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Petrovitch, a detective who
becomes increasingly convinced
that Raskolnikov is guilty of the
crime, but lacks the evidence to
prove it. Raskolnikov’s nerves are
in shreds. Would confessing and
taking the punishment of the law
be preferable to the torture of his
own conscience? Does his sense of
remorse suggest that he is ordinary
rather than extraordinary?Representing reality
In Crime and Punishment,
Dostoyevsky masterfully explores
and dissects the immensely
complex nature of the mind of his
protagonist. The novel’s powerful
exploration of the meaning of life
and the existence in the world ofhorror, evil, suffering, and brutality
is matched by its examination of
guilt, conscience, love, compassion,
relations with our fellow humans,
and the possibilities of redemption.
Dostoyevsky’s concern for
representing the reality of the
psychological processes in
Raskolnikov’s mind ensured that
Crime and Punishment became a
significant touchstone for future
novelists. This approach to writing
coincided with—and was arguably
influenced by—the rise of the
science and practice of psychology.
One of the late 19th century’s most
psychologically attuned writers,
novelist Henry James, was brother
of the pioneering psychologist
William. The existential writers ofthe mid-20th century, including
Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus,
also owe much to the ground-
breaking narrative form created
by Dostoyevsky. ■DEPICTING REAL LIFE
Raskolnikov’s motives for killing Alyona Ivanovna are a central theme
of Crime and Punishment. Dostoyevsky shows that his antihero’s actions are
prompted by a complex interplay of motives, internal dialogues, and unconscious
drives that combine social, individual, philosophical, and religious imperatives.Poverty
He feels that he needs
to steal the old woman’s
money to survive.Displaced vengeance
He resents his mother for
restricting his psychological
development; he associates
the old woman with his
mother and thus kills the former
in an act of unconsciously
transferred revenge.Justice
He believes he is doing
society a favor by eliminating the
evil old woman and using
her wealth for the
benefit of others.Madness
Overburdened by his own
inner turmoil, he kills in order
to do something to regain
control over himself.Power
He crosses the line to see if
he can become a “superman”—
beyond guilt and above
good and evil.Irreligiousness
He lacks belief or any moral
framework, and hopes that
through punishment he
will find redemption.A hundred suspicions
don’t make a proof.
Crime and
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