Crime and punishment theme of courage. The theme of the “little man” in the novel “Crime and Punishment”
Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov is the main character of the socio-psychological novel by F. M. Dostoevsky “Crime and Punishment”. He is a former student, an intelligent and talented man, living in a closet that looks like a coffin in the poorest part of St. Petersburg. Stuffiness, crowding, stench, drunkenness, “an abundance of famous establishments” - this is the environment in which the hero had to live, this is where his cruel, inhumane idea was born.
What is the essence of this theory? Raskolnikov conditionally divided all people into “extraordinary” people, who have the right to shed blood according to their conscience, and “trembling creatures”, intended for the reproduction of their own kind, obliged to live in humility and obey the law. He included Napoleon, Magomed, Lycurgus and, of course, himself among the “those with the right”...
Next to the hero of the novel, according to D. I. Pisarev, “sentenced to a crime,” there is always an author who refutes the inhumane idea of Raskolnikov, which, according to F. M. Dostoevsky, is not only inhuman, but also in philosophical and practical plan is clearly imperfect.
Raskolnikov conditionally divided all people into two categories, classifying himself as the highest, but he, a loving son and brother, did not determine into which category he would classify his mother and sister dear to his heart. Of course, relatives cannot stand next to Magomed, but Rodion would probably never have called the proud, intelligent beauty Dunya a “trembling creature,” and certainly would not have killed him for the sake of any idea.
Having given himself the right to shed “blood according to his conscience,” Raskolnikov kills a stingy, rich old pawnbroker in order to test his theory, continue his studies with stolen money and save his family from a humiliating situation. However, he does not take into account whether people close to him will want to take advantage of the loot. Knowing the pride and piety of Dunya and Pulcheria Alexandrovna, we can say that the women would not have taken a penny of this money. And Raskolnikov himself is even afraid to touch this bloody money; first he wants to throw it away (“quickly, quickly, and throw it all away”).
So what did the hero's test for belonging to the highest rank bring? “He killed the principle, but didn’t cross it,” and in return he received only mental anguish. Torment only for him? No. And Dunya, and mother, and Razumikhin, and Sonya - all suffer from the crime committed by Raskolnikov. And all this causes new torment in the hero’s soul.
But another test awaits him - the realization that he, the murderer, has stood on a par with such scoundrels as Luzhin and Svidrigailov, who do not understand Rodion’s philosophical thoughts. So is it worth fighting for a place among the “extraordinary” if there are puddles all around? ? I think no. It is to this thought that the author leads us: no, and there will not be an idea for the sake of which one can kill; a person who sheds blood is a murderer, and there is no justification for him.
Who did the writers mean by calling some generalized image of their hero this way? This is a person who is not small in size or height; in Russian literature this is the name for a person who may not be dressed sparsely, but most importantly, he is quiet and downtrodden, intimidated by higher officials.
Before Fyodor Dostoevsky, such heroes were described by such writers as Alexander Pushkin in his work “The Station Warden”, Nikolai Gogol in the story “The Overcoat”. But it was Dostoevsky who penetrated most deeply into this topic and showed the “little man” in his deeply psychological novel “Crime and Punishment.”
The main character tried to at least change something, to break out of poverty, he fought when others simply folded their hands. But, unfortunately, he is also a “little man.” Sonechka also belongs to such people, but she fights and, together with Raskolnikov, wins. She had a hard time: going through hunger, ending up on the panel in order to survive and at the same time remain a gentle and sweet creature. Throughout the entire novel, Sonya submits to her fate, but she cannot fully come to terms with this state of affairs. That's why she is looking for her own world, where she can find salvation.
Sonya Marmeladova finds her own world, which supports her in life, cannot break her, as her parents did - this is the world of God. And despite the fact that both Sonya and Rodion are “little people,” they were able to prove themselves, were able to fight for their existence, and not vegetate insignificantly and drag out their miserable existence. They were born in families where they were doomed to become “little” people, and therefore they followed the path of these same “little people”, submitting, as life taught them to do. But at some point they decided not to submit and rise above this terrible reality.
Sonya not only tried to find a new life and believe in it, but also helped Rodion in this. He finally acquired faith in a new life, in the fact that the future ahead will be better than the present. And a new story begins in the lives of these people, where renewal and rebirth await them. So Dostoevsky showed how a “little man” can be morally reborn. And this salvation, according to the author, can only be found by having faith in God, because this is the fairest judgment.
Raskolnikov and the “powers of this world” (based on the novel by F. M. Dostoevsky “Crime and Punishment”)
The novel by F. M. Dostoevsky was published in 1866. Dostoevsky spoke about the modernity of his work. Back in September 1865, he wrote to Katkov: “The action is modern, this year.”
