In the end she succumbs to consumption; his youngest daughter from his first marriage, named Sonia is a kind woman that ends up prostituting her body for money. The life of these women is much like the lives of many Russian women during Dostoevsky's period. Because so many were poor, they ended up prostituting or engaging in crime to help support their family or to put bread on the table (Westwood, 1993). This does not mean the women of Russia were considered unworthy of love and affection, something Dostoevsky notes in his novel. Although many would consider the actions of Sonia deplorable, the main character looks up to her, and considers her an innocent and kind-hearted woman. For this reason Raskolnikov tells her about the murder he commits, and it is this daughter that causes Raskolnikov to confess to the authorities what he did and face the penalties associated with murder. Other characters include the examiner or constable that takes charge of the murder investigation, Porfiry Petrovitch, is always on Raskolnikov's toes. He wants Raskolnikov to reform his ways to become a more upstanding person in Russian society. This idea is one familiar to Dostoevsky who lived in Russia during a time when men felt encouraged to adopt the Russian...
During the 1800s, when Dostoevsky wrote his novel, many Russian people faced poverty; many also turned to drinking or gambling as a means of passing the time and forgetting about their harsh existence (Westwood, 1993). There was a time in the author's life when Dostoevsky was considered by authorities to be a "radical" politician and thus, the government arrested him and imprisoned him in Siberia, much like the fate of the main character of the novel; he was to face the death sentence but narrowly escaped (Westwood, 1993). Dostoevsky himself experienced many deaths of close ones and loved ones; thus the concept of tormented loves or star struck lovers is a theme that was ever-present in Russian culture at the time (Westwood, 1993), perhaps one reason why Dostoevsky chooses to combine the reality of Russian life during his time with the lives of his characters.
Crime and Punishment Space and Place in Crime and Punishment Petersburg had been the capital of Russia for more than a century and a half when Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote Crime and Punishment. The capital had been established in the early part of the 18th century by Tsar Peter the Great, who, like his descendents (Catherine the Great especially), was influenced by trends in European style and philosophical thought. With the liberation of
First, the old pawnbroker may be viewed an evil person who is actually harming society by her vile and cynical grasp on the poor citizens who come to her for pawning. According to Hegel, any harmful segment of society should be removed. Therefore, Raskolnikov reasoned that by murdering the old pawnbroker, he would be removing a harmful thing from society. Next, Hegel believed that the ends justified the means, i.e., if
There is a certain duality in the novel even concerning the concept of morality itself. It is somewhat ironic that, although Dostoevsky seems to suggest that a pure faith is more useful than a muddied philosophy, he uses Crime and Punishment to elucidate his own philosophy of morality through the various contrasting events in the novel that explore the topic. Morality seems to be determined by motive far more than
Crime and Punishment Acutely aware of and deeply concerned about Russia's social, political, and economic problems, Fedor Dostoevsky infused his literature with realism and philosophical commentary. Crime and Punishment, besides being a superbly crafted novel, captures the economic despair that characterized life in Russia before the revolution. Dosteovsky's novel serves as a historical marker that delineates the social, political, and economic motivators for the Russian Revolution. Through the minds of the
Miller's Crossing gives the best example of the "ethics" of the crime film genre -- beginning as it does with the classic speech delivered by Giovanni Gasparo: "I'm talkin' about friendship -- I'm talkin' about character -- I'm talkin' about -- hell, Leo, I ain't embarrassed to use the word: I'm talkin' about ethics…" The film, of course, is full of characters whose actions are shady and unethical -- but
Razumikhin Serves as Raskolonikov's Foil In Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Crime And Punishment; However, There Are Other Foils Present In The Book Differences between seeing life Raskolinokov's view Razmumikhin's view How each man describes each other Similarities between Razumihin and Raskolonikov Differences between treatment of friendship Differences in the symbolism of the names Other foils to Raskolonikov Svidrigailov Raskolonikov's conscience and intellect All other characters Razumikhin and Raskolonikov Razumikhin serves as Raskolonikov's foil in Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment; however there are other foils present
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