The shortest content of "Crime and Punishment" by chapters and parts

"Crime and Punishment" F.M. Dostoevsky is a voluminous classical work that raises questions about the moral nature of man, his relationship with the outside world, the existence of moral values and norms.

At the end of the story about the life of Rodion Raskolnikov, the thought is heard that no ideas can justify the murder of a person. This is exactly what is displayed in the article with the shortest content of the great novel.

You can find a summary of the chapters and parts of the novel "Crime and Punishment".

Part 1

Student Rodion Raskolnikov owed the landlady a large amount of money for housing. In order to find funds to pay off the debt, Raskolnikov decides to kill the old woman, the pawnbroker Alena Ivanovna.
He ponders the “mysterious case”, trying to answer the question “Am I a trembling creature or have a right?”. Taking things with him for bail, Raskolnikov goes up to the old woman's apartment and carefully looks around, trying to remember the situation.
Tormented by thoughts that what he had planned is “dirty and disgusting,” the young man goes to the tavern.
Raskolnikov's drinking buddy becomes the official Marmeladov. He complains to the student about his position, but clarifies that “poverty is not a vice”, but poverty is “poverty is a vice”, for which they are “expelled from society with a broom”.
The official talks about his family life - about his wife, who has three children from a previous marriage and married Marmeladov out of desperation, and about his own daughter, Sonechka, who was forced to earn money on the panel due to lack of livelihood.
Marmeladov gets drunk, and Rodion takes him home, where he becomes an involuntary witness to a family scandal.
Raskolnikov is in his room, a "tiny closet", where he reads a letter from his mother. In it, a woman complains that Rodion's sister Dunya was groundlessly insulted and fired by Marfa Petrovna Svidrigailova, for whom she worked as a governess.
However, after Arkady Svidrigailov's honest confession to his wife, the former mistress apologized to Dunya and introduced her to everyone as an honest and prudent girl. This story attracted the attention of adviser Pyotr Luzhin, who wooed Dunya.
There is no love between them, and the difference in age is great (Luzhin is 45 years old), but the fact that he has a “small capital” decides the matter. Mother writes that she will soon arrive with Dunya in St. Petersburg to prepare for the wedding.
The mother's letter makes a strong impression on Rodion. He wanders aimlessly through the streets, contemplating the fate of his sister. He understands that the reason for the marriage is only the plight of his relatives and is looking for ways to help Dunya.
His thoughts again lead him to the idea of killing the pawnbroker. During a walk, the student sees a disgusting scene - a young drunk girl - a teenager is molested by some boor.
Raskolnikov stands up for her, but he does not let go of the thought that such a fate awaits many poor girls. The student goes to his university friend Razumikhin for advice and help.
Razumikhin promises to help Raskolnikov find private lessons. But Rodion decides to do this after, "when it's already over and when everything goes in a new way."
On the way home, the young man goes into a tavern to have a bite to eat and drink a glass of vodka, because of which he gets drunk and falls asleep right on the street under a bush. Further, "Raskolnikov's Dream about the Horse" is described.
Waking up in a cold sweat, the student decides that he is not ready to kill - this was once again proved by his nightmare. But on the way he meets Lizaveta, the unhealthy sister of Alena Ivanovna, with whom they live together.
Raskolnikov hears Lizaveta being called to visit and realizes that tomorrow she will not be at home. This leads him to think that a good moment is coming for the execution of his "secret business" and that "everything is suddenly decided completely."
The chapter tells about the history of Raskolnikov's acquaintance with the pawnbroker. His friend Pokorev once gave him the old woman's address in case he needed to pawn something for money.
From the very first meeting, the pawnbroker disgusts Raskolnikov, because she profits from people who are in trouble. Moreover, he learns about the unfair attitude of the old woman towards her sister, who is not sane in mind.
Sitting in a tavern, a student hears a conversation where one of the strangers declares that he is ready to kill the “old witch”, but not for profit, but “for justice”, and that such people are not worthy to live on earth.
Returning to his closet, Rodion ponders his decision and falls asleep. In the morning he gets up with full readiness to fulfill his plan. The young man sews a loop to the inside of his coat so that the ax can be hidden.
He steals the ax himself in the janitor's room. He takes out a hidden “mortgage”, which should become a pretext for going to the old woman, and resolutely sets off on his way.
Raskolnikov at the old woman's house. The pawnbroker, unaware of anything, is trying to examine the cigarette that the student brought for a mortgage and is getting closer to the light, with her back to her killer. At this time, Raskolnikov raises an ax and hits her on the head with it.
The old woman falls, and the student searches the pockets of her clothes. He gets the keys to the chest in the bedroom, opens it, and begins collecting "wealth" by stuffing the pockets of his jacket and coat. Suddenly, Lizaveta returns. Raskolnikov, without hesitation, rushes at her with an ax.
Only after this, the young man is horrified by what he has done. He tries to destroy the traces, washes away the blood, but he hears someone approaching the apartment. The doorbell is ringing. Raskolnikov does not answer. Those who came understand that something happened to the old woman and leave for the janitor.
After waiting until no one is left on the stairs, Raskolnikov heads home, where he leaves the ax in its original place, and he himself throws himself on the bed and falls into unconsciousness.

