Rodya's sudden announcement to his family that he must be alone emphasizes again the truth of his theory that crime isolates one from society, and that crime contributes to illness: "I wanted to tell you it would be better if we parted for a short time. I feel ill. I am not at peace. . . Leave me, leave me alone. . .I want to be alone; for me altogether, it's better. Don't make inquires about me. When I can, I will come of myself or . . .I will send for you. . .but if you love me, give me up. . .otherwise, I feel I shall begin to hate you."
Rodya is able to make Razumihkin know that he is implicated in the crime in some fashion. Here, then, Razumihkin's function in the novel becomes settled; he is to look after Rodya's mother and sister, thereby leaving Raskolnikov free to depart and work out his own guilt.
