Raskolnikov, the name of the main character in Crime and Punishment, is derived from the Russian “raskolnik”,which means “one who splits" or “dissenter”. The figurative meaning of“raskalvyat”, the verb from which it is derived, means “to bring to light”.   These two concepts are at the heart of this story of an impoverished former law student who rationalizes his right to murder an elderly, unscrupulous pawnbroker, Alyona Ivanovna, and steal her money to defray his debts, achieve great things, and rescue his sister from a disastrous marriage. He botches the job, kills her half-sister as well, and leaves in a panic without most of the money.  Consumed by mental anguish and moral dilemma, his behavior becomes increasing strange as he wanders the streets in a delirium. He meets the investigating detective,Porfiry, who begins to suspect him of the murder even though he lacks any evidence and another man has falsely confessed. Raskolnikov confides his secret to Sonya, a virtuous prostitute, who convinces him to clear his conscience and confess. The book is the first and most famous masterpiece in the Dostoevsky canon. It was written at a time when he was deeply in debt soon after his release from five years of Siberian exile. Composed in six parts with an epilogue, it was first published in twelve monthly installments in The Russian Messenger in 1866 and became a literary sensation. One of the first attempts at psychological exposition, it is considered by many to be the most profound philosophical novel of the 19^thcentury.

Play sample:

Download a PDF datasheet