The Honest Thief
The novel follows the story of a man named Raskolnikov, who murders an old pawnbroker and her sister. He believes that he is exempt from moral laws due to his social status as an impoverished and uneducated former student. However, he soon becomes haunted by the ghost of the murdered woman and her brother, who confront him with his guilt. Raskolnikov's descent into madness and despair is a central theme of the novel, as he struggles to come to terms with his actions and their consequences.
By Fyodor Dostoevsky · First published 1840 · Genre: Short Stories, Classic Literature, Psychological Fiction · 10,333 words
First lines
One morning as I was leaving for my office, Agrafena, my cook, washerwoman, and housekeeper, came into my room and, to my great surprise, began a conversation with me. Until that morning this simple, ordinary woman of the people had been so uncommunicative that, except for a few words about my dinner each day, she had for the last six years scarcely uttered a word to me. At least I never heard her speak of anything else.
"I'd like to have a word with you, sir," she began abruptly. "Why don't you let the little room?"
What this Textopian page supports
The Honest Thief is listed on Textopian as a short story by Fyodor Dostoevsky, dated 1840 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky
- Date: 1840 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Stories, Classic Literature, Psychological Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Mystery
- Length: 10,333 words
- Structure: 1 section, 167 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Honest Thief by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Honest Thief?
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Similar titles
- An Honest Thief by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- The Penance by Saki
- An Unpleasant Predicament by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- The Ape by E. F. Benson
- A Reaping by E. F. Benson
- The Innocence Of The Criminal by G. K. Chesterton
Genres
- Short Stories — The Honest Thief is a short tale by Fyodor Dostoevsky, hence the short story genre.
- Classic Literature — It was created by Fyodor Dostoevsky, a well-known classic literature author from the 19th century.
- Psychological Fiction — Dostoevsky's works typically analyze and delve deep into the human psyche.
- Philosophical Fiction — The story explores themes of morality and existentialism, typical traits of philosophical fiction.
Tags
theft · morality · redemption · human nature · psychological drama · conflict · guilt · honesty · crime · social commentary · character study · existentialism