Crime and Punishment characters
Raskolnikov is the main character of the novel. He is an impoverished alumnus whose reason and conscience are often at odds with one another. His name is derived from the Russian word “raskol,” which means “split or divided.” Dualism is the key to Raskolnikov's character...
Sonya is Semen Marmeladov`s daughter from the first marriage. The tortured girl who is suffering from poverty and despair of stepmother, she is forced to become a prostitute because her father is a drunk, unable to support his family. But, miraculously, she seems untouched by her experience...
Avdotya Romanovna Raskolnikova
Dounia, Rodion’s sister, is a beautiful, proud and chaste girl, who is in love with her brother for self-sacrifice. In the struggle for her happiness, she was ready to go to the marriage at the expense, but could not go in touch with Svidrigailov for his salvation. She got married to...
Arkady is a kind of projection, an ideological double of Raskolnikov. Svidrigailov is perverted and vulgar even though he is a nobleman. Despite his viciousness, good deeds are not alien to him, and he does it even more than any other character in the novel. Learning about Rodion`s mystery, he...
Dmitry is a former student, Raskolnikov`s friend from the university. He is a healthy, funny, intelligent, sincere and direct person with a full Russian soul. He likes to talk the whole truth in a face. Razumikhin sticks by his friend, even when Raskolnikov's behavior is baffling or rude. When...
He is an attorney, an enterprising and egoistic businessman. His main crime is his overwhelming, relentless arrogance and self-interest. He is the only character who refuses to recognize his faults. Impressed by the beauty and enlightenment of Dunya Raskolnikov, Luzhin makes her offer. He thinks...
She is Rodion and Dunya's mother, a poor widow and defenseless woman. Pulcheria Alexandrovna earns extra money, doing small-scale work: she knits scarves, embroideries the sleeves, etc. She gives to her son Rodion all the money so that he will be able to study at the university in St...