The Characters Russians customarily have three names: a given name, a patronymic (derived from the father’s given name), and a family name. Most patronymics end in for men and for women. In addition, Russians often have an or nickname. The usual practice among acquaintances is to address a ovitch ovna “affectionate” person by his given name and patronymic, while close friends or family members use the name. Since characters in this novel may be addressed “affectionate” by a variety of names, you should know what they are. Fill in this chart with details as you go, and keep it close so that you may refer to it while reading. Name Name meaning Description of character Rodion Romanovitch means The protagonist of the novel. Raskolnik Raskolnikov (affectionate, rebel, dissenter, or Rodya) schismatic in Russian Avdotya Romanaovna Raskolnikov’s sister Raskolnikov (affectionate, Dounia) Pulcheria Alexandrovna Raskolnikov’s widowed mother Raskolnikov Sofya Semyonovna is a kind A young woman Marmelad Marmeladov (affectionate, of candy Sonia) Semyon Zaharovitch Sonia’s father Marmeladov Katerina Ivanovna Sonia’s mother Marmeladov Dmitri Prokofitch Razumihin means reason, Raskolnikov’s fellow student and best friend. Razum good sense, intelligence in Russian Pyotr Petrovitch Luzhin means puddle Dounia’s fiancé Luzha
The Characters Russians customarily have three names: a given name, a patronymic (derived from the father’s given name), and a family name. Most patronymics end in ovitch for men and ovna for women. In addition, Russians often have an “affectionate” or nickname. The usual practice among acquaintances is to address a person by his given name and patronymic, while close friends or family members use the “affectionate” name. Since characters in this novel may be addressed by a variety of names, you should know what they are. Fill in this chart with details as you go, and keep it close so that you may refer to it while reading. Name Name meaning Description of character Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov (affectionate, Rodya) Raskolnik means rebel, dissenter, or schismatic in Russian The protagonist of the novel. Avdotya Romanaovna Raskolnikov (affectionate, Dounia) Raskolnikov’s sister Pulcheria Alexandrovna Raskolnikov Raskolnikov’s widowed mother Sofya Semyonovna Marmeladov (affectionate, Sonia) Marmelad is a kind of candy A young woman Semyon Zaharovitch Marmeladov Sonia’s father Katerina Ivanovna Marmeladov Sonia’s mother Dmitri Prokofitch Razumihin Razum means reason, good sense, intelligence in Russian Raskolnikov’s fellow student and best friend. Pyotr Petrovitch Luzhin Luzha means puddle Dounia’s fiancé