Crime and Punishment: Chapter Four

[mea505]

In this chapter, we find Raskolnikov on his walk; he is thinking and talking to himself. At first, or at least the first thought that he has is that he is not going to allow the marriage between his sister, Dunya, and Lushin. Raskolnikov sees Luzhin as a stingy person and very disrepectful.

While thinking and walking down the street, Raskolnikov spots a drunk girl, heading in the same direction, on the same side of the street; she is headed towards a bench, upon which he wanted (at first) to sit down. There is another man who is apparently looking at the girl across the street and Raskolnikov considers this man as a threat to the girl, thinking that he might take an advantage of her. Raskolnikov summons a policeman, to whom he gives 30 kopecks to get the girl home via a Taxi (the policeman, however, never uses the money, but also keeps it). This is the second time he has actually lost money to help others out of a difficult situation.

Question What does the little girl represent in the novel? What does the giving of the money to the policeman represent?

[mea505]

Is anyone yet up to Chapter Four? I was going to complete the synopsis of chapter five, but with so few responses, I think I will wait until Monday.

[Gladys]

Raskolnikov sees Luzhin as small minded: Dunya, like himself, strives for ideals.

the policeman, however, never uses the money, but also keeps it

Does he keep the money?

"Well!" ejaculated the policeman, with a gesture of contempt, and he walked after the dandy and the girl, probably taking Raskolnikov for a madman or something even worse.

What does the little girl represent in the novel? I'm don't know. But the sexual molester, labelled as a Svidrigailov, represents the nastiest manifestation of the free thinking Napoleon, Raskolnikov's cherished ideal.

"Hey! You Svidrigaïlov! What do you want here?" he shouted, clenching his fists and laughing, spluttering with rage.

Although giving money to the policeman shows the generosity of Raskolnikov, I've long struggled to reconcile this generosity with his murder of the two women.

[bazarov]

Question What does the little girl represent in the novel? What does the giving of the money to the policeman represent?

If we forget on one moment his killings, you cannot name none of his bad acts or thoughts. He is very kind and generous, he showed it toward little girl and to Katerina Ivanovna, and he will show it again. He gave all he had to help others, and rich gentleman gave nothing to girl; he laughed. Reminds on story about poor widow from Bible.

[mea505]

That's a very good observation; and it's one that I didn't consider. Thanks!