Sonya Semyonovna Marmeladov Character Analysis in Crime and Punishment

Marmeladov’s child from his first marriage, Sonya becomes a prostitute after Katerina complains that she does nothing to help the family financially. She also reads the story of Lazarus to Raskolnikov on his request. Sonya later becomes Raskolnikov’s confidante—the first person to whom he confesses his crime—and travels with him to Siberia, where she pledges to be with him forever.

Sonya Semyonovna Marmeladov Quotes in Crime and Punishment

The Crime and Punishment quotes below are all either spoken by Sonya Semyonovna Marmeladov or refer to Sonya Semyonovna Marmeladov. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Criminality, Morality, and Guilt Theme Icon

Despite her eighteen years, she looked almost like a little girl, much younger than her age . . . and this sometimes even appeared comically in some of her movements.

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Page Number and Citation: 238

Explanation and Analysis:

Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave . . . . Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. . . . Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou has heard me, . . . and he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth.

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Page Number and Citation: 327

Explanation and Analysis:

At the beginning of their happiness there were moments when they were both ready to look at those seven years as if they were seven days. He did not even know that a new life would not be given him for nothing, that it still had to be dearly bought, to be paid for with a great future deed . . . .

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Page Number and Citation: 551

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Sonya Semyonovna Marmeladov Character Timeline in Crime and Punishment

The timeline below shows where the character Sonya Semyonovna Marmeladov appears in Crime and Punishment. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...live at Fyodorovna Lippewechsel’s house. Marmeladov then speaks of his daughter from his first marriage, Sonya, whom he tried to educate in her youth, before the family ran out of money. (full context)

Earlier Katerina complained that Sonya, old enough to work, was not contributing to the family’s welfare. Marmeladov tells of one... (full context)

Sonya is forced to carry a “yellow pass,” indicating she is a prostitute. Marmeladov then reveals... (full context)

Marmeladov went to his supervisor after Sonya’s dismissal and begged for one more chance at his job, which he was granted. Marmeladov’s... (full context)

...and, for the past five days has been inebriated and sleeping outside. He even asked Sonya for a little extra money for a final bottle, which she gave him. Marmeladov drinks... (full context)

...Dunya were to marry for his sake, she would be “no better” than the prostitute Sonya. Raskolnikov becomes more and more upset and declares, finally, that he will not accept Dunya’s... (full context)

...rushes into action and is extremely upset; she sends her oldest daughter Polenka to fetch Sonya. Raskolnikov calls for a doctor, who lives close by. (full context)

...is called and administers last rites. Katerina cries with the children and Polenka returns with Sonya. (full context)

...drunkenness; the priest argues that this lack of forgiveness is “a great sin.” Marmeladov sees Sonya, asks her for forgiveness, then dies; Katerina asks who will provide for the funeral expenses. (full context)

...is soaked in (Marmeladov’s) blood. Raskolnikov agrees. As he is walking outside Polenka, sent by Sonya, asks for Raskolnikov’s name. He tells Polenka to pray for her father and for himself.... (full context)

...Marmeladov’s (Luzhin lives in the same apartment building), and that Raskolnikov gave 25 rubles to Sonya (instead of to Katerina). Razumikhin recommends that Pulcheria follow Dunya’s preferred course of action and... (full context)

...recent letter and corrects Luzhin, saying that he gave the money to Katerina, not to Sonya. He believes Luzhin is trying to impute a base motive to Raskolnikov in connecting him... (full context)

Sonya arrives at Raskolnikov's apartment, abashedly, and Raskolnikov realizes that her arrival in the room seems... (full context)

Outside, Pulcheria tells Dunya that Raskolnikov appears quite ill. Pulcheria believes that Sonya might be at the root of her son’s troubles, but Dunya blames Luzhin for planting... (full context)

Sonya thanks Raskolnikov again for his kindness. Raskolnikov promises to visit Sonya, which makes her nervous... (full context)

...willpower of a man like Napoleon or Muhammad. He then thinks of “poor” Lizaveta and Sonya, the weak of the earth, and remarks that he rarely considers the fact that he... (full context)

...about Raskolnikov’s actions the night of Marmeladov’s death, for he gave the roubles not to Sonya but to Katerina. Raskolnikov reports that Sonya, too, is not so fallen and depraved a... (full context)

Raskolnikov heads to Sonya’s apartment, in the home of Kapernaumov the tailor. He knocks and she allows him to... (full context)

When Raskolnikov accuses Katerina of having beaten Sonya, Sonya says that she loves her stepmother and recognizes that she, Sonya, must work now... (full context)

Raskolnikov tells Sonya that consumption will eventually kill Katerina, and that Polenka might also be forced into prostitution... (full context)

Raskolnikov thinks to himself that Sonya has only three options: to kill herself, to go insane, or to “descend into depravity.”... (full context)

...days. At this point the Jews assembled believe that Jesus is the son of God. Sonya trembles upon finishing, and Raskolnikov tells her that today he left his mother and sister. (full context)

...“the same path,” and that they must have “freedom . . . freedom and power.” Sonya is frightened. Raskolnikov promises that, if he returns tomorrow, he will do so to tell... (full context)

Their conversation turns to Sonya: Luzhin asks whether, according to the “new ideas,” Sonya’s prostitution is wrong. Lebezyatnikov replies that... (full context)

