Summary: Chapter I
A delirious haze settles over Raskolnikov in
the days following Katerina Ivanovna’s death and his confession
to Sonya. He wanders the streets, hanging around in bars and outside
the building in which Sonya lives. One day, Razumikhin comes to
visit him in his room. He says that he has come to find out once
and for all whether or not Raskolnikov has gone mad. Razumikhin
decides that he has not. He tells Raskolnikov that Pulcheria Alexandrovna
is heartbroken and feels abandoned. The always compassionate Razumikhin
finally seems to have lost patience with Raskolnikov’s selfishness,
now that he has seen the pain that it causes his family. He informs
Raskolnikov of a mysterious and upsetting letter that Dunya has
received. He also mentions that Porfiry Petrovich apparently believes
that the painter, Nikolai, is guilty of the murders. When Raskolnikov
tells him of Dunya’s earlier visit, Razumikhin becomes suspicious
of a “conspiracy” between the two. After Razumikhin leaves, Porfiry
appears.
Summary: Chapter II
Porfiry tells Raskolnikov that he wants to apologize for
his treatment of him, admitting that he was trying to extract a
confession from him. He attributes his suspicions to Raskolnikov’s
article, his fainting on his first visit to the police station,
and his remarks to Zamyotov at the Crystal Palace. But the official
soon admits that he still does not believe Nikolai’s confession,
since the painter seems too childlike and is ignorant of most of
the details of the crime. Raskolnikov, Porfiry claims, is the true
murderer. Raskolnikov denies the accusation, but Petrovich repeats
the charge with confidence. He has not arrested Raskolnikov, he
says, because he has not gathered enough evidence. He is sympathetic
to Raskolnikov, he says, and urges him to confess. He claims that
he has proof of Raskolnikov’s guilt and that Raskolnikov would look
better in the eyes of the judge if he confessed before the evidence
was produced. If he confesses, Porfiry promises to put in a good
word with the judge. He is confident that Raskolnikov’s guilt will
eventually cause him to confess. Before leaving, he asks Raskolnikov
to leave a note disclosing the location of the stolen loot should
he decide to commit suicide. Raskolnikov leaves his room soon after.
Summary: Chapter III
Raskolnikov goes looking for Svidrigailov. He finds him
in a café, being entertained in one of the back rooms by a singer.
After a series of elusive exchanges with Svidrigailov, Raskolnikov,
unsettled, threatens to kill him if he uses “some recent discovery”
about Raskolnikov to force his will upon Dunya. Svidrigailov tells Raskolnikov
that he enjoys observing him, and then begins to talk about his
life. Thinking Svidrigailov a worthless and depraved man, Raskolnikov
gets up to leave. Svidrigailov, however, persuades him to stay by
mentioning Dunya.
Summary: Chapter IV
Svidrigailov proceeds to tell Raskolnikov at length about
his relationship with Marfa Petrovna, who allowed him to be unfaithful
to her, and his attraction to Dunya. Raskolnikov notices that Svidrigailov
is becoming drunk and announces that he is convinced that Svidrigailov
still has designs on Dunya. Svidrigailov tries to deflect Raskolnikov’s
concerns by telling him that he has found himself a young, vulnerable
fifteen-year-old girl and has recently become engaged to her. According
to Svidrigailov, this girl possesses a mixture of childlike qualities
and mature intelligence that he finds alluring. Raskolnikov is disgusted
at the engagement and the depraved pleasure that the older man clearly
takes in it, but Svidrigailov is unfazed. He leaves, amused by Raskolnikov’s
disapproval. Raskolnikov follows Svidrigailov into the street, worried
that he might still be a threat to Dunya despite his engagement.
Summary: Chapter V
Svidrigailov notices Raskolnikov pursuing him and again
tells him goodbye. Raskolnikov decides not to follow Svidrigailov
after Svidrigailov boards a carriage for a distant part of the city.
He fails to notice that Svidrigailov rides the carriage for only
a hundred paces before getting off. Svidrigailov lures Dunya to
his room by reminding her that he knows about her brother’s secret,
referring to the information that he promised to reveal in the mysterious
letter mentioned by Razumikhin. Dunya is incredulous when Svidrigailov reveals
that he overheard Raskolnikov confessing to the murders of Alyona
Ivanovna and Lizaveta. While Dunya becomes faint with anger and
confusion, Svidrigailov offers to help Raskolnikov avoid punishment
if she will marry him. In horror, she runs to the door, only to
discover that Svidrigailov has locked it. He threatens to rape her,
warning that he can report her brother if she reports him. She pulls
out a revolver, threatens him with it, and accuses him of poisoning
his late wife. He dares her to fire, and she does, twice, but manages
only to graze his temple. Svidrigailov moves to embrace her but,
realizing that she will never love him, lets her go. Putting the revolver
in his pocket, he goes out shortly thereafter.
Analysis: Chapters I–V
The mind game between Raskolnikov and Porfiry Petrovich
reaches its climax in Part VI, Chapter II. Porfiry’s shrewd expertise
in psychology leads him to the bold move of declaring his suspicions
to Raskolnikov. He guesses correctly that his suspect is tormented
by his guilt. By placing the possibility of confession before Raskolnikov,
he provides him with a method of resolving his unhappiness and thus
appeals to his human side.
