Crime and Punishment, Chapter 7 summary

What happens

1. Raskolnikov presents a wrapped pledge to Alyona Ivanovna and kills her with the blunt side of his axe.
2. He takes her keys and purse, unlocks a box beneath her bed, and pockets valuables without examining them.
3. Lizaveta enters and sees her sister’s body, and Raskolnikov kills her with the axe’s sharp edge.
4. He washes away blood, but approaching visitors force him to remain behind the hooked door.
5. When the visitors leave to seek help, he escapes and hides in an empty apartment as men climb upstairs.
6. He reaches home by a detour, replaces the axe beneath the porter’s bench, and collapses into a sleepless stupor.

In this chapter

What to notice

The sentence marks the collapse of Raskolnikov’s control after Lizaveta’s death. His actions become increasingly driven by panic and the need to escape.

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