Dostoevsky’s awareness of the tough realities of St. Petersburg is clear in his presentation of contentious problems …show more content…
Crime and Punishment was published in 1866, twenty-three years once a nation-wide movement to manage procedures surrounding prostitution. Since the govt struggled to fully oust the profession from the streets, it stopped treating commercialised sex as a significant crime and conceded to its supposed certainty. Prostitution was not merely a temporary fix during economic hardship. It was a marked way of life that held women captive in their desperation. A prostitute’s life was completely controlled by her degrading …show more content…
Since women were subordinate to men, it was necessary for them to meet the biological needs of the male population. Dostoevsky voices his opposition to this philosophy by characterizing Sonya as the sacrificial victim of the Marmeladov family and the entire novel. He convinces his audience of the tragic plight of the prostitute by simply observing Sonya and her interactions. Sonia is silent during her first active scene in the novel. Her pitiful appearance is a reflection of the daily torment and distress she endures. Though Sonya’s virtue and religious faith far exceed that of the average person, her character is representative of the voiceless, faceless woman who resorts to prostitution because she is desperate to escape poverty. Dostoevsky’s social commentary of the holy prostitute defends the dignity of the marginalized woman and condemns society for condoning the industry as an unavoidable practice. The history of prostitution in St. Petersburg helps shed light on