Rodion Raskolnikov, the main character of the novel Crime and Punishment, came up with a theory about ordinary and extraordinary people. This theory was outlined by him in the article “On Crime” in the newspaper “Periodicheskaya Rech” two months before he killed the old money-lender. According to his idea, the world is divided into “the mighty of this world,” to whom everything is allowed, since they have the courage to bend down and take power, and into “trembling creatures,” who are destined to obey first. The images of Luzhin and Svidrigailov help to more accurately understand Raskolnikov’s moral and philosophical principles.
Describing Pyotr Petrovich Luzhin, Pulcheria Ivanovna reports that “he is already a court adviser... a man... trustworthy and wealthy, he serves in two places and already has his own capital... very solid and decent, just a little gloomy and kind of arrogant.” She writes about him as her daughter’s fiancé, a “smart and, it seems, kind” man. Pyotr Petrovich’s “kindness” lies in the fact that he takes upon himself the “concerns” of delivering the luggage, and “the bride and the peasant’s mother are contracting, in a cart covered with horns!” He also dreams of marrying “an honest girl, but without a dowry and certainly one who has already experienced distress.” It is not difficult to guess what goals he pursues.
Pyotr Petrovich’s appearance serves as further confirmation of his well-being and luck: “The whole dress was only from a tailor... In clothes... light and youthful colors predominated. He was wearing a nice summer jacket of a light brown shade, light light trousers, the same vest, thin underwear he had just bought, a light cambric tie with pink stripes... Dark sideburns pleasantly overshadowed him on both sides, in the form of two cutlets, and clustered very beautifully near his light-shaven, shining chin.” But behind the pleasant appearance lies the extremely vile essence of this person.
Yu. G. Kudryavtsev in the article “Three Circles of Dostoevsky” characterizes this hero as follows: “... His main capital and “business.” The hero's mind and feelings are given to this. The mind is resourceful, the feelings are perverted. Capable of demagoguery, slander, and denunciation to achieve his goals. Everything is calculated, including marriage. As the author says, “More than anything in the world, he loved and valued his money, obtained through labor and by all means: it made him equal to everything that was higher than him.” Luzhin is narrow and one-line."
Further acquaintance with this person strengthens the impression of him as a callous, dry, indifferent, calculating and even cruel person. Stung by Rodion, he considers himself entitled to demand from Dunya that his brother “not be present at the general meeting..., since he offended him in an unprecedented and discourteous manner.” In the scene of explanation with Dunya, his petty, selfish nature, his low soul are revealed. The lack of sincerity is confirmed by the author’s remarks: “quite politely, although with double the seriousness, he bowed to the ladies,” “blowed his nose with the air of a virtuous, but still somewhat offended in his dignity,” “grimacing his mouth into an ambiguous smile”, “added with a somewhat pricked look”, “made a bitter look and fell silent in a dignified manner”, “immediately became excited”, “confused, he said.” As a future husband, Luzhin considers himself entitled to lecture Dunya, pointing out that “love for a future life partner, for a husband, must exceed love for a brother,” and is not ashamed to reproach him for being involved in expenses.
With characteristic skill, F. M. Dostoevsky describes Luzhin’s psychological state after the breakup with Dunya: “He swaggered to the last line, not even imagining the possibility that two poor and defenseless women could leave his power... Dunya it was simply necessary for him; It was already unthinkable for him to refuse her. For a long time now, for several years now, he had dreamed with sweetness of marriage. He thought with rapture... about a well-behaved and poor girl (certainly poor, very young, very pretty, noble and educated, very intimidated... and completely bowed down to him, one who would consider him all her life - with her salvation, she was in awe of him, she obeyed, she was amazed at him, and only him... This current sudden, ugly breakup affected him like a thunderclap. It was some kind of ugly joke, nonsense! he just showed off a little; he didn’t even have time to speak out, he was just joking, got carried away, and it ended so seriously! Finally, he even loved Dunya in his own way, he was already ruling over her in his dreams - and suddenly, thinking about the reason! -familiar with his failure (and measuring people by himself), Pyotr Petrovich draws the following conclusions: “The mistake was also that I didn’t give them money at all... I thought of keeping them in a black body and bring them so that they look at me as if I were providence, and there they are!.. No, if I had given them for all this time... thousand and a half for a dowry. Yes, for gifts... it would be cleaner and... stronger! I wouldn't be rejected so easily now! These people are of such a nature that they would certainly consider it an obligation to return both gifts and money in case of refusal; but it was hard and pathetic to return!”
Luzhin is not used to giving in to his own and decides “... all this... to restore, heal, correct, and most importantly - destroy this arrogant little boy,” i.e. Raskolnikov. He does this using methods known and familiar to him: in order to quarrel Rodion with his mother and sister, Luzhin, quietly slipping a hundred-ruble bill to Sonya Marmeladova, accuses her of theft. Only Lebezyatnikov’s intervention prevented Luzhin from achieving his goals.
