Crime and Punishment Character Analysis

Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov

The novel’s protagonist, Raskolnikov murders Lizaveta and the old woman and spends the rest of the book coming to terms with his crime and with the touches of madness that follow. It is never clear… read analysis of Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov

Pulcheria Alexandrovna Raskolnikov

Raskolnikov’s mother, Pulcheria writes to him early in the novel to inform him of Dunya’s engagement to Luzhin. Pulcheria loves Raskolnikov dearly and fears for his health when she meets with him in Petersburg… read analysis of Pulcheria Alexandrovna Raskolnikov

Semyon Zakharovich Marmeladov

A drunk and former government official, Marmeladov is later killed when run over by a wagon. His widow Katerina attempts to support their family on a very small amount of money. Marmeladov represents the endpoint… read analysis of Semyon Zakharovich Marmeladov

Sonya Semyonovna Marmeladov

Marmeladov’s child from his first marriage, Sonya becomes a prostitute after Katerina complains that she does nothing to help the family financially. She also reads the story of Lazarus to Raskolnikov on his request. Sonya… read analysis of Sonya Semyonovna Marmeladov

Arkady Ivanovich Svidrigailov

One of Raskolnikov’s two antagonists, Svidrigailov is a womanizer and libertine who was once married to Marfa, and who has been linked to crimes in the past. He courts Dunya, who refuses him… read analysis of Arkady Ivanovich Svidrigailov

Dmitri Prokofych Razumikhin

Raskolnikov’s closest and perhaps only friend, Razumikhin becomes an adoptive son to Pulcheria and a husband to Dunya. As Raskolnikov pulls away from the family, Razumikhin grows ever closer. He is a foil to… read analysis of Dmitri Prokofych Razumikhin

Pyotr Petrovich Luzhin

Dunya’s suitor, Luzhin is a petty government official who believes that women make for better wives when they are monetarily indebted to their husbands. Luzhin is later chased away by Dunya, who is insulted by… read analysis of Pyotr Petrovich Luzhin

Andrei Semyonovich Lebezyatnikov

Luzhin’s roommate in Petersburg, Lebezyatnikov is a representative of the “new liberal ideas,” which include broader, less formal definitions of marriage and equality for women. Lebezyatnikov sees that Luzhin has placed a 100-rouble note on… read analysis of Andrei Semyonovich Lebezyatnikov

Nikolai and Mitka (the painters)

The two painters get in a fight in the second-floor apartment during the murder, allowing Raskolnikov to hide and later escape. Nikolai is suspected of murdering the old woman and Lizaveta, for a time… read analysis of Nikolai and Mitka (the painters)

“The Man from Under the Ground” (“the tradesman”)

A man who sees Raskolnikov after Raskolnikov has inquired about the blood in the old woman’s apartment, this man follows Raskolnikov and calls him a murderer. He reports this information, too, to Porfiry, but later… read analysis of “The Man from Under the Ground” (“the tradesman”)

Minor Characters

Avdotya (Dunya) Romanovna Raskolnikov

Raskolnikov’s sister, Dunya is to be married to Luzhin, which Raskolnikov fears is to take place to shore up the family financially and therefore make his own life more comfortable. Dunya loves her brother deeply and eventually marries Razumikhin.

Katerina Ivanovna Marmeladov

Marmeladov’s wife, Katerina is crushed by poverty and eventually succumbs to madness and tuberculosis. She wishes to protect her family but also contributes to the incredible unhappiness her children feel, for she beats them mercilessly.

Polenka, Kolka, and Lidochka Marmeladov

Katerina’s children, Polenka, Kolka, and Lidochka must manage under the weight of extreme poverty. Raskolnikov tells Sonya that the children ought to be provided for, so that Polenka does not have to resort to prostitution—as Sonya must.

Marfa Petrovna Svidrigailov

Svidrigailov’s wife, Marfa clears Dunya’s name after falsely accusing her of pursuing Svidrigailov. Marfa and Svidrigailov had an arrangement during their marriage whereby Svidrigailov was permitted to sleep with some servant-women. Marfa also gave Svidrigailov a significant amount of money before her death.

Porfiry Petrovich

The investigator who pursues Raskolnikov, he is the novel’s other antagonist. Porfiry suspects for much of the novel that Raskolnikov is the true killer; his circuitous psychological techniques infuriate Raskolnikov into more or less admitting his guilt.

Alexander Grigorievich Zamyotov

A clerk in the police station, Zamyotov runs into Raskolnikov at a tavern. There Raskolnikov lays out a playful and frightening declaration of how he would have committed the murders. This raises suspicions for Zamyotov, who informs Porfiry.

Nastasya Petrovna

Raskolnikov’s maid, Nastasya attempts to get him to eat and drink and serves as a surrogate mother for him in the novel’s early chapters.

Alyona Ivanovna (the pawnbroker)

One of Raskolnikov’s victims, the pawnbroker is said by some, including Raskolnikov, to be a “louse,” a woman who takes advantage of others and therefore deserves to die. Raskolnikov believes, until the Epilogue, that killing the pawnbroker was not entirely immoral because she herself was so wretched a creature.

Lizaveta Ivanovna

The other of Raskolnikov’s victims and admitted by Raskolnikov to be innocent, Lizaveta is the shy sister of the pawnbroker, who often helps out by serving as a middleman between merchants and buyers in the Haymarket neighborhood.

Ilya Petrovich, “Gunpowder”

The assistant to the police chief, Gunpowder intimidates Raskolnikov early in the novel, when he has come to the station to inquire about a summons for back-payment of rent. Raskolnikov confesses his guilt to Gunpowder at the end of the book.

Amalia Lippewechsel

Katerina’s landlady, Amalia feuds often with Katerina and eventually kicks her and the family out onto the street on the day of Marmeladov’s funeral feast.

Dr. Zossimov

A young doctor, he tends to Raskolnikov early in the work and declares him initially fit. Later Zossimov fears that Raskolnikov has gone insane.