# Arkady Ivanovich Svidrigailov — Crime and Punishment character guide

> Arkady Ivanovich Svidrigailov in Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Svidrigaïlov, SvidrigaГҜlov, Mr. Svidrigaïlov

**First appearance:** 0016-part-iii-i

## Snapshot

A wealthy, charming landowner with a rumored past of cruelty and a habit of appearing exactly where he is least wanted, smiling.

## Who they are

Svidrigailov drifts into Petersburg with money, leisure, and a story about his wife's death that no one quite believes, and immediately begins circling Dounia. He is courteous, generous, and utterly unnerving — he speaks of his own vices with the calm of a man who has stopped arguing with himself. As a mirror of what Raskolnikov might become without guilt, he gives the novel its coldest and most fascinating alternative ending.

## Relationships

### [Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crime_and_punishment/characters/rodion_romanovich_raskolnikov)

_psychological_

Svidrigailov is Raskolnikov's dark double and manipulator, reflecting the ultimate nihilistic consequences of his theory and tormenting him with his knowledge of the crime.

### [Avdotya Romanovna Raskolnikova](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crime_and_punishment/characters/avdotya_romanovna_raskolnikova)

_psychological_

Svidrigailov is Dunya's obsessed former employer and pursuer, using manipulation and threats in a twisted attempt to possess her.

### [Marfa Petrovna Svidrigailova](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crime_and_punishment/characters/marfa_petrovna_svidrigailova)

_psychological_

Marfa Petrovna was Svidrigailov's wealthy, domineering wife, whom he possibly murdered and who haunts him as a ghost, representing his guilt and moral reckoning.

### [Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crime_and_punishment/characters/rodion_romanovich_raskolnikov)

_psychological_

Svidrigailov is Raskolnikov's dark double and manipulator, reflecting the ultimate nihilistic consequences of his theory and tormenting him with his knowledge of the crime.

### [Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crime_and_punishment/characters/rodion_romanovich_raskolnikov)

_psychological_

Svidrigailov is Raskolnikov's dark double and manipulator, reflecting the ultimate nihilistic consequences of his theory and tormenting him with his knowledge of the crime.

### [Avdotya Romanovna Raskolnikova](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crime_and_punishment/characters/avdotya_romanovna_raskolnikova)

_psychological_

Svidrigailov is Dunya's obsessed former employer and pursuer, using manipulation and threats in a twisted attempt to possess her.

### [Avdotya Romanovna Raskolnikova](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crime_and_punishment/characters/avdotya_romanovna_raskolnikova)

_psychological_

Svidrigailov is Dunya's obsessed former employer and pursuer, using manipulation and threats in a twisted attempt to possess her.

### [Marfa Petrovna Svidrigailova](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crime_and_punishment/characters/marfa_petrovna_svidrigailova)

_psychological_

Marfa Petrovna was Svidrigailov's wealthy, domineering wife, whom he possibly murdered and who haunts him as a ghost, representing his guilt and moral reckoning.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crime_and_punishment/chapters/part-vi-i)

A constant, menacing presence in Raskolnikov's thoughts. He has arranged for Katerina Ivanovna's children and hints at a necessary future discussion with Raskolnikov.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crime_and_punishment/chapters/part-vi-v)

Taunts Raskolnikov, then lures Dunya to his room, attempts to blackmail and seduce her, but ultimately lets her go after a moral crisis.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crime_and_punishment/characters/arkady_ivanovich_svidrigailov
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crime_and_punishment
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/crime_and_punishment/characters