The Underlying Theme in Crime and Punishment and The Stranger Both The Stranger by Albert Camus and Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky explore the criminal mind and its psyche. Each novel addresses the spectrum of emotions an individual deals with within their mind after committing a murder. Both books are centered on one criminal act that allows the reader to delve into the thought process of a convicted murderer, each varying from one another. In The Stranger, Meursault is seen as a static character while in contrast Raskolnikov from Crime and Punishment is seen as a dynamic character. Though each have different philosophies and motives for their actions both protagonists carry out an underlying theme in each novel, that being
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In both The Stranger and Crime and Punishment a cross is brought out to try and encourage redemption and the idea to turn to God. “ ‘We will go to suffer together, and together we will bear our cross’” (Dostoyevsky 332). Specifically in Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov receives the cross from Sonya. This cross represents not that he has completely achieved forgiveness and redemption for his actions but that he has the potential to get to that point. Also it represents the suffering that he has gone through and will continue to go through until he has repented and confessed. In The Stranger a crucifix is presented to Meursault during a questioning from the magistrate judge. Meursault completely denies it and its basis because it goes against everything he has come to believe about life. Meursault completely rejects the principles of order and rationality by rejecting the crucifix because that’s the image it presents within the Christian faith. In this novel it can even be analyzed farther by saying this is not only Meursault’s rejection of Christian order and beliefs, but on all systems of beliefs and order, causing him to be some one full of vice and a threat to society. Lastly, a second religious symbol is seen in Crime and Punishment and it’s the story of Lazarus. This is symbolic to Raskolnikov because he will mimic what happened to Lazarus, by being …show more content…
A character foil is someone else in the story that directly contrasts the main character to highlight his main traits. Meursault in The Stranger is shown as an emotionally detached man who is one of vice. These qualities are really highlighted at Mamans’ funeral when her lover, Perez, was there. Perez exhibits virtuous qualities and shows love and loyalty to Maman even though he’s only known her a short time. “Big tears of frustration and exhaustion were streaming down his cheeks” (Camus 18). Perez struggled very much during the procession due to his health; he fainted, he cried and continuously got left behind and had to catch up to the group. Perez exhibits such emotion toward Mamans death that we don’t see at all within Meursault, who is shown drinking coffee and smoking. “The woman kept on crying. It surprised me, because I didn’t know who she was. I wished I didn’t have to listen to her anymore” (Camus 10). Meursault seems to just be there because he has to. In reality he wasn’t involved in Mamans life to even know her close friends and he didn’t care to; Meursault however shows he got more irritated by her service rather then upset. Raskolnikov in the beginning of Crime and Punishment shows qualities of vice and madness. Razumikhin shows to be the direct character foil of Raskolnikov. This is due to the fact that both men were in similar situations of being ex students but Razumikhin took
In both The Stranger and Crime and Punishment a cross is brought out to try and encourage redemption and the idea to turn to God. “ ‘We will go to suffer together, and together we will bear our cross’” (Dostoyevsky 332). Specifically in Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov receives the cross from Sonya. This cross represents not that he has completely achieved forgiveness and redemption for his actions but that he has the potential to get to that point. Also it represents the suffering that he has gone through and will continue to go through until he has repented and confessed. In The Stranger a crucifix is presented to Meursault during a questioning from the magistrate judge. Meursault completely denies it and its basis because it goes against everything he has come to believe about life. Meursault completely rejects the principles of order and rationality by rejecting the crucifix because that’s the image it presents within the Christian faith. In this novel it can even be analyzed farther by saying this is not only Meursault’s rejection of Christian order and beliefs, but on all systems of beliefs and order, causing him to be some one full of vice and a threat to society. Lastly, a second religious symbol is seen in Crime and Punishment and it’s the story of Lazarus. This is symbolic to Raskolnikov because he will mimic what happened to Lazarus, by being …show more content…
A character foil is someone else in the story that directly contrasts the main character to highlight his main traits. Meursault in The Stranger is shown as an emotionally detached man who is one of vice. These qualities are really highlighted at Mamans’ funeral when her lover, Perez, was there. Perez exhibits virtuous qualities and shows love and loyalty to Maman even though he’s only known her a short time. “Big tears of frustration and exhaustion were streaming down his cheeks” (Camus 18). Perez struggled very much during the procession due to his health; he fainted, he cried and continuously got left behind and had to catch up to the group. Perez exhibits such emotion toward Mamans death that we don’t see at all within Meursault, who is shown drinking coffee and smoking. “The woman kept on crying. It surprised me, because I didn’t know who she was. I wished I didn’t have to listen to her anymore” (Camus 10). Meursault seems to just be there because he has to. In reality he wasn’t involved in Mamans life to even know her close friends and he didn’t care to; Meursault however shows he got more irritated by her service rather then upset. Raskolnikov in the beginning of Crime and Punishment shows qualities of vice and madness. Razumikhin shows to be the direct character foil of Raskolnikov. This is due to the fact that both men were in similar situations of being ex students but Razumikhin took