The protagonist of Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov, commits a hideous crime: he ruthlessly kills an old moneylender, Alyona Ivanovna, and her sister Lizaveta. Alongside this event, two other stories unravel: the destiny of Sonya Marmeladov and, towards the end, that of Svidrigajlov. Sonya and Svidrigajlov constitute two complex and well-developed characters, carrying their own obstinate convictions, which will inevitably crash with those of the hero of the novel. Sonya will lead Raskolnikov towards redemption and expiation while on the other hand, Svidrigajlov, one of Sonya’s suitors, represents Raskolnikov’s corrupted double. As he constructs this intricate web of characters, Dostoevsky assigns to each one of them the role of exposing philosophical
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Analyzing Raskolnikov speech, one can be led to think that he regards himself as an extraordinary person, and when he is asked this very same question, he coldly answers that it was “quite possible” (Dostoevsky 265). In addition, Raskolnikov’s ideas resonate those of writers and thinkers antecedent to his time: his belief that crime is justifiable in the interests of the welfare of mankind or even of a single suffering individual, can be found in Schiller’s Karl Moor, Balzac’s Rastignac, Victor Hugo’s Claude Gueux and Jean Valjean and many others …show more content…
I’m not feeling well, I’m not at ease… I’ll come myself afterwards… when I can. I think of you and love… Leave me! Leave me alone! I decided on it even before… I decided on it for certain… Whatever happens to me, whether I perish or not, I want to be alone. Forget me altogether. It’s better… Don’t make inquiries about me. When need be, I’ll come myself, or… send for you. Perhaps everything will rise again! ... But for now, if you love, give… Otherwise I’ll start hating you, I feel it… Good-bye!” (Dostoevsky 313)
With these words, Raskolnikov shocks his family, leaving them dismayed. By detaching from his mother and sister, the protagonist manifests his uneasiness in regard of the current state of things. He is tormented by the awareness of his failure, and starts to perceive himself as worthless being, petty, powerless and miserable. And his torment quickly turns into desperation. As Teitelbaum affirms in his article, “Raskolnikov is a fanatic. He lives for his idea, and by the passion of his idea”. It will be his very determination and belief that will lead him directly into the jaws of
Analyzing Raskolnikov speech, one can be led to think that he regards himself as an extraordinary person, and when he is asked this very same question, he coldly answers that it was “quite possible” (Dostoevsky 265). In addition, Raskolnikov’s ideas resonate those of writers and thinkers antecedent to his time: his belief that crime is justifiable in the interests of the welfare of mankind or even of a single suffering individual, can be found in Schiller’s Karl Moor, Balzac’s Rastignac, Victor Hugo’s Claude Gueux and Jean Valjean and many others …show more content…
I’m not feeling well, I’m not at ease… I’ll come myself afterwards… when I can. I think of you and love… Leave me! Leave me alone! I decided on it even before… I decided on it for certain… Whatever happens to me, whether I perish or not, I want to be alone. Forget me altogether. It’s better… Don’t make inquiries about me. When need be, I’ll come myself, or… send for you. Perhaps everything will rise again! ... But for now, if you love, give… Otherwise I’ll start hating you, I feel it… Good-bye!” (Dostoevsky 313)
With these words, Raskolnikov shocks his family, leaving them dismayed. By detaching from his mother and sister, the protagonist manifests his uneasiness in regard of the current state of things. He is tormented by the awareness of his failure, and starts to perceive himself as worthless being, petty, powerless and miserable. And his torment quickly turns into desperation. As Teitelbaum affirms in his article, “Raskolnikov is a fanatic. He lives for his idea, and by the passion of his idea”. It will be his very determination and belief that will lead him directly into the jaws of