Crime and Punishment · Chapter
III explained
At the funeral dinner, Pyotr Petrovitch Luzhin publicly accuses Sonia of stealing a hundred-rouble note from him, presenting a detailed, manipulative account of her earlier visit.
What happens
At the funeral dinner, Pyotr Petrovitch Luzhin publicly accuses Sonia of stealing a hundred-rouble note from him, presenting a detailed, manipulative account of her earlier visit. Sonia denies it, but the accusation creates chaos. Katerina Ivanovna furiously defends Sonia, throwing the ten roubles Luzhin had given Sonia back in his face. A violent argument erupts, culminating in Amalia Ivanovna evicting Katerina Ivanovna and her children from the lodging. In despair, Katerina Ivanovna runs into the street seeking justice, while Raskolnikov, having witnessed the scene, leaves to visit Sonia.
Themes in this chapter
Poverty and Desperation
The accusation exploits Sonia's poverty and social position. Katerina Ivanovna's eviction into the street with her orphans represents the ultimate consequence of destitution.
State Oppression
The threat of police involvement (Luzhin's suggestion) and Katerina Ivanovna's futile quest for 'justice on earth' highlight how legal and social systems oppress and fail the vulnerable.
Psychological Torment
Sonia endures public humiliation and false accusation. Katerina Ivanovna's hysterical reaction and subsequent breakdown show the psychological toll of relentless misfortune.
Characters to notice
- Raskolnikov
Witnesses the entire scene silently, his 'glowing eyes' fixed on Sonia during the accusation. Leaves at the end, determined to go to Sonia's lodgings.
- Alena Ivanovna
Not present, but the memory of her murder and the stolen goods hangs over Raskolnikov's actions and motives.
- Lizaveta Ivanovna
Not present, but her murder is the root cause of Sonia's suffering and the stolen goods in Raskolnikov's possession.
- Amalia Ivanovna
The landlady who hosts the funeral dinner. She eagerly sides with Luzhin, calls Sonia a thief, and ultimately violently evicts Katerina Ivanovna and the children.
Key passages
“"I was, so to say, with horror and positively against my will, compelled to entertain a suspicion—a cruel, but justifiable suspicion!"”
Luzhin claims he is reluctantly forced to a cruel but reasonable suspicion of Sonia due to her behavior and social standing.
Highlights Luzhin's manipulative rhetoric, using logic and feigned regret to frame his malicious accusation as rational and unavoidable.
“"Sonia! how dared you take ten roubles from him? Foolish girl! Give it to me! Give me the ten roubles at once—here!"”
Katerina Ivanovna, misunderstanding, scolds Sonia for accepting charity from Luzhin and snatches the money to throw back at him.
Demonstrates Katerina Ivanovna's pride and volatile temperament, and her immediate, fierce loyalty in defending Sonia against the theft accusation.
“"Wait a bit, godless creature!... We will see whether there is justice on earth!"”
As she is evicted, Katerina Ivanovna cries out that she will find justice somewhere, challenging the world's unfairness.
A desperate, ironic cry that underscores her complete helplessness and the novel's theme of the absence of divine or earthly justice for the poor.