Raskolnikov's View On Crime

Raskolnikov expresses belief that some people are above the law. In fact, he published an article which established that some “extraordinary” people have the right to “step over certain obstacles”. Raskolnikov believes himself to be one of these extraordinary people. He wonders what it would be like if Napoleon, for example, had played by the rules. Would he have made such an impact on the world? It is this very utilitarian belief that drives Raskolnikov to kill Alyona Ivanovna, and consequently her sister Lizaveta as well. He believes that the pawnbroker Alyona Ivanovna is a louse, “a useless, nasty, pernicious louse.” By ridding the world of Alyona, he thinks he is helping many others.

The point Dostoevsky is trying to make with Raskolnikov’s arc is truly laid bare when examining raskolnikov’s mental state. In the early portions of Crime and punishment Raskolnikov is, for the most part, neutrally charged emotionally speaking: dreary, dismal, and in poor spirits, but not despairing, just average for someone of his walk of life. Crime and Punishment begins with our protagonist having just published an article explaining an idea of society where “exceptional” people may do unjust things, such as robbery or murder, to help the greater mass of “ordinary” people. His article roughly parrots utilitarianism (an action can be justified by the amount of overall pleasure it creates). Following this logic, Raskolnikov begins planning the “just” murder of a pawnbroker and tries to justify it to himself, but has second thoughts. Significant narrative is spent on his internal conflict, as he tries to convince himself that his dark plans are nothing more than flights of fancy, and he becomes increasingly panicked and upset at the thoughts he is having. As more pages pass filled with internal struggle, Raskolnikov accepts that he really does want to kill the person he sees as the cause of his misery, (a stingy elderly pawnbroker,) and seeks validation in any form; he listens to people in pubs mumble about how awful the woman is, and even refers to his own article. After Raskolnikov kills the old woman, he is plagued

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

“I wanted to find out then and quickly whether I was a louse like everybody else or a man. Whether I can step over barriers or not, whether I dare stoop to pick up or not, whether I am a trembling creature or whether I have the right…” (329). This quote shows the reason why Raskolnikov wanted to commit the murder. He wants to prove that he has the power to control his own life.

Being the protagonist in Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov is subject to most ridicule and analysis for his moral ambiguity and outlandish views. After reading about his dreadful murder of Alyona and Lizaveta Ivanovna, many come to the conclusion that Raskolnikov is purely evil. His lack of guilt and belief of justification for his crime surely points readers in this direction. Raskolnikov remains convinced that he is superior and that it was his duty to kill such a worthless person. Although some may view this as evilness, others may perceive it as downright ignorant. His atypical way of thinking doesn’t necessarily make him evil, but that is how some comprehend it. At certain points in the story, we see Raskolnikov not as a deranged man, but instead as a compassionate human being. After the murder, we see him carrying out various charitable acts, perhaps as an attempt to atone for his unforgivable crime. For example, we see some good in him when he gives Sonya’s family twenty rubbles after Marmeladov passes on. We also see this when he attempts to rescue a drunk girl from a man by giving her money for a taxi. As much as Raskolnikov expresses that he was justified in his actions, through his mental and physical illnesses it is apparent that he feels some guilt about it. This guilt makes him seem at least a little bit more human. For these reasons, when all is said and done, it is difficult to determine

A shy and timid seventeen year old girl, Sonia is wary of Raskolnikov when she first meets him. Her tenacious religious faith is a vital part of her character; she is shy and timid, but also truly compassionate and altruistic (especially towards Raskolnikov). In this sense, Raskolnikov is quite different from Sonia; where he is uncaring and ignorant, she is warm-hearted and thoughtful. Sonia helps to bring back the humane aspects of Raskolnikov’s personality. “There, not far from the entrance, stood Sonia, pale and horror-stricken. She looked wildly at him… There was a look of poignant agony, of despair in her face...His lips worked in an ugly, meaningless smile. He stood still a minute, grinned, and went back into the police office” (Dostoevsky 447). At this moment in time, Raskolnikov had gone into the police station to confess his crime, but in a lack of better judgement, he returns back to Sonia without telling about his crime. Had Raskolnikov not been motivated by the repugnant look on Sonia’s face, it is unlikely that he would have gone back into the police station. This is perhaps the prime example of how Sonia brings out the best in Raskolnikov. Sonia’s sympathetic and doting personality is polar to Raskolnikov’s selfish beliefs and his “extraordinary man theory”. However, when all is said and done, Sonia guides Raskolnikov to face the punishment of his wrong doing. Had Raskolnikov not had a tenacious relationship with Sonia, it likely would have taken him a much

