In Crime and Punishment, poverty and misfortune consume many of the characters. These characters usually respond with either noble sacrifices or selfish consumption. Katerina Ivanovna’s responses, however, do not fit neatly into this classification. Katerina’s circumstance of thinking she is a poor woman who deserves a noblewoman’s treatment create a dissonance that makes Katerina interesting and confusing. The irregularity of Katerina’s responses highlight the complexity of Katerina’s character. Dostoevsky chooses this presentation of Katerina because it allows for far more conflict and exploration.
