Andrei Semyonovich Lebezyatnikov is Luzhin’s roommate. The two begin as friends, but quickly come to dislike each other as they discover they have great differences in their political and philosophical opinions. Just as many of the characters and themes in Crime and Punishment symbolize or interact with important cultural and political conversations of 19th-century Russia, so too does Lebezyatnikov. Lebezyatnikov is interested in progressive politics and ideas, such as communal societies and increased freedoms for women. In 19th-century Russia, “the woman question,” or the debate over how much education, independence, and power women should be able to receive and hold, was a prominent topic in political discussion. Luzhin believes that Lebezyatnikov’s liberal ideology is foolish, and that he’s only supportive of women’s sexual liberation because he assumes the movement will result in an increase in his own access to sex. However, Lebezyatnikov insists that his views are in earnest.

For much of the novel, it is unclear whether Lebezyatnikov is a good or intelligent man. At first, Marmeladov’s description of Lebezyatnikov paints him as a bad figure, one who has physically assaulted Katerina Ivanovna and has attempted to force himself on Sonya. However, as the story progresses, it seems possible that the unreliable Marmeladov may have misrepresented or misunderstood Lebezyatnikov’s character. Lebezyatnikov insists that he was merely defending himself against Katerina’s attack, which, based on descriptions of Katerina’s erratic and violent behavior, seems likely. Additionally, while he does admit that he’s attracted to Sonya and would accept her advances should she be interested in him, he does not seem to have purchased her services and shows genuine interest in her wellbeing. His goodness of character is eventually fully proven when he defends Sonya against Luzhin’s malicious lies, saving Sonya from both damage to her reputation and corporal punishment. So, while the sincerity of Lebezyatnikov’s progressive views is up to some interpretation, there is no doubt that he ultimately proves to be morally superior to the individualistic and selfish Luzhin.