Coincidence as a Plot Device: Dostoyevsky uses coincidences to advance the plot and heighten the dramatic tension. For example, Raskolnikov overhears a student in a tavern discussing the potential benefits of murdering the old pawnbroker: 

Kill her, take her money and with the help of it devote oneself to the service of humanity.

Coincidence in Raskolnikov’s Mental Struggle: Coincidence also reflects Raskolnikov’s internal conflict and deepening guilt. His unexpected encounter with the police clerk, Zametov, at the tavern leads him to almost confess his crime: 

And what if it was I who killed the old woman and Lizaveta?

Coincidence as a Tool of Fate: Dostoyevsky uses coincidence to convey a sense of fate governing the characters’ lives. The chance of Lizaveta arriving at the crime scene highlights the inevitability of Raskolnikov’s downfall. These moments of coincidence give the narrative a sense of tragic inevitability. It reinforces the novel’s themes of guilt and redemption.

In short, Dostoyevsky masterfully uses coincidence to drive the plot. He explores the psychological struggles of his characters and conveys the role of fate in human lives. These coincidences create a tightly woven narrative where every encounter is significant.