Zossimov

Zossimov is Rodion Raskolnikov's physician who treats him during his serious illness and provides crucial medical testimony at trial about his patient's nervous condition and hypochondriacal state. As a medical professional, he represents the contemporary scientific approach to understanding criminal behavior through psychology and pathology. His involvement in Rodion Raskolnikov's case is peripheral but significant, as his testimony helps establish the legal claim that Rodion Raskolnikov's crime resulted from temporary mental derangement rather than deliberate wickedness. He represents a secular, scientific perspective on human suffering and behavior that contrasts with both Rodion Raskolnikov's philosophical arrogance and Sonia (Sofya Semyonovna, Sonya)'s religious faith.