Crime and Punishment Position Paper

Position Paper In the novel Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoevsky introduces a complex, contemptuous character known as Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov. Living in a poor urban setting of St. Petersburg, Russia, Raskolnikov retains his proud mental state emotionally-detached from humanity. This semi-delirious mental state presents Raskolnikov with two choices: murder his pawnbroker or rejoin humanity. Many critical events occur leading up to the brutal murder, shaping Raskolnikov’s personality, and ultimately leading him to the terrifying act. Raskolnikov is a tall man with “dark auburn hair and fine dark eyes” living in “the odor” and chaos. This contributes greatly to his mental condition. He believes that he is too proud of a man to be living in such conditions; therefore, this misguided sense of pride allows Raskolnikov to feel superior, causing him to develop crazy and inhuman ideas. Raskolnikov’s insensitivity and disgust towards people gradually overpowered his desire regaining society. When Raskolnikov gives his troubled friends, the Marmeladovs, money, he immediately rewards himself saying that “they would be in great straits tomorrow without that money of mine!” He also immediately believes that they will waste his money away. These actions show how even though Raskolnikov is trying to fit in with society, his intentions are questionable and he may never be sane enough to do so. Furthermore, Raskolnikov decides that the marriage between Dunya and Luzhin will not be taking place, for he believes that Luzhin is a cruel and disrespectful man and that Dunya might just be marrying Luzhin to provide a better life for her and her family. Raskolnikov assumes that Luzhin is taking advantage of Dunya and develops a strong hatred towards Luzhin, which heightens his anger towards the pawnbroker. Leading up to the murder, Raskolnikov experiences a dream in which the events of the murder are detailed. At this point, Raskolnikov is bipolar about conducting