Crime and Punishment Lesson Plan

How would you describe Porfiry? How does he differ from other investigators we’ve seen in this novel? How does he represent ideas about innocence and guilt in the book?

For some, Porfiry is a fastidious and almost silly person who has much more in common with modern detectives in pop culture than the more serious characters in the novel. Porfiry is both more playful and intellectual than the other investigators and, like Raskolnikov, indulges in philosophical theories. He serves as a foil to Raskolnikov, demonstrating that intellectualism need not lead to a rejection of morals, but instead allows for deeper feeling and understanding of one’s moral obligations.

What do...