For the longevity of world history, women have been forced to take on many roles and occupations. In recent years, women have broken standard gender roles and crafted a life that is one hundred percent their own. However, in Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment, published in 1866, women are making lives of their own and becoming the providers in their households. Dostoyevsky crafted female characters that make sacrifices to provide for their loved ones. Dostoyevsky’s characters, especially Sonia, have broken many gender roles, and the men of the story have become dependent on Sonia due to her actions.
From the beginning of the story, we were aware that Sonia was quite the selfless character. In Marmeladov’s drunken rant to Raskolnikov, …show more content…
The first time Raskolnikov visits Sonia at her apartment, he is quite rude to her. After he murdered Lizaveta and Aliona, he became a miserable criminal, and that is what he labeled Sonia as. He said, “You live in this muck that you hate… Wouldn’t it have been better, a thousand times more ‘right’--and more clever, too--if you’d gone and jumped in the river and ended everything at once!” (315). Sonia thought many times of killing herself, so she understood his cruel suggestion. However, this may seem contradictory of the previous statement of his dependency on Sonia, but it appears this was Raskolnikov finding an outlet for the misery he created for himself, and Sonia knew that Raskolnikov was “terribly, infinitely unhappy” (321). It also seems as if this was the point in Sonia and Raskolnikov’s relationship where they grew closer because this was when Raskolnikov declared, “You are all I have now. Let’s go together” (321). After only days of knowing each other, Raskolnikov found a sense of need for Sonia in his life; it may have been a selfish need, but it also seemed as if Raskolnikov was looking out for Sonia when he said, “Haven’t you done the same? You, too, have transgressed…. If you’re alone, you’ll go out of your mind, like me. You behave as though you’re mad already, so we have to go the same way together” (322). Transgression is one thing Sonia and Raskolnikov certainly have in common, …show more content…
She has more freedom and control of her life than many would imagine a woman from the 1800s having. She may have freedom and control, but she hasn’t always. Sonia’s life has been full of struggles. Her father was a raging alcoholic, her stepmother became extremely ill, and her younger step-siblings became orphans, but she used those struggles to create a life of stability for her family and herself. Prostitution is certainly not the most acclaimed profession, but Sonia did what she had to do. She set aside her pride so she could provide for her loved ones. That was one of the most selfless things she could have done. She became her family’s backbone, and Raskolnikov’s by pushing him toward a better version of herself. Dostoyevsky crafted one of the most dependable, selfless female
From the beginning of the story, we were aware that Sonia was quite the selfless character. In Marmeladov’s drunken rant to Raskolnikov, …show more content…
The first time Raskolnikov visits Sonia at her apartment, he is quite rude to her. After he murdered Lizaveta and Aliona, he became a miserable criminal, and that is what he labeled Sonia as. He said, “You live in this muck that you hate… Wouldn’t it have been better, a thousand times more ‘right’--and more clever, too--if you’d gone and jumped in the river and ended everything at once!” (315). Sonia thought many times of killing herself, so she understood his cruel suggestion. However, this may seem contradictory of the previous statement of his dependency on Sonia, but it appears this was Raskolnikov finding an outlet for the misery he created for himself, and Sonia knew that Raskolnikov was “terribly, infinitely unhappy” (321). It also seems as if this was the point in Sonia and Raskolnikov’s relationship where they grew closer because this was when Raskolnikov declared, “You are all I have now. Let’s go together” (321). After only days of knowing each other, Raskolnikov found a sense of need for Sonia in his life; it may have been a selfish need, but it also seemed as if Raskolnikov was looking out for Sonia when he said, “Haven’t you done the same? You, too, have transgressed…. If you’re alone, you’ll go out of your mind, like me. You behave as though you’re mad already, so we have to go the same way together” (322). Transgression is one thing Sonia and Raskolnikov certainly have in common, …show more content…
She has more freedom and control of her life than many would imagine a woman from the 1800s having. She may have freedom and control, but she hasn’t always. Sonia’s life has been full of struggles. Her father was a raging alcoholic, her stepmother became extremely ill, and her younger step-siblings became orphans, but she used those struggles to create a life of stability for her family and herself. Prostitution is certainly not the most acclaimed profession, but Sonia did what she had to do. She set aside her pride so she could provide for her loved ones. That was one of the most selfless things she could have done. She became her family’s backbone, and Raskolnikov’s by pushing him toward a better version of herself. Dostoyevsky crafted one of the most dependable, selfless female