As the plot unfolds in Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment, the main character in this story, Raskolnikov commits the immoral act of murder by brutally executing characters, Alyona and Lizaveta. Although Raskolnikov killed both of these women, the murders themselves, however, are very different in a legal sense. Raskolnikov's killing of Alyona fits all the criteria of a first degree murder, while the murder of Lizaveta contains all the qualities of second degree murder. .
Raskolnikov planned to murder Alyona. He followed through with his plan by killing her with an axe. Prior to this crime he spent a significant amount of time thinking about and developing a specific plan to kill her. On pages 61 through 65 the author describes how Raskolnikov thought out the details of the act. He designed a technique to carry the murder weapon, an axe, by hanging it from a noose under his arm covered by his coat so that he could carry it invisibly until he was close enough to his victim to strike. He was cruel and reckless and did not care about the consequences of his act. Actually, he was indifferent to the effect on the victim or others that cared for her. He was reckless in that he did not think about the blood and gore that would result from his vicious attack on Alyona. He was unconcerned with the pain and suffering that Alyona would and did experience. He did not follow his plan because he was unable to remain focused due to the wildness of his emotions during the time leading up to the murder. Yet, the fact that he planned and carried out the murder cruelly, and with "hardness of heart" and disregard for the value of his victim's life makes his act a clear case of first degree murder. His act deserves the punishment applicable to this crime.
Raskolnikov's murder of Lizaveta was of a different nature. It was so different that, in legal terms, it would be considered an act of second-degree murder.
