Idea Transcript
APIB English Literature and Composition
Major Works Data Sheet Title: Crime and Punishment Author: Fydor Dostoevsky Date of Publication: 1866 Genre: Novel - Thriller
Historical information about the period of publication:
Characteristics of the genre:
Historical information about the period of publication is not significant because Dostoevsky does not really focus on outside forces and how they relate to the novel. Although Crime and Punishment does mention nihilism, a popular belief during this time period, this way of thinking can be relevant at any point in history.
In Crime and Punishment Dostoevsky uses tension and psychology to heighten the suspense of the novel. The Cat-and-Mouse game between Raskolnikov and Porfiry makes readers anxious, and excited to see what will happen next.
Plot summary:
Raskolnikov is a handsome, intelligent, former student living in St. Petersburg, Russia. He obsesses over the idea of becoming a “superman”, and kills a pawn broker and her half sister because of this fascination. After killing the two women, Raskolnikov falls ill and into a dream like stupor. He struggles to rationalize his decision and convince himself that the murder he committed is justified. While facing this internal struggle, Raskolnikov distances himself from his friends and family which causes them to become worried. During this time, Rasklonikov meets a drunkard, Marmeladov, and takes care of his family after his death. While taking care of the Marmeladov family, Raskolnikov meets Sonya, whom he slowly falls in love with. Eventually Raskolnikov is caught by a detective, Porfiry Petrovich and confesses to his crimes. After his confession Raskolnikov is sent to Siberia, Russia to be imprisioned for his crimes. While in Siberia Raskolnikov embraces his suffering and is expected to live a happy life.
Major Works Data Sheet
Page 2
Describe the author’s style, incl narrator/point of view, metaphors/similes:
Examples that demonstrate the style (you need more than one example):
Crime and Punishment is written in third-person omniscient. In this style of writing, the narrator is aware of the thoughts and feelings of all of the characters. Most of the novel is given from Raskolnikov’s perspective; however, the point of view switches to other characters such as Svidrigailov and Razumikhin.
―He, like everyone, had heard that there were, especially in Petersburg, progressives of some sort, nihilists and so on, and, like many people, he exaggerated and distorted the significance of those words to an absurd degree.” -Part V, Chapter 1
Memorable Quotes Quote
Significance
1. ―What was taking place in him was totally unfamiliar, new, sudden, never before experienced. Not that he understood it, but he sensed clearly, with all the power of sensation, that it was no longer possible for him to address these people in the police station, not only with heartfelt effusions, as he had just done, but in any way at all, and had they been his own brothers and sisters, and not police lieutenants, there would still have been no point in this addressing them, in whatever circumstances of life.‖-Part II, Chapter I
1. This quote,illustrates Raskolnikov’s sudden realization that by murdering Alyona and Lizaveta, he has completely isolated himself from society. His separation, which began before the murders, is now complete, as he has truly crossed over the bounds that formerly kept him tied to the rest of humanity. Indeed, one can argue that only because of his increasing alienation and lack of empathy for other people is Raskolnikov able to actually commit the murders. Additionally, the act of having physically accomplished the crime makes it necessary for Raskolnikov to cement his understanding of himself as a “superman” so that he can evade the bothersome, banal consequences of his actions. Much of the novel is concerned with Raskolnikov’s gradual breakdown and deconstruction of this identity in the face of his alienation from others. Only when he confesses his guilt to Sonya, someone whom he sees as a fellow transgressor of morality, does he start on the path of rejoining society.
2. ―I’ve known Rodion for a year and a half: sullen, gloomy, arrogant, proud; recently (and maybe much earlier) insecure and hypochondriac. Magnanimous and kind. Doesn’t like voicing his feelings, and would rather do something cruel than speak his heart out in words. At times, however, he’s not hypochondriac at all, but just inhumanly cold and callous, as if there really were two opposite characters in him, changing places with each other. At times he’s terribly taciturn! He’s always in a hurry, always too busy, yet he lies there doing nothing. Not given to mockery, and not because he lacks sharpness but as if he had no time for such trifles. Never hears people out to the end. Is never interested in what interests everyone else at a given moment. Sets a terribly high value on himself and, it seems, not without a certain justification.‖ – Part III, Chapter II
―The old woman was a mistake perhaps, but she’s not the point! The old woman was merely a sickness . . . I was in a hurry to step over . . . it wasn’t a human being I killed, it was a principle! So I killed the principle, but I didn’t step over, I stayed on this side . . . All I managed to do was kill. And I didn’t even manage that, as it turns out . . .‖ –Part III, Chapter VI
3.
