crime and punishment by fyodor dostoevsky

This theory is that certain men are exempt from laws created by society, as their actions against these laws are done for the greater good. The novel follows Rodion Raskolnikov, a man of lower class whose poverty leads him to forming an idea and testing its validity. In addition to skepticism, the country’s economic state has disproportionate effects on its citizens, as the increasing wealth gap parallels the increase of turmoil in the streets. The time is 1860, Alexander II holds reign, and consequently political skepticism is abundant. At the center is Raskolnikov, a character who inflicts and experiences a great deal of suffering, all because he perceives himself to be superior to the average man.Ĭrime and Punishment takes place in St. His best-known work is Crime and Punishment, a novel that explores the psychological depths of man.

Symbolism, nature, time, philosophy, existentialism, ego transcendenceįyodor Dostoevsky is perhaps the most controversial author of the nineteenth century. What continues to make this novel memorable centuries after it was written is how Dostoevsky uses the concept of time to progress the plot and establish information, how his use of symbolism contributes to the message and meaning of the story and its characters, and how his writing has unintentionally embraced and related to different philosophies. Although this is important, the plot is only part of what makes this novel significant.

Dostoevsky writes this novel centered around a poor man whose poverty drives him to test an ideology that results in his own detriment. Society was transitioning from medieval traditions to Westernization, which had a large impact on civilians, specifically those in poverty. This novel was influenced by the time period and setting of 19 th century St. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a novel that has been deemed controversial, yet notable over the course of centuries.

Crime and punishment by fyodor dostoevsky