Part IV - Chapter II Practice Quiz — Crime and Punishment
by Fyodor Dostoevsky — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Part IV - Chapter II
Where do Raskolnikov and Razumihin hurry to at the beginning of Part IV, Chapter II?
They hurry to Bakaleyev's lodging house to arrive before Luzhin for the family meeting.
What warning does Raskolnikov give Razumihin about Svidrigailov at the start of the chapter?
Raskolnikov tells Razumihin that Svidrigailov came to see him, describes him as strange and determined, and asks Razumihin to help guard Dunya from him.
What does Raskolnikov reveal about Marfa Petrovna's will during the family meeting?
He reveals that Marfa Petrovna left Dunya three thousand roubles in her will, which she can receive shortly.
What ultimatum does Dunya give Luzhin during their confrontation?
Dunya declares she must choose between Luzhin and her brother Raskolnikov—"it must be either you or he"—and insists they must reconcile or she will break off the engagement.
What letter did Luzhin write that becomes a source of conflict in this chapter?
Luzhin wrote a letter falsely claiming Raskolnikov gave money to Sonya ("his daughter") rather than to the widow of the man who was killed, intending to cause dissension in the family.
What is Luzhin's parting insult to Dunya as he leaves?
He reminds her that he agreed to marry her despite the "gossip of the town" about her reputation, implying she should be grateful he overlooked the scandal involving Svidrigailov.
What does Luzhin believe as he walks downstairs after being dismissed?
Despite the dismissal, Luzhin still imagines that his case is "perhaps not utterly lost" and that things might "very well indeed" be set right again with the ladies.
How does Dunya demonstrate her strength of character in this chapter?
Dunya takes control of the confrontation by acting as judge between Luzhin and Raskolnikov, insisting on fairness, and then decisively ending the engagement when Luzhin reveals his true nature through his insults and manipulation.
What does Luzhin's reaction to Raskolnikov's presence reveal about his character?
It reveals his need for control and dominance: he had demanded Raskolnikov be excluded from the meeting, and his agitation at this request being denied shows he cannot tolerate any challenge to his authority.
How does Pulcheria Alexandrovna evolve in this chapter?
She progresses from anxious peacemaker to courageous defender—ultimately challenging Luzhin's authoritarian tone, accusing him of wanting them under his authority, and supporting Dunya's decision to end the engagement.
What role does Razumihin play during the confrontation with Luzhin?
Razumihin mostly observes and fidgets but springs into physical readiness when Luzhin delivers his final insult about Dunya's reputation, shouting "Does the fellow want his head smashed?" He serves as a physical protector.
What disturbing allegations does Luzhin make about Svidrigailov's past?
Luzhin claims Svidrigailov was connected to the death of a deaf-mute girl of about fourteen (found hanged, with later allegations of assault) and to the death of the servant Philip, both cases hushed up by Marfa Petrovna's money.
How does the theme of power and control manifest in Luzhin's approach to marriage?
Luzhin deliberately chose a bride "who has had experience of trouble" because he believes poverty and hardship make a woman more grateful and submissive, treating marriage as a transaction that gives him permanent leverage.
How does money shift the power dynamics in this chapter?
The news of Marfa Petrovna's three-thousand-rouble legacy to Dunya undermines Luzhin's control over the family, which depended on their financial helplessness. His sarcastic remark about their "new tone" confirms he recognizes the shift.
What does this chapter suggest about the theme of self-deception?
Luzhin is deeply self-deceived: he frames exploitation as generosity, believes his "case is not utterly lost" even after being expelled, and cannot see how thoroughly his true motives have been exposed.
What dramatic irony is at work when Raskolnikov defends Sonya and denounces Luzhin's slander?
The reader knows Raskolnikov is a murderer, making his moral outrage at Luzhin's petty dishonesty deeply ironic—he condemns minor deceptions while concealing his own far greater crime.
How does Dostoevsky use dialogue as a literary device in this chapter?
The chapter is almost entirely dialogue-driven, letting each character reveal themselves through speech: Luzhin's legalistic pomposity, Dunya's directness, Pulcheria's anxious courage, and Raskolnikov's pointed silence followed by sharp interventions.
What parallel structure does Dostoevsky establish between Luzhin and Svidrigailov?
Both men seek to possess Dunya through different forms of power—Luzhin through financial leverage and social respectability, Svidrigailov through obsessive passion and mystery. This parallel underscores the novel's examination of predatory male authority.
What does "cambric" mean in the context of Luzhin drawing out "a cambric handkerchief reeking of scent"?
Cambric is a fine white linen or cotton fabric, originally from Cambrai, France. The detail of Luzhin's scented cambric handkerchief signals his pretensions to gentility and social refinement.
What does "sententiously" mean when Luzhin speaks "sententiously" about a wife's love?
Sententiously means in a moralizing, self-righteously preachy manner. It captures Luzhin's habit of delivering pompous pronouncements as though they were universal truths.
What does "ephemeral" mean in the phrase "something insignificant and ephemeral, which would not last a year"?
Ephemeral means lasting for a very short time; fleeting. Luzhin uses it to dismiss whatever Marfa Petrovna may have left Svidrigailov, suggesting it would be quickly squandered.
Who says: "Perhaps I am really mad, and perhaps everything that happened all these days may be only imagination"?
Raskolnikov says this to Razumihin at the beginning of the chapter, questioning whether Svidrigailov's visit was real and revealing his deepening psychological fragmentation after the murders.
Who says: "I don't want you to come back again" and in what context?
Dunya cries this to Luzhin after he threatens that if he leaves, he will never return. It is the decisive moment that ends their engagement, as she springs up and refuses his ultimatum.