...yesterday by Dunya and Pulcheria. Luzhin is angered but asks Lebezyatnikov whether he can’t call Sonya over to speak with them. Lebezyatnikov does so and Sonya enters. Luzhin gives his condolences... (full context)

Luzhin expresses a desire to help Sonya and the family, since he recognizes that they now depend on Sonya for support. Luzhin... (full context)

Katerina has spent nearly ten roubles on the funeral feast—an enormous sum for her—and Sonya begins to fear that Katerina is losing her senses. Amalia the landlady helps Katerina in... (full context)

...Amalia the landlady’s snobbery, and, between coughs, ridicules her other guests, whispering in his ear. Sonya enters, bringing Luzhin’s apologies that he cannot attend. This pleases Katerina. (full context)

...continues to ridicule the guests, and one remarks on Marmeladov’s drinking problem, increasing her consternation. Sonya worries that her stepmother is going to cause a scene. Katerina appears to believe, based... (full context)

...his support in her quarrel, but Luzhin replies he has instead come to speak with Sonya. Luzhin announces, in a “businesslike tone,” that a 100-rouble note has disappeared from his room;... (full context)

Katerina goes on to say that Luzhin cannot prove his assertions. Katerina turns inside-out Sonya’s pockets, revealing the 100-rouble note, and Amalia demands that the police be brought around to... (full context)

Lebezyatnikov claims that Luzhin placed the note in Sonya’s pocket unbeknownst to her, and Lebezyatnikov assumed at the time either that Luzhin was being... (full context)

...the room now on Lebezyatnikov’s side, and the latter asks Luzhin to vacate their apartment. Sonya, terribly upset, leaves, and Amalia uses this further ruckus against Katerina, demanding that her family... (full context)

He realizes, on entering, that he must tell Sonya he has murdered Lizaveta. Sonya thanks him for defending her earlier, at the feast, and... (full context)

Raskolnikov repeats his desire to tell Sonya who murdered Lizaveta. He says that the murderer aimed to kill and rob the pawnbroker... (full context)

Sonya promises to follow Raskolnikov wherever he goes. When Raskolnikov begins to explain why he killed... (full context)

...financial circumstances and he was upset at not being able to attend university any longer. Sonya realizes, however, that Raskolnikov might be mad, and that his reasons for killing might be... (full context)

...final attempt to justify his murder, or at least clarify why he has done it. Sonya refuses his justifications and argues that Raskolnikov has simply committed a crime against man and... (full context)

...only “psychology” and does not include facts pertaining to his guilt. He asks, however, if Sonya will visit him if he goes to jail. Sonya says yes. Sonya offers Raskolnikov a... (full context)

...to the bridge over the canal where Katerina and the children are performing. Katerina tells Sonya, who attempts to help her, to leave, and Katerina corrects the children’s singing and dancing.... (full context)

Running after the dispersed crowd, Katerina falls and begins coughing up blood heavily. Sonya and the others fear that she is dying and carry her back to Sonya’s apartment.... (full context)

...aside to send the children to a good orphanage. Raskolnikov attends Katerina’s memorial service with Sonya and realizes that, if he could get away from everyone and be completely alone, he... (full context)

...has abandoned his mother and sister. His mother complains that Raskolnikov is hanging about with Sonya, whom she calls “that one.” Razumikhin concludes that Raskolnikov does not seem mad, and that... (full context)

...of Raskolnikov. Svidrigailov convinces Dunya to follow him back to his apartment, where he wishes Sonya to corroborate his story about Raskolnikov. Sonya is still not home, but Svidrigailov invites Dunya... (full context)

...that he knows the truth, and that he heard Raskolnikov spill out his soul to Sonya over the course of two nights. Dunya has a hard time believing the terrible truth... (full context)

...taverns. He decides later in the evening to go back to the apartment-house and visit Sonya, who is at home. He gives Sonya 3,000 roubles and says that, for Raskolnikov, there... (full context)

Raskolnikov visits Sonya, who has been waiting for him all day. She worries that a fear of death... (full context)

He states his desire to go and confess to the police alone, though Sonya wants to accompany him. He wonders still if there isn’t some way to avoid having... (full context)

...having the courage to confess and rattled by Svidrigailov’s death. In the courtyard he finds Sonya, who wordlessly urges him back into the station to admit to his crime. He turns... (full context)

Raskolnikov and Sonya left for Siberia together, and Razumikhin married Dunya; Razumikhin hopes to raise enough money to... (full context)

Raskolnikov only learns of his mother’s death much later. Sonya has maintained a correspondence with Petersburg, and in her letters she details Raskolnikov’s captivity in... (full context)

...himself. He is taken for Godless by some of the fellow prisoners, but they love Sonya, whom they consider a saint, and eventually grow to tolerate Raskolnikov. When he is in... (full context)

Raskolnikov hears that Sonya is sick and worries about her health, but it is only a passing cold. He... (full context)

He recognizes the manner in which Sonya loves him—that indeed she lives entirely for him—and this has given him strength to be... (full context)

...for another novel, and the narrator concludes the present story with this fleeting reference to Sonya and Raskolnikov’s future happiness. (full context)

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Sonya Semyonovna Marmeladov Character Analysis

Sonya Semyonovna Marmeladov Quotes in Crime and Punishment

Sonya Semyonovna Marmeladov Character Timeline in Crime and Punishment

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