Symbolism In Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime
Crime and Punishment: The Creation of a Killer
Even during the 1800s, the argument of nature versus nurture has always been an issue. Are humans born inherently good or bad or is it the society around them that shapes and forms individuals into who they become? When exactly does nature concede to nurture? During Fyodor Dostoevsky's life, there was certainly no shortage of corruption and crime. At the time, under the corrupt regime of the Czar, many Russians suffered from poverty and resorted to crime to escape their circumstances. In 1847, during Dostoevsky’s short involvement with a revolutionary group named the ‘Petrashevsky Circle’, he was tried and almost executed for his participation; however, he was eventually saved and sent to Siberia …show more content…
To begin, St. Petersburg serves as a symbol of the corrupt state of society and its influence on Raskolnikov’s actions. For instance, in the first pages of Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov describes the atmosphere of St. Petersburg as “terribly hot [...] with an intolerable stench from the taverns, especially numerous in that part of the city, and the drunkards kept running into even though it was a weekday, completed the loathsome and melancholy coloring of the picture” (Dostoevsky 4). In this case, the imagery of the dirty and disorient city of St. Petersburg is a symbol for the current state of society; imperfect, unequal, and full of corruption. The dysfunctional society of St. Petersburg clearly takes a toll on Raskolnikov, as he quickly finds himself poverty-stricken. In a corrupt society where the wealthy thrive and the poor suffer, he has no choice but to resort to crime in order to make ends meet. Similarly, Raskolnikov’s theory of the extraordinary versus the ordinary serves as a symbol of the imbalance of power in society. For instance, social inequality becomes increasingly apparent as Raskolnikov
Even during the 1800s, the argument of nature versus nurture has always been an issue. Are humans born inherently good or bad or is it the society around them that shapes and forms individuals into who they become? When exactly does nature concede to nurture? During Fyodor Dostoevsky's life, there was certainly no shortage of corruption and crime. At the time, under the corrupt regime of the Czar, many Russians suffered from poverty and resorted to crime to escape their circumstances. In 1847, during Dostoevsky’s short involvement with a revolutionary group named the ‘Petrashevsky Circle’, he was tried and almost executed for his participation; however, he was eventually saved and sent to Siberia …show more content…
To begin, St. Petersburg serves as a symbol of the corrupt state of society and its influence on Raskolnikov’s actions. For instance, in the first pages of Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov describes the atmosphere of St. Petersburg as “terribly hot [...] with an intolerable stench from the taverns, especially numerous in that part of the city, and the drunkards kept running into even though it was a weekday, completed the loathsome and melancholy coloring of the picture” (Dostoevsky 4). In this case, the imagery of the dirty and disorient city of St. Petersburg is a symbol for the current state of society; imperfect, unequal, and full of corruption. The dysfunctional society of St. Petersburg clearly takes a toll on Raskolnikov, as he quickly finds himself poverty-stricken. In a corrupt society where the wealthy thrive and the poor suffer, he has no choice but to resort to crime in order to make ends meet. Similarly, Raskolnikov’s theory of the extraordinary versus the ordinary serves as a symbol of the imbalance of power in society. For instance, social inequality becomes increasingly apparent as Raskolnikov