Part 2

Only at three o'clock in the afternoon Raskolnikov comes to his senses. He is close to insanity. Noticing that drops of blood remained on it, Rodion washes the soiled boot and meticulously examines himself. After that, he hides the stolen things, and he falls asleep again.
He is awakened by the janitor's knock on the door - the young man is called to the police. Panicked by the expectation of being charged with murder, the student heads to the department, but it turns out that he was called on the complaint of the landlady because of the housing debt.
At this time, there is a conversation nearby about the murder of a pawnbroker. Hearing the details, Rodion faints.
Returning home, Raskolnikov decides to get rid of the old woman's jewelry, "loads his pockets with them" and goes towards the Neva. However, fearing witnesses, he does not throw them into the water, but finds a deaf courtyard and hides everything under a stone.
At the same time, the young man does not take a penny from his wallet, considering it "nasty." Raskolnikov goes to visit Razumikhin. He notices that a friend is sick, is in an excited state and offers help.
But Rodion refuses and returns home delirious, almost falling under a carriage.
After spending several days delirious, Rodion comes to his senses and sees Razumikhin, the landlady's cook Nastasya and an unfamiliar guy in a caftan in his room. The guy turns out to be an artel worker who brought a transfer from his mother - 35 rubles.
Razumikhin says that during Raskolnikov's illness, a medical student Zosimov examined him, but did not find anything serious. The young man worries if he said something superfluous in delirium and makes his friend retell his statements.
Realizing that no one guessed anything, Raskolnikov falls asleep again, and Razumikhin decides to buy new clothes for a friend with the money received.
For the next examination of the patient comes Zosimov. During the visit, it comes to the murder of an old woman and her sister. Raskolnikov reacts very badly to these conversations, but tries to hide it by turning his back to the wall.
Meanwhile, it turns out that the dyer Nikolai, who worked on the renovation of a neighbor's apartment, has been arrested. He brought gold earrings from the old woman's chest for payback in the tavern.
Nikolay is detained on suspicion of the murder of a pawnbroker, but the police have no reliable evidence.
Luzhin, the fiancé of Dunya's sister, comes to visit Rodion. Raskolnikov reproaches the man for wanting to take advantage of the girl's plight and forcibly marries her to himself.
Luzhin is trying to justify himself. During the conversation, the topic of crime is also raised. There is a quarrel. Luzhin leaves, and friends notice that Rodion doesn’t really care about anything, “except for one point that makes him lose his temper: murder ...”.
Left alone, Raskolnikov decides to go outside. Putting on a new dress, the young man wanders the streets, enters a tavern and meets Zametov there, the clerk at the police station, who was present when Rodion fainted.
Raskolnikov behaves very strangely, laughs, grimaces and almost directly confesses to the murder of the old woman. Leaving the tavern, the student continues his aimless walk around the city.
Without noticing it, the young man approaches the old woman's house, where he begins to talk about what happened and leaves only after the janitor shouts.
Raskolnikov sees the crowd - the horse crushed the man. Rodion recognizes old Marmeladov in the victim. Finding himself at the official's house, Raskolnikov sends for a doctor and meets Sonechka.
The doctor cannot help in any way and, having asked for forgiveness from his daughter, Marmeladov dies. Raskolnikov gives the widow all the remaining money and returns home, where he is met by his mother and sister who came to visit. At the sight of them, the young man loses consciousness.

