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I am not sure what to think of this chapter. There seems to be a constantly flowing movement between life and death, between strength and weakness, hope and desperation. The blood on Marmeladow is a bad sign, but on Raskolnikow it seems a good thing: it seems to cheer him up, to make him feel alive again and powerful, even or especially when he meets Fomitsj on the stairs.

The prospect for the little girl is rather hopeless, but hugging Raskolnikov gives her new hope and him as well. Wasn't that a strange scene?

And finally we have Raskolnikov, in a good mood, feeling better, until he sees his mother and sister, and then he faints. Again: from strength to weakness. I don't know where this will lead. I'll just have to hurry with the next chapter.

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