Crime and Punishment Love

Pulcheria really loves her son. Her sign-off speaks to this love and cruelly foreshadows her death, to which her grief over his act contributes. A big part of her identity is her success as a parent. When she learns of the murders, that identity is shattered.

The kiss was from Polenka, Sonia's sister. This is not a Svidrigaïlov moment, mind you. Raskolnikov expresses deep concern for Polenka many times. The passage also comments on the big impression Sonia makes on him the first time he sees her.

This is a pretty funny line. We can almost empathize with Luzhin at this moment. He's gone to some trouble to set up a nice home for Dounia. Too bad he wants her there as his slave.

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.

This is one of the novel's more heartwarming moments. Razumihin and Dounia seem to be a genuinely loving couple. We feel good about their union. The passage also comments on the deep love they both have for Raskolnikov, which is a big part of what binds them together.

Wow. Isn't that a contrast to the rest of the novel? This is what we all want. In some ways, love between Raskolnikov and Sonia seems impossible, even though their attraction is undeniable. This ending makes love seem possible for almost anybody.

Here, Raskolnikov is referring to Dounia, but he underestimates her. Although Dounia does think Luzhin can help Raskolnikov, once she knows what Luzhin's true intentions are, she calls it off. Raskolnikov's love for her certainly makes this easier.