Can morality be purely subjective to the perspective of an individual? Fyodor Dostoevsky explores this idea through the protagonist Rodion Raskolnikov, in the novel Crime and Punishment. “I simply hinted that an extraordinary man has the right… that is not an official right, but an inner right to decide his own conscience to overstep… certain obstacles, and only in case it is essential for the practical fulfillment of his idea (sometimes, perhaps, of benefit to the whole of humanity)”(Dostoevsky 260). This captures the main concept that is analyzed throughout Crime and Punishment, along with Raskolnikov's interpretation of it. He believes himself to be exceptional, with the right to murder an old pawnbroker that is a parasite to society. Raskolnikov's
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Due to the fact that he views himself as a superior being, Raskolnikov believes he has the right to murder the pawnbroker, but after doing so he is consumed by a guilty conscience and starts to rethink his superiority. Raskolnikov becomes unwilling to accept the fact that he might not be extraordinary, so he constantly tries to convince himself that the murder was justified. In this part of Crime and Punishment Raskolnikov represents the ideals of Nihilism and Utilitarianism. His relation to Nihilism makes him reject all meaning in life and create his own moral code, which leads him to carry out the murder. He doesn’t value family or relationships, and he rejects values and emotions. His Utilitarian principles convince him that if he murders the woman it will only be beneficial to society, and that her sole purpose is harming the poor customers that come to her. “The old woman was nearly a sickness... I was in a hurry to step over... it wasn’t a human being I killed, it was a principal! So I killed the principle, but I didn’t step over, I stayed on this side... All I managed to do was kill”(274). This quote represents his interpretation of good and bad, along with justification of certain crimes. Raskolnikov wants to believe that he is an exceptional being, but the quote itself proves he isn’t able to escape his …show more content…
After he commits the crime, he is troubled deeply with his actions and he becomes sick. Raskolnikov is trapped by his conscience, and he isn't able to free himself until he can find meaning in his life. Dostoevsky strives to discredit the theory of a superior being by showing how much it can make one suffer and lead to destruction. I believe it is vital for this theory to be discussed and explored, because there are many layers to it. However in my opinion, interfering with the fate of others is something no one else should have control over. If everyone is able to consider themselves an exceptional being and create a unique moral code, good and evil become relative, and that is why we need universal
Due to the fact that he views himself as a superior being, Raskolnikov believes he has the right to murder the pawnbroker, but after doing so he is consumed by a guilty conscience and starts to rethink his superiority. Raskolnikov becomes unwilling to accept the fact that he might not be extraordinary, so he constantly tries to convince himself that the murder was justified. In this part of Crime and Punishment Raskolnikov represents the ideals of Nihilism and Utilitarianism. His relation to Nihilism makes him reject all meaning in life and create his own moral code, which leads him to carry out the murder. He doesn’t value family or relationships, and he rejects values and emotions. His Utilitarian principles convince him that if he murders the woman it will only be beneficial to society, and that her sole purpose is harming the poor customers that come to her. “The old woman was nearly a sickness... I was in a hurry to step over... it wasn’t a human being I killed, it was a principal! So I killed the principle, but I didn’t step over, I stayed on this side... All I managed to do was kill”(274). This quote represents his interpretation of good and bad, along with justification of certain crimes. Raskolnikov wants to believe that he is an exceptional being, but the quote itself proves he isn’t able to escape his …show more content…
After he commits the crime, he is troubled deeply with his actions and he becomes sick. Raskolnikov is trapped by his conscience, and he isn't able to free himself until he can find meaning in his life. Dostoevsky strives to discredit the theory of a superior being by showing how much it can make one suffer and lead to destruction. I believe it is vital for this theory to be discussed and explored, because there are many layers to it. However in my opinion, interfering with the fate of others is something no one else should have control over. If everyone is able to consider themselves an exceptional being and create a unique moral code, good and evil become relative, and that is why we need universal