Crime and Punishment

Destitute ex-student Raskalnikov has murder in mind. He plots to kill an old pawnbroker, justifying the savage act by postulating that his worth to society is greater than that of his parasitic victim. A bloodhound policeman is on his trail, however, and Raskalnikov also wrestles with the torment of guilt in Dostoevsky's masterly exploration of criminal intent and the avenging agent of conscience.