Part 5: Chapter 5 Summary

Word comes to Sonia that Mrs. Marmaladov has gone mad and disappeared; Sonia goes after her. Meanwhile, Raskolnikov secludes himself in his old room to think. His sister turns up to let him know she has found out everything. Actually, she only knows he is suspected of murder, not that he is guilty. Soon Raskolnikov sends her away, fearing that she will guess the truth. He thinks she would be too horrified to accept it. Only Sonia has the courage to accept him now.

Next, he goes with Lebezyatnikov to Sonia and her stepmother, who turned up at last. Mrs. Marmaladov is forcing her children to beg and dance in the street. The dreadful scene draws a large crowd, who watch as the widow pleads to them on behalf of her aristocratic heritage. She even sings to the crowd in French...