Despite the difference in status from King Lear, Katerina’s low status, pride, and ambition in Crime and Punishment also enables her to gain a new understanding of herself. The first instance of Katerina’s pride and descent into downfall is when she abusively attacks the people around her. Although she may be able to justify her actions because of Marmeladov's destruction within the family, she takes the same brutal and aggressive attitude as Svidrigailov. Katerina’s attempt to use physical violence on her children in response to her destroyed life reveals her belief that her life should be better. It is from this viewpoint that forms the foundations of Katerina’s character and pride. An important scene where this pride is revealed is during Marmeladov’s funeral where
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Within this scene, pride definitely plays a domineering role on Katerina, causing her to use all of the money Raskolnikov gave to them to show society that their family was “not only in no way worse than they, but maybe even much better” (Dostoevsky 378). Instead of using the money to meet their basic necessity in their impoverished life, Katerina succumbs to her pride and reveals her conviction that she is superior to the people around her. Constantly Katerina reminds the people around her of her status and her importance. However, when more and more people reject and leave her, Katerina regretfully fall into a state of utter desperation and insanity that results in her death. From her digression from a normal functional person to one who barely can stay sensible, the readers can see not only how pride is so important to Katerina but also its destruction on Katerina’s life. The slow progression of Marmeladov’s death, Luzhin attacking her and Sonya, and the rejection of society forces Katerina into a complete
Within this scene, pride definitely plays a domineering role on Katerina, causing her to use all of the money Raskolnikov gave to them to show society that their family was “not only in no way worse than they, but maybe even much better” (Dostoevsky 378). Instead of using the money to meet their basic necessity in their impoverished life, Katerina succumbs to her pride and reveals her conviction that she is superior to the people around her. Constantly Katerina reminds the people around her of her status and her importance. However, when more and more people reject and leave her, Katerina regretfully fall into a state of utter desperation and insanity that results in her death. From her digression from a normal functional person to one who barely can stay sensible, the readers can see not only how pride is so important to Katerina but also its destruction on Katerina’s life. The slow progression of Marmeladov’s death, Luzhin attacking her and Sonya, and the rejection of society forces Katerina into a complete