Topic > Raskolnikov's psychological punishment in Dostoevsky's novel

IndexIntroductionSummary and charactersResolutionRepentanceMy opinion on this bookConclusionIntroductionFyodor Dostoevsky, author of the book "Crime and Punishment", describes Russia, capitalist society, the rules and laws that govern it, the cruelty of ordinary people, the perpetration of a double murder on behalf of helpless students, and the subsequent punishment for the crime. With this novel the author wants to demonstrate that crime cannot ignore punishment. Through a psychological representation of the protagonist, Raskolnikov, Dostoevsky in the novel shows that psychological punishment is much greater and more painful than any other legal punishment. This psychological torture also contains the idea of ​​this novel, that a person can avoid the punishments of society, but not the punishment of conscience, which is stronger and more terrible than any other punishment. Furthermore, since there is no justification for murder, we have no right to judge other people. Killing is never a solution to our problems when we do something like the protagonist - Raskolnikov, this is the first point where our problems begin. Everyone's life is worthy. 'Crime and Punishment' contains criminal, but also social and philosophical elements. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Dostoevsky developed a very complex, interesting and dynamic story that provides a rich picture of the social atmosphere, metropolitan and rural life, different human destinies, surprising characters, moral dilemmas and psychological breakdowns. That's why this novel contains characteristics of different types of novels. Faced with the social environment and the general picture of a society stratified on rich and poor, which is still dominated by material poverty, this is a social novel. In terms of content, given the numerous questions raised of human existence (social, political, ethical, philosophical, psychological), this is a philosophical-problematic novel. Among other things, the plot is developed and the story is conducted, the novel shows the typical features of a detective novel. According to the technique of direct internal monologue introduced by Dostoevsky in the modern novel, this is one of the best examples of a psychological novel. Finally, from the point of view of the actors of the story, given that the focus is on a personality, the protagonist Raskolnikov, whom the writer follows from chapter to chapter, who concentrates on the narration of the narrative subject and constitutes the pivot of the interior monologue, this it is a novel of characters. This richness of genre (and content) of the novel Crime and Punishment favors the consolidated vision of Fyodor Dostoevsky's romantic mastery, but on the other hand it shows that the novel is a complex narrative structure rich in content, so it is difficult, at times impossible to classify a particular novel into a specific genre. Summary and characters At the beginning, Dostoevsky introduces us to the main character: Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov. Rodion is a very handsome young man with beautiful dark eyes, dark complexion, middle-aged young man, former law student. He abandoned his studies due to the extreme poverty he found himself in at the time. Describing the life of Raskolnikov, the author presents us with the first syllable line of his work. Raskolnikov develops a theory that divides people into two groups: ordinary - who spend their lives in obedience, obeying life circumstances, and unusual - strong people, transcending norms and laws, people who are allowed to achieve their goal. Ordinary people often struggle with poverty and carry the burden of society with them, make the slightest mistake, are punished andpersecuted, and "big" people, where Napoleon is, for example, are allowed everything. He killed thousands of people, yet he was not punished, he is present as commander and emperor. We know that the “heroes” of history who committed thousands of crimes by killing innocent people are more respected than the real heroes who fought for their rights with the power of reason. Dostoevsky, through the theory of the main character, tells us that anyone who is ready to commit a crime in front of him develops a theory that justifies that crime before his conscience. Raskolnikov, with his philosophy, wants to justify his intention to kill the old lady, who according to him is a useless 'louse' who only harms people, and especially students. His money, he thinks, can be used much more efficiently. He intends to commit the crime in the name of society, that is, to return the promised items to other students and to free all students from the evil old woman. To convince himself of his idea, he goes to the old woman's apartment to put down the clock, the only souvenir of his father. He is especially angry when Alyona Ivanovna takes his watch for a small amount of money and explains to him the conditions for returning the watch, at such moments he thinks about killing, planning and looking around, but at the same time he feels both fear and disgust from everyone his thoughts. ResolutionAfter Raskolnikov kills Alyona Ivanova, he tells himself that he has behaved admirably with his perverse logic, loan sharks are so cruel that they do not deserve to live. "Crime?" he says. "What crime?" Raskolnikov is the man who will lose the ground under his feet, a man who will plunge into the depths of his consciousness and perceive his own strength and misery. The more easily the consciousness breaks, the stronger it is. It will deepen as the heart of a young social rebel, it will make him a tormented and very sad figure who, due to a completely wrong choice, will taste the darkness of existence. Wanting to do social good, by killing a cruel old woman, he will kill himself. The accidental and innocent victim of pain will burn his conscience and sink deeper into his pit. There's no way out. Although partially reassured by Sonia, he cannot reconcile his crime. He is here, present in every corner of his being, tormenting him, killing him. He is no longer seen as a man, but as a shadow left behind by his previous “self”. His conscience will require redemption for the sin committed, final confession and resolution of the case. He will have to stand before the world and say: "I am a killer!" “. The prison sentence begins with the reconciliation of his conscience and conscience. But he is aware that the scar on his soul will not erase Siberia, nor his good deeds, nor his love for Sonia. Dostoevsky, with his realistic vision of the world, broadens my horizon of thought on the society I live in today. The double murder, which should have brought him money and a comfortable life, now brings Raskolnikov only psychological problems, meekness and total distance because he cannot bear the weight of his conscience and the weight of sin. Revolt of an individualist, poisoned by the "philosophy of crime" of a man driven by the difficulties of life. Awareness of the "right" of individual rebellion turns into a crime of knowledge of sin, care of conscience and the need for confession and repentance. commit murder' and this particular feeling of guilt is his greatest punishment. Furthermore, the awareness must develop that she must accept social and legal punishment, and this is greatly helped by Sonja Marmeladova, a girl who, due to the extremely difficult family economic situation, was led into prostitution, who must.