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Raskolnikov Foil

Decent Essays

Gentry Hale
Raskolnikov is a proud and intellectual man who believes that he is extraordinary enough to break all social rules and moral standards if he thinks that it will further humanity. Sonia is a shy and timorous girl who is a devout Christian and is so dedicated to her family that she is willing to do anything to help them. Sonia’s humility and meekness help Raskolnikov to realize that he may not be as remarkable as he believes. Fyodor Dostoevsky uses Sonia as a foil towards Raskolnikov, in his novel Crime and Punishment, because she helps him to overcome his pride and confess to his crime. Sonia and Raskolnikov are both communal outcasts because of the social injustices that they have committed. Sonia resorted to prostitution …show more content…

He immediately convinced himself that it was a sign that he must commit the murder the next night. The use of coincidence and environment as self-justification shows that he feels guilty and needs validation for his crimes. He cannot turn to God like Sonia because he is a selfish man and repenting means that he must admit to himself that he had done wrong. Instead of feeling disappointment in himself he will blame his actions on the world around him. Raskolnikov askes Sonia to read him a passage out of the Bible and she reads him the story of Lazarus. He acts as if he does not believe in the story, but he is moved by it. The rising of Lazarus from the dead is a parallel to Raskolnikovs separation from the world. He relates to this story because his pride alienates him from those that love him. He longs to be like Lazarus and to be reborn, and his pride begins to waiver. When he works up the humility to confess to Sonia, she offers him a cross. He begins to accept it and then quickly gives it back. Although he did not take the cross, he considered it. In this instance Raskolnikov was able to confess to his crime, even if only to Sonia, and he almost accepts her religious offering. She is making an impact on his conscious and his pride is

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