This person has no remorse or compassion. To achieve his egoistic goal, “for himself alone,” he is ready to “transcend all obstacles.” Luzhin has a principle by which he lives: “...Love, first of all, yourself alone, for everything in the world is based on personal interest.” But if you think about his words, it turns out that this idea and Raskolnikov’s idea are close. Raskolnikov correctly formulated the consequences of Luzhin’s beliefs (“and bring them to the consequences... and it will turn out that people can be slaughtered...”), although Pyotr Petrovich claims that “there is a measure for everything” and that “an economic idea is not an invitation to murder..." Why not admit the idea that if someone’s personal well-being requires the destruction of a person (not necessarily physical), then why not do it? After all, this is precisely the path that Luzhin follows, slandering Sonya.
The first information in the novel about Svidrigailov characterizes him as a villain, a libertine. From the same letter to Raskolnikov’s mother, it becomes known that Mr. Svidrigailov “had a passion for Duna” and in every possible way sought her reciprocity. His personality remains a mystery both for the reader and for Raskolnikov. There were rumors that Svidrigailov was the cause of the death of a fourteen-year-old deaf-mute girl, the serf Philip, as well as Marfa Petrovna herself, his wife.
At the first meeting, Rodion got the impression of this man as a person who had decided on something and was “on his own mind,” as well as a very good person in society or who knew how to “be a decent person on occasion,” and in more close acquaintance - like a cynic. A former sharper, bought by Marfa Petrovna “for thirty thousand pieces of silver”, who lived in the village without leaving for seven years and during this time became a “decent owner”, now he does not know what to do with himself out of boredom. Svidrigailov himself admits to being “a depraved and idle man.” After the death of his wife, he is going to marry a sixteen-year-old girl, taking advantage of the fact that her father is disabled, and her mother, in addition to her own daughter, has two more nephews in her arms. His principle: “Everyone thinks about himself and lives the most joyfully because he is better off fooling everyone.”
Svidrigailov overhears Raskolnikov’s conversation with Sonya (when he confesses to the murder of the old pawnbroker) and offers Rodion his help: “Run, young man!.. I say it sincerely. Is there no money? I'll give it to you on the way." But then, using information about his brother, he blackmails Dunya, forcing her to come to him on a date. He promises Duna to save his brother by sending him abroad if she is favorable to him; but immediately, having received a refusal, he again turns into a cynic capable of violence.
The image of Svidrigailov is contradictory. Throughout the novel, he also does good deeds: he saved Dunya from shame, restored her good name, is ready to help her get rid of Luzhin, and arranged the fate of the Marmeladov orphans. But he does all this - both good and evil - out of boredom. By nature he has a conscience, but has no convictions and is not engaged in useful activities. Having lost his last goal - to gain Dunya's favor, Svidrigailov commits suicide. I believe that Svidrigailov is one of those heroes who “has no one... nowhere else to go.” With the death of this hero, the author affirms the idea that a real person cannot live without beliefs and without activity.
Svidrigailov claimed that he and Raskolnikov were “birds of a feather.” And by and large he turns out to be right. He himself is devoid of all moral principles and does not recognize any moral prohibitions. Raskolnikov, allowing himself to “bleed out of conscience,” also thereby denies the moral responsibility of a strong person for his actions. Moral standards, according to the main character, exist only for ordinary people, “trembling creatures.”
When comparing Raskolnikov with the images of Luzhin and Svidrigailov, it becomes clear that they all adhere to the same theory. Only Raskolnikov still could not live according to this theory, and Luzhin and Svidrigailov, on the contrary, use the power that material well-being gives them and use those around them for their own purposes. By pitting these heroes against each other, the author thereby refutes the theory, revealing its inhuman essence. That human thing that lives in Rodion and helps him to “resurrect” and not lose his soul.
(based on the novel by F. M. Dostoevsky “Crime and Punishment”)The novel “Crime and Punishment” by F. M. Dostoevsky was first published in the magazine “Russian Messenger” in 1866. The questions posed in the novel touch on social, ethical and philosophical problems that have always worried the writer. This is, first of all, the question of whether a person has the right to rebel against the existing order of things in the country, the right to radically change reality.
From the first pages of the novel we meet the main character - Rodion Raskolnikov. He “was remarkably good-looking, with beautiful eyes, dark-haired, taller than average, thin, slender,” but “so poorly dressed that another, even an ordinary person, would be ashamed to go out into the street in such rags during the day.” We learn that Rodion Raskolnikov is the son of a tradesman who grew up in a poor provincial family. After the death of the father, the family found itself in extremely dire straits. Need forces Rodion's sister, Dunya, to work as a governess, and he himself lives on modest money sent by his mother and gives private lessons. But there is a catastrophic lack of funds, and Rodion has to leave his studies at the university. Raskolnikov is arrogant (for example, because of the consciousness of his own superiority, he was alienated from other students and had no comrades during his studies. The hero’s surname reflects the beginning of denial or schism. Rodion “splits” society into rich and poor, into slaves and those in power. But, on the other hand, by nature Rodion is endowed with intelligence, he is sensitive to human suffering, vulnerable and generous. Wandering around the city, he sees scenes of despair, humiliation, the torment of those who are crushed by lack of money and the surrounding reality, and they deeply hurt him.
