In this article, you will be offered the plot of the novel "Crime and Punishment." The contents are briefly described (there are only six of them) and how F. M. Dostoevsky compositionally built the work that caused such an ambiguous reaction of the society - from enthusiastic responses to the condemnation of the plan.
"Polyphonic" novel
Why is it impossible to retell the plot of Crime and Punishment in a nutshell? Dostoevsky created the work, which is considered to be "polyphonic," that is, polyphonic. Seeing the light in 1866, the novel tells not only about the main character - a poor student named Raskolnikov, but also about the Marmeladov family, sister Duna, the cunning businessman Luzhin and the depraved gentleman Svidrigailov.
Each of the above characters has its own storyline, which intersects with the description of the ups and downs of other heroes of the work, creating a feeling of polyphony.
Narrative timeframe
The action, as conceived by the author, takes place directly during the period when the novel is being written - in 1865. Despite the large volume of text (approximately 500 pages), the time frame covers only a couple of weeks. Only the epilogue describes the events that take place a year and a half after the completion of the trial of Raskolnikov. So, let's dwell on the plot and composition of "Crime and Punishment."
Brief discussion of compositional features
The construction of the novel seems completely understandable and concise. The author breaks the narrative into six parts, highlighting 6-7 chapters each. At first glance, everything is absolutely traditional. But only at first.
The novel has an absolutely torn rhythm. The first three days before the crime is described rather slowly and logically. But already in the second part, the intensity of the narration and events increases, new characters and storylines are intertwined, creating some kind of chaos and complexity of perception.
There is no synchronization between chapters and days, which was clearly intended by the author. Apparently, in this way he wanted to convey the mental state of Raskolnikov after the murder and the loss of any sense of time.
Let us consider very briefly the plot of Crime and Punishment in order to introduce what is narrated in the novel. And then we will present the content in a little more detail, observing the breakdown in parts.
Plot: the plot of the novel
Hot St. Petersburg summer, July. Forced due to lack of funds to leave the university, a former student, Rodion Raskolnikov, goes to the old percent-old woman, whom she once laid the clock on. He is poor, he is depressed by the situation, that he is financially dependent on his mother and sister, who is preparing to marry a rich man without love in order to support himself and also help his family.
Fascinated by the image of Napoleon, Raskolnikov is plotting a crime - the murder of a percent-raiser, a pathetic, in his opinion, old woman. After that, the student’s own life and the life of loved ones should change for the better. However, Raskolnikov will have to commit a double murder, taking the life of the mortgageer's sister, Lizaveta, as well.
As the plot of the novel "Crime and Punishment" develops further, we consider a little below.
Storyline completion
Raskolnikov is tormented by remorse, he falls ill. An investigator who has read his article, written a few weeks before the death of the old woman-interest-bearer and her sister, entitled “On Crime,” begins to suspect the student of murder. He leads dialogues with him that make Raskolnikov repent and confess.
But before that, he reveals the truth to Sonechka Marmeladova, the daughter of a titular adviser, whom he once met in the pub. The girl contains a family, engaged in prostitution, but at the same time keeping her soul pure and immaculate. She convinces Raskolnikov to confess to the crime and promises her support.
After the trial, at which the protagonist is sentenced to 8 years of hard labor, Sonechka goes for him to Siberia. This is the plot of Crime and Punishment, a summary of which allows us to catch the main problem - the division of people into "creatures trembling" and those who "have the right." Raskolnikov set this dilemma, dreaming of classifying himself in the second category. But the hero finds inner peace only when he sincerely repents:
Have I killed an old woman? I killed myself! (R. Raskolnikov)
Summary of the contents of the first part
Over the course of seven chapters, Dostoevsky describes the main character. “Crime and Punishment” (the plot will be presented briefly below) is a story about the preparation and commission of the murder and the subsequent events. Moreover, the entire background and the crime itself are presented in the first part.
The reader gets acquainted with Rodion Raskolnikov, who avoids meeting with the landlady, for he owes her a considerable amount of money for his closet. A poor, poorly dressed student is exhausted by poverty. Heading to the old woman-percent, he reflects on what he had not eaten for two days. This makes him lay a silver watch, but at the same time make plans in his head about the murder of an old woman. With these thoughts he has been tormented for the whole month.
