able to accept such a sacrifice from his sister, because she is selling herself, so that he can continue his studies.
The second part ends with a terrible tragedy: Marmeladov falls under a horse and dies, Sonya appears. Raskolnikov gives the money that his mother sent him for the funeral of the Marmeladov family (here is a description of their tragedy). The hero admitted to himself that at that moment he lived, and not just existed. In a dirty little room he saw the unfortunate kids and their mother, Katerina Ivanovna, who was sick with consumption. All of them contain a pale and thin girl Sonia (here is her description), the only native daughter of the deceased, who sells herself for the survival of her stepmother and her offspring.
III part
To Raskolnikov mother and sister come. With the naked eye, Razumikhin's love for the Duna is visible. Raskolnikov is indignant at the letter of Luzhin, where the groom writes to his relatives that Rodion gave the money to the “girl of notorious behavior”. Trying to prove that Luzhin distorted the situation, Raskolnikov puts Sonya, who came to invite the hero to the wake, next to her mother and sister.
In the third part, Raskolnikov will finally meet the talented investigator Porfiry Petrovich, who has no evidence for the main character, but has exceptional intuition. We hear a conversation about Raskolnikov’s theory, which is set forth in the article “On Crime,” written by a young man six months before the murder of Alena Ivanovna (here is a description of the theory). Raskolnikov sets forth the essence of his theory about ordinary people, prone to obedience and humility, and extraordinary people who are allowed to break the law, if this is required for an important idea. Explaining his assumption of "trembling creatures and those who have the right," the nervous and febrile Rodion only arouses even more suspicion among Porfiry Petrovich.
IV part
In the fourth part of Dostoevsky’s novel, the reader gets acquainted with Svidrigailov, the very owner of the house where Dunya was discredited by the dirty harassment of the master. This libertine comes to Raskolnikov and, noting a soul mate in him, admits that he is haunted by his victims. He has long lived only voluptuousness and has already destroyed many women's destinies.
Dunya and Luzhin quarrel and terminate the engagement, and Raskolnikov looks to Sonya. The hero tells her that her sin is that she "in vain killed and betrayed herself." Marmeladova reads Rodion the biblical legend of the resurrection of Lazarus, trying to convey to him the meaning of his self-denial and hope for a favorable outcome.
Raskolnikov is again at the police station, at Porfiry Petrovich. Psychologically unable to withstand the pressure, he shouts:
Arrest me, search me, but if you please act on the form, not play with me!
However, the unexpected recognition of the painter Nikolai in the murder of the percent-centric puts Raskolnikov in a stupor. The investigator understands who is guilty, but can not do anything without the frank confession of the criminal.
V part
Luzhin talks with Sonya, and at the wake of Marmeladov, he palms her in, so that then Raskolnikov can quarrel with his sister and mother. He is trying to accuse the girl of stealing money, but she is defended by Lebezyatnikov and Raskolnikov. The slanderer is driven away with shame.
Raskolnikov in Sonya confesses to her murder. Rodion is trying to prove to her that he was trying to kill a "useless, ugly, evil" louse, Sonia advises "to accept suffering and atone for himself with it." Later it turns out that their conversation was overheard by Svidrigailov, who lives in the neighborhood.
Katerina Ivanovna dies of throat bleeding in Sonya’s room, and Svidrigailov pays for her funeral and the lives of her children. He is afraid of the retribution of fate for his sins, the realization of his own perversity drives him crazy.
VI part
In the final part of the novel, Porfiry Petrovich looks at Raskolnikov, at the end of their conversation the investigator is convinced that it was Raskolnikov who killed the interest-bearing agent and suggested that he “make a confession”. Dunya is with Svidrigailov: he informs her of the crime of her brother. He also tries to get her location, but the woman leaves him. After her departure, Svidrigailov is tormented by nightmares, and he commits suicide.
Raskolnikov’s mother is unwell, they say goodbye to her son.
She had long understood that something terrible was happening to her son, and now some terrible moment had come to him.
After a conversation, first with Dunya, then with Sonya Raskolnikov repented in the middle of the square, kissing the dirty earth "with pleasure and happiness", after which Rodion confessed to the police.
Epilogue
It is in the epilogue that the end of history is revealed to us, hope for the future of Raskolnikov and Sonya is given, and the long-awaited resurrection of the hero takes place (here it is described in detail).
In the final chapter of the novel Raskolnikov in Siberia, in hard labor. Sonia Marmeladova is next to the main character, who in the epilogue realizes his love for her. He used to be enraged by her presence, her self-denial. It seemed to him that with her behavior she seemed to reproach him and oblige him to something. This kind and sincere girl began a good relationship with prisoners. But over time, he realized how beautiful and kind this girl was, how beneficial her influence was.
Readers are told about the trial of Rodion. Raskolnikov’s dreams play an important role in the work, and the hero’s final dream shows a pestilence, because of which everyone thought that the truth lies in him (here is a detailed description of dreams). Thanks to this terrible dream, where everything perished, Raskolnikov finally realizes the inhumane meaning of his own theory and repents of the crime.