Shocked by the everyday insults to which people crushed by life are subjected, he experiences horror at the thought that he, too, is doomed to remain forever among the “humiliated and insulted,” to be a “trembling creature” in a common anthill. He does not believe in the possibility of a radical reorganization of life and therefore decides that he must at any cost break through to those who have the right to freedom of action and power, the main thing is “power! Over all the trembling creatures and over the entire anthill!”
Raskolnikov also acutely perceives the suffering of people. And an idea is born in his fevered brain. He wants to test whether it is possible for one person to kill another, pathetic and insignificant, in order to provide a better life for those who deserve happiness? Can a person shed “blood according to his conscience” and stand “above the entire anthill?” And he decides yes! He is trying to lull his own conscience, to convince himself that he has nothing to repent of, even after what he has done. The hero convinces himself that the murder of a worthless, evil, harmful old money-lender is not a crime, since the loot will help his sister avoid the hated
The marriage she decided on to help Rodion. But everything turns out to be not so simple. Under the influence of living impressions and human feelings, Rodion begins to realize the depravity of his concept. He understands that physically he killed the old woman, and spiritually - himself. Portraying his hero, Dostoevsky affirms the inseparability of true humanity with true conscience. A person cannot be deprived of the right to be human and live like a human being. The worst thing is permissiveness, when a person is allowed everything, it leads to immorality and the disintegration of all human connections. The right to be human is incompatible with the right to stand above people - this is not freedom.
The novel argues that it is immoral to fulfill one’s claims by infringing on the interests of other people, just as it is immoral and inhumane to oppose one’s happiness to everyone’s, because others pay for the crimes of one. It is also inhumane because the crime leads to the destruction of the personality of the “transgressor.” The crime itself does not occupy a significant place in the structure of the novel. The central theme of the novel is punishment for what has been done. It turns out that the punishment began much earlier than the crime itself. Even then, preparing himself for the “test,” Raskolnikov embarked on a criminal path. One of the forms of punishment was the torment of an awakened conscience and moral torment, when he became convinced that he did not possess the qualities of Napoleonic nature. His crime and the threat of exposure become a real obsession for him. Rodion is haunted by the old woman's laughter, nightmares, and a chain of accidents. And the prosecution of the law in the person of Porfiry Petrovich surrounds the hero with an iron “psychological” ring, strives to slam the trap, and turns out to be the most painful test.
Porfiry Petrovich is an experienced investigator, thoughtful and insightful. Even before the defendant’s first summons, he tried to find and read Raskolnikov’s article on “Napoleons” and “trembling creatures.” He found in Rodion's theory fantastic absurdities, sincerity, youthful pride, and enthusiasm close to fanaticism. This investigator has subtle intuition, courage, he is educated, patient, cunning and calculating. He penetrates deeply into the character of his interlocutor’s thinking, in addition, Porfiry Petrovich even sympathizes somewhat with Rodion. He recommends that Raskolnikov confess, repent, and atone for his guilt. But despite all this, the investigator does not let go of the criminal, making him feel hunted and driven into a corner. His method of influencing the defendant is to psychologically feel him and at the right moment be able to hit the bull’s eye, finally crushing the “enemy.” The interrogations turned into real torture for Raskolnikov. Even later, hard labor would become a form of legal punishment for Raskolnikov.
Dostoevsky refutes Raskolnikov's idea of his right to commit a crime. Raskolnikov hoped, by killing the old pawnbroker, to ease his situation, pull his relatives out of poverty, and save Dunya from her hated marriage. But instead he doomed himself to endless suffering, forced Dunya to suffer, and brought his mother to death. He wanted to prove to himself that he took a place among the “Napoleons,” but he became convinced that he was a “trembling creature.” Dostoevsky makes his hero realize that his action is immoral. After all, he stepped over not only laws, but also moral norms, and the theory is untenable.
