Crime and Punishment

A detailed Summary of Crime and Punishment

By the end of Dostoyesky's Crime and Punishment, the reader is no longer under the illusion of the possible existence of "extraordinary" men. For an open-minded reader, and even perhaps the closed-minded ones too, the book is a journey through Raskolnikov's proposed theory on crime. It is a theory based on the ideas that had "been printed and read a thousand times"(313) by both Hegel and Nietzsche. Hegel, a German philosopher, influenced Dostoyesky with his utilitarian emphasis on the ends rather than the means whereby a superman existed as one that stood above the ordinary man, but worked for the benefit of all mankind. Nietsche's more selfish philosophy focused on the rights to power which allowed one to act in a Hegelian manner. In committing his crime, Raskolnikov experienced the ultimate punishment as he realized that his existence was not that of the "extraordinary" man presented in his theory. In chapter five of part three in Crime and Punishment, this theory is outlined by its creator, Raskolnikov. Such an innovative theory would clearly have placed him in the "extraordinary" category, but when he fai

The majority of Raskolnikov's theory seems logical until the reader arrives at its single essential flaw. Raskolnikov's idea that "the enactment of a crime is invariably accompanied by illness"(311) was one aspect of the theory which, through its accuracy in Raskolnikov's crime, seemed to lend validity to the entirety of the theory; several brief experiences with "faintness" on the character Raskolnikov's behalf, insinuate the veracity of his ideas.

Dostoevsky's irony lays within Raskolnikov's apparent lack of guilt for Lizaveta's murder. He seldom thinks of her murder, but is consumed by the culpable thoughts of having killed Alyona. The ironic aspect is that he had intended to kill Alyona and murdering her would have been justifiable according to his theory considering that she was thought to be foul, sinful, and bitter. Lizaveta on he other hand was a kind, warm, and loving character causing no harm to the world. Raskolnikov's sympathy towards Aylona rather than Lizaveta reflects his own evil nature in that he was unable to relate to the characteristics of good.

After his confession, Raskolnikov exp

Some common words found in the essay are:
Crime Punishment, Sonia Porfiry, Hegel German, Aylona Lizaveta, raskolnikov's theory, raskolnikov experienced, crime punishment, common law, open-minded reader, evil nature, existence extraordinary, extraordinary theory,

Approximate Word count = 751
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels

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