Crime and Punishment Arkady Ivanovitch Svidrigaïlov Quotes

[Svidrigaïlov:] "[…] I was in the debtors' prison here, for an immense sum, and had not any expectation of being able to pay it." (6.4.1)

This doesn't sound like it belongs under "love." But, as we know, Marfa paid off the debt Svidrigaïlov is talking about. Whatever we think of her, she was in love with him, though her feelings probably changed considerably before she died.

[Svidrigaïlov:] "He has suffered a great deal and is still suffering from the idea that he could make a theory, but was incapable of boldly overstepping the law, and so he is not a man of genius." (6.5.60)

This is Svidrigaïlov telling Dounia why Raskolnikov killed and why he is suffering from it. Sounds pretty accurate to us. What do you think?

[Svidrigaïlov:] "I will put those two little ones and Polenka into some good orphan asylum, and I will settle fifteen hundred roubles to be paid to each on coming of age, so that Sofya Semyonovna need have no anxiety about them." (5.5.93)

This gives us the willies. Would you trust Svidrigaïlov with your children's futures? Sonia almost has to do it. She really doesn't have the means to raise three kids. We can only hope that this is one of Svidrigaïlov's "good deeds" and he found a nice place for them. Either way, their home lives are about to change, for better or worse.

"Ugh! hang it! I believe it's a mouse," [Svidrigaïlov] thought, "that's the veal I left on the table." (6.6.37)

Svidrigaïlov's final "home" before he kills himself is the worst hotel room ever. It seems to mirror his cracked state.

[Svidrigaïlov:] "I've drunk too much though, I see that. I was almost saying too much again. Damn the wine! Hi! there, water!" (6.4.17)

Svidrigaïlov is so quotable. We've heard from Pulcheria that Svidrigaïlov had alcohol issues. But really, that's probably the least of his problems. Raskolnikov thinks Svidrigaïlov is being so talkative because he's had too much to drink. We bet that Svidrigaïlov isn't saying anything he doesn't want to say.