Raskolnikov Cultural Influence

When Raskolnikov was a student he enjoyed the debate and human contact, but also strived for acceptance. He had a dual nature to himself, which could be characterized by his cold intelligence, which separated him from society, and his compassionate side. After Raskolnikov murdered Alyona and Lizaveta Ivanovna

We are first introduced to Raskolnikov with him talking about how he “jabbers” with himself, being badly dressed and living in a place about the size of a closet (Rychnovsky 2). His madness hits a peak in part one chapter seven when he commits the murder of his landlady and her sister (Rychnovsky 74). After the murder his own sanity starts to take a toll on him as

In Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s, Crime and Punishment, the conclusion of the novel plays an important role in resolving and reconciling a multitude of conflicts within the characters. For Dostoyevsky, the resolution of the story plays a significant purpose not only in resolving the various crimes committed, but additionally acting as a moral reassessment for the characters that helps the audience reflect upon their own morals as well. Accordingly, through Dostoyevsky’s portrayal of the troubling abuses committed by the characters due to their lack of regard for the law, a large portion of the novel emphasizes the concept of a universal morality that should be intrinsic to humanity. Through the analysis of the repercussions of Raskolnikov’s crimes, Svidrigailov’s crimes, and the juxtaposition between them,

While walking on the street, Raskolnikov is enraged by a man who is preying upon a drunken girl. All of the sudden, Raskolnikov has a complete shift in attitude toward the situation and becomes indifferent to what the man does with the girl. In this scene, Dostoevsky uses diction, figurative language and dialogue to convey the complexity of Raskolnikov’s thoughts and feelings. With this insight he provides, Dostoevsky reveals an inner-conflict that Raskolnikov struggles with: his desire to be protective and have good morals, which conflicts with his pessimism and lack of control over his emotions.

Raskolnikov’s split nature is the cause of his mental suicide because it encourages him to do something extraordinary, while it also torments him about his extraordinary act, proving that man cannot be completely rational. Richard Peace, in An Examination of the Major Novels, asserts that “man’s rational faculties constitute a mere twentieth part of his whole being: the error of Raskolnikov is that he mistakes the part for the whole” (Peace 34). It is this slight mistake that is the demise of Raskolnikov. Believing himself to be capable of complete rationality, Raskolnikov plan’s out every detail of his murder, knowing that “it’s these details that ruin everything always” (Dostoyevsky 5).

First, let me introduce you to the main character himself otherwise known as the murderer in this story. Raskolnikov is the main protagonist of the novel, making the story in his point of view. He is very alienated from society due to his

Dostoevsky depicts his mind through the utilization of various literary devices, clever diction, and abrupt phrases and in turn, he is able to display the fractured mind of Raskolnikov. The structure of the novel plays a key role in the depiction of Raskolnikov’s sanity. The author is able to create a climactic scene that alters the life of Raskolnikov. He creates two major phases.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s novel Crime and Punishment features a wide variety of characters and personalities within its pages. Throughout the novel, many different characters are developed through their introductions and their comparisons to other characters. There are many examples of this foiling technique, but some of the most prominent comparisons are made between the main character Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov and characters such as Arkady Ivanovitch Svidrigaïlov and Dmitri Prokofitch Razumihin. These comparisons allow for deeper understanding of Raskolnikov as the audience sees the different potentials his character has.

Raskolnikov has always though of himself as holier than most Russians at his level of poverty. Becausse he is an intellectual, not just a poor commoner, he believes he is destined for greatness. He begins to contamplate the theory that he is an extraordinary man, one capable of overstepping the boundaries of the law so they can further enhance and progress

As Raskolnikov’s internal struggle becomes evident, Dostoevsky uses Raskolnikov’s disoriented state to illustrate nihilism’s ineffectiveness as a catalyst for social change. Raskolnikov’s radical philosophy is initially used as justification of his murder, a gambit to escape St. Petersburg’s poverty crisis. By labeling the pawnbroker Alyona Ivanovna as a “louse” and being largely apathetic towards any emotional or social repercussions, it is suggested that her death is for the greater good of not only Raskolnikov, but the whole of society; this lack of emotional substance in his logic brands him as a cold-blooded utilitarianist. However, it is a different story after the murder, where even Raskolnikov begins to doubt the legitimacy of his own argument. He realizes that his adrenaline rush prevents him from stealing much of the pawnbroker’s money, and with what he does manage to salvage, it is hidden away, nullifying any constructive benefit he had hoped to provide. Additionally, the murder of the pawnbroker’s innocent sister Lizaveta, whom prior to the even Raskolnikov feels

The death penalty is the only suitable punishment for murderers. The death penalty insures that criminals know that if they kill they will be killed, and they are going to receive a harsh punishment. Also it could be cheaper than sentencing a prisoner to life in prison. People feel that the death penalty is too harsh of a punishment. Which that would be a harsh punishment but they took another human's life. So they need to have a harsh punishment so people know they can not get away with murder. The death penalty insures that a murderer won’t kill again.

From declaring he wanted to become a Napoleon to wishing for financial independence to murdering for his own sake, he rattles off various motives, showing his obsessive rationalization (394-397). By presenting his conflicting intentions, Dostoevsky exhibits the chaos within Raskolnikov’s mind.

If I could meet Dostoevsky I would ask him what his inspiration for Crime and Punishment was. Sometimes I wonder if the novel was written to give us insight to how Dostoevsky felt about the world. Maybe he is using the character Raskolnikov to portray a part of him who feels alienated from the world, and is torn apart

Dostoyevsky most likely modeled Crime and Punishment after his own experiences. Since the two men's lives had striking similarities, many people believed that was evidence to prove their thinking. As Raskolnikov was overcome with tremendous suffering, sent to Siberia, and fell madly in love with a beautiful woman; so did Dostoyevsky within his lifetime. "I do believe that the character (Raskolnikov) was the epitome of Dostoyevsky's life." (Timoney)

Dostoyevsky gives the reader no such comfort. The reader wants to see Raskolnikov have some good excuse for killing the old woman, some sense of moral justification of the act so we can turn his accusers into "bad guys" and himself and his friends the "good guys". The reader gets nothing of the sort, Crime and Punishment is no fairy tale. The suspense in Crime and Punishment is caused by Dostoyevsky's superb characters, and the longing for a moral sense of right and wrong.