Part 3

The mother, worried about her son's condition, wants to stay to look after him. But Rodion does not allow and begins to persuade Dunya not to marry Luzhin.
Razumikhin, who was visiting all this time, was captivated by the beauty and grace of Dunya. He promises good care for their son and brother and persuades the women to return to the inn.
Razumikhin cannot forget Dunya and goes to their rooms. During his visit, a conversation about Luzhin comes up. The mother shows a letter in which the future groom asks for a meeting, insisting that Rodion is not there.
Luzhin also complains that he gave all the money to his mother Sonechka Marmeladova, "a girl of notorious behavior." The women, together with Razumikhin, go to Raskolnikov.
The young man feels better. He himself tells the story of the deceased Marmeladov and his daughter, and his mother shows him Luzhin's letter.
Rodion is offended by this attitude of Pyotr Petrovich, but he advises his relatives to act according to their own understanding. Dunya confesses his sympathy for Razumikhin and insists on the presence of him and his brother at a meeting with Luzhin.
Sonya Marmeladova comes to Raskolnikov's room to thank him for his help and invite him to his father's funeral. Mother and Dunya meet a girl. Sonya looks pathetic and feels embarrassed.
Raskolnikov agrees to come and offers to take the girl home. An unfamiliar man, who turns out to be her neighbor Svidrigailov, is watching all this. Raskolnikov returns home and, together with Razumikhin, goes to the investigator Porfiry Petrovich.
His friends want to know about the fate of Razumikhin's silver watch, which was pawned by the murdered old woman. Raskolnikov, knowing full well where the clock is, again falls into nervous excitement, laughs out loud and behaves strangely.
At the investigator's friends find Zosimov. He is confused by something and looks at Raskolnikov in confusion. During the conversation, it turns out that Rodion is also among the suspects, since he was a client of the pawnbroker.
The investigator is trying to find out when Rodion last visited the old woman's apartment. Razumikhin replies that he was with her three days ago and her friends are leaving. Raskolnikov took a deep breath...
Returning home, friends discuss the meeting with the investigator and his accusations against Rodion. Razumikhin is outraged. Raskolnikov understands that Porfiry is "not so stupid." After parting, Razumikhin went to the hotel to Dunya, and Rodion went home.
He decides to check whether he hid everything exactly and whether there is anything left of the stolen things. Near the house, he meets a stranger who suddenly shouts “Killer!” and hides.
Raskolnikov goes up to the room, where he begins to reflect on what he has done and falls ill again. Waking up, he finds a man in the room who introduces himself to him as Arkady Ivanovich Svidrigailov.

Part 4

Svidrigailov tells about the death of his wife, and that she bequeathed three thousand to Dunya.
Arkady Ivanovich asks Raskolnikov to help meet his sister, as he wants to offer her his hand and compensation for the unrest caused. Raskolnikov refuses the request, and Svidrigailov leaves.
Raskolnikov and Razumikhin go to a meeting at the hotel. Luzhin also arrives there. He is outraged that the women did not heed his request, refuses to discuss the wedding with Rodion and reproaches Dunya for ingratitude.
There is also talk about Svidrigailov. Luzhin tells an ugly story in which a young girl died because of this. Calls Svidrigailov "the most depraved and perished in vices man of all such people."
After, the speech again turns to Dunya, whom Luzhin forces to choose between himself and his brother. They quarrel, and Luzhin leaves.
After Luzhin left, everyone is in high spirits. Razumikhin is frankly happy and is already making plans for a happy life together with Dunya, especially since she now has the means.
Dunya doesn't mind. Rodion will forgive his friend to look after his mother and sister and goes to Sonechka.
Sonya lives very poorly, but Rodion notices the "New Testament" on the table in her room. The girl and the boy are talking about the future that awaits Sonya. Her self-sacrifice, meek disposition and faith in good are so striking to Raskolnikov that he bows at her feet.
The act confuses the girl, but Rodion explains that "I bowed to all human suffering." Before leaving, Raskolnikov promises next time to tell about the murder of the old woman. These words are heard by Svidrigailov.
In the morning, Raskolnikov goes to the police station and demands a meeting with Porfiry Petrovich - he wants to return his things that were pledged to the old woman.
The investigator again tries to interrogate the young man, which infuriates him. Raskolnikov demands to stop his persecution or present evidence of guilt.
A strange man enters the office. This is the dyer Nikolay. It can be seen that he is exhausted and intimidated and immediately confesses to the murder of Alena Ivanovna and Lizaveta. Raskolnikov decides to go to the wake of the Marmeladovs.

