Ambiguity In Crime And Punishment By Dostoyevsky

Raskolnikov is a man who believes that he is above morality, and that he can justify committing murder based on his own moral beliefs. He believes that the ends justify the means, and that the murder of the pawnbroker will ultimately lead to a greater good. However, as the novel progresses, Raskolnikov's guilt and conscience begin to catch up with him, leading him to become increasingly morally corrupt. He becomes paranoid and isolated, consumed by his own guilt and fear of being caught. The novel illustrates the destructive effects of moral corruption, as Raskolnikov's actions lead to his downfall.

Before he had isolated himself by choice, but now it’s as if he doesn’t have an option anymore. Raskolnikov has done something so wrong that he no longer feels like a member of humanity, which is why he specifies a “human word”. Raskolnikov’s guilt comes from the need to rejoin society. That is why his guilt fluctuates so much, but becomes much worse when his rationale for the murder is put into question. In part 3 chapter 6, Raskolnikov has a dream, in which he tries to kill Alyona but fails and she laughs at him.

“I want to forgive. I want to embrace. I don’t want more suffering.” said Ivan to his brother Alyosha after reflecting on the unjust evil innocents face because of humanity’s sinful actions. Ivan’s words shed light to the idea of idealism versus reality. Realizing that cruelty is present in the lives of the most innocent, lead me to assert that evil is a real problem as it intervenes between the harmonic and idealistic view that the world consists of genuine, good people.

Dostoyevski’s Use of Water To Symbolize Salvation during Raskolnikov’s Suffering In Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, suffering is a significant theme throughout the novel, as Raskolnikov goes through a lot of suffering from the sinful act of murdering the greedy pawnbroker Alyona and her step-sister Lizaveta. As Raskolnikov faces the consequences of his sinful crime, he is faced with a great deal of mental and physical suffering including mental torment, delusion, and illness. The novel's use of suffering is influenced by Dostoyevski’s personal beliefs in Russian Orthodox Christianity that suffering is inevitable and the consequences of human sins against God, and to redeem yourself from the sin you must suffer in union with God. Which Raskolnikov is shown to do at the end of the novel when he confesses to his crime. Another significant motif used in the novel is water, which is

All I managed to do was kill (III. IV).” Raskolnikov cannot suppress the force of guilt weighing upon his conscience, and ultimately confesses his complicity in the crime to the police. Seeking to operate outside the confines of his conscience and societal law, Raskolnikov is driven to madness by the impossibility of his quest—cruelty simply cannot be countenanced so long as it remains in opposition to social

Raskolnikov 's act of violence is what causes him to go insane, impacts the lives of the people around him, and finally violence is Raskolnikov’s way of proving himself as an above-average individual. Dostoyevsky used violence to change the course of not only Raskolnikov’s life but also the lives of the people around him. The story shows how one man 's image of himself as a higher being can cause him to commit violent acts, which impact everyone around

Raskolnikov is a very intelligent, prideful man, So much so that the very thought of leaving his house in tattered clothes made him anxious. Raskolnikov also refuses to go to his tutoring job because of this. despite these facts, Raskolnikov has little care for the people and the world around him believing himself to be above them because of his intelligence.

After his double of Aliona and Lizabeta Ivanovna, he was no longer able to feel the same inspiration he felt before. He had hoped to find relief in looking at the scenery that had given him inspiration, but his heart had changed from the burden of his guilt. From the realization of his guilty conscience, Raskolnikov felt pain. Raskolnikov’s conscience knew he had commited a crime, and his conscience wouldn’t allow a sinner like him to enjoy the simple wonders of life

Raskolnikov’s ability or inability to navigate through St. Petersburg directly correlates with his present mental stability. When he feels confident and clear-minded, he walks from location to location exactly as he intends and the rambling streets do not impede him. The opposite is true when he feels out of control. In another instance, Raskolnikov makes the semi-conscious decision to avoid going to the police station: “having reached his first turn, he stopped, thought, went down the side street, and made a detour through two more streets — perhaps without any purpose, or perhaps to delay for at least another minute and gain time.” Here, the turns and alleys of St.

Raskolnikov shows his ambiguous morality with almost everything he does. Prior to murdering the pawnbroker and her sister, he thought he would be able to keep it together and stay calm. Right after, and even while committing the murder, he starts to become paranoid and restless. Throughout the novel, Raskolnikov goes through phases where he switches from being in a conscious state, into a state of unconsciousness. Raskolnikov is also a very forgetful person, but also tends to overthink things, which contrasts and could/does make him paranoid about his crimes and the thought of others finding out.

Crime and Punishment used great use of the Marxist Theory. While the bourgeois earned value through overpowering the lower class. This novel best embodies the Marxist Theory because it is a proclamation of a proletariat, being Raskolnikov is not is the right place in society, struggling from deep poverty and craves the fighting against the common good in society. Johnson 2 As Alyona in Crime and Punishment

He strikingly uncovers his convictions about governmental issues through the primary character's activities. The message of the story spins around the wide thought of Utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is an idea in light of helping out more joy as opposed to individual or restricted bliss. Raskolnikov carrying out his killings mirrors this view by him trusting that his wrongdoing would be better for the world, “A hundred thousand good deeds could be done and helped, on that old women’s money…Kill her, take her money and with the help of it devote oneself to the service of humanity and the good

The main character of Crime and Punishment relies heavily on his own theory which pushes him above normal social consequences. This is further explained by Uwamsoba in her article analyzing the socio-psychological aspect of Crime and Punishment as she discusses the Raskolnikov’s delusions, “We discover a direct and obvious source of Raskolnikov’s notion of inferior and superior men; the superior ones having the right to commit breaches of morality while the inferior ones are obliged to

Raskolnikov’s accumulating debt owed to his landlord prevents him from moving outside of Saint Petersburg and causes massive emotional damage. Each time he leaves his apartment, he fears seeing his landlady, The stress and anxiety arising from the debt he owes to his landlord causes him to become unruly and he had, “fallen into a state of nervous depression akin to hypochondria,” feeding into his detachment from society. Not only does Raskolnikov’s living situation seem grim, but his room itself furthers his emotional detachment from society. Raskolnikov’s room allows him to dehumanize himself.

Dostoevsky reveals the complexity of Raskolnikov character by showing us how quickly his treatment of a person changes. Raskolnikov is a cautious person, but he is also extremely immature and sensitive. He will help someone in need if it will prevent a crime, but if the person expresses that they don't need or want help, or insults him in any way, he will turn on them and hope for the worst possible outcome. Raskolnikov, at first attempts to help the young lady who was staggering along the street.