The elements of spiritual death exhibited in Raskolnikov in Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment
             Deeply 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 entirely new level: "Now it suddenly appeared not as a dream, but in some new, menacing, and quite unfamiliar form, and he suddenly became aware of it himself (45)". His loathsome fantasy now becomes to him a dire necessity to save his sister from what he views as destitution and a sacrifice of her "moral sense and spirit (43)". Dostoevsky hints at the beginnings of oblivion and spiritual death by describing how Raskolnikov is stricken by this idea, as if it had "hit him in the head, and everything went dark before his eyes (45)".
             It is obvious how great an effect this transition has on Raskolnikov's mind state, wh...