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Alyona Ivanovna, also called The Louse by Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov, is a major antagonist in Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment.
She is a greedy, elderly pawnbroker, who has an obsession of hoarding money by usuring. Her murder by Raskolnikov is an event that starts the book's plot.
Biography[]
Alyona Ivanovna is a greedy pawnbroker and a usurer. She lives with her younger half-sister Lizaveta Ivanovna. Alyona was known for abusing handicapped Lizaveta and forcing her to do the slavery work. She planned to give all of her money to the monastery after her death to earn a place in Heaven.
Alyona makes interests with Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov, a young and poor ex-student. Because of her many, Raskolnikov decides to murder her and rob her apartament while Lizaveta is out.
Raskolnikov and Alyona meet at the latter's apartament, where Rodion gives her an item to distract her. When she turns back, her hits her with an axe and murders her.
Alyona Ivanovna's murder starts the plot of the book. Because of her death, Raskolnikov is also forced to kill Lizaveta, who happened to be the witness of her sister's demise. A few months later, Raskolnikov turns himself to the police and is sent to Siberia for eight years.
Trivia[]
- Alyona Ivanovna is one of the most hated characters in Russian literature because of her vices and lack of redeemable qualities.