It was a gentleman who was no longer young, prim, dignified, with a cautious and grumpy face, who began by stopping at the door, looking around with offensively undisguised surprise and as if asking with his eyes: “Where have I ended up?” Incredulously and even with an affectation of some fear, almost even insult, he looked around Raskolnikov’s cramped and low “sea cabin”. With the same surprise, he turned and then fixed his eyes on Raskolnikov himself, undressed, disheveled, unwashed, lying on his miserable dirty sofa and also motionlessly looking at him. Then, with the same slowness, he began to examine the disheveled, unshaven and unkempt figure of Razumikhin, who, in turn, boldly and questioningly looked him straight in the eyes, without moving from his place. The tense silence lasted for a minute, and finally, as one might expect, there was a small change of scenery. Realizing, apparently, from some, however very sharp, data that an exaggeratedly strict posture here, in this “sea cabin”, will get you absolutely nothing, the gentleman who entered softened somewhat and politely, although not without sternness, said, turning to Zosimov and emphasizing every syllable of his question: Rodion Romanych Raskolnikov, Mr. student or former student? Zosimov moved slowly and, perhaps, would have answered if Razumikhin, who was not considered at all, had not immediately warned him: And here he is lying on the sofa! What do you need? This familiar “what do you need?” That’s how it hit the prim gentleman; he even almost turned to Razumikhin, but managed to restrain himself in time and quickly turned again to Zosimov. Here is Raskolnikov! Zosimov mumbled, nodding at the patient, then yawned, and somehow opened his mouth an unusually large amount and held it in this position for an unusually long time. Then he slowly dragged himself into his vest pocket, took out a huge convex solid gold watch, opened it, looked, and just as slowly and lazily dragged himself to put it away again. Raskolnikov himself lay silently all the time, on his back, and stubbornly, although without any thought, looked at the newcomer. His face, now turned away from the curious flower on the wallpaper, was extremely pale and expressed extraordinary suffering, as if he had just undergone a painful operation or had just been released from torture. But the gentleman who entered little by little began to arouse in him more and more attention, then bewilderment, then distrust and even, as it were, fear. When Zosimov, pointing at him, said: “Here is Raskolnikov,” he suddenly rose quickly, as if jumping up, sat up on the bed and said in an almost defiant, but intermittent and weak voice: Yes! I'm Raskolnikov! What do you need? The guest looked attentively and said impressively: Petr Petrovich Luzhin. I fully hope that my name is not completely unknown to you. But Raskolnikov, expecting something completely different, looked at him blankly and thoughtfully and did not answer anything, as if he had heard the name of Pyotr Petrovich for the first time. How? Have you really not deigned to receive any news yet? asked Pyotr Petrovich, somewhat warily. In response to this, Raskolnikov slowly sank onto the pillow, threw his hands behind his head and began to look at the ceiling. Melancholy appeared in Luzhin's face. Zosimov and Razumikhin began to look at him with even greater curiosity, and he apparently finally became embarrassed. “I assumed and calculated,” he mumbled, “that the letter, which had already been sent for more than ten days, even almost two weeks... Listen, why are you still standing at the door? “Razumikhin suddenly interrupted, “If you have something to explain, then sit down, but for both of you, Nastasya, it’s crowded there.” Nastasyushka, step aside, let me pass! Come in, here's a chair for you, over here! Come on in! He moved his chair away from the table, freed up some space between the table and his knees and waited in a somewhat tense position for the guest to “crawl” through this crack. The minute was so chosen that it was impossible to refuse, and the guest climbed through the narrow space, hurrying and stumbling. Having reached a chair, he sat down and looked suspiciously at Razumikhin. “Don’t be embarrassed, however,” he blurted out. “Rodya had been sick for five days and had been delirious for three days, but now he woke up and even ate with appetite. This is his doctor sitting there, he’s just examined him, and I’m Comrade Rodkin, also a former student, and now I’m babysitting him; so don’t count us out and don’t be shy, but continue whatever you need to do there. Thank you. Will I, however, disturb the patient with my presence and conversation? Pyotr Petrovich turned to Zosimov. N-no, mumbled Zosimov, you can even entertain, and yawned again. Oh, he’s been in my memory for a long time, since the morning! “ continued Razumikhin, whose familiarity had the appearance of such genuine innocence that Pyotr Petrovich thought and began to cheer up, perhaps partly because this ragamuffin and impudence had managed to introduce himself as a student. “Your mother...” began Luzhin. Hm! Razumikhin said loudly. Luzhin looked at him questioningly. Nothing, I am; go... Luzhin shrugged. ...Your mother, while I was still with them, began a letter to you. Having arrived here, I deliberately missed several days and did not come to you, so as to be completely sure that you were informed about everything; but now, to my surprise... I know, I know! “Raskolnikov suddenly said, with an expression of the most impatient annoyance. Is that you? Groom? Well, I know!.. and that’s enough! Pyotr Petrovich was decidedly offended, but remained silent. He was in a hurry to figure out what it all meant? Silence continued for a minute. Meanwhile, Raskolnikov, who had slightly turned to him as he answered, suddenly began to examine him again intently and with some special curiosity, as if he had not yet had time to look at him in full or