When Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote Crime and Punishment in 1866 he had no idea that hundreds of years later, in the year of 1982, there would be a crime committed that was so similar to that described in his novel. Raskolnikov and Robert Durst, besides the difference that one is a fictional character and the stories are over a century apart, have many striking similarities. Not only do both of their conscious lead each to their inevitable doom, but both manage to escape the hands of authority several times. In the book Crime and Punishment, the main character, Raskolnikov, commits two murders. He believed that because he was superior to other humans he would have no difficulty in getting away. He did not think that he was going to be caught. Raskolnikov
…show more content…
Raskolnikov constantly found himself on the verge of confessing to his crime. He did not realize but deep inside he wanted to get caught and be recognized for the crime he committed. Just like Raskolnikov, Durst also wanted to get caught without his conscious mind realizing. He left clues for the police and even, unintentionally, brought the police to him. He left a handwritten note at the crime scene and stole a sandwich from a store even though he was arrested carrying over hundreds of dollars. When Durst was asked about his shoplifting he responded by saying "It felt like the right thing to do." This was his unconscious mind controlling his conscious behavior. Both Raskolnikov and Durst betray themselves by throwing themselves at the hands of authority. Raskolnikov and Durst unravel themselves by throwing constant clues and growing suspicion about the murders. They both represent the destructive power of guilt by confessing after all the work they put into covering the murders. In the novel Porfiry suspects Raskolnikov on the murders but is unable to do anything. Just like Porfiry, the L.A.P.D and the N.Y.P.D suspected Durst of the murders for a long time but lacked the evidence to prove the
Raskolnikov constantly found himself on the verge of confessing to his crime. He did not realize but deep inside he wanted to get caught and be recognized for the crime he committed. Just like Raskolnikov, Durst also wanted to get caught without his conscious mind realizing. He left clues for the police and even, unintentionally, brought the police to him. He left a handwritten note at the crime scene and stole a sandwich from a store even though he was arrested carrying over hundreds of dollars. When Durst was asked about his shoplifting he responded by saying "It felt like the right thing to do." This was his unconscious mind controlling his conscious behavior. Both Raskolnikov and Durst betray themselves by throwing themselves at the hands of authority. Raskolnikov and Durst unravel themselves by throwing constant clues and growing suspicion about the murders. They both represent the destructive power of guilt by confessing after all the work they put into covering the murders. In the novel Porfiry suspects Raskolnikov on the murders but is unable to do anything. Just like Porfiry, the L.A.P.D and the N.Y.P.D suspected Durst of the murders for a long time but lacked the evidence to prove the