Raskolnikov Character Analysis Essay

Raskolnikov 's constant indecision about committing charitable acts conveys his personal inclination toward trusting reason over his emotions, reflecting his belief that his family values self-preservation over self-sacrifice. After reading his mom’s letter, Raskolnikov deduces Dunya wants to marry Luzhin to improve the family’s financial status despite not being fully in love with him, providing evidence of Raskolnikov 's family allowing utilitarianism to guide vital life decisions; Raskolnikov wants to protect his sister’s heart by ending the engagement, but he realizes through reason that he cannot prevent this marriage due to his lowly status. When deciding whether or not to help a drunk girl, Raskolnikov initially leans on sympathy but ultimately relies on reasonable self-preservation, which the narrator describes with urgent, forceful diction almost identical to his

In both instances, the narrator depicts the sudden termination of Raskolnikov’s emotional response with the equivalent phrases “at this moment” and “at that moment.” These repeating terms, which initiate Raskolnikov 's shift away from sympathy and toward utilitarianism, suggest his dad’s selfish behavior in the past triggers Raskolnikov’s decision based on reason instead of emotion. While this abrupt change occurs, the verbs “seize[d]” and “stung” portray the same coercive forces in the past and present dominating his otherwise emotional, caring self. The seemingly uncontrollable influence of utilitarianism stems from his dad’s insistence on disregarding others’ immoral actions. Raskolnikov’s thoughts exemplify the consequences of his dad’s self-centeredness when he wonders “‘why did I go meddling in all that! Let them all gobble each other alive” (Dostoevsky 50). This ending to the scene reinforces the severe impact of his childhood memory. The dad’s quote about staying out of other’s people