The old lady continued digging her proverbial hole deeper and deeper as she stood in the road addressing The Misfit: “’Listen,’ the grandmother almost screamed, ‘I know you’re a good man. You don’t look a bit like you have common blood. I know you must come from nice people’” (O’Connor, 1292). As The Misfit’s escape cohorts led her son and grandson off into the woods the old lady almost sounded as if she truly ashamed of her actions and the small innuendos she prodded her grandchildren with to make this detour into the terror she and her

Petersburg. She has a reputation for cheating the poor and for beating her own sister, Lizaveta. Raskolnikov developed a relationship with her during Act I when he pawned a watch to her. During a walk to a local Tavern, Raskolnikov hears Lizaveta mention that she will not be home around seven o’clock with Alyona. “The old woman [Alyona Ivanovna] would be left alone (Dostoyevsky 51).” With this new information, Raskolnikov has had his mind made for him. “He went in [to his apartment] like a man condemned to death (Dostoyevsky 51).” That very night, he visited Alyona with vicious intentions. Raskolnikov invited himself into her apartment, fabricating a story about an item that he wanted to pawn to her. Alyona was focused on the item when Raskolnikov brutally hit her with an axe. “He stepped back, let it [Alyona’s body] fall, and at once bent over her face; she was dead (Dostoyevsky 63).” Raskolnikov killed a defenseless old woman, finally revealing his cruel

(lines 67-71). Her cruelness continues as she describes her husband’s looks. “His nose so long, his hair so thin and falling about his ears. He had no time to dress, his doublet is on over his nightshirt, his legs are scrawny and goatlike, though his stomach bulges.” (lines 124-127).

He believes that killing Alyona is morally acceptable because he is an extraordinary person, giving him the right to commit certain acts that are, in the moment, seen as wrong, but in the future will be recognized as great acts done for the benefit of mankind. However, “the mere fact that the had to prove himself [by killing Alyona] shows that he secretly had doubts about his being a Napoleonic man, and this alone shows that he was not entitles to commit the crime” (Peace 48). It is the meek and doubtful side of Raskolnikov that pushes him to prove himself as an aggressive

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,

We see Raskolnikov’s true motives as soon as he does the “rehearsal of his project.” This stems from his desire to be different and take a new step. As he is going through the rehearsal, it is noted that he feels a sense of violence as he considers attempting the murder. Raskolnikov inadvertently set his mind on committing the murder, and does not realize that he had unconsciously came up with the idea to murder. “Now, a month later…and on the other into the street.” (3) Very soon after, Raskolnikov again feels immense guilt and remorse that he would think these kinds of things, and feels terrible that his heart is capable of considering murder as an option. “Raskolnikov went out in complete confusion…with himself to escape from his wretchedness.” (7)

Russian immigrants are normally urban in derivation. They are moderately well educated and obtain technological abilities, and normally hold martial skills. Russian criminals did not take off in their criminal careers as affiliates of juvenile street gangs in ethnic ghettos as do most in the United States. Russian organized crime groups have also participated in sophisticated crimes such as Medicaid scams, identity theft, securities-related fraud, counterfeiting, insurance fraud, and tax fraud. Russian criminals in the U.S. have neither the critical mass nor the criminal complexity to create a major local or regional threat. Membership is temporary, loosely structured, and without formal hierarchy while the Russian criminal network consists

Raskolnikov described Alyona as something that would maximize pain and shows that she hasn’t done anything that would make it have value; he uses these to prove that killing Alyona is truly going to be justified, no matter if he gets caught and goes to jail, but he will end

Throughout the story we are shown that he is not above the emotions and guilt that are the basic human reactions to an action as extreme as murder. His downfall comes because of this very fact, as he mentally and physically deteriorates under the stress of his culpability. His arrogance is proven to be the unfounded and foolhardy ideas of one who is truly a deeply insecure and unstable person (though Raskolnikov never truly realizes this).