In the pub Raskolnikov meets Marmeladov, a former official who tells him the story of his life. Semyon Zakharovich married an educated woman with three children, but drank the available money, which forces the eldest daughter Sonechka to go to the panel. Having led the drunk Marmeladov home, Raskolnikov leaves there an existing trifle, struck by the beggarly situation.
A letter from his mother awaits at home of the protagonist, from which he learns that Dunya, his sister, plans to marry Luzhin, who has some capital. Mother hopes that then the sister will be able to help Rodion finish her studies. Not wanting Dunya to sacrifice herself, Raskolnikov returns to his idea.
He steals an ax from the janitor's room and goes to the old woman’s house, knowing that at that time she will definitely be alone. When Raskolnikov commits a murder, panic begins in his soul, so he has been searching for the wealth of the interest-seeker for quite some time. At the moment when he shoves everything in his pockets, her sister returns - an innocuous woman named Lizaveta. Raskolnikov has to deal with this unfortunate victim.
Throwing a murder weapon to the janitor, Rodion returns to his closet. How does the plot of the novel Crime and Punishment develop further? Briefly outline the contents of the second part.
Part two
All seven chapters are devoted to the state of the main character after the murder. Raskolnikov recalls the incident with horror. He hides the jewels behind the wallpaper, and later hides them on the street - under a large stone in a deserted courtyard. The main character is frightened by a call to the police, where it turns out that the reason for this was his debt for the apartment. Having barely heard the conversation about the crime committed the day before, Raskolnikov falls unconscious, but the police connect the swoon with his illness.
The student is in a fever, and from Zosimov who visited him, he learns about the suspects in the case and the lack of evidence from the police. He receives a letter and a money transfer to pay for housing. Understanding that this is Luzhin’s money, he dislikes him at the moment when Petr Petrovich comes to meet as Duni’s groom.
Going to the pub, Raskolnikov starts a conversation with Zametov, discussing the crime committed the day before. By chance, he almost confesses to the murder, but the interlocutor considers him simply crazy.
On the way home, Raskolnikov finds Marmeladov lying on the pavement, who, in a drunken state, was shot down on the road. He accompanies him home and finds his death. To somehow help the family, Raskolnikov gives the remaining money and goes to Razumikhin - his comrade. When they both return to Rodion’s closet, a student’s sister and mother are waiting for them, who have arrived in St. Petersburg. The main character is deprived of feelings.
What is the further plot of Crime and Punishment?
Part three
The whole third part of the six chapters is devoted to throwing Raskolnikov and ends with his delirium.
The mother, frightened by the fainting of her son, wants to stay near him, but Rodion dissuades her, and Razumikhin escorts her friend's relatives to the hotel. He really liked Dunya, whom his brother asked not to marry Luzhin.
Pyotr Petrovich invites the bride and his mother to a meeting in a letter, but at the same time asks to arrive at her without Raskolnikov. They go to their son and brother to report it. Sister asks Rodion to attend the meeting. During the conversation, Sonya comes to invite Raskolnikov to the wake. Both women notice that he is not indifferent to the young girl to whom he gave all his money.
Raskolnikov is obsessed with the idea of meeting with investigator Porfiry Petrovich, who is running the business of an old woman-interest-maker, and, together with Razumikhin, goes to him. Under the pretext that he made mortgages with the old woman, the protagonist for the first time enters into a dialogue with a representative of the investigation. And immediately discovers that it is among the suspects.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that on the street some stranger calls him a murderer. Arriving home, Raskolnikov begins to rave. So the plot of Crime and Punishment is twisted.
Part four
In the six chapters of the next part, it would seem that Raskolnikov's throwings will be put to an end. What will happen? How will the plot of Crime and Punishment develop? A brief summary of the fourth part will help to understand the vicissitudes of history.
Having woken up, Raskolnikov will find Svidrigailov near him - the master, whom his sister had previously served. He offers Rodion 10 thousand rubles for organizing a meeting with a girl and upset the upcoming wedding with Luzhin.