“ 4. What is it, to run away! A mere formality; that’s not the main thing; no, he won’t run away on me by a law of nature, even if he has somewhere to run to. Have you ever seen a moth near a candle? Well, so he’ll keep circling around me, circling around me, as around a candle; freedom will no longer be dear to him, he’ll fall to thinking, get entangled, he’ll tangle himself all up as in a net, he’ll worry himself to death! . . . he’ll keep on making circles around me, narrowing the radius more and more, and—whop! He’ll fly right into my mouth, and I’ll swallow him, sir, and that will be most agreeable, heh, heh, heh!‖ – Part IV, Chapter V
5. “How it happened he himself did not know, but suddenly it was as if something lifted him and flung him down at her feet. He wept and embraced her knees. For the first moment she was terribly frightened, and her whole face went numb… in that same moment, she understood everything. Infinite happiness lit up in her eyes; she understood, and for her there was no longer any doubt that he loved her, loved her infinitely, and that at last the moment had come. . . .‖-Epilogue
2.
Razumikhin offers this description of Raskolnikov o Sonya and Pulcheria Alexandrovna. His comments emphasize Raskolnikov’s key character traits of self-centeredness, intelligence, and simultaneous cruelty and kindness. As a whole, this impressionistic depiction captures Raskolnikov’s essential schismatic nature: he has detached himself from humanity and thus only engages in social behavior when it fits his needs.Additionally, this passage sets up Razumikhin as Raskolnikov’s foil, emphasizing the contrast between Razumikhin’s friendliness and good nature and Raskolnikov’s sullenness and antisocial nature. This difference constitutes strong counterevidence to the argument that Raskolnikov is compelled to commit the murders because of difficult circumstances in life. Razumikhin, like his friend, is a desperately poor ex-student, but he never even considers, much less commits, such a crime.
3.
Raskolnikov feels anxious not because he is a murderer but because he is an unsuccessful murderer, unable to use the crime to his advantage and dismiss the guilt from his mind. His need to assure himself of the intellectualized motivations for Alyona Ivanovna’s murder and his frantic, repetitive justification of his crime reveal his insecurity about the whole matter and accentuate how unlike his “superman” ideal he is.
4. Porfiry Petrovich speaks these words when Raskolnikov goes to Porfiry’s office in order to reclaim his pawned possessions. This quotation demonstrates Porfiry’s method of focusing on the psychological aspects of the case, a method that seems to have been Dostoevsky’s as well. Porfiry’s confidence that Raskolnikov “won’t run away on me by a law of nature”—that because he is human, Raskolnikov ultimately will not be able to evade his guilt—provides a sense of inevitability that Raskolnikov will either confess or go mad.
5. This occurs when Sonya finally realizes that Raskolnikov truly loves her. Raskolnikov demonstrates that he is willing to take his place as a member of society once again. The tears that Raskolnikov sheds represent his remorse over his sins and, perhaps, his joy in realizing that Sonya, the lone individual with whom he has enjoyed a meaningful relationship, loves him. It is only when he realizes that he truly cares for another person that Raskolnikov is finally able to break his alienation from humanity and begin to sincerely repent for his crimes. This newfound love injects his life with fresh meaning and, one can argue, releases him from the bond of his destructive nihilism.
Major Works Data Sheet
Page 3 Characters
Name -Raskolnikov: Rodion
Role in the story
Significance
Adjectives Troubled, moody, sickly, alienated, handsome
Protagonist
Story is about his inner struggle to become a “superman”, Kills two people
Pulcheria
Mother
Raskolnikov is afraid to disappoint her
Worried, poor
Dunya
Sister
Reminds Raskolnikov of how things were before he committed the murder.
