Part I

The passage establishes Raskolnikov as a young impoverished student in Saint Petersburg who avoids his landlady due to debt and exists in an overstrained, isolated mental state.

Raskolnikov questions his courage and resolve, wondering if he can actually carry out the shadowy plan he has been contemplating for a month.

The narrator describes Raskolnikov's weakened physical condition, isolation, and the toll his intense brooding has taken on his health and appearance.

A drunk man's taunt about his worn-out hat causes Raskolnikov acute anxiety, leading him to ruminate on how trifling details can ruin his plan.

Raskolnikov reveals that he previously counted the exact steps to the pawnbroker's house and has been contemplating his dark plan for a month.

Raskolnikov goes to the pawnbroker's flat to pawn his watch, ostensibly gathering information about her routine and surroundings.

The narrator provides a detailed portrait of the old pawnbroker as a diminutive, withered, malignant woman, which informs the reader of her character.

Raskolnikov pawns his watch to the pawnbroker, receiving only 1 rouble and 15 kopecks, while observing her methods and the layout of her rooms.

While waiting, Raskolnikov carefully observes where the pawnbroker keeps her keys and notes that one large notched key likely opens a strong box.

As he leaves, Raskolnikov casually but purposefully asks whether the pawnbroker is always alone, discovering information about her sister Lizaveta.

Walking in the street, Raskolnikov is overwhelmed with disgust and horror at the crime he is contemplating, questioning how he could have conceived such a thing.

Overwhelmed by emotional turmoil, Raskolnikov drinks beer and eats in a tavern, briefly feeling that his weakness is merely physical.

A disheveled older man named Marmeladov addresses Raskolnikov in grandiose language, revealing himself to be a ruined government official.

Marmeladov distinguishes between poverty and beggary, arguing that beggary strips a man of his innate nobility of soul.

Marmeladov recounts his wife's noble background, the family's poverty, and his daughter Sonia's forced entry into prostitution to support them.

Marmeladov describes the joy and hope his family experienced when he obtained a new government position and salary five weeks ago.

Marmeladov admits that five days ago he stole from his wife, left home, and has been drinking ever since, squandering his opportunity.

In an ecstatic speech, Marmeladov envisions God's final judgment where the lowly and sinful will be redeemed through their suffering and loved ones' sacrifices.

Raskolnikov observes the domestic violence and desperation of Marmeladov's family, including the suffering of his wife Katerina Ivanovna and the children.

Despite his own poverty, Raskolnikov gives his remaining money to the family, an act he immediately regrets when considering his own needs.

Raskolnikov muses on whether man is essentially a scoundrel or whether morality is merely a social construct obscuring natural behavior.

Raskolnikov's sleep has not restored him; he wakes irritable and unwell, dwelling in his miserable room.

The narrator describes Raskolnikov's tiny, shabby garret room, which reflects his complete withdrawal from society and his deep poverty.

The servant Nastasya brings Raskolnikov a letter and tells him his landlady plans to complain to the police about his non-payment and refusal to vacate.

When Nastasya comments on his idleness, Raskolnikov reveals his ambition to obtain a fortune, not merely earn small sums from tutoring.

A letter arrives from his mother containing news of his sister Dounia's engagement to the practical man of business Pyotr Petrovitch Luzhin.

The mother writes that Dounia has agreed to marry Pyotr Petrovitch Luzhin, a wealthy counsellor, whose connections may help establish Raskolnikov's career.

After reading the letter, Raskolnikov's face becomes pale and distorted, filled with bitter wrath at his mother and sister's plan.

Raskolnikov's thoughts immediately fix on preventing the marriage, determined that it shall not happen while he lives.

Raskolnikov questions what right he has to oppose the marriage and what he can offer his family, realizing he is currently dependent on them.

Raskolnikov realizes he cannot continue in passive suffering and must take decisive action immediately, not in the future.

Marmeladov's phrase about having nowhere to turn triggers the return of Raskolnikov's murderous plan, which had seemed like a distant dream.

Raskolnikov finds a barely-conscious intoxicated girl on a park bench and intervenes to protect her from a predatory gentleman.

Raskolnikov agonizes over the girl's inevitable descent into prostitution and disease, philosophizing about how society accepts such tragedies as inevitable percentages.

