Crime and Punishment Drugs and Alcohol Quotes

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

Quote #4

[Marmeladov:] And here I, her own father, here I took thirty copecks of that money for a drink! And I am drinking it! And I have already drunk it!" (1.2.31)

Marmeladov asked Sonia for money to go drinking with. Money she earned by selling her body. He knows that this kind of behavior is low, but he also knows he won't stop. It's a testament to Raskolnikov's compassion that he's so nice to the guy.

Quote #5

"She's drunk herself out of her senses," the same woman's voice wailed at her side. "Out of her senses. The other day she tried to hang herself, we cut her down." (2.6.151)

We aren't really surprised to see suicide and alcohol abuse linked together in this brutally blunt passage. The girl in question just threw herself off a bridge when Raskolnikov was standing next to her. She lives, but for how long? Maybe she will transform like Raskolnikov…

Quote #6

[Razumihin:] "Then I'll run home in a twinklingI've a lot of friends there, all drunkI'll fetch Zossimovthat's the doctor who is looking after him, he is there, too, but he is not drunk; he is not drunk, he is never drunk!" (3.1.34)

Here's a situation where the novel doesn't take an absolutely negative view on alcohol. This passage is some funny stuff coming from Razumihin. We can't help laughing. You probably remember that he finds drinking a little less amusing the next morning.