Comparing Dostoevsky's Crime And Puni
Perhaps in an ideal situation, Raskolnikov, the protagonist of Crime and Punishment, would be able to use the money he steals after murdering the pawnbroker to save the poor. However, 19th century St. Petersburg is not a perfect world, and Raskolnikov is not a perfect character. He is constantly bombarded by the split personalities that battle inside him, and is therefore unable to make a decision and stick with it. In the case of why he murdered the pawnbroker, there are several reasons as to why he chose to kill her. While It is certainly possible that he was looking to steal money from her, for example, either to give that money to the poor or to use it for himself, that is not the most likely conclusion. He has so little control over anything
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At numerous times in the book, he expresses doubts or regrets over decisions he just made. When he gives money to the Marmeladov family, he reflects, “What a stupid thing to have done…They have their Sonya and I need it myself”(27). Immediately after he makes a decision, he starts to doubt and second-guess that choice. To be constantly questioning himself must take a tremendous mental toll on his body, as he is always fighting within himself over whether to do something or not. Later, after reading the letter from his mother about his sister’s fiancé, Raskolnikov starts thinking “‘It won’t happen? And how are you going to keep it from happening?...Go on, think what may happen to your sister after those ten years, or during those ten years. Have you guessed?’...He kept tormenting and taunting himself with these questions”(44-45). At this point, it is clear that Raskolnikov’s multiple personalities are fighting against each other. While he wants to help his sister, the other side of him loves to torment him and make him imagine sad fates for the few people he can actually love. The use of the words “torment” and “taunt” showcase how hurtful he can be to himself, which obviously brings down his confidence. In fact, part of Raskolnikov’s name is the Russian word for split or schism, probably referencing the internal split in his mind that Raskolnikov has. The idea that one cannot control or agree with themselves on their own decisions is truly sad, and it is for this reason that Raskolnikov chooses to take back the control he craves in his life by killing the
At numerous times in the book, he expresses doubts or regrets over decisions he just made. When he gives money to the Marmeladov family, he reflects, “What a stupid thing to have done…They have their Sonya and I need it myself”(27). Immediately after he makes a decision, he starts to doubt and second-guess that choice. To be constantly questioning himself must take a tremendous mental toll on his body, as he is always fighting within himself over whether to do something or not. Later, after reading the letter from his mother about his sister’s fiancé, Raskolnikov starts thinking “‘It won’t happen? And how are you going to keep it from happening?...Go on, think what may happen to your sister after those ten years, or during those ten years. Have you guessed?’...He kept tormenting and taunting himself with these questions”(44-45). At this point, it is clear that Raskolnikov’s multiple personalities are fighting against each other. While he wants to help his sister, the other side of him loves to torment him and make him imagine sad fates for the few people he can actually love. The use of the words “torment” and “taunt” showcase how hurtful he can be to himself, which obviously brings down his confidence. In fact, part of Raskolnikov’s name is the Russian word for split or schism, probably referencing the internal split in his mind that Raskolnikov has. The idea that one cannot control or agree with themselves on their own decisions is truly sad, and it is for this reason that Raskolnikov chooses to take back the control he craves in his life by killing the