Part VI - Chapter II Practice Quiz — Crime and Punishment
by Fyodor Dostoevsky — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Part VI - Chapter II
Why does Porfiry Petrovitch visit Raskolnikov in Part VI, Chapter II?
To apologize for his previous manipulative behavior, to directly accuse Raskolnikov of being the murderer, and to urge him to confess voluntarily.
What does Porfiry claim first aroused his suspicions against Raskolnikov?
A combination of factors: Raskolnikov's article on the "extraordinary man" theory, his fainting at the police station, and his provocative remarks to Zamyotov at the Crystal Palace.
What does Porfiry reveal about his search of Raskolnikov's room?
He reveals that Raskolnikov's room was searched "to the last thread" while Raskolnikov was lying ill in bed, but they found nothing (umsonst).
How does Porfiry directly accuse Raskolnikov?
After a long preamble appearing to exonerate him, Porfiry says quietly: "Why, you, Rodion Romanovitch! You are the murderer," spoken "almost in a whisper, in a voice of genuine conviction."
How does Raskolnikov respond to Porfiry's direct accusation of murder?
He leaps from the sofa, sits back down, and whispers "It was not I murdered her" like "a frightened child caught in the act."
What proposal does Porfiry make to Raskolnikov instead of arresting him?
He proposes that Raskolnikov surrender and confess voluntarily, promising to arrange a reduced sentence by presenting the crime as an "aberration."
How much time does Porfiry give Raskolnikov before he will arrest him?
Porfiry says he can let Raskolnikov "walk about another day or two" to think it over.
How does Porfiry describe Nikolay and why does he reject Nikolay's confession?
He describes Nikolay as a childlike, impressionable Old Believer who "wants to take his suffering" as a form of spiritual devotion. Nikolay answered some questions plausibly but was completely ignorant of key details.
How does Porfiry characterize Raskolnikov in this chapter?
He calls Raskolnikov "a man of noble character" who is "bold, headstrong, in earnest" but also "nervously irritable" and "impatient." He regards him as someone who "would stand and smile at their torturer while he cuts their entrails out."
What role does Razumihin play in Porfiry's strategy against Raskolnikov?
Porfiry arranged for Razumihin to discuss the murder case with Raskolnikov to excite him and provoke reactions. Porfiry says "two is company, three is none" to explain keeping Razumihin out of this final meeting.
What does Porfiry reveal about himself personally in this chapter?
He describes himself as "a man with nothing to hope for" whose "day is over," a man "perhaps of feeling and sympathy, maybe of some knowledge too." He admits he has grown fat and says he is perhaps a "Schiller" (an idealist).
What is the significance of Porfiry's final request to Raskolnikov as he leaves?
Porfiry asks that if Raskolnikov considers suicide during the next forty or fifty hours, he should leave a brief note mentioning the stone where the stolen items are hidden—revealing both practical concern for the case and genuine worry about Raskolnikov's welfare.
How does Porfiry connect the theme of suffering to redemption in this chapter?
He tells Raskolnikov "there's an idea in suffering" and urges him to "fling yourself straight into life" rather than flee. He argues that voluntary confession and acceptance of punishment will lead to moral regeneration rather than destruction.
What critique of modern rationalism does Porfiry make through his description of the murder?
He calls it "a modern case" driven by "bookish dreams, a heart unhinged by theories," committed by someone who "resolved to do it like jumping over a precipice." This critiques the utilitarian and nihilist philosophies that Dostoevsky saw as morally dangerous.
How does the chapter explore the theme of faith versus reason?
Porfiry tells Raskolnikov "You have lost faith" and urges him to "Find it and you will live," contrasting Raskolnikov's failed rationalist theory with the redemptive power of spiritual belief. He presents both Nikolay's naive faith and his own pragmatic wisdom as alternatives to Raskolnikov's intellectual pride.
What is the "double-edged psychology" theme in this chapter?
Porfiry repeatedly admits that "this damnable psychology can be taken two ways"—the same evidence that makes Raskolnikov look guilty could also prove his innocence. This reflects Dostoevsky's broader skepticism about purely rational methods of establishing truth.
What is the significance of Porfiry's sun metaphor: "Be the sun and all will see you"?
The metaphor suggests that moral transparency and genuine living will make Raskolnikov visible and respected, in contrast to his current state of hiding in intellectual darkness. It encapsulates the chapter's argument for redemption through honesty.
How does Dostoevsky use dramatic irony in the confrontation between Porfiry and Raskolnikov?
Both Porfiry and the reader know Raskolnikov is guilty while he continues to deny it. The irony deepens when Porfiry pretends to consider Raskolnikov innocent before delivering his accusation, and when Raskolnikov's childlike denial ("It was not I") inadvertently confirms his guilt.
What is the function of the German words "umsonst" and "Morgenfrüh" in this chapter?
"Umsonst" (in vain) describes the fruitless search of Raskolnikov's room. "Morgenfrüh" (early morning) suggests the coming dawn of truth. Both foreign terms add a layer of intellectual sophistication to Porfiry's speech and emphasize the inevitability of exposure.
What does "abjure" mean as used when Porfiry says he expects Nikolay to "abjure his evidence"?
To formally renounce or retract. Porfiry expects Nikolay to take back his false confession.
What does "magnanimity" mean as Porfiry uses it to describe Raskolnikov?
Generosity of spirit, nobility of character. Porfiry says Raskolnikov has "elements of magnanimity" despite his crime, suggesting a capacity for moral greatness.
What does "indecorous" mean when Porfiry describes their earlier meeting as "quite indecorous"?
Lacking dignity or propriety. Porfiry acknowledges that their previous confrontation was unseemly and ungentlemanly.
Who says: "Why, you, Rodion Romanovitch! You are the murderer"?
Porfiry Petrovitch, delivering his direct accusation "almost in a whisper, in a voice of genuine conviction" after an extended monologue that seemed to be exonerating Raskolnikov.
Who says: "It was not I murdered her" and in what manner?
Raskolnikov, who "whispered like a frightened child caught in the act." This childlike denial reveals his vulnerability despite his intellectual posturing throughout the novel.