Summary
The Deed
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
The door opens, and Raskolnikov's philosophical theory collides with brutal reality. The old woman Alyona Ivanovna eyes him suspiciously, but lets him in. As she turns to examine his fake pledge, he pulls out the axe and strikes her on the head - once, twice, three times. Blood gushes 'as from an overturned glass.' She falls dead. But there's no time for reflection. He frantically searches for her keys, finds them, and runs to the bedroom to open her strongbox. He's filling his pockets with valuables when he hears a sound that stops his heart: someone is in the other room. Lizaveta, the gentle sister who was supposed to be away, has returned. She stands frozen in horror, staring at her murdered sister. Raskolnikov rushes at her with the axe raised. She doesn't even try to defend herself - 'this hapless Lizaveta was so simple and had been so thoroughly crushed and scared that she did not even raise a hand to guard her face.' The axe splits her skull. He has now killed two people, one of them an innocent he never meant to harm. Panic takes over. He tries to wash blood from his hands and the axe. Then comes another nightmare: loud knocking at the door. Two men have come to see the pawnbroker - Koch and his young companion. They knock, ring, argue about why no one answers. The young man realizes something is wrong: 'The hook is clanking! They must be inside!' Raskolnikov crouches behind the door, clutching the bloody axe, barely breathing. The men discuss getting the porter. Just as they leave, Raskolnikov makes his escape - only to hear them returning with others. At the last second, he ducks into an empty apartment where painters have been working. He waits, trembling, as the men discover the murders just above him. Then he simply walks out, down the stairs, into the street. In a daze, he makes it back to his building, returns the axe to the porter's room, and collapses in his room in a state of shock. The calculated act of an 'extraordinary man' has become a butchery that will haunt him forever. Theory met reality, and theory lost.
Coming Up in Chapter 8
Raskolnikov wakes in his room, and slowly the full horror of what he's done begins to surface. But before guilt can fully take hold, a summons arrives that sends him into immediate panic: the police want to see him.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
The door was as before opened a tiny crack, and again two sharp and suspicious eyes stared at him out of the darkness. Then Raskolnikov lost his head and nearly made a great mistake. Fearing the old woman would be frightened by their being alone, and not hoping that the sight of him would disarm her suspicions, he took hold of the door and drew it towards him to prevent the old woman from attempting to shut it again. Seeing this she did not pull the door back, but she did not let go the handle so that he almost dragged her out with it on to the stairs. Seeing that she was standing in the doorway not allowing him to pass, he advanced straight upon her. She stepped back in alarm, tried to say something, but seemed unable to speak and stared with open eyes at him. “Good evening, Alyona Ivanovna,” he began, trying to speak easily, but his voice would not obey him, it broke and shook. “I have come... I have brought something... but we’d better come in... to the light....” And leaving her, he passed straight into the room uninvited. The old woman ran after him; her tongue was unloosed. “Good heavens! What it is? Who is it? What do you want?” “Why, Alyona Ivanovna, you know me... Raskolnikov... here, I brought you the pledge I promised the other day...” And he held out the pledge. The old woman glanced for a moment at the pledge, but at once stared in the eyes of her uninvited visitor. She looked intently, maliciously and mistrustfully. A minute passed; he even fancied something like a sneer in her eyes, as though she had already guessed everything. He felt that he was losing his head, that he was almost frightened, so frightened that if she were to look like that and not say a word for another half minute, he thought he would have run away from her. “Why do you look at me as though you did not know me?” he said suddenly, also with malice. “Take it if you like, if not I’ll go elsewhere, I am in a hurry.” He had not even thought of saying this, but it was suddenly said of itself. The old woman recovered herself, and her visitor’s resolute tone evidently restored her confidence. “But why, my good sir, all of a minute.... What is it?” she asked, looking at the pledge. “The silver cigarette case; I spoke of it last time, you know.” She held out her hand. “But how pale you are, to be sure... and your hands are trembling too? Have you been bathing, or what?” “Fever,” he answered abruptly. “You can’t help getting pale... if you’ve nothing to eat,” he added, with difficulty articulating the words. His strength was failing him again. But his answer sounded like the truth; the old woman took the pledge. “What is it?” she asked once more, scanning Raskolnikov intently, and weighing the pledge...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to identify when someone shifts from chaotic guilt to calculated damage control - a crucial skill for reading workplace politics and personal relationships.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Psychological realism
A literary style that shows the inner workings of characters' minds in realistic detail. Dostoevsky was a master of this, showing how trauma and guilt actually affect someone's thoughts and behavior day by day.
