Character guide

Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov

major

Also known as Raskolnikov, Rodya, Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov

A destitute former student in Saint Petersburg who becomes obsessed with a radical theory that leads him to commit a crime. The novel's protagonist, whose psychological torment and moral struggle form the central narrative.

Sofya Semyonovna Marmeladova

major

Also known as Sonia, Sonia Marmeladov, Sofya Semyonovna

The meek and devout daughter of Semyon Marmeladov, forced into prostitution to support her family. She becomes a crucial source of spiritual redemption for Raskolnikov.

Dmitri Prokofych Razumikhin

supporting

Also known as Razumihin

Raskolnikov's loyal, good-natured, and talkative university friend. He acts as a protector and helper for Raskolnikov's family during his illness.

Avdotya Romanovna Raskolnikova

major

Also known as Dounia, Avdotya Romanovna

Raskolnikov's strong-willed and devoted sister. Her engagement to Pyotr Luzhin and her experiences with Svidrigailov create major subplots.

Arkady Ivanovich Svidrigailov

major

Also known as Svidrigaïlov, SvidrigaГҜlov, Mr. Svidrigaïlov

A wealthy, depraved, and enigmatic landowner who arrives in Petersburg pursuing Dounia. He represents a cynical, nihilistic alternative to Raskolnikov's tortured idealism.

Porfiry Petrovich

supporting

Also known as Porfiry, Porfiry Petrovitch

The shrewd, psychologically astute magistrate investigating the pawnbroker's murder. He engages Raskolnikov in a tense cat-and-mouse game.

Pyotr Petrovich Luzhin

supporting

Also known as Luzhin, Pyotr Petrovitch, Mr. Luzhin

A self-important, miserly bureaucrat engaged to Dounia Raskolnikova. His petty vindictiveness and theories of rational self-interest make him a despised figure.

Pulcheria Alexandrovna Raskolnikova

supporting

Also known as Pulcheria Alexandrovna, Pulcheria Raskolnikov

Raskolnikov's loving, anxious, and somewhat naive mother, who arrives in Petersburg with Dounia.

Katerina Ivanovna Marmeladova

supporting

Also known as Katerina Ivanovna, Ivanovna, Katerina

The proud, consumptive, and increasingly unstable widow of Semyon Marmeladov and stepmother to Sonia. Her tragic fate underscores the novel's social themes.

Semyon Zaharovich Marmeladov

minor

Also known as Marmeladov, Semyon Zaharovitch

A drunken, self-pitying former civil servant whom Raskolnikov meets in a tavern. His monologue about his family's suffering introduces Sonia and Katerina Ivanovna.

Aliona Ivanovna

minor

Also known as Alyona Ivanovna, Alyona, Ivanovna

A harsh, elderly pawnbroker whom Raskolnikov murders. She is described as a miserly and exploitative figure.

Lizaveta Ivanovna

minor

Also known as Lizaveta, Poor Lizaveta

The pawnbroker's meek, simple-minded, and kind-hearted half-sister, who becomes an unintended victim of Raskolnikov's crime.

Zossimov

minor

A young, self-assured doctor who attends to Raskolnikov during his illness. He is a friend of Razumikhin.

Andrey Semyonovich Lebezyatnikov

minor

Also known as Lebeziatnikov, Mr. Lebeziatnikov, Andrey Semyonovitch

A naive and fervent follower of nihilist and utopian socialist ideas. He lives in the same building as Luzhin and Sonia.

Ilya Petrovich

minor

A loud, brusque, and sometimes violent police lieutenant at the local police station, involved in the investigation.

Nikodim Fomich

minor

The polite and good-natured police superintendent, often a calming counterpart to Ilya Petrovich.

Alexander Grigorievich Zamyotov

minor

Also known as Zametov, Mr. Zametov

A clerk at the police station who is suspicious of Raskolnikov. Raskolnikov engages him in a provocative conversation about the murder.

Nastasya

minor

Also known as Nastasya Nikiforovna

The kind-hearted and talkative servant of Raskolnikov's landlady, who helps care for him during his illness.

Amalia Ivanovna

minor

Also known as Amalia, Amalia Ludwigovna

The German landlady of the Marmeladovs, with whom Katerina Ivanovna frequently quarrels.

Marfa Petrovna Svidrigailova

minor

Also known as Marfa Petrovna, Petrovna

Svidrigailov's deceased wife, whose wealth he controlled. Her ghost is said to haunt him, and her treatment of Dounia is a subject of scandal.

Nikolay Dementyev

minor

Also known as Nikolay

A house painter who is initially suspected of the pawnbroker's murder after he falsely confesses.

Polenka Marmeladova

minor

Also known as Polenka

One of Katerina Ivanovna's young daughters from her first marriage, and Sonia's half-sister.

Koch

minor

A man who comes to the pawnbroker's apartment shortly after the murder and finds the door locked, raising the alarm.

Pestryakov

minor

A student who accompanies Koch to the pawnbroker's apartment after the murder.

Dushkin

minor

A tavern keeper to whom Nikolay the painter brings the pawnbroker's stolen goods, leading to his arrest.

Praskovya Pavlovna

minor

Raskolnikov's landlady, to whom he owes rent.

Kapernaumov

minor

Also known as Madame de Kapernaumov

The family with whom Sonia Marmeladova rents a room.

Madame Resslich

minor

Also known as Resslich

A pawnbroker and Svidrigailov's landlady, who helps him in his schemes.

Mr. Tchebarov

minor

Also known as Tchebarov

A shady businessman who tries to press a debt claim against Raskolnikov's mother.

Afanasy Ivanovich Vakhrushin

minor

Also known as Afanasy Ivanovitch Vahrushin, Vahrushin

A wealthy merchant, a distant relation of Raskolnikov's mother, who provides some financial assistance.

Mikolka

minor

A peasant from a village near Petersburg, mentioned in a dream and later in connection with the murder investigation.