Crime and Punishment Criminality Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph). We used Constance Garnett's translation.

Quote #1

"I want to attempt a thing like that and am frightened by these trifles," [Raskolnikov] thought, with an odd smile. (1.1.5)

This is the first time we hear about Raskolnikov's bad idea. Even though most people already know the book is about a murder before they read it, it's still creepy and mysterious.

Quote #2

[Raskolnikov] was positively going now for a "rehearsal" of his project, and at every step his excitement grew more and more violent. (1.1.9)

Uh-oh. He really sounds like a criminal here. Depending on the crime, rehearsing can get you into almost as much trouble as actually committing it.

Quote #3

[Marmeladov:] "She walked straight up to Katerina Ivanovna and she laid thirty roubles on the table before her in silence." (1.1.21)

This is how Marmeladov describes Sonia's return from her first prostitution job. Though prostitution wasn't illegal in Russia during this time, Katerina and Marmeladov are committing a moral crime against Sonia by forcing her to do it.