Summary: Chapter V
The strange man who appears in Raskolnikov’s doorway introduces himself
as Luzhin, Dunya’s fiancé. He is pompous and affected and immediately
seems to resent Razumikhin’s friendly familiarity. He makes a show
of interest in progressive ideas and reforms in an unsuccessful
attempt to impress the younger men. Both Raskolnikov and Razumikhin
treat him coldly. As Luzhin gets up to leave, Razumikhin and Zossimov
return to discussing the murders. Razumikhin argues that an amateur
must have committed the crime, since only a few trinkets but not
the fifteen hundred rubles in the apartment were stolen. Luzhin
breaks in with another attempt to make a display of his intelligence,
and Razumikhin uses the opportunity to criticize his ideas. The
feverish Raskolnikov then enters the conversation, denouncing Luzhin
for wanting to be a benefactor to his impoverished sister. Luzhin
takes great offense and storms out. Razumikhin and Zossimov are
shocked at Raskolnikov’s behavior. Raskolnikov angrily throws them
and Nastasya out of the room. On the way out, Zossimov remarks to
Razumikhin that the mere mention of the murders seems to cause Raskolnikov
great irritation.
Summary: Chapter VI
Raskolnikov, feeling suddenly clearheaded and resolute,
throws on the clothes that Razumikhin bought for him and goes out.
Wandering the streets, he wildly interrogates passing strangers.
He enters a café, the Crystal Palace, and orders tea and a newspaper.
There he meets the police inspector Zamyotov. The visibly ill Raskolnikov begins
to tease the inspector about the murders and crime in general, claiming
to know a great deal about both. He starts a crazed conversation
in which he nearly confesses to the crime and seems to arouse Zamyotov’s
suspicions, but he finishes on a note that leaves Zamyotov convinced
that he is merely a bit eccentric. Raskolnikov leaves hastily, bumping
into Razumikhin on the stairs on his way out. They have a heated
exchange, in which Razumikhin chastises his friend for going out
by himself and then invites him to his party. Raskolnikov declines
and walks on alone. Crossing a bridge, he is disgusted by the sight
of a suicide attempt. He continues to wander and soon finds himself
outside Alyona Ivanovna’s home. He impulsively enters her apartment
and sees two workmen redecorating it. In a daze, he asks them why
the blood has been removed. He then fails to respond to their questions
and is thrown out by the porter. Walking along, he notices a crowd
gathered in the middle of the street.
Summary: Chapter VII
Raskolnikov sees the drunken Marmeladov lying injured
in the street, having been trampled by a horse-drawn carriage. He
takes the dying man to his home nearby. There, Katerina Ivanovna
tearfully tries to care for him. A doctor declares that Marmeladov
is dying. Marmeladov calls for a priest, who tells Katerina to forgive, but
she rejects the priest’s shallow ideas, tending to her husband even
as she curses him as worthless. Marmeladov dies in Sonya’s arms.
Raskolnikov leaves twenty rubles for the family and promises his
future support. Another of Katerina’s daughters, Polenka, runs after
him as he leaves and asks his name on behalf of Sonya and her mother.
She hugs him and he asks her to pray for him.
Full of self-satisfaction, Raskolnikov considers
himself partially redeemed. He goes to visit Razumikhin, who is
rather tipsy from his party. Razumikhin confides that Zossimov believes Raskolnikov
to be mad, a belief reinforced by the knowledge of Raskolnikov’s
conversation with Zamyotov. Raskolnikov is quite faint and can barely
stand up straight. Together, he and Razumikhin return to Raskolnikov’s
room, where they are surprised to find Pulcheria Alexandrovna and
Dunya awaiting him. The two are grief-stricken, having heard of
Raskolnikov’s condition from Nastasya. Once inside his room, Raskolnikov
collapses and Razumikhin takes charge of caring for him.
Analysis: Chapters V–VII
Luzhin is convincingly depicted as a pompous boor. This
opinion is strengthened by the fact that the good-natured and tolerant Razumikhin,
with whose sentiments the reader feels comfortable aligning him-
or herself, shares it. Indeed, Dostoevsky purposely gives Luzhin
an unwelcome introduction, making him appear ominously at the end
of the preceding chapter. Neither his identity nor his intentions
are clear. His attempts to show off his knowledge further estrange
him from Raskolnikov and Razumikhin. Raskolnikov’s uncontrollable
pride manifests itself when he deliberately offends Luzhin; although
he has good reason to dislike the man, it hardly seems appropriate
for him to insult his sister’s fiancé.
In Chapter VI, Raskolnikov displays an apparent desire
to be found out that rivals the intensity of his desire to escape
suspicion. This internal conflict becomes visible in the scene in
the Crystal Palace, in which, under the influence of a wild impulse,
he nearly confesses to Zamyotov. He again nearly confesses during
his visit to the scene of the crime. In later chapters, Porfiry
Petrovich reveals that both incidents aroused suspicion among the
police. In very definite ways, Raskolnikov’s impulsive and dangerous
actions make him an instrument of his own downfall and his own worst
enemy.