Self-sacrificing, smart, proud
Spends all of the family’s money, has a conversation with Raskolnikov in a tavern
Irresponsible, drunk
Believes to be of a higher social status than she actually is, Raskolnikov shows compassion towards her family
Extreme, mocking, snobbish, ill
Raskolnikov’s love interest; Marmeladov’s daughter
Prostitute, Teaches Raskolnikov about Christianity, Convinces Raskolnikov to confess
Timid, shy, nervous, religious
Children of Katerina and Marmeladov
No significance
-Marmeladov: Semyon
Father, drunkard and former Military Officer
Wife of Marmeladov Katerina Ivanova
Sonya
Polya
Kolka
Lenya -Svidrigailov: Ivanovich
Marfa Petranova
Dunya’s former employer, in love with Dunya , antagonist
He convinces himself that Dunya loves him, which leads to rumors spreading about her and tension between the two of them
Scoundrel, evil
Spread rumors about Dunya, possibly murdered by Svidrigailov
Kind
Takes care of Raskolnikov and his family, falls in love with Dunya
Friendly, sociable, humble
Svidrigailov’s wive
Raskolnikov’s friend -Razumikin
Detective
-Porfiry Petrovich
-Pytor Petrovich Luzhin
-Ivanova Alyona
Lizaveta
Related to Marfa Petranova, Dunya’s fiancée
Pawnbroker Aloyna’s sister, Sonya’s friend
Raskolnikov’s primary antagonist
Sly, cunning
Wants to marry Dunya because she is poor and humble, tries to frame Raskolnikov and shame Sonya
Arrogant, vain
Robbed and murdered by Raskolnikov
Mean, hateful, rich, “old crone”, miser
Killed by Raskolnikov (unplanned)
Dumb, honest
Studied new philosophies
Self-centered
Suspects that Raskolnikov is mad
Young, smart
Aids Raskolnikov when he is “ill”
Kind, critical, nosey
Raskolnikov confesses murder to him
Hot-tempered
Luzhin’s roommate - Andrei Semyonovich Lebezyatnikov
Raskolnikov’s doctor
-Zossimov Servant -Nastasya Petrovna Police Official -Ilya Petrovich “Gunpowder” Junior Police Official
Suspects Raskolnikov of the murders after a conversation in a tavern
Painter
Confesses to killing Alyona and Lizaveta
-Zamytov
-Nikolai “Mikolka”
Major Works Data Sheet
Page 4
Setting
Significance of the opening scene
Crime and Punishment takes place in St. Petersburg and Siberia, Russia in the mid 1860s. During this time St. Petersburg was the capitol of Russia and a vital economic center. Also, the Majority of the novel takes place during the hot, sticky months of summer. Raskolnikov sees St. Petersburg as a poverty stricken place filled with vagrants, drunkards, and usurpers where he is unable to be alone and find peace of mind. In contrast, when Raskolnikov is exiled to Siberia, the second setting of the novel, he sees the new setting as pure, natural and peaceful.
Symbols America Nature vs. The City The Cross/Lazarus Illness
The opening scene in Crime and Punishment describes the setting of the novel, and reveals that it is a hot summer day in July. The summer heat in this novel is supposed to make the tone of Crime and Punishment uneasy, as if as if everything is on the verge of an explosion. The opening scene describes Raskolnikov’s inner turmoil and frequent illness. It is also during this scene that Raskolnikov is scouting out the “old crone” before he decides to plan his murder. Significance of the ending/closing scene Crime and Punishment ends in Siberia where Raskolnikov is imprisoned for seven years because of the two murders he committed. During this time when Raskolnikov is exiled in Siberia, Dostoevsky vaguely hints to Raskolnikov’acceptance of Christianity; however, there is no proof that this occurs. Also during this time period Raskolnikov does not seem to repent his crimes; yet Raskolnikov has a chance to be resurrected and have a new life with Sonya because of his suffering in exile.
Works Cited http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/crime/quotes. html#explanation5 Crime and Punishment http://www.shmoop.com/crime-andpunishment/ Possible Themes: Use 3 text examples for support. Document correctly.
1. The idea of the Ubermensch 2. Alienation from society 3. The importance of suffering