When one suffers with a great deal of guilt, their physical health quickly deteriorates. Raskolnikov's physical suffering begins shortly after the murder with delusions and nonsense ravings while constantly drifting in and out of reality.
He often goes into a state of "not completely unconscious" but is in a "feverish state, sometimes delirious, sometimes half conscious"(98) while blaming it on his previous sickness. Raskolnikov is being destroyed by his guilt. He is unable to physically live in society while he has such a burden constantly looming over him. When in the police station, Raskolnikov hears talk of the murders and with just a reminder of his crime, he quickly becomes weak. When he "recovered consciousness"(88) the men at the station undoubtedly notice his illness and point out that "he can barely stand upright."(89) His guilt has driven him to a serious state of sickness. He can no longer function normally or even keep consciousness when he is reminded of his crime. Raskolnikov can no longer function normally because his guilt has