Crime and Punishment: Part IV, Chapter 3
The recap, key beats, and evidence for Part IV, Chapter 3, without reopening the whole book.
Section recap · 2 min read
What happens in Part IV, Chapter 3.
The confrontation with Luzhin happens. Raskolnikov exposes Luzhin's lie about Sonya in front of his mother and Dunya, and Luzhin is humiliated and thrown out. This is one of the more satisfying scenes in the novel because a genuinely petty villain gets what he deserves, but it also costs Raskolnikov. He burns energy he does not have, and his behavior during the scene is erratic enough to alarm his family further. Luzhin exits the novel as a significant character here.
The beats worth remembering.
Raskolnikov Exposes Luzhin
Raskolnikov lays out the evidence that Luzhin planted money on Sonya to frame her, dismantling Luzhin's reputation in front of the people whose opinion Luzhin values most.
Dunya Ends the Engagement
With Luzhin's character exposed, Dunya breaks off the engagement definitively. This is a turning point for her: she is no longer sacrificing herself for the family's financial security.
Luzhin's Exit
Luzhin leaves humiliated and furious, threatening vague consequences. His removal from the story clears space for Svidrigailov and Porfiry to take over as the main pressures on Raskolnikov.
The moments you can actually use later.
The Planted Money Scheme Unraveled
The detail that Luzhin deliberately put money in Sonya's pocket to frame her as a thief is a concrete example of calculated cruelty that students can use to distinguish Luzhin's villainy from Raskolnikov's crime.
Dunya's Refusal to Be Bought
Dunya's decision to end the engagement even knowing the financial consequences shows her values are not for sale, which is a direct contrast to what Luzhin assumed about her.
What to carry forward.
Dunya's Agency
Dunya ends the engagement on her own terms. Students often overlook her as a character, but this scene shows she is not passive. Her decision here matters for any essay about women in the novel.
Raskolnikov Can Still Act for Others
Even in his deteriorated state, Raskolnikov defends Sonya and exposes Luzhin. That capacity for action on behalf of others complicates any reading of him as purely selfish.
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How this guide is built
This guide is built from the original text to help you get oriented fast. It is designed for recall, paper planning, and getting unstuck, but it is still a paraphrased guide, not a substitute for the reading itself. Double-check anything important before you turn in formal work.