Crime And Punishment, By Fyodor Dostoevsky

Fyodor Dostoevsky’s masterpiece, “Crime and Punishment”, details the troubling life of main character Rodion Raskolnikov throughout St. Petersburg in the middle 19th century. In a particular scene, Raskolnikov comes across a drunk teenaged girl carelessly stumbling along his path, as well as a suspicious gentleman that causes him to alert a local police officer. Dostoevsky’s words perfectly illustrate Raskolnikov’s crippling indecisiveness and complete lack of self-confidence through carefully chosen words and Raskolnikov’s self-reflective point of view. Raskolnikov’s moral transformation in this small passage alone is enough to communicate his questionable and occasionally puzzling undecidedness. The very first paragraph features Raskolnikov
He questions many of his decisions, thinking to himself, “‘Why did I want to interfere? Is it for me to help? Have I any right to help? Let them devour each other alive--what is it to me?’” By constantly wondering if what he’s doing is right or appropriate, Raskolnikov displays a lack of confidence in himself and his actions. Also a product of his indecisiveness, he does not trust his own judgement and decisions, criticizing his actions just minutes ago. After this, “he felt very wretched…. He longed to forget himself altogether, to forget everything, and then to wake up and begin life anew....” Through this 3rd person omniscient point of view, it is revealed that Raskolnikov is unhappy with himself, even going as far to wishing he had a new life altogether. This new information is so full of self-loathing that it almost foreshadows a possible suicide attempt in the future. Raskolnikov feels isolated, unassured and inadequate as he sits on a bench by himself, contemplating his choices. This is a result of his pre-existing lack of confidence in himself, and his ability to think clearly and be a productive member of