Raskolnikov Character Analysis - 1154 Words

â€Å"Raskolnikov’s fixed and serious expression was transformed in an instance, and he broke out into the same nervous laughter as before, as if he had not the strength to control himself...After his unexpected paroxysmal outburst of laughter, Raskolnikov had become thoughtful and melancholy† (Dostoevsky 138). In an effort to perturb Zametov, Raskolnikov’s character falters and his laughter serves to dissolve the tension. However, on the verge of a confession, Raskolnikov does not know what he wants to gain from the conversation. Instead of relieving the situation, Raskolnikov s erratic behavior garners greater suspicion. His failure to relieve the tension parallels his failure to vindicate himself. Unaware of his transparent behavior,†¦show more content†¦As he drifting toward the source of his throes, the audience initially believes he rings the bell out of self-punishment. Ironically, however, he finds pleasure in the situation. The fact that Raskolnikov enjoys the sensations that accompany the sound draws attention to his perspective towards his crime. His trauma does not stem from the guilt attributed to a violation of civil or moral laws. Instead, he views the murders as acts of justice and, therefore, considers the crime scene to be admirable work. As the perpetrator , Raskolnikov sees the crime in its righteous beauty as well as its callous, cruel nature. He considers himself to be above others and, for this reason, he pushes the boundaries of his own security. Similar to the repeating bell noises, intrusive thoughts continue to plague Raskolnikov and he cannot resist the impulse to invest in such ideas. While he is aware of his circular reasoning, he does not take action to end them similar to how he cannot stop himself from ringing the doorbell. â€Å"‘Yes, I am...I am all over blood-stains!’ said Raskolnikov, with a peculiar look; then he smiled, nodded his head, and turned down the stairs. He went down quietly, without hurry; he was in a fever again, but unconscious of the fact, and full of a strange new feeling of boundlessly full and powerful life welling in him† (Dostoevsky 159). Following Marmeladov’s death, Raskolnikov experiences a rejuvenation that deeply contrasts with the emotions following theShow MoreRelated Morally Ambiguous Characters in Fyodor Dostoevskys Crime and Punishment 794 Words   |  4 Pagesquintessential characters that are all placed into the conventional categories of either good or bad. In these pieces, we are usually able to differentiate the characters and discover their true intentions from reading only a few chapters. However, in some remarkable pieces of work, authors create characters that are so realistic and so complex that we are unable to distinguish them as purely good or evil. In the novel Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoevsky develops the morally ambiguous characters of RaskolnikovRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Dostoevsky1469 Words   |  6 PagesInitially, Raskolnikov is in a state of isolation; as Dostoevsky puts its, he had been â€Å"overstrained† (Dostoevsky 1) and emotionally detached from every one else in society. Unfortunately for Raskolnikov, he is plagued with a dual personality, impelling him to favour one side or the other in the midst of adversity. Acknowledging this ostensible fault within his psyche, Raskolnikov isolates himself from society in an attempt to mitigate the demands of his split personality, thereby suppressing bothRead MoreDostoyevskys Crime And Punishment1447 Words   |  6 Pagescombination of an oppressive environment of poverty and Raskolnikov’s characteristic arrogance. Good, straightforward thesis It is almost a given that Raskolnikov was poor, however the extent of this is easily overlooked. From just the second paragraph of the text, Dostoyevsky demonstrates the unimaginably horrid conditions in which Raskolnikov suffers daily. â€Å"He lived practically under the roof of a five-floor house, in what was more a cupboard than a room. In an apartment one flight below livedRead MoreCrime And Punishment By Fyodor Dostoevsky1708 Words   |  7 Pagesattention is paid to Raskolnikov’s inner life, yet it is equally important to attend to those outside forces that affect him. A significant but overlooked part of the novel, then, is how the city of St. Petersburg affects Raskolnikov. Through my reading, I found it interesting that Raskolnikov regularly traverses the city’s bridges and uses them as a place for reflection. Overall, there are twenty-five appearances of the word â€Å"bridge† in the novel, and so they appear in many different situations, holdingRead MoreFrankenstein, By Mary Shelley1664 Words   |  7 Pagesend the life of his creation once and for all. 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Dostoevsky’S Crime1881 Words   |  8 PagesRussia’s society in the 1900’s. Raskolnikov loiters about the streets of Saint Petersburg while trying to make friends with people even though he will end up stabbing them in the back later on.. Crime and Punishment has a recurring Marxist theme where Raskolnikov becomes a proletarian leader driven by the famous idea of Nietzschean, ubermensch ideology. Although, in comparison to Nietzsche’s major philosophy of a Napoleonic will to rule, Dostoevsky reforms his characters with Christian forgiveness. This