Raskolnikov's illness

            It was no surprise to see Rashkolnikov still delirious after the murder in chapters 2-4 of part 2. His “illness” seems to get worse in each chapter. He starts to hallucinate and “travel” without making any sense. At this point it is hard to keep up with his thought process. One moment he is filled with joy and the next minute he is paranoid. The guilt from murdering Alyona and Lizaveta eats away at him. He constantly falls in and out of consciousness and never remembers what happened.

            In previous chapters, Rashkolnikov complains about his lack of money and his shame of dropping out of school. I found it strange when Razumihkin offers him three rubbles to translate a page in German, Rashkolnikov rejects the offer and runs away. That same day, a couple handed him twenty-copecks but he threw it into the river. If he did not want to burden his mother or sister for money, why did he refuse the money people were giving him? As he becomes weaker over time, he refuses the money his mother had requested he received. Is this due to his deliria or is he ashamed to take money from anyone?

            Even though no one suspects Rashkolnikov to be the murderer, he still lives in constant fear of someone finding out what he had done. The painter, who was seen in Alyona’s building the night of the murder, is targeted. He does not try to defend himself and his nervousness about the subject makes him seem guilty of a crime he did not do. The painter was found with the jewelry that Rashkolnikov had already gotten rid of. Despite these facts, Rashkolnikov still believes they suspect him for the murder. His guilt, fear, and deliria is the punishment he receives for committing the murder.