arbores_loqui_latine t1_j5f8n1l wrote
I'm a native English speaker and the names in Crime and Punishment were difficult for me as well. Russian nicknames often sound completely different from the original name (ex: Avdotya -> "Dunya"). What helped me was keeping a bookmark with the names and a brief description of each character and referring to it frequently.
Sparknotes has a character page, but there are some spoilers on it, so I've copied and pasted a mostly spoiler-free version below and added some extra clarification. Some spoilers were unavoidable because they're so crucial to understanding the characters, but I don't know how far in the book you are, so I put some phrases behind spoiler tags.
Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov (“Rodya,” “Rodka”) : The protagonist of the novel.
Sofya Semyonovna Marmeladov (“Sonya,” “Sonechka”) : Raskolnikov’s love and Semyon Marmeladov’s daughter.
Avdotya Romanovna Raskolnikov (“Dunya,” “Dunechka”) : Raskolnikov’s sister. Most often referred to as "Dunya."
Arkady Ivanovich Svidrigailov : Dunya’s (Raskolnikov's sister's) depraved former employer.
Dmitri Prokofych Razumikhin : Raskolnikov’s friend, a poor ex-student.
Katerina Ivanovna Marmeladov : The consumptive wife of Semyon Marmeladov.
Porfiry Petrovich : The magistrate in charge of investigating>! the murders!<.
Semyon Zakharovich Marmeladov : An alcoholic public official whom Raskolnikov meets at a tavern. Father of Sofya/"Sonya" and married to Katerina. Most often referred to by his last name, Marmeladov.
Pulcheria Alexandrovna Raskolnikov : Raskolnikov’s mother.
Pyotr Petrovich Luzhin : Dunya’s (Raskolnikov's sister's) fiancé.
Andrei Semyonovich Lebezyatnikov : Luzhin’s (Raskolnikov's sister's fiance's) grudging roommate.
Alyona Ivanovna : An old, withered pawnbroker >!whom Raskolnikov kills!<.
Lizaveta Ivanovna : Alyona Ivanovna’s sister.
Zossimov : Raskolnikov’s doctor and a friend of Razumikhin (Raskolnikov's poor student friend).
Nastasya Petrovna (“Nastenka,” “Nastasyushka”) : A servant in the house where Raskolnikov rents his “closet.”
Ilya Petrovich (“Gunpowder”) : A police official whom Raskolnikov encounters >!after committing the murder!<.
Alexander Grigorievich Zamyotov : A junior official in the police station who suspects that >!Raskolnikov is the killer!<.
Nikolai Dementiev (“Mikolka”): A painter who is suspected of >!being the murderer!<.
Polina Mikhailovna Marmeladov (“Polya,” “Polenka,” “Polechka”) : The oldest daughter of Katerina Ivanovna Marmeladov from her former marriage.
WisestAirBender OP t1_j5fai46 wrote
Thanks! I'm only a few chapters in so I didn't read everything you posted.
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