Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov both suffered greatly for similar crimes of murder. Raskolnikov suffered physical ailments as well as emotional suffering whereas Svidrigailov suffered emotional and physical pains. Although both men suffered for the same type of crime, they took different ways to receive consequences for their actions.

Raskolnikov chooses to murder the pawnbroker because she is a female with a position of authority over him who also has the worst traits of a society. The pawnbroker is the complete opposite of him. Where Raskolnikov is a handsome, she is ugly. Where Raskolnikov is poor, she is rich. Where Raskolnikov is a suffering male, she is a strong independent female. The old woman oppresses the poor with her business of pawning objects at a quarter of their real worth. He sees that although she has power over him, she is physically weak and easy to overcome.

Raskolnikov sees the...