Nihilism
A philosophy popular in 1860s Russia that rejected traditional morals and authority. Many young intellectuals like Raskolnikov believed they could create their own rules about right and wrong.
Rational egoism
The idea that people should act purely in their own self-interest, using logic rather than emotion or morality to guide decisions. This was a trendy philosophy among Russian students that influenced Raskolnikov's thinking.
Penal servitude
Hard labor punishment in Siberian prison camps, which was the typical sentence for serious crimes in Tsarist Russia. The threat of this fate hangs over Raskolnikov throughout the novel.
Confession and redemption
Central themes in Russian Orthodox culture and Dostoevsky's work. The idea that admitting wrongdoing and accepting consequences can lead to spiritual healing and renewal.
Alienation
The feeling of being disconnected from other people and society. Raskolnikov's crime has isolated him completely, making him feel like he's living behind glass, unable to connect with anyone.
Characters in This Chapter
Raskolnikov
Protagonist
Experiences a crucial psychological shift from fevered confusion to cold calculation. His moment of clarity makes him both more dangerous and more human, as he begins planning how to cover his tracks while grappling with guilt.
Razumikhin
Loyal friend
Continues to care for Raskolnikov despite his strange behavior. His genuine concern and normalcy contrast sharply with Raskolnikov's internal turmoil and growing paranoia.
Nastasya
Servant
The maid who has been bringing food and observing Raskolnikov's odd behavior. Her simple, practical presence represents the normal world that Raskolnikov has cut himself off from.
Pulcheria Alexandrovna
Raskolnikov's mother
Though not physically present, she haunts Raskolnikov's thoughts as he realizes how his actions will affect his family. Her love becomes another source of his guilt.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Good God, how happy I am that that's over!"
Context: His first thought upon waking with a clear mind
Shows his relief at emerging from the psychological fog, but also his denial about the gravity of his situation. He's treating his mental breakdown like a temporary illness rather than facing what caused it.
"I was ill, but now I am recovering and feel like a human being again."
Context: Explaining his recent behavior to himself
Reveals his desperate need to rationalize his actions and return to normalcy. The irony is that feeling 'human again' comes just as he's planning to become more calculating about his crimes.
"But am I really taking the right step now? Are these the right feelings? Ought I to be acting like this?"
Context: Internal questioning as he plans his next moves
Shows the constant self-doubt and internal debate that torture him. Even in his moments of clarity, he can't trust his own judgment anymore.
Thematic Threads
Psychological Survival
In This Chapter
Raskolnikov's mind shifts from chaotic breakdown to calculated self-preservation as clarity returns
Development
Evolved from earlier confusion and fever-like states to strategic thinking
Identity Performance
In This Chapter
He realizes he must perform 'normalcy' to avoid suspicion, consciously crafting his public persona
Development
Builds on previous chapters where his authentic distress was making him suspicious
Class Vulnerability
In This Chapter
His awareness that he's being watched reflects how the poor cannot afford to appear unstable or suspicious
Development
Continues theme of how social position affects what behaviors are tolerated
Moral Calculation
In This Chapter
Guilt becomes secondary to survival as he weighs conscience against self-preservation
Development
Marks shift from abstract moral philosophy to practical consequences of actions
Dangerous Clarity
In This Chapter
Clear thinking makes him more capable of deception but also more aware of his genuine danger
Development
Introduced here as counterpoint to earlier psychological fragmentation
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What changes in Raskolnikov's mental state when he wakes up, and how does this affect his view of his recent behavior?
- 2
Why does mental clarity sometimes make a dangerous situation feel more terrifying rather than less?
- 3
When have you seen someone shift from chaotic panic to calculated damage control after a crisis?
- 4
If you realized you'd been acting suspiciously during a stressful time, what would be your first move to repair the situation?
- 5
What does this chapter reveal about how guilt and survival instinct compete in the human mind?
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Crisis Clarity Moment
Think of a time when you or someone close to you moved from confused panic to sharp awareness during a difficult situation. Write down what triggered the shift, what suddenly became clear, and what the first calculated move was. Then identify whether the strategy focused on genuine repair or strategic cover-up.
Consider:
- •Notice whether clarity brought relief, terror, or both - and why that combination makes sense
- •Consider how the shift from emotional reaction to strategic thinking changed relationships with others
- •Evaluate whether the calculated response ultimately helped or hurt the long-term situation
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 8: Fever and Flight
What lies ahead teaches us the immediate psychological aftermath of transgression, and shows us the body betrays what the mind denies. These patterns appear in literature and life alike.