Raskolnikov considers visiting his university friend Razumihin, though he questions the utility of such a visit given his current desperation.

Exhausted, Raskolnikov dreams of his childhood, witnessing a peasant named Mikolka brutally beat a starving horse to death despite its inability to perform.

Upon waking, Raskolnikov is terrified by the dream, filled with horror at the thought of actually committing the murder he has been contemplating.

Raskolnikov convinces himself that he could never actually carry out the murder and renounces the plan, praying for divine guidance.

Crossing the bridge and viewing the sunset, Raskolnikov feels an overwhelming sense of freedom from the obsessive burden that has weighed on him.

By seemingly pure coincidence, Raskolnikov hears that Lizaveta, the pawnbroker's sister, will be away from home the next evening at seven o'clock.

Raskolnikov learns definitively that the pawnbroker will be alone at a specific time, providing the final precondition for his crime.

Entering his flat, Raskolnikov feels that everything has become decided and irrevocable; he no longer has freedom of will or thought.

With meticulous care, Raskolnikov constructs a noose to conceal the axe under his coat and fashions a false wooden pledge to distract the pawnbroker.

When Nastasya is conveniently absent, Raskolnikov steals the axe from the kitchen and secures it in his makeshift noose.

Raskolnikov walks calmly through the streets toward the pawnbroker's apartment, his mind occupied with irrelevant details to avoid thinking about the crime.

A hay wagon conveniently screens Raskolnikov's passage through the gateway as he enters the building to commit the crime.

Raskolnikov stands outside the pawnbroker's door, his heart pounding, and rings the bell multiple times before she opens.

The suspicious old pawnbroker opens the door a crack, peering out with mistrustful eyes before allowing Raskolnikov inside.

Raskolnikov enters the flat and presents the fake wooden pledge wrapped in paper, attempting to appear normal despite his inner turmoil.

The pawnbroker unwraps the false pledge slowly, turning toward the window for light, giving Raskolnikov the opportunity to free the axe.

Raskolnikov swings the axe at the pawnbroker's head with the blunt side, striking her as she stands at the window unwrapping the pledge.

Raskolnikov strikes the already-fallen woman additional times to ensure her death, then searches her pockets for the keys.

Raskolnikov retrieves the ring of keys from the pawnbroker's pocket and runs into the bedroom to search for her valuables.

Raskolnikov attempts to open the chest of drawers, then discovers a box under the bed containing the pawnbroker's hidden wealth and pledges.

While searching the bedroom, Raskolnikov hears a faint cry from the outer room and realizes someone has entered the apartment.

Lizaveta discovers her dead sister's body and, seeing Raskolnikov emerge from the bedroom with the axe, freezes in shock. Raskolnikov kills her as she stands paralyzed.

Gripped by horror at having committed an unexpected second murder, Raskolnikov flees the flat, running down the stairs in desperation.

In a state of dissociation, Raskolnikov methodically washes his hands and the axe in the pawnbroker's kitchen before leaving.

Raskolnikov realizes in horror that the outer door to the flat was merely fastened with a hook, not locked, meaning anyone could have entered.

Koch and a young man arrive at the pawnbroker's door, ring the bell repeatedly, and discuss whether anyone is home, while Raskolnikov hides and listens in terror.

The young man astutely observes that the door is fastened by a hook from inside, proving someone is home but not answering.

The two men decide to go find the porter to help them wake the occupants, leaving Raskolnikov alone in the flat.

As soon as the visitors leave, Raskolnikov opens the door cautiously and begins descending the stairs, hoping to slip away unnoticed.

As Raskolnikov descends, someone from the flat below shouts, creating an alarm that sends Raskolnikov back up.

Raskolnikov quickly enters the empty flat where painters had been working, hiding behind the wall as the other men rush past to the upper floors.

Raskolnikov passes through the gateway and into the street, attempting to seem inconspicuous despite his inner turmoil.

Exhausted and weakened, Raskolnikov walks a long, circuitous route toward the canal bank, avoiding direct streets home.

Raskolnikov reaches his room barely conscious and, after returning the axe to the porter's room, collapses on his sofa in a state of complete dissociation.