as if something new in him had struck him: he even stood up to this on purpose from the pillow. Indeed, in general, Pyotr Petrovich was struck by something special, namely, something that seemed to justify the title of “groom”, so unceremoniously given to him now. Firstly, it was clear, and even too noticeable, that Pyotr Petrovich was in a hurry to take advantage of the few days in the capital in order to have time to dress up and put on his make-up in anticipation of the bride, which, however, was very innocent and permissible. Even his own, perhaps even too self-satisfied, consciousness of his pleasant change for the better could be forgiven for such a case, for Pyotr Petrovich was on the groom’s line. All his clothes were fresh from the tailor, and everything was good, except that everything was too new and too revealing of a known purpose. Even the smart, brand-new, round hat testified to this goal: Pyotr Petrovich somehow treated it too respectfully and held it too carefully in his hands. Even a lovely pair of lilac, real Jouvenev gloves testified to the same thing, if only for the fact that they were not worn, but only carried in the hands for the parade. In Pyotr Petrovich’s clothes, light and youthful colors predominated. He was wearing a nice summer jacket of a light brown shade, light light trousers, the same vest, freshly bought thin underwear, the lightest cambric tie with pink stripes, and best of all: all this even suited Pyotr Petrovich. His face, very fresh and even handsome, already seemed younger than his forty-five years. Dark sideburns pleasantly overshadowed him on both sides, in the form of two cutlets, and clustered very beautifully near his light-shaven, shining chin. Even the hair, although only slightly grey, combed and curled at the hairdresser, did not by this circumstance present anything funny or any stupid appearance, which usually always happens with curled hair, for it gives the face an inevitable resemblance to a German walking down the aisle. If there was anything truly unpleasant and repulsive in this rather beautiful and respectable face, it was due to other reasons. Having examined Mr. Luzhin without ceremony, Raskolnikov smiled venomously, sank back onto the pillow and continued to look at the ceiling. But Mr. Luzhin steeled himself and, it seems, decided not to notice all these oddities for the time being. “I regret very, very much that I find you in this position,” he began again, breaking the silence with effort. If I had known about your ill health, I would have come earlier. But, you know, troubles!.. I also have a very important matter regarding my lawyer’s part in the Senate. I won’t even mention those worries that you can guess. I’m expecting yours, that is, mother and sister, any hour... Raskolnikov stirred and wanted to say something; his face expressed some excitement. Pyotr Petrovich paused and waited, but since nothing followed, he continued: ...Any hour. I found them an apartment for the first time... Where? Raskolnikov said weakly. Not far from here, Bakaleev’s house... “This is on Voznesensky,” interrupted Razumikhin, “there are two floors with numbers; merchant Yushin supports; been. Yes, numbers... The most terrible filth: dirt, stench, and a suspicious place; things happened; and the devil knows who doesn’t live!.. I myself came in on a scandalous occasion. Cheap, though. “I, of course, could not collect so much information, since the man himself is new,” Pyotr Petrovich objected ticklishly, “but, however, two very, very clean rooms, and since this is for a very short period of time... I have already found the real, that is, our future apartment,” he turned to Raskolnikov, “and now it is being finished off; In the meantime, I myself am cramped in the rooms, two steps from here, at Mrs. Lippewechsel’s, in the apartment of one of my young friends, Andrei Semenych Lebezyatnikov; It was he who showed me Bakaleev’s house... Lebezyatnikov? Raskolnikov said slowly, as if remembering something. Yes, Andrei Semenych Lebezyatnikov, an employee in the ministry. Would you like to know? Yes... no... Raskolnikov answered. Sorry, that’s what I thought about your question. I was once his guardian... a very nice young man... and a watchdog... I’m glad to meet young people: from them you’ll find out what’s new. Pyotr Petrovich looked at everyone present with hope. In what respect is this? asked Razumikhin. “In the most serious, so to speak, in the very essence of the matter,” Pyotr Petrovich picked up, as if rejoicing at the question. You see, I haven’t visited St. Petersburg for ten years. All our news, reforms, ideas - all this has touched us in the provinces; but in order to see more clearly and see everything, you need to be in St. Petersburg. Well, my thought is precisely this: you will notice and learn most by observing our younger generations. And I admit: I was glad... To what exactly? Your question is broad. I could be wrong, but it seems to me that I find a clearer view, more, so to speak, criticism; more businesslike... “It’s true,” Zosimov muttered. “You’re lying, there’s no efficiency,” Razumikhin grabbed onto it. Efficiency is difficult to acquire, but it does not fall from the sky for nothing. And we have been weaned from any business for almost two hundred years... Ideas, perhaps, are wandering,” he turned to Pyotr Petrovich, “and there is a desire for good, albeit childish; and there will even be honesty, despite the fact that there are apparently scammers here, but there is still no efficiency! Efficiency walks in boots. “I don’t agree with you,” Pyotr Petrovich objected with visible pleasure, “of course, there are hobbies and irregularities, but one must also be lenient: hobbies indicate ardor for the cause and the wrong external environment in which the matter is located. If little was done, then there was little time. I’m not even talking about the means. In my personal opinion, if you like, even something has been