Going to a meeting with his sister's groom, the main character tells Razumikhin, his friend, that he is afraid of Svidrigailov, who seems to him a dangerous person. Luzhin, meanwhile, sets up a scene that the bride’s brother, who had previously insulted him, came to the meeting. He believed that Dunya, in need of funds, would fulfill his request and come alone. But she terminates the engagement and drives the failed groom away. At the same time, she apologizes to her brother for being flattered by the money, not suspecting how Luzhin is an unpleasant person.
Raskolnikov goes to Sonya Marmeladova, promising that in a conversation that he will tell about the real killer of Lizaveta, with whom the girl was friendly. Both do not suspect that at this time they are eavesdropping on Svidrigailov, who turned out to be a neighbor of the Marmeladovs.
Raskolnikov’s legs themselves are brought to the investigator under the pretext of returning the things that he had mortgaged from the interest-bearing woman. A conversation torments him, and he calls on Porfiry Petrovich to either convict him or stop torturing him with interrogations. But here they bring out the dyer, who, unexpectedly for the investigator himself, takes the blame for the murder of two women on himself.
It would seem that our hero can feel safe and breathe a sigh of relief, but in the following chapters the tension will only increase. These are the features of the plot of Crime and Punishment. Briefly tell about the continuation of the story.
Part five
Events in five chapters take place around the Marmeladov family. Luzhin decides to take revenge on Raskolnikov and for this purpose invites Sonya to her room, whom she offers money for her father’s wake. At the same time, he imperceptibly palms the hundredth note that he sees Lebezyatnikov present during the conversation.
During the commemoration, on which Raskolnikov is, the widow of the former official quarrel with the landlady. At this time, Luzhin appears in the house and accuses Sonya of stealing a hundred rubles. However, Lebezyatnikov takes the girl under protection. He was sure that Luzhin was led by noble intentions when he quietly slipped Marmeladova money.
The hostess drives the widow into the street with the children. Raskolnikov, however, fulfills his promise and tells Sonya who actually killed the mortgagor and her sister. Moreover, he admits that it was not hunger that led him, but the desire to understand whether he could do it, whether he belonged to the elect.
Sonya accepts the truth with humility and pity Raskolnikov. At this time, her mother, who behaved on the street as insane, was brought. The woman is dying. Svidrigailov appears on the doorstep, who promises to help the orphans in a neighborly way and to cover the expenses of the funeral. At the same time, he hints at Raskolnikov that he had heard all his conversations with Sonya.
We see how skillfully the author keeps the reader in suspense, spinning the plot of Crime and Punishment. A summary of the last part will convince you even more.
Part six
In the novel, many heroes tragically die under different circumstances. In the final part, Svidrigailov dies from his own bullet. Raskolnikov is afraid of his revelations, but he uses the information only to lure Dunya to his apartment, whom he promises to save his brother in exchange for her love.
The girl tries to escape by firing at Svidrigailov from a revolver. Although she was unable to get in, he gives Duna the opportunity to leave. After spending time in the tavern, Svidrigailov brings the promised money to Sonya Marmeladova, after which she rents a hotel room. All night he dreams of a girl who has laid hands on herself because of an unrequited love for him. In the morning he shot himself with a revolver left by Dunya.
But what happens to Raskolnikov in the plot of Crime and Punishment? The summary is as follows: the main character, after painful deliberation and throwing, decided to confess his deed by voluntarily surrendering to the police.
Epilogue
The author tells what happened to the main characters after a while. Raskolnikov was sentenced to 8 years of hard labor and exiled to Siberia, where he fell seriously ill. His mother, unable to bear the blows of fate, died. Dunya married for love - for Razumikhin, and Sonya followed Raskolnikov to Siberia.
After recovery, Rodion began a period of rebirth. He repented that he had so cruelly and unreasonably acted with his own life, but Sonya, with whom he dreams of connecting with him at the end of the sentence, became his angel and hope for forgiveness. The recognition of the value of human life ends with the plot of Crime and Punishment, a summary of which we have examined in this article.