What aspect of the criminal mind sets apart a cold-blooded killer from the rest of the population? One major point of separation between these two types of people is the ability of a true murderer to distance themselves mentally and emotionally from their deed. Fyodor Dostoevsky's explores this distinctive characteristic in depth through his novel Crime and Punishment, in which Raskolnikov's sense of guilt indicates his inability to separate himself from his crime. Raskolnikov's sense of guilt prevents him from being a true murderer, Raskolnikov's physical illness, his desire to be caught, and his self-punishment are manifestations of Raskolnikov's guilt.
Raskolnikov's physical illness following the murder is a manifestation of his guilt. …show more content…
After the murder, Raskolnikov's mental illness acts as his own form ofself-punishment, constantly reminding him of what he had done. He sees his guilt everywhere, for example: "here a strange thought came into his head: perhaps all his clothes were covered with blood, perhaps there were stains all over them, and he simply did not see, did not notice them, because his reason was failing, going to pieces..."(91) Raskolnikov's paranoia about the blood, a strong physical tie to his guilt, confirms that his strong feelings guilt are eating away at him. While a true murderer may be concerned about being caught, Raskolnikov's concerns seem beyond that which would be displayed by a true murderer. He hallucinates that the physical evidence of his crime covers him and he cannot remove traces of it, showing how he cannot purify himself of the blood of his victims. Raskolnikov himself even realizes how he is punishing himself saying, "I've tormented and tortured myself, without knowing myself what I'm doing I'll get well and stop torturing myself... And what if never get well? Lord! I'm so tired of it all (110). Raskolnikov become conscious of how he has been punishing himself for his crimes. He is acutely aware of his guilt although he unsuccessfully tries to justify his actions. Unlike a true criminal who would evade punishment and justice for their actions, Raskolnikov goes beyond making unconscious slips that would allow …show more content…
This sense of guilt is evidenced by his physical symptoms, his desire for penance, and his self-inflicted torment over the act he committed. All of these examples show how he is incapable of separating himself from the crimes he committed in the method of cold-blooded murder He cannot disconnect himself from what he's done, not can he justify his actions to himself Although he tries to do so when he confesses to Dunya and Sofya, this rationalization is inadequate to quell his personal guilt. But how can one truly rationalize an act of cold-blooded murder to themselves? surely, there seems to be an unhealthy disconnect in the mind of a true murderer that is not present within
Raskolnikov's physical illness following the murder is a manifestation of his guilt. …show more content…
After the murder, Raskolnikov's mental illness acts as his own form ofself-punishment, constantly reminding him of what he had done. He sees his guilt everywhere, for example: "here a strange thought came into his head: perhaps all his clothes were covered with blood, perhaps there were stains all over them, and he simply did not see, did not notice them, because his reason was failing, going to pieces..."(91) Raskolnikov's paranoia about the blood, a strong physical tie to his guilt, confirms that his strong feelings guilt are eating away at him. While a true murderer may be concerned about being caught, Raskolnikov's concerns seem beyond that which would be displayed by a true murderer. He hallucinates that the physical evidence of his crime covers him and he cannot remove traces of it, showing how he cannot purify himself of the blood of his victims. Raskolnikov himself even realizes how he is punishing himself saying, "I've tormented and tortured myself, without knowing myself what I'm doing I'll get well and stop torturing myself... And what if never get well? Lord! I'm so tired of it all (110). Raskolnikov become conscious of how he has been punishing himself for his crimes. He is acutely aware of his guilt although he unsuccessfully tries to justify his actions. Unlike a true criminal who would evade punishment and justice for their actions, Raskolnikov goes beyond making unconscious slips that would allow …show more content…
This sense of guilt is evidenced by his physical symptoms, his desire for penance, and his self-inflicted torment over the act he committed. All of these examples show how he is incapable of separating himself from the crimes he committed in the method of cold-blooded murder He cannot disconnect himself from what he's done, not can he justify his actions to himself Although he tries to do so when he confesses to Dunya and Sofya, this rationalization is inadequate to quell his personal guilt. But how can one truly rationalize an act of cold-blooded murder to themselves? surely, there seems to be an unhealthy disconnect in the mind of a true murderer that is not present within