Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is the story of a young man who decides to kill a pawnbroker in order to take her money and ends up killing her sister as well. He then suffers guilt over what he's done until he confesses to the crime and is sent to jail in Siberia.
The story takes place in Saint Petersburg, Russia and concerns Rodion Raskolnikov, who was once a student but now lives poor and without much income. He convinces himself that he can murder Alyona Ivanovna, a mean pawnbroker, in order to steal her money and do good for society—and himself—with it. In the process, he kills her sister, who walks in on the crime scene. He doesn't even get away with the money, only stealing a few things.
While he got away without being seen, Raskolnikov suffers the effects of his conscience. He worries constantly that he'll be caught and tries to hide the evidence of his crime. He becomes ill from his guilt, acting increasingly suspiciously. He meets Sonya, a virtuous prostitute and the daughter of a man he helped with the money he stole.
The detective in charge of the case, Porfiry, suspects Raskolnikov but has no evidence. When another man confesses to the crime, Raskolnikov thinks he may have gotten away with it again—but there's no reprieve from his guilt. This is when he confesses to Sonya. The confession is overheard by a man obsessed with Raskolnikov's sister, Dunya. The man says he may someday this information against Raskolnikov.
Sonya urges Raskolnikov to confess. His sister's obsessive suitor kills himself after realizing he can never be with Dunya, freeing Raskolnikov from the fear that he will expose him. He considers not telling the police the truth, but he ultimately decides that Sonya is right and that confession is the right thing to do.
Raskolnikov is sentenced to eight years in prison in Siberia. Sonya accompanies him and helps him heal his wounded moral character. His mother dies in illness and shame in light of his actions. His sister, Dunya, marries his friend.
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