Crime and Punishment
The young Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov, an aspiring, brilliant yet poor student lives in Russia in the early 1860's. It is late summer and Raskolnikov's poverty has forced him into lodging at a cheap dirty garret where he is already deeply indebted to his landlady, Praskovya Pavlovna. His unique views and thought process lead him to make random rants about numerous subjects such as society. These intellectual arguments lean the novel to a more tense and bitter atmosphere. He is without any close friends and cares little for his appearance or composure. Yet he has one major belief that later is shown to be the theme. This belief is based upon the idea that all crimes committed are discovered through the criminals own mishaps caused by their lack of will, ultimately he believes that a criminal conscience is their downfall. He sets to prove this theory by committing the perfect crime. He carefully plans the murder of an old cynical pawn broker, Alyona Ivanovna. Yet the events leading up to the murder, are a great influence on Raskolnikov's actions. At one point he meets an older man in a tavern who tells him off his poverty and self loathing. He explains that he had stolen the money from his wife and later his daughter, whom he ha
His crime and illness lead him to meet new characters who make him question the belief that he founded his crime upon. Then Ilya Petrovich, the assistant superintendent. And finally Zossimov, a physician who is deeply interested in Raskolnikovs present condition. Earlier while contemplating the importance of his crime he states, " So probably men lead to execution clutch mentally at every object that meets them on the way. When he meets the drunken man in the tavern he is touched with self loathing and self pity as he recognises his own poverty and willingness to demean himself and others to earn money. This belief states that criminal's, man's of lack of will is his own downfall. Yet after the murder of the pawn broker and her sister he is struck by bouts of unconsciousness and fitful sleep. Many other characters are introduced after his crime. Also Zametov, the head clerk of the police department, who is described as lowly and sultry. d been forced into prostitution, and had spent this money on alcohol. "If any one had come into his room then, he would have jumped up at once and screamed. This theme is predominant throughout the first 100 pages as Raskolnikov prepares and commits the murder of the pawn broker and her sister. Yet Raskolnikov believes he does not suffer from these mental faults and as he kills the elderly pawnbroker he recalls, " He was in full possession of his faculties, free from confusion or giddiness, but his hands where still trembling. "(pg 71) After the murder he becomes extremely paranoid yet this is only caused by his subliminal belief that his crime was not actually justified hence further supporting the theme. Thus, creating a greater margin for error.
Common topics in this essay:
Nikodim Fomitch,
Avdotya Romanovna's,
Praskovya Pavlovna,
Alyona Ivanovna,
Dostoevsky Raskolnikov's,
Romanovitch Raskolnikov,
Razuhmihin Raskolnikov's,
Ilya Petrovich,
prove theory,
pawn broker,
murder pawn broker,
pawn broker sister,
broker sister,
belief crime,
extremely compassionate,
murder pawn,
self loathing,
characters introduced,
|
Acceptance Essays
