Crime and Punishment
Russian Writer Dostoevsky's Famous Psychological Novel about Guilt
Jul 27, 2008
The theme of Crime and Punishment centers around murde and its aftermath. Protagonist Rodion Raskolnikov, a poor and struggling student, carefully plans and carries out the murder of a hated pawnbroker to which he is in debt. He rationalizes that since the pawnbroker is evil and serves no good purpose, the murder can be justified. However, he also has the selfish motive of absolving himself from his debt from her.
At the beginning of the book, Raskolnikov intellectualizes the crime by convincing himself there are extraordinary humans who are above the law. He believes he is one of the elite, who will be able to commit the murder and escape both physical and emotional punishment.
The events of the murder spiral out of control when, in the process of the killing the pawnbroker, he is also forced to kill the pawnbroker’s sister, a simple woman that has done him no harm. The bloody murders, committed with an ax, haunt and torment him, causing him sleepless night, hallucinations and nightmares that result in physical illness. The book is filled with symbolic dreams, one of a mare who dies because men are in too much in a hurry to save the beast.
Detective Porfiry Petrovich suspects that Raskolnikov is guilty and attempts to break him down, but it is ultimately Raskolnikov’s own sense of guilt, which gnaws at him day and night ,that leads to his confession.
Raskolnikov ultimately takes moral responsibility for his actions. It is only after he turns himself in that begins to feel at peace with himself. With faithful Sonya by his side, he begins his journey toward redemption.
About the Author
In writing Crime and Punishment, Russian author Dostoevsky drew from his own life experience. He was often deeply in debt. In fact, he signed an agreement to write Crime and Punishment because he owed many creditors. He was burdened financially by his efforts to help the family of his deceased brother Mikhail and his own gambling debts.
Like so many Russian writers and artists, Dostoevsky faced oppression and suffered many hardships. His years in exile in Siberia no doubt in many ways reflect Raskolnikov’s prison experiences in the novel.
Contemporary Works with Similar Themes
Crime and Punishment set the stage for later works which also embrace the psychological aspects of crime and guilt. Many of Edgar Allen Poe’s short stories, most specifically The Tell-Tale Heart, explore the theme of guilt and confession. The novels of mystery authors Ruth Rendell,Thomas H. Cook and Patrick Mcgrath often probe the inner workings of the insane or criminal mind. In a manner very similar to Crime and Punishment, the existentialist film The Machinist explores the dark side of guilt and the effect it has on the mind and soul.
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