Part 5

Luzhin is angry with Rodion and blames him for disrupting the wedding. His pride is wounded, and he decides to take revenge on the young man at all costs.
Through his neighbor Lebezyatnikov, Luzhin meets Sonechka and offers her money - a gold piece. So far, his plan is unclear, but it is clear that he is up to something dastardly.
The commemoration at Katerina Ivanovna's was restless. The widow quarreled with the landlady because of the "wrong guests" and she demands that the Marmeladovs move out of the apartment. Luzhin appears during the quarrel.
Pyotr Petrovich declares that Sonechka stole a hundred rubles from him, and his neighbor Lebezyatnikov will testify to this. The girl is embarrassed and shows the money, trying to explain that Luzhin himself gave her money and not a hundred, but only ten rubles.
However, the girl is searched and a hundred is found in her pocket. A scandal erupts. Lebezyatnikov assures that Luzhin himself slipped the banknote to the girl, the widow is crying, Luzhin is angry, the hostess demands the immediate release of the apartment.
Raskolnikov explains Luzhin's act with a desire to quarrel with his mother and sister and, thereby, force Dunya to marry him.
Raskolnikov is torn between the desire to open up to Sonya and the fear of punishment. In the end, he says that he knows the killer and that everything happened by accident.
The girl guesses everything, but promises never to leave Raskolnikov and, if necessary, even follow him to hard labor. Sonya says that Rodion needs to "accept suffering and redeem himself with it" - that is, to confess everything. At this time there is a knock on the door.
This is Lebezyatnikov. He says that Katerina Ivanovna was refused help, she is on the verge of a nervous breakdown and is going to beg on the street with her children. Everyone runs out into the street, where they find the widow in an agitated state.
She does not listen to anyone's persuasion, screams, runs and, as a result, falls with throat bleeding. Katerina Ivanovna is taken to Sonya's room, where she dies. Svidrigailov promises custody of the orphaned children, and Rodion admits that he heard his conversation with Sonya.

Part 6

Raskolnikov understands that a catastrophe is coming. His whole life passes in a blur. Katerina Ivanovna was buried, Svidrigailov kept his word and paid for everything. Razumikhin asks Rodion to explain his relationship with his mother and sister, but he lives only with thoughts of his exposure.
The investigator pays a visit to Raskolnikov. He bluntly states that he suspects the young man of the murder, but gives him a chance to come with a confession. It turns out that it was precisely at the instigation of Porfiry Petrovich that the stranger shouted “Killer!” in Raskolnikov’s face.
The investigator wanted to test the suspect's reaction. Leaving, Porfiry gives him two days to think.
Raskolnikov meets Svidrigailov in a tavern. The conversation turns to Svidrigailov's late wife, Dunya and the fact that he already has another - a young girl, almost a teenager.
Immediately, Arkady Ivanovich boasts of a connection with another girl, which causes Raskolnikov to be bewildered and disgusted. Raskolnikov decides to follow Svidrigailov.
Having caught up with Arkady, Raskolnikov finds out that he was eavesdropping at Sonechka's door and knows who the killer is. Svidrigailov advises Rodion to run away, even offers money for the journey. They break up. On the street, Svidrigailov meets Dunya and calls her to him under the pretext of telling her something interesting.
Entering the apartment, Arkady directly tells Duna that her brother is a killer, but he can save him in exchange for love and relationships. Avdotya does not believe Svidrigailov and tries to leave.
He intimidates the girl and locks the room with a key. Dunya pulls out a gun and shoots the man. A misfire occurs, Svidrigailov gives the girl the key, takes her revolver and leaves.
Svidrigailov spent the whole night in taverns, and in the morning he turned up to Sonya. He gives the girl three thousand rubles so that she arranges her life and says that now Raskolnikov is either death or hard labor.
Sonechka takes the money and asks Arkady not to talk about his suspicions. Svidrigailov goes to the hotel, drinks and falls into a semi-delusional state, where he sees a girl who committed suicide through his fault and the rest of the unfortunate people whom he corrupted.
Arkady wakes up, goes outside and fires from Dunya's pistol.
Raskolnikov visits his sister and mother, asks their forgiveness, confesses his love and says goodbye to them. Dunya agrees that it is necessary to confess to the murder and, thereby, "wash away the sin."
However, Rodion does not believe that he committed a crime, as he acted in justice. Raskolnikov asks his sister not to leave her mother and be with Razumikhin and leaves.
Sonya has been waiting for Rodion all day, worrying that he might do something to himself. In the evening the young man comes to her. He asks for a pectoral cross and Sonechka puts her simple, rustic cross around his neck. She is going to accompany him on his journey.
However, Raskolnikov does not want this and goes alone. He goes to the crossroads, mingles with the crowd, falls to the ground, cries and kisses her, as Sonya advised him. After that, the young man goes to the police station and confesses to the double murder.