Dostoevsky: Crime and Nothingness Prevailing nothingness and the rejection of moral and religious beliefs, a tide of nihilism swept through Russia in the midst of the nineteenth century. This disintegration of morality became synonymous with revolution, associated with the regicide of Tsar Alexander II and the political terror of those who opposed absolutism. Nikolay Chernyshevsky, viewing the idea of divorcing traditional values as a transformation of national thought, he illuminated the positive aspects of nihilism in his work What is to be Done. Conversely, Fyodor Dostoevsky who had converted to Christian Orthodoxy during his time in Siberia was not sympathetic to the nihilist movement and released Crime and Punishment as a platform for …show more content…
Raskolnikov’s name itself stems from raskol which means schism or split. This split occurs within Raskolnikov: his hyper-rational views greatly conflict the inherent human emotional tendencies. Moreover, this literary split can be removed from the pages and applied to the societal clash in Russia during which nihilism became a revolutionary frame of thought, contrasting with traditional relevance of morality. There also is a split prevalent between Raskolnikov and society which may also serve as a warning that nihilism would fail to be grasped by the general populace, thus separating nihilists from the majority. Since humans have an innate need for connection and interaction, nihilism would deprive its believers of needed interdependence. In addition, Dostoevsky constructed Raskolnikov’s “extraordinary man theory” as an exaggerated form of nihilism. Raskolnikov views right and wrong as pure, distorted social constructs that are shadows of religion. He believes that those who are “extraordinary” have the right to violate the law, otherwise society would fall into stagnation; consequently, he murders the pawnbroker on the premise that this act will be beneficial to progress. However, after committing the crime, Raskolnikov
Raskolnikov is a man who believes that he is above morality, and that he can justify committing murder based on his own moral beliefs. He believes that the ends justify the means, and that the murder of the pawnbroker will ultimately lead to a greater good. However, as the novel progresses, Raskolnikov's guilt and conscience begin to catch up with him, leading him to become increasingly morally corrupt. He becomes paranoid and isolated, consumed by his own guilt and fear of being caught. The novel illustrates the destructive effects of moral corruption, as Raskolnikov's actions lead to his downfall.
1. The two sides of the debates in Dostoevsky’s “The Grand Inquisitor” are who can handle freedom the most. Christ gave human beings the freedom to choose weather or not to follow him, but almost no one is strong enough to be faithful and those who are not will be cursed forever. The Grand Inquisitor says that Christ should have given people no choice, and instead taken power and given people no choice, and instead taken power and given people redemption instead of freedom. So that the same people who were to scared to succeed Christ to begin with would still be stuck, but at least they could have joy and security on earth, rather than the impossible burden of moral freedom.
Before he had isolated himself by choice, but now it’s as if he doesn’t have an option anymore. Raskolnikov has done something so wrong that he no longer feels like a member of humanity, which is why he specifies a “human word”. Raskolnikov’s guilt comes from the need to rejoin society. That is why his guilt fluctuates so much, but becomes much worse when his rationale for the murder is put into question. In part 3 chapter 6, Raskolnikov has a dream, in which he tries to kill Alyona but fails and she laughs at him.
In the novel existentialism and isolationism are interpreted through different writing styles, personal taste of the the translator, historical and social context, as well as Dostoevsky’s personal views and experiences. Notes from Underground can be interpreted in many different ways. Some find it tragic, some find it funny. It can be difficult to say what tone the novel is intended to have. Escpecially when translations of the novel can differ so greatly.
Raskolnikov 's act of violence is what causes him to go insane, impacts the lives of the people around him, and finally violence is Raskolnikov’s way of proving himself as an above-average individual. Dostoyevsky used violence to change the course of not only Raskolnikov’s life but also the lives of the people around him. The story shows how one man 's image of himself as a higher being can cause him to commit violent acts, which impact everyone around
Raskolnikov is a very intelligent, prideful man, So much so that the very thought of leaving his house in tattered clothes made him anxious. Raskolnikov also refuses to go to his tutoring job because of this. despite these facts, Raskolnikov has little care for the people and the world around him believing himself to be above them because of his intelligence.
