Crime and Punishment Lesson Plan

What is your reaction when Dounia pulls a gun on Svidrigaïlov? Does that action diminish her innocence in your opinion? Does it diminish her innocence in the book’s opinion?

Most will shocked by Dounia’s behavior, not only because it’s so violent but also because it shows a level of agency that she has not had at any other point in the story. While students may differ on the effect the gun has on her innocence, the novel clearly believes that Dounia remains innocent, largely because she misses the shot. Not only does that mean that she doesn’t kill anyone, but also that she’s subjected to more suffering, which further purifies her.

How would you describe Svidrigaïlov’s...