Crime And Punishment Figurative Language Essay

When he works up the humility to confess to Sonia, she offers him a cross. He begins to accept it and then quickly gives it back. Although he did not take the cross, he considered it. In this instance Raskolnikov was able to confess to his crime, even if only to Sonia, and he almost accepts her religious offering.

After a few minutes of effort, he removes the chain, revealing two crosses, he quickly flings them back onto the old woman's body. Concept: In Christianity, the cross is a symbol of redemption for one's sins. Raskolnikov, who believed that he was justified in committing the crime, is frightened by the momentary guilt he feels when he discovers to the cross. The cross in this quote

Raskolnikov’s brusque affectation eventually yields to his predilection for salvation and redemption. He ultimately comes to the realization that he is not worthy of being “extraordinary” because of the crippling guilt that followed his murder of the pawnbroker. Raskolnikov reflects upon the implications of his crime on his psyche, “I murdered myself, not her! I crushed myself once for all,

The “Search for justice” is a common characteristic of all of our lives, but it is perhaps best represented by the struggle with which Rakolnikov must face in Crime and Punishment. Faced with a bleak situation in his life, Raskolnikov must come to understand not the definition of justice in societal terms, but rather who is eligible to determine the meaning of justice and carry it out in the first place. Through his killing of the pawnbroker and her sister, Raskolnikov comes to realize that he is ineligible to deliver justice himself and must rely on the will of God to define his set of morals and standards.

Dostoevsky litters the novel with the biblical allusion of Lazarus. Sonia disseminates the legend to the largely agnostic Raskolnikov: “ ‘And when he thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth’” (Dostoevsky 328). This reference to Lazarus serves to foreshadow Raskolnikov’s own redemption. In fact, Raskolnikov

So I killed the principle, but I didn’t step over, I stayed on this side… All I managed to do was kill,” the repetition of the word “kill” is evident. He uses this word purposeful to direct the mind of his audience. It is used to symbolize how Raskolnikov feels in regards to death. Dostoevsky repeatedly uses “kill” to demonstrate that Raskolnikov does not care about the killing aspect of the murder.

After killing Alyona Ivanovna, Raskolnikov takes notice of the two crosses that were in Alyona’s possession and deems them worthless; then, Raskolnikov irreverently discards them onto Alyona’s corpse. The act of discarding crosses onto his very sin further enforces the absence of reverence within Raskolnikov. This act demonstrates Raskolnikov’s total disregard for Christianity, for throwing the crosses back on the woman’s body is seemingly symbolic of his abandonment of faith. Discarding the crosses is contrasted when, later in the novel, Raskolnikov encounters them again. At that point he is about to confess to the murder and he takes up the crosses, now in Sonia’s possession, to take with him. He shows his newfound reverence when he puts on the cross and says “It’s the symbol of my taking up the cross. As though I had not suffered much till now” (411). By literally “taking up the cross” Raskolnikov demonstrates how he has accepted the tenants of Christianity and has begun to repent for his mortal sin. Additionally, his exclamation of suffering demonstrates that he is aware that he will suffer physically in prison, as well as suffer spiritually in hell. Raskolnikov’s previous irreverence is ended and he shows newfound respect regarding the cross. This exemplifies the novel’s idea that

By not following the rules established by Christianity, Raskolnikov is essentially making himself God, which is an internal struggle throughout the novel because Raskolnikov feels guilty about it. Although he commits murder, which is impermissible in a religious and societal context, Raskolnikov actually saw some value in religion. It is for

In Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, the murder of the pawnbroker bears little significance when compared to the 'punishment' that Raskolnikov endures. The murder is the direct result of Raskolnikov's Ubermensch theory. Though it takes a while for Raskolnikov to realize the profound mistake in his theory and in his logic, his tedious yet prolific journey eventually leads him to redemption. Suffering, guilt and societal alienation prompt Raskolnikov to reject his Ubermensch theory and ultimately achieve redemption. Through Raskolnikov's character, Dostoevsky reveals that the psychological punishment inflicted by an unethical action is more effective in leading to self-realization than any physical punishment.

In Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoevsky discusses justice, questioning who or what determines this ideal. Primarily, he focuses on a man named Raskolnikov, who murders two women and then wrestles with his motives. As Raskolnikov’s hopeless outlook drives him to madness, his friend Sonia reveals an alternative view of justice, which allows for redemption. Through analyzing his character’s viewpoints, Dostoevsky never explicitly defines justice; instead, he exposes his audience to different interpretations to form their own conclusions. However, by depicting Raskolnikov spiraling into madness, Dostoevsky guides his reader to reject justice as determined by man in favor of it established by a higher power.

Through Raskolnikov’s exemplification of the impracticality of this principle\, Dostoevsky makes his greatest point in Crime and Punishment. His commentary on the subject seeks to discredit the theory in the circumstance of an individual “superman” by displaying Raskolnikov as a character who is difficult for readers to identify with because of his inanity. Even Raskolnikov’s name is a symbol of nihilistic ideas, the word “raskol” meaning schism in Russian, illustrating the shift from an older school of thought (social utopianism) to a darker philosophy: nihilism and utilitarianism. Raskolnikov seems to fluctuate back and forth between the two philosophies, acting on one and then mentally chastising himself for it, immediately and almost erratically changing his mind. This symbolizes the more human side of him struggling

In Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment the author presents a tormented psychological state of mind due to guilt, causing it to be the real punishment to crime evoking one to suffer and torture themselves. The protagonist Raskolnikov suffers through the whole story after and even before committing his crime of killing the pawnbroker and Lizaveta. Guilt is displayed in delirium and illness. Guilt is the most severe kind of punishment because escaping it is impossible.

Crime and Punishment is a literary work known for it’s themes of religion and forgiveness. Dostoevsky reveals these themes through his characters; for instance, Sonia. Sonia manifests religious zeal. However, Dostoevsky contrasts this with her profession – prostitution. Indeed, this causes her to overcome moral obstacles, in turn strengthening her character. All this alludes to a greater message. Through Sonia, Dostoevsky addresses the absence versus the presence of religion by illuminating her strength to overcome these conflicting thoughts in juxtaposition to a nihilist character such as Raskolnikov.

           There are many different types of crimes that happen within the novel itself and it is evident that the authors Christian beliefs influenced the very background of the characters and crimes committed. The main character in the novel, Raskolnikov, has a very unique religious outlook for the time period in which he lived. Raskolnikov was raised in a Christian family which he eventually outgrew and followed new beliefs. He was not necessary a nihilist because he believed in a higher morality and nihilists did not have any sense of morality. He did however, have a sense of direction in regard to utilitarian motives. Very early on in the novel, Raskolnikov receives a letter from his mother in which she makes a remark acknowledging that he has strayed from religion but she still prays for him. Reading this letter causes Raskolnikov much pain and even though it is not blatantly acknowledged, it is sensed that Raskolnikov has some bitterness toward the idea of returning to religion. By making Raskolnikov’s character non-religious, Dostoevsky

Dostoevsky’s believes in existentialism, and the idea that individual freedom is essential to the development of the mind (Copleston 165). He speaks through his characters by presenting them as “continually defeated as a result of their choices” ( “Existentialism”). Though Raskolnikov is allowed to make his own decisions he ended up making the wrong ones. He is forced to face his consequences of the murders he committed. Dostoevsky’s blend of philosophy with the novel allows