Meanwhile, Raskolnikov is afflicted by the drama of his sister’s engagement to an atrocious wealthy man in order to financially support their family. As Raskolnikov shifts between guilt, pride, and indifference, his already distraught mental state is disconcerted by the opinions of those who surround him. Not only do his mother and sister complicate his mental state, he is overshadowed by his well natured best friend, Razumihin, who acts admirably considering he is equally as
This clearly proves the existence of nihilism in political ideologies, where he believed that all that which existed in the past including knowledge is pointless and is an obstruction for a better future. Another brief explanation of the nihilism that existed in society was summed up in a statement stated by a leading Russian Nihilist Dmitri Pisarev: “Here is the ultimatum of our camp. What can be smashed must be smashed; whatever will stand the blow is sound, what flies into smithereens is rubbish; at any rate, hit out right and left, no harm will or can come of it”. In Russia, nihilism became identified as an organised revolutionary movement (1860-1917) that rejected the authority of the state, church, and family.
The biographical history of an author greatly influences the way he or she writes a novel. In Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment, Dostoyevsky envelops his life history within the novel, creating characters who parallel with those in his real life. Similar to many of the other Russian children at the time, Dostoyevsky was not brought up with a loving father; as a matter of fact, his father was a very stern and rigid man, contrary to Dostoyevsky’s loving and caring mother. At a young age, Dostoyevsky’s father forced him to enroll in an engineering school, disregarding Dostoyevsky’s love for literature. One night, when his father was walking him to enroll in the school, Dostoyevsky encountered a government courier viciously beating his
He strikingly uncovers his convictions about governmental issues through the primary character's activities. The message of the story spins around the wide thought of Utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is an idea in light of helping out more joy as opposed to individual or restricted bliss. Raskolnikov carrying out his killings mirrors this view by him trusting that his wrongdoing would be better for the world, “A hundred thousand good deeds could be done and helped, on that old women’s money…Kill her, take her money and with the help of it devote oneself to the service of humanity and the good
He was almost killed and sent to jail for years. Dostoevsky believed that human condition is dark and complicated. He also thought humans can never be pure. He said that in life we will always be suffering because we lack empathy. We need to stop thinking that we are better than we actually are.
Ultimately, Dostoevsky’s critique of society attempts to explain the societal problems of individuals alienating themselves from each other by living in the
Raskolnikov’s accumulating debt owed to his landlord prevents him from moving outside of Saint Petersburg and causes massive emotional damage. Each time he leaves his apartment, he fears seeing his landlady, The stress and anxiety arising from the debt he owes to his landlord causes him to become unruly and he had, “fallen into a state of nervous depression akin to hypochondria,” feeding into his detachment from society. Not only does Raskolnikov’s living situation seem grim, but his room itself furthers his emotional detachment from society. Raskolnikov’s room allows him to dehumanize himself.
Russia in the time of Crime and Punishment experiences widespread political debate and reform, and the intellectualism that had flourished in Russia for many years branched into several schools of thought. No one group had united goals or methods but encompassed wide ranges of people with various political beliefs; Dostoyevsky often participated in such groups and maintained throughout his life an interest in intellectualism and politics. He uses his knowledge of the inner workings of Russia’s progressives to develop realistic characters with connections to his current culture. Dostoyevsky’s characters such as Sonia, Lebeziatnikov, and Luzhin reflect different political tropes in late 19th century Russia and provide suspense, humor, or conflict to the novel’s plot.
Dostoevsky reveals the complexity of Raskolnikov character by showing us how quickly his treatment of a person changes. Raskolnikov is a cautious person, but he is also extremely immature and sensitive. He will help someone in need if it will prevent a crime, but if the person expresses that they don't need or want help, or insults him in any way, he will turn on them and hope for the worst possible outcome. Raskolnikov, at first attempts to help the young lady who was staggering along the street.