"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" John 11:25-36

In the epic novel of poverty, sin and redemption, one of the most apparent themes is that of religious belief. In Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky includes religious themes to add depth to the main character, the plot and to express his own ideas about God and the human soul. The reader is led through the mind of the crazed Raskolnikov, an emotionally tortured young man whose theories about human behaviour make him think he is above the law. Scenes in the novel often include him restless, dreaming of the better life. These thoughts at first make the reader sympathetic towards Raskolnikov until he goes and murders the pawnbroker. The novel continues to follow Raskolnikov's ideas and desires until the denouement. The epilogue shows the immense pain and solemn heartbreak Raskolnikov feels until he discovers true redemption and love. We see Raskolnikov's character develop throughout the novel and his fight for and against a huma

From the very beginning of the novel we are introduced to the inner thoughts of Raskolnikov, and he appears to be on the edge of insanity. He doesn't interact with the world like a normal person. In public he appears to be confused and senseless. He mutters to himself and his statements are often contradictory, his actions impulsive. We can see examples of this throughout the novel. Raskolnikov starts with a moral, charitable thought and a moment later he is tempted to change his mind. Raskolnikov helps Sonya and gives her money and almost immediately he wants to go back to reclaim it. "What sort of silly thing to do was that? Hr thought. They've got Sonya, and I need that money myself."(59) One could say that this shows Raskolnikov has a human charity and love, and yet he tries to escape by his desire to be rid of guilt and a conscience. Dostoyevsky shows us that Raskolnikov's desire to escape from the "bondage" of redemption and God's love, are in fact keeping him from the freedom he seeks, the freedom from his desperation.

Sonya is the opposite of the evil in Svidrigailov. Although she is a prostitute from a broken home she is longsuffering and full of forgiveness for Raskolnikov's crime. She brings a story of raising of Lazarus to Raskolnikov as a symbol of unbearable anguish and suffering and compares the raising from the dead Lazarus to Raskolnikov's need to repent and find the life again. She tells him to confess that he had killed and promises, quoting the bible, that God will send him life again. She says, he must accept suffering and thus redeem himself. These religious experiences with the characters help Raskolnikov on his road to redemption.

Living in isolation from the world, Raskolnikov constantly ponders ways to change his life, even considering suicide. Raskolnikov lives in St. Petersburg and lives a life of poverty and social wretchedness.

n conscience make Crime and Punishment a great novel. Dostoyevsky has clear goals in the novel and its main characters draw us into their suffering.

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Approximate Word count = 1462
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)