Crime and Punishment & Other Great Novels of Dostoevsky
by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Contents
Crime and Punishment — Part I — Chapter V
Overview
Raskolnikov wanders in a fever, dozes on an island, and dreams of a horse brutally beaten to death, which makes him renounce his murderous plan. Moments later, a chance encounter in the Hay Market reveals Lizaveta will be out at seven the next evening, leaving Alyona alone—an opportunity that fatally reawakens his resolve.
Summary
Raskolnikov debates visiting Razumihin for work but dismisses it as meaningless for his deeper crisis. He abruptly links seeing Razumihin to “after It,” startling himself with the realization that the contemplated crime still grips him. Loathing his room, he wanders toward the islands, distracted and feverish.
He eats and drinks vodka, then collapses into sleep on Petrovsky Ostrov. He dreams he is a child with his father, witnessing drunken peasants torture a frail mare. Mikolka savagely beats the horse to death while the crowd laughs; the child Raskolnikov, hysterical with pity, is dragged away by his father.
Waking in terror, Raskolnikov recoils from the vision of killing Alyona with an axe and declares he cannot do it. He feels sudden relief, as if freed from an oppressive spell, and prays to abandon the “accursed dream.”
Yet, returning home by way of the Hay Market, he overhears Lizaveta agreeing to be elsewhere at seven the next day. Realizing Alyona will be alone then, Raskolnikov feels his will vanish as the decision is made for him: the perfect opportunity has arrived.
Who Appears
- Rodion RaskolnikovProtagonist; feverishly wanders, dreams of animal cruelty, briefly renounces murder, then seizes on Lizaveta’s absence as the decisive opportunity.
- Lizaveta IvanovnaAlyona’s timid sister; agrees to be out at seven, unintentionally signaling Alyona will be alone.
- MikolkaDrunken peasant in Raskolnikov’s dream who brutally kills the mare, embodying senseless cruelty.
- Raskolnikov’s fatherAppears in the dream, tries to shield child Raskolnikov from the horse’s killing.
- HucksterMarket vendor who invites Lizaveta to visit at seven, revealing her planned absence.
- Huckster’s wifeEncourages Lizaveta to come without telling Alyona, reinforcing the timing detail.