Crime and Punishment
The elements of spiritual death exhibited in Raskolnikov in Dostoevsky's Crime and PunishmentDeeply tormented by the long-accumulated anguish for the "fantastic question" in his mind, Raskolnikov, the protagonist in Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, cries: "[I must]...renounce life altogether! Accept fate obediently as it is, once and for all, and stifle everything in myself, renouncing any right to act, to live, to love! (45)" Here we see that Raskolnikov understands the dire consequences of his plan and knows that, to act upon his scheme would ultimately mean to relinquish his "right" to live. Indeed, as he continues to struggle with his decision, Raskolnikov exhibits many symptoms of spiritual death, which are greatly intensified after committing the murder, cleverly exhibited in his frequent monologues and in Dostoevsky's narration of the physical manifestations of Raskolnikov's pained psyche. In his descent into spiritual ruin, the first transition occurs when Raskolnikov receives his mother's letter informing him of Dunya's engagement, which he sees as an inexcusable act of self-sacrifice, and vows to prevent it at all costs. At this point, Raskolnikov's fantasy of murdering the pawn-broker has developed to an entirel
As he commits the murder, he finds himself growing increasingly weak, feeling his hands "growing more and more numb and stiff every moment (76)", which may again be associated with death, deepened by a sense of absentmindedness and "revery, [which] began gradually to take possession of him (80)". This transition takes place upon overhearing a conversation in which he learns of an opportune moment to commit the crime, and continues when he hears a discussion between two students about the evil nature of Alyona Ivanova. Horrified, he convinces himself he would never dare carry out his plans of murder and begs to God to guide him: "Lord!. show me my way; I renounce this cursed dream of mine! (60)". In his delirium, Raskolnikov also takes on numerous physical manifestations of his expiring mental state, which deteriorates substantially as the story unfolds. The scenario in which Raskolnikov prepares for and commits the murder is symbolic of his own death, and is later reflected upon once again toward the end of the novel as such. [I feel] seriously burdened by them! Why did you seek me out at the start of my illness? Maybe I would have been quite happy to die. After the murder, it seems that Raskolnikov is indeed deprived of his ability to "act, to live, to love" as a human being, in the way he distances himself from the care of others, particularly from that of his friend Razumikhin and his mother and sister, perhaps by a feeling of undeserving and inhumanness after what he has done. it was no longer possible for him to talk at all, with anyone, about anything, ever (229)".
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