Crime and Punishment; in short

The story follows Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov, a former law student, who plans to murder an old pawnbroker, Alyona Ivanovna. He believes humanity is divided into two groups: those bound by law and morals, and those above them. Financial hardship and a disdain for Alyona, whom he sees as a parasite, fuel his motivation. He brutally kills Alyona with an axe and then, in a state of shock, also kills her sister Lizaveta when she unexpectedly returns. Despite a close call, Raskolnikov manages to escape unnoticed.

The narrative shifts to Raskolnikov's internal psychological torment. He becomes paranoid and suspicious. While he's in a state of delirium, the police mistakenly apprehend a house painter for the murders. Raskolnikov's sister Dunja's fiancé, Luzhin, visits. Luzhin is an arrogant and ambitious man who sees Dunja as a means to climb the social ladder. Raskolnikov insults Luzhin, who leaves, seeking revenge.

Overwhelmed, Raskolnikov considers confessing but is sidetracked by a street accident involving Marmeladov, an alcoholic civil servant he met earlier. Marmeladov has a tragic family life; his daughter Sonya is forced into prostitution to support them. Raskolnikov brings the dying Marmeladov home, where he bids farewell to his family. Raskolnikov gives Marmeladov's wife, Katerina Ivanovna, money for the funeral, money his own mother sent him.

Raskolnikov regains some composure but is then confronted by his mother and sister, who have arrived in St. Petersburg. His guilt and desire to protect them lead him to alienate them. Luzhin, seeking to discredit Raskolnikov and manipulate Dunja, sends a letter falsely accusing Raskolnikov of using his mother's money on Sonya, portraying him as a spendthrift and associating him with a woman of ill repute.

Raskolnikov exposes Luzhin's deception. Dunja and her mother, however, decide to meet Luzhin. Sonya is invited to this meeting by Katerina. Raskolnikov and Razumihin then visit Porfiry Petrovich, the investigating magistrate, who is handling the pawnbroker's case. Porfiry, revealing his sharp intellect, implies he suspects Raskolnikov, having read his article about 'two types of people'. Raskolnikov leaves feeling cornered, especially after a man accuses him of being the murderer.

Raskolnikov wakes to find Arkady Ivanovich Svidrigailov in his room. Svidrigailov, a morally ambiguous character, is responsible for Dunja's engagement to Luzhin. He had previously attempted to elope with Dunja while she was working as a governess for his wealthy wife, Marfa Petrovna. Marfa, since deceased (possibly by Svidrigailov's hand), had arranged Dunja's engagement to Luzhin. Svidrigailov expresses remorse and offers Dunja 10,000 rubles to free her from the engagement. He also reveals Marfa left Dunja 3,000 rubles.

The Raskolnikov family, along with Razumihin, confronts Luzhin. Luzhin's arrogance and manipulative nature, including his concealment of Dunja's inheritance, lead Dunja to break off their engagement. Raskolnikov, burdened by his crime, leaves his family and seeks out Sonya. He challenges her faith and resilience but is moved when she reads about Lazarus’s resurrection. He promises to tell her the killer of Lizaveta. Unknown to them, Svidrigailov is eavesdropping.

Raskolnikov goes to the police station, intending to confess, but changes his mind, believing the police are bluffing. Porfiry, like a 'shark', circles Raskolnikov, stating his technique is to let culprits expose themselves. Just as Porfiry is about to reveal a 'surprise', a house painter confesses to the murders. Porfiry releases Raskolnikov, who then discovers the 'surprise' was the man who accused him earlier, now apologizing for his false accusation.

Raskolnikov, feeling temporarily safe, attends Marmeladov's memorial dinner, where Katerina Ivanovna hopes to gain status from respectable guests, but none arrive. Luzhin, now residing in the same building, attempts to discredit Sonya by falsely accusing her of stealing 100 rubles. With the help of Lebezyatnikov and Raskolnikov, Luzhin's trick is exposed. Sonya, humiliated, flees. Raskolnikov then confesses his crime to Sonya. Lebezyatnikov brings news that Katerina Ivanovna, overcome by stress and illness, has gone mad and later dies. Svidrigailov unexpectedly becomes the children's guardian, donating 10,000 rubles for them and Sonya.

Raskolnikov realizes Svidrigailov knows his secret confession. Svidrigailov's claims that he no longer desires Dunja are false, and he uses the confession as leverage to arrange a meeting with her. Porfiry visits Raskolnikov, revealing he always knew Raskolnikov was the killer. Instead of judgment, Porfiry shows compassion, seeing Raskolnikov as a tormented soul. He advises Raskolnikov to confess to reduce his sentence, giving him a deadline before he will arrest him.

Raskolnikov tries to prevent Svidrigailov from meeting Dunja, but Svidrigailov tricks him and lures Dunja into an isolated room. Dunja, armed, almost kills him but cannot. Svidrigailov, seeing her final rejection, lets her go. Svidrigailov commits suicide that night. Raskolnikov, after saying goodbye to his mother, sister, and Sonya, goes to the police station and finally confesses his crime.

Raskolnikov, for his cooperation and previous good deeds, is sentenced to eight years of hard labor in Siberia. Sonya follows him. Razumihin plans to join them later, marrying Dunja. Raskolnikov initially struggles in prison but eventually repents and comes to realize his love for Sonya. The novel ends with Raskolnikov looking forward to a future of redemption and hope, with many years of his sentence still to serve.