done: new, useful thoughts have been disseminated, some new, useful writings have been disseminated, instead of the previous dreamy and romantic ones; literature takes on a more mature tone; many harmful prejudices have been eradicated and ridiculed... In a word, we have irrevocably cut ourselves off from the past, and this, in my opinion, is the point... Confirmed! “Recommended,” Raskolnikov said suddenly. What, sir? asked Pyotr Petrovich, not hearing, but did not receive an answer. “This is all fair,” Zosimov hastened to interject. Isn’t it true, sir? Pyotr Petrovich continued, looking pleasantly at Zosimov. “Agree for yourself,” he continued, turning to Razumikhin, but with a tinge of some triumph and superiority, and almost added: “young man,” “that there is success, or, as they say now, progress, at least in the name of science and economic truth... Common place! No, not a common place, sir! If, for example, they still told me: “love,” and I loved, then what came of it? - Pyotr Petrovich continued, perhaps with excessive haste, - what happened was that I tore the caftan in half, shared it with my neighbor, and both of us were left half naked, according to the Russian proverb: “You will follow several hares at once, and you will not achieve a single one.” Science says: love yourself first, first of all, for everything in the world is based on personal interest. If you love yourself alone, then you will manage your affairs properly, and your caftan will remain intact. Economic truth adds that the more private affairs and, so to speak, entire caftans are organized in a society, the more solid foundations there are for it and the more common affairs are organized in it. Therefore, by acquiring solely and exclusively for myself, I thereby acquire, as it were, for everyone and lead to the fact that my neighbor receives a somewhat more torn caftan, and no longer from private, individual generosity, but as a result of general prosperity. A simple thought, but, unfortunately, it did not come for too long, overshadowed by enthusiasm and dreaminess, and it would seem that it takes a little wit to guess... “Sorry, I’m not witty either,” Razumikhin interrupted sharply, “so let’s stop. I spoke with purpose, otherwise all this self-indulgence chatter, all these incessant, incessant commonplaces, and all the same and all the same, became so disgusting at the age of three that, by God, I blush when I others, not like me, talk in front of me. You, of course, were in a hurry to demonstrate your knowledge; this is very forgivable, and I do not blame you. I just wanted to find out now who you are, because, you see, so many different industrialists have recently become attached to the common cause, and they have distorted everything they touched to such an extent that they messed up. Well, that's enough! “Dear sir,” Mr. Luzhin began, groaning with extreme dignity, “would you like to so unceremoniously explain that I... Oh, have mercy, have mercy... Could I?.. Well, sir, that’s enough! Razumikhin snapped and turned abruptly to Zosimov, continuing the earlier conversation. Pyotr Petrovich turned out to be smart enough to immediately believe the explanation. He, however, decided to leave after two minutes. “I hope that our acquaintance that we have now begun,” he turned to Raskolnikov, “after your recovery and in view of the circumstances known to you, will strengthen even more... I especially wish you good health... Raskolnikov didn’t even turn his head. Pyotr Petrovich began to get up from his chair. Surely the pawnbroker killed? Zosimov spoke affirmatively. Definitely a pawnbroker! Razumikhin assented. Porfiry does not reveal his thoughts, but still interrogates the pawnbrokers... Does he interrogate the pawnbrokers? Raskolnikov asked loudly. Yes, but what? Nothing. Where does he get them from? asked Zosimov. Koch indicated others; others’ names were written on the wrappers of things, while others came themselves as they had heard... That’s just it, it’s not! Razumikhin interrupted. This is what leads you all astray. And I say: awkward, inexperienced and, probably, this was the first step! Assume calculation and clever channeling, and the result will be incredible. Suppose an inexperienced person, and it turns out that only chance got him out of trouble, but what doesn’t chance do? For mercy's sake, perhaps he didn't even foresee the obstacles! How is business going? takes things worth ten or twenty rubles, stuffs his pocket with them, rummages through a woman’s wardrobe, in rags, and in the chest of drawers, in the top drawer, in the box, they found one and a half thousand worth of pure money alone, except for tickets! And he didn’t know how to rob, he only managed to kill! The first step, I tell you, the first step; lost! And it turned out not by calculation, but by chance! “This, it seems, is about the recent murder of an old official,” Pyotr Petrovich intervened, addressing Zosimov, already standing with a hat in his hand and gloves, but before leaving, he wanted to throw in a few more clever words. He was apparently trying to make a favorable impression, and vanity overcame prudence. Yes. You heard? Why, sir, in the neighborhood... Do you know the details? I can’t say; But I’m interested in another circumstance, so to speak, a whole question. Not to mention the fact that crimes in the lower class have increased in the last five years; I’m not talking about widespread and continuous looting and fires; The strangest thing for me is that crimes in the upper classes are increasing in the same way and, so to speak, in parallel. There, it is heard, a former student broke a post office on the main road; there, people who are advanced in their social position make false papers; there, in Moscow, they catch a whole company of counterfeiters of tickets for the last lottery loan, and among the main participants is one lecturer in world history; there they are killing our secretary abroad, for monetary