Wednesday, December 12, 2007

My Big Question and Crime and Punishment

My question does not really have any one definative answer with relation to Crime and Punishment. As we did in class, my question has characters all across the spectrum. I'll start with Raskolnikov. In the end of the book, Raskolnikov did what was morally right and not necessarily what was physically convenient (confess to the murders). He did not, however, confess on his own. With pressure from Porfiry and Sonya, he finally did what was right so I'm not sure if I would classify him as actually doing what was morally right. He avoided confession and arrest for the majority of the novel and could not come to terms with the fact that he had actually sinned.

Sonya sold herself for the well-being of herself and her family. Yes she sinned and was in fact immoral. But she did not do this because it was most convenient for her situation. It was something she had to do for herself and family.

Dunya is one of the most moral characters in the entire novel. She is always true to her family and her own moral instinct.

Razumihin went out of his way to be loyal to Raskolnikov and to protect Dunya and Alexandra. He never betrayed his morals in any situations (at least that I can recall) and never took the easy way out.

Svidrigailov is a very interesting character. He obviously works hard for what he desires most, and often goes to immoral extremes to get there (such as the attempted rape of Dunya). There is little doubt of his villanous status in this novel; however, he does not take the most convenient route. He is not morally righteous either. I have trouble understanding how his character relates to my question.

If anyone has any ideas, please feel free to let me know! I'd love to hear.

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