Freudian Analysis of Sofya Semyonovna Marmeladov
Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment displays characters in a setting of poverty, many of which forfeit different aspects of their personality in order to survive. One of the characters featured within the book, Sofya Semyonovna Marmeladov, or Sonia, is a young girl who lives separately from her family for social reasons. She takes up financial responsibility for the survival of her younger siblings, her ill mother, and her alcoholic father, choosing prostitution as a form of work. Sonia’s character sacrifices aspects of her personality in favor of her morality, as shown by her interactions with others, her background, and how she perceives herself, but still functions at a high level …show more content…
On page 371, when Luzhin tries to give money to Sonia, she is taken aback by his comment about Katrina being bad with money. Her consideration for others, including Katerina when Luzhin offers her money, strengthens and inflates her superego throughout the course of the book. Sonia’s innocent nature backfires on her when Luzhin decides to frame her for robbing him. When Luzhin confronts Sonia about the money at the party, she chooses not to defend her reputation, unable to place the blame on Luzhin (389). The guests at the party insult and question Sonia’s credibility, however, she stands idle, relying completely on Katerina to clear her name for her. She clearly cares about the situation because the sense of dread on her face reflects her worry, but she still chooses not to act. The balance Thanatos and Eros explains Sonia’s behavior at the party. When confronted she is not angry or aggressive, but primarily focused with the survival of her family, meaning that the Thanatos within her is being subdued by the Eros. Sonia’s imbalance between Eros and Thanatos causes her to take a defending position because she cannot bare to accuse someone, even Luzhin, for moral
Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment displays characters in a setting of poverty, many of which forfeit different aspects of their personality in order to survive. One of the characters featured within the book, Sofya Semyonovna Marmeladov, or Sonia, is a young girl who lives separately from her family for social reasons. She takes up financial responsibility for the survival of her younger siblings, her ill mother, and her alcoholic father, choosing prostitution as a form of work. Sonia’s character sacrifices aspects of her personality in favor of her morality, as shown by her interactions with others, her background, and how she perceives herself, but still functions at a high level …show more content…
On page 371, when Luzhin tries to give money to Sonia, she is taken aback by his comment about Katrina being bad with money. Her consideration for others, including Katerina when Luzhin offers her money, strengthens and inflates her superego throughout the course of the book. Sonia’s innocent nature backfires on her when Luzhin decides to frame her for robbing him. When Luzhin confronts Sonia about the money at the party, she chooses not to defend her reputation, unable to place the blame on Luzhin (389). The guests at the party insult and question Sonia’s credibility, however, she stands idle, relying completely on Katerina to clear her name for her. She clearly cares about the situation because the sense of dread on her face reflects her worry, but she still chooses not to act. The balance Thanatos and Eros explains Sonia’s behavior at the party. When confronted she is not angry or aggressive, but primarily focused with the survival of her family, meaning that the Thanatos within her is being subdued by the Eros. Sonia’s imbalance between Eros and Thanatos causes her to take a defending position because she cannot bare to accuse someone, even Luzhin, for moral