and mysterious reasons... And if now this old pawnbroker is killed by one of the pawnbrokers, then this too, it follows, was a person from a higher society, because men do not pawn gold things, then How can we explain this, on the one hand, licentiousness of the civilized part of our society? “There are a lot of economic changes...,” responded Zosimov. How to explain? Razumikhin latched on. But it is precisely the inveterate lack of efficiency that could be explained. That is, how is it, sir? And what did your lecturer in Moscow answer when asked why he forged tickets: “Everyone gets rich in different ways, so I wanted to get rich as quickly as possible.” I don’t remember the exact words, but the meaning is that it’s free, quickly, without difficulty! They are accustomed to living on everything ready-made, walking on other people’s feet, and eating chewed food. Well, the great hour struck, and then everyone showed up to watch... But, however, morality? And, so to speak, the rules... What are you bothering about? Raskolnikov unexpectedly intervened. According to your theory! How so according to my theory? And bring to the consequences what you preached just now, and it turns out that people can be cut... Have mercy! - cried Luzhin. No, that's not true! - responded Zosimov. Raskolnikov lay pale, with his upper lip trembling and breathing heavily. “There is a measure for everything,” Luzhin continued arrogantly, “an economic idea is not yet an invitation to murder, and if we only assume... “Is it true that you,” Raskolnikov suddenly interrupted again in a voice trembling with anger, in which some kind of joy of resentment was heard, “is it true that you told your fiancee... at the very hour when you received her consent, that most of all they are happy about the fact that she is a beggar... because it is more profitable to take a wife out of poverty in order to then rule over her... and reproach her for the fact that you have benefited her?.. Dear Sir! - Luzhin cried out angrily and irritably, all flushed and confused, - my dear sir... so distort the thought! Excuse me, but I must tell you that the rumors that have reached you, or, better said, brought to you, do not have even a shadow of a sound basis, and I... suspect who... in a word... this arrow. .. in a word, your mother... She already seemed to me, despite all her excellent qualities, to have a somewhat enthusiastic and romantic tint in her thoughts... But I was still a thousand miles away from the assumption that she in such a form distorted by fantasy, she could understand and imagine the matter... And finally... finally... Do you know what? - cried Raskolnikov, sitting up on the pillow and looking at him point-blank with a piercing, sparkling gaze, - you know what? What, sir? Luzhin stopped and waited with an offended and defiant look. Silence lasted for several seconds. And the fact is that if you once again... dare to mention even one word... about my mother... then I will throw you head over heels down the stairs! What's wrong with you! - shouted Razumikhin. Ah, so that’s it! Luzhin turned pale and bit his lip. “Listen, sir, to me,” he began with emphasis and restraining himself with all his might, but still out of breath, “I guessed your hostility from the first step just now, but I stayed here on purpose to find out even more. I could forgive a patient and a relative a lot, but now... you... never, sir... I'm not sick! Raskolnikov cried. Moreover, sir... Get the hell out! But Luzhin was already leaving on his own, without finishing his speech, crawling again between the table and chair; This time Razumikhin stood up to let him through. Without looking at anyone and without even nodding his head to Zosimov, who had long been nodding to him to leave the sick man alone, Luzhin left, raising his hat out of caution next to his shoulder as he bent down and walked through the door. And even the arch of his back seemed to express on this occasion that he was taking away with him a terrible insult. Is it possible, is it possible? - said the puzzled Razumikhin, shaking his head. Leave me, leave me everyone! Raskolnikov cried out in a frenzy. Will you finally leave me, tormentors! I'm not afraid of you! I'm not afraid of anyone, no one now! Get away from me! I want to be alone, alone, alone, alone! Let's go! said Zosimov, nodding to Razumikhin. For mercy, is it really possible to leave him like this? Let's go! Zosimov repeated persistently and left. Razumikhin thought and ran to catch up with him. “It could have been worse if we had not listened to him,” said Zosimov, already on the stairs. It is impossible to irritate... What's wrong with him? If only there would be some kind of favorable push for him, that would be great! Just now he was able... You know, he has something on his mind! Something motionless, oppressive... I am very afraid of this; certainly! Yes, this gentleman, maybe Pyotr Petrovich! From the conversation it is clear that he is marrying his sister and that Rodya received a letter about this just before his illness... Yes; the devil brought it now; maybe he upset the whole thing. Have you noticed that he is indifferent to everything, remains silent about everything, except for one point, which makes him lose his temper: this is murder... Yes, yes! Razumikhin picked up, he really noticed! Interested, scared. It was on the very day of his illness that they frightened him, in the warden’s office; fainted. You tell me this in more detail in the evening, and I’ll tell you something later. He interests me, very much! I'll come by in half an hour to check on you... There won't be any inflammation, however... Thank you! Meanwhile, I’ll wait at Pashenka’s and watch through Nastasya... Raskolnikov, left alone, looked at Nastasya with impatience and longing; but she still hesitated to leave. Will you drink some tea now? she asked. After! I want to sleep! Leave me alone... He turned convulsively to the wall; Nastasya left.