Crime And Punishment Rhetorical Analysis Essay

In this excerpt from Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoevsky expresses different emotions and conflicts of his main character, Raskolnikov, as he questions and condemns the wicked ways of man. Dostoevsky describes the inner turmoil of Raskolnikov, who wishes to help those in need, but his experiences with mankind’s corruption has strayed him to his current belief: no amount of sacrifice can lessen impoverishment, suffering, nor vice. This passage reveals Raskolnikov’s utter disgust with not only the brute who’s trying to pursue the young girl, but society’s justification towards why a percentage of the people are inevitably destined to misfortune. Dostoevsky interprets Raskolnikov’s conflicts with the use of diction, tone, and rhetorical questions. …show more content…
While trying to find a way to escort the young girl back to safety, Raskolnikov has a sudden realization that said to have brought complete ‘revulsion’ over him. This word is used to describe his awareness that the sacrifice of his twenty kopecks would benefit no one except for the policeman who, in Raskolnikov’s words, will later take more money to turn a blind eye towards this crime.The word ‘revulsion’ implies loathing and repulsion, which portrays Raskolnikov’s disgust towards this demoralization. Dostoevsky also uses the word ‘wretched’ to depict the state of agony he’s come to, all because of his futile sacrifices and inability to help the girl. He soon pities the girl and envisions her ill-fated end. ‘Wretched’ is described as depression and hopelessness. Dostoevsky uses this word to describe Raskolnikov’s state of discouragement, due to his understanding that the girl was forever bound to misery until death. The diction used in this excerpt supports Raskolnikov’s complex