Part II - Chapter V Practice Quiz — Crime and Punishment
by Fyodor Dostoevsky — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Part II - Chapter V
Who visits Raskolnikov at the beginning of Part II, Chapter V?
Pyotr Petrovitch Luzhin, the fiancé of Raskolnikov's sister Dunya, arrives at his cramped apartment.
How does Luzhin react when he first enters Raskolnikov's room?
He stops in the doorway, stares around with "offensive and undisguised astonishment," and scrutinizes the "low and narrow cabin" with visible disdain and disgust.
What lodgings has Luzhin arranged for Raskolnikov's mother and sister?
He has arranged rooms at Bakaleyev's house in Voskresensky, which Razumihin describes as "disgusting—filthy, stinking" and "of doubtful character."
What accusation does Raskolnikov level at Luzhin about his engagement to Dunya?
Raskolnikov accuses Luzhin of telling Dunya that what pleased him most was that she was "a beggar," because it meant he could have "complete control over her" and "reproach her with being her benefactor."
How does the visit with Luzhin end?
Raskolnikov threatens to send Luzhin "flying downstairs" if he ever mentions a word about his mother again. Luzhin leaves humiliated, squeezing past the furniture.
What does Razumihin argue about the pawnbroker's killer?
He argues the killer was not cunning or experienced but a first-timer who "lost his head," took only cheap trinkets worth 10-20 roubles, and missed 1,500 roubles hidden in a drawer—escaping "more by luck than good counsel."
What does Raskolnikov demand after Luzhin leaves?
He cries out in a frenzy: "Let me alone—let me alone all of you! I am not afraid of anyone, anyone now! Get away from me! I want to be alone, alone, alone!"
How is Luzhin's physical appearance described in this chapter?
He is a "gentleman no longer young" of about 45, wearing all-new clothes—a fawn summer jacket, light trousers, fine linen, lavender Louvain gloves, and a stylish round hat—all designed to impress his fiancée. His dark mutton-chop whiskers frame a clean-shaven chin.
How does Razumihin treat Luzhin throughout the visit?
With blunt, casual irreverence. He addresses him familiarly, forces him to squeeze into a cramped chair, challenges his progressive rhetoric as "commonplace," and declares himself sick of "chattering" and "incessant flow of commonplaces."
What does Zossimov observe about Raskolnikov's mental state after the visit?
Zossimov notes that Raskolnikov "takes no interest in anything" and "does not respond to anything except one point on which he seems excited—that's the murder." He suspects Raskolnikov has "some fixed idea weighing on him."
Who is Andrey Semyonovitch Lebeziatnikov, and how does Luzhin reference him?
Lebeziatnikov is a clerk in the Ministry and Luzhin's flatmate. Luzhin describes him as a "very nice young man and advanced" and says he was once his guardian. Lebeziatnikov recommended the lodgings at Bakaleyev's house.
What role does Nastasya play at the end of the chapter?
After everyone leaves, Nastasya lingers and offers Raskolnikov tea. He refuses, saying "I am sleepy! Leave me," and turns abruptly to the wall.
How does Luzhin's philosophy of self-interest connect to the novel's themes?
Luzhin argues that "love yourself before all men" benefits society more than "love thy neighbour." Raskolnikov exposes this as a justification for murder, mirroring his own "extraordinary man" theory and highlighting the novel's central theme of how rationalized self-interest leads to moral catastrophe.
What theme does the confrontation over Dunya's engagement illustrate?
The theme of power and exploitation. Luzhin wants a wife from poverty so he can control her through gratitude, while Raskolnikov's fury reveals his resistance to the commodification of family relationships—even as his own crime was partly motivated by similar utilitarian calculations.
How does the murder discussion develop the theme of guilt and paranoia?
Raskolnikov listens with barely concealed anxiety as his friends unknowingly describe him when analyzing the killer. His inability to remain indifferent to the topic—the only subject that engages him—reveals how guilt is consuming him despite his efforts to appear detached.
What does Luzhin's carefully curated appearance symbolize thematically?
It represents the theme of masks and deception. Luzhin's new clothes and grooming create an impression of respectability and generosity, concealing his calculating, controlling nature—paralleling how Raskolnikov's illness masks his guilt from those around him.
Identify the dramatic irony when Razumihin describes the pawnbroker's killer.
Razumihin describes the killer as inexperienced, someone who "did not know how to rob" and "could only murder," whose "first crime" succeeded by luck—unknowingly providing an exact portrait of Raskolnikov, who listens in silence just feet away.
How does Dostoevsky use Raskolnikov's cramped room as a literary device?
The tiny room functions as a spatial metaphor for psychological confinement. Forcing Luzhin, Razumihin, Zossimov, and Nastasya into the "low and narrow cabin" with Raskolnikov creates claustrophobic tension, mirroring the ideological and emotional pressures closing in on the protagonist.
How does Dostoevsky use Luzhin as a foil to Raskolnikov?
Both men hold utilitarian philosophies that justify pursuing self-interest at others' expense. But while Raskolnikov at least struggles with guilt and acts to protect his family, Luzhin is complacently self-serving. This contrast forces the reader to see the moral complexity of Raskolnikov's position.
What does "fiancé" signify in the context of Raskolnikov's reaction?
Raskolnikov uses the French word "fiancé" with bitter irony and contempt when acknowledging Luzhin: "So you are the fiancé? I know, and that's enough!" The foreign word underscores the pretentiousness Raskolnikov associates with the engagement.
What is a "cravat of the lightest cambric"?
A cravat is a neckcloth or necktie; cambric is a fine white linen or cotton fabric. Luzhin's cravat "of the lightest cambric with pink stripes" is part of his meticulous new wardrobe meant to impress his betrothed.
What does "inveterate impracticality" mean as Razumihin uses it?
It means a deeply ingrained, long-standing lack of practical skill. Razumihin uses it to explain rising crime: Russians have "grown used to having everything ready-made" and lack the patience for honest work.
Who says: "Love yourself before all men, for everything in the world rests on self-interest"?
Pyotr Petrovitch Luzhin, articulating his philosophy that rational self-interest, rather than charitable sacrifice, is the proper basis for a well-ordered society.
Who says: "Carry out logically the theory you were advocating just now, and it follows that people may be killed"?
Raskolnikov, directly challenging Luzhin by pointing out that his philosophy of unbounded self-interest logically permits murder—an accusation loaded with irony given Raskolnikov's own crime.
Who says: "He did not know how to rob; he could only murder. It was his first crime, I assure you"?
Razumihin, unknowingly providing a devastatingly accurate description of Raskolnikov while discussing the pawnbroker's murder with Zossimov.