Ideas can be both glorious and poisonous to the human soul. Though thoughts come and go freely, they often have major consequences on a person’s life. These consequences can be devastating, leading to physical and mental torment; however, people can also grow from this torment. In order to truly grow as individuals, people must realize the flaws that are often rooted in their thoughts and ideas. Society regularly uses law or force in an attempt to rehabilitate those with broken souls. However, this often proves to be unsuccessful, as it is ultimately up to the individual to take the first few steps towards rescuing themselves. Dostoevsky’s uses Porfiry in Crime and Punishment to assist and push Raskolnikov as he further develops his self awareness.
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Part of Raskolnikov wants to get away with the crime, as this will prove his pride is justified and he will escape conventional punishment. However, another part of him desperately wants to come forward and confess to his sins. His nature draws him towards confession of not only his physical sin, but his psychological sin. This need to be acknowledged as the killer is shown several times throughout the text when Raskolnikov initiates conversations with people where he introduces himself as hypothetically being the killer. Analyzing people’s reactions, Raskolnikov becomes quite irritated when others do not believe he could be capable of committing such a crime, and that he is saying these things “simply and solely in delirium” (Dostoevsky 345). This annoyance and irritation reveals Raskolnikov’s pride and need for recognition. Although Raskolnikov may be unable to pinpoint this key flaw within him, he recognized that he is disturbed in some way. Through his psychological journey, Porfiry “regard[ing] him as innocent… [beings] to frighten him” (Dostoevsky 451). Raskolnikov’s constant flocking back to Porfiry exposes his instinctive desire to be the “one to tell everything,” and suffer some sort of consequence for his thoughts and actions (Dostoevsky
Part of Raskolnikov wants to get away with the crime, as this will prove his pride is justified and he will escape conventional punishment. However, another part of him desperately wants to come forward and confess to his sins. His nature draws him towards confession of not only his physical sin, but his psychological sin. This need to be acknowledged as the killer is shown several times throughout the text when Raskolnikov initiates conversations with people where he introduces himself as hypothetically being the killer. Analyzing people’s reactions, Raskolnikov becomes quite irritated when others do not believe he could be capable of committing such a crime, and that he is saying these things “simply and solely in delirium” (Dostoevsky 345). This annoyance and irritation reveals Raskolnikov’s pride and need for recognition. Although Raskolnikov may be unable to pinpoint this key flaw within him, he recognized that he is disturbed in some way. Through his psychological journey, Porfiry “regard[ing] him as innocent… [beings] to frighten him” (Dostoevsky 451). Raskolnikov’s constant flocking back to Porfiry exposes his instinctive desire to be the “one to tell everything,” and suffer some sort of consequence for his thoughts and actions (Dostoevsky