AP Lit / Brown
Crime and Punishment blogs
1
Raskolnikov’s St. Petersburg & Your D.C.
1. Well some of the similarities from Rask' world to ours is very clear and others is not
personally i think the struggles with money that Rask' has in the beginning of the book is
something that many Americans face right now. Also that a lot of people live in "closets"
because they can not afford a real place to live. Some of these places are shelters and
group homes. But a difference is that no one in DC that not in a shelter or a group home
lives in a "closet" maybe something bigger. Also how Rask' had money for liquor and
such but not for his Bills was something that i see in DC, how people do not prioritize
their money. Something that i also see as a similarity is that in the letter Rask's mothers
sent to him she stated that she was just lying to try to protect him and the lie was for his
own good. Many parents do this to their children because most of the time they think or
they know whats right for their children and they just act off of that belief.
2. There are many parallels or similarities between Raskolnikov’s world in 19th century
Russia and Washington, D.C. in the year 2011.There are people who are firm believers
on the extraordinary man versus the ordinary man theory, which is why we have
criminals. There are many people, even today, who succumb to poverty and deal with it
by falling in to "fits of drunkenness". And like the protagonist Raskolnikov, people in
Washington,D.C. and everywhere else, have to learn life lessons.
The protagonist, Raskolnikov of Crime and Punishment, shows similarities to students:
First and foremost, Raskolnikov, like students in a classroom, must learn a lesson, but
with life and the law as his teacher, and his fellow citizens as his classmates. And instead
of learning about satire, parallels, geography, math or physics, Raskolnikov is forced to
learn the difference between what is and what is not acceptable; that he is not above the
law. Unlike most students, Raskolnikov is forced to learn the parallels between crime and
punishment.
3. A big similarity I saw between 19th century Raskolnikov and students in 2011
Washington D.C is the expense of college. Raskolnikov was kicked out of his college
because he could no longer pay for his classes. This was one the main causes of his
illness because he not only wanted be a lawyer one day but his family was depending on
him to one day get them out of poverty. Raskolnikov did ot go to work when he was
kicked out of college lost sight of his goal to become a lawyer and found a fiancee. His
fiancee then became ill and died. After this Raskolnikov still did no begin work he went
and robbed and killed and in effect was jailed for 8 years of his life. Those eight years
Raskolnikov will never get back. Similar in D.C education is expensive and alot of
families can't afford to give their children good schooling so are forced to attend D.C
public schools. In D.C ps kids do not have goals to get educated but instead are getting in
trouble smoking, fighting, nd bringing weapons to school. When students get put out of
school like similar things happen that happen to Raskolnikov. Students beef with each
other and start robbing and killing each other. So the violence in Crime and Punishment
is a major parallel to D.C.
AP Lit / Brown
Crime and Punishment blogs
2
4. I think that a reason people seemed to actually "think" more was because of the lack of
modern technology. Back then people weren't used to having immediate results so they
had time to really deliberate and decide on their actions. Now people usually go with
whatever comes first because it's usually faster. We've gotten so impatient that we tend to
go off impulses and act before we think, like Brittney said. Also they walk a lot too.
Why didn’t Raskolnikov spend the stolen money?
5. He stole the money , right? If he stole money and didnt use it than somehthing got in
the way of it. Im not sure if its pride , giult or what? BUT if someone steals money, their
first intentions and thoughts is wondering what they are going to buy. For Rassy Ras not
to spend the money doesnt make him more or less guilty. He stole thats the initial crime.
Regardless if he spends the money or not , he STOLE it. Im still clueless as to why he
didnt spend the money , but i know Mr.Brown will be happy to explain it to me when we
get to school :)
6. I think that the reason Raskolnikov didn't use the money was because deep down it was
a pride issue. It was hard for him to admit that he wasn't one of the elites or supermen (i
think that's what he called them). He knew that deep down he was no Napoleon, able to
commit crimes for a greater purpose and not feel bad about it, but I feel that deep down,
by not taking the money, he's trying to say, "I accept the fact not I'm not an elite
(superman), but I'm better than the average person and will not commit a crime for
something as small as petty cash." By not using the money Raskolnikov tried to create an
image of himself that was still better than the average person. Either that or he was so
busy trying to not get caught for the murder it slipped his mind. I totally forgot about the
money until like the last part of the book.
Is Raskolnikov a villain?
7. Raskolnkov is a villain because he became a thief and a murderer all in the same day.
However, he ended up being the only one with heart because he was incredibly guilty
about his wrongdoings, thus making him incredibly ill, healthwise and mood-wise to his
own friends and family who were trying to show him love. Svidrigailov also poisoned his
own wife, but ended up being a sorry excuse for a villain - a cowardly one, at that - by
killing himself. Even his disrespect towards Dunya, denouncing her as if she were just
some whore by blackmailing her own brother just to get sex from her. And then there's
Luzchin because he's accused Dunya of theivery and decieving her and her mother into
thinking that he'd actually care about them and help them. The real criminal would have
to be Svidrigailov. I don't think it was true guilt that lead to his death. I think it was
simply fear of what would happen when he was to be caught and tried for his crimes. The
only person who would've truly been guilty was Raskolnikov and that was completely
obvious throughout the entire story.
AP Lit / Brown
Crime and Punishment blogs
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What role does chance and/or coinicidence play in Crime and Punishment?
8. It depends on what you call chance and coincidence. Each one can be used in every
situation in the book. But I will that it was a coincidence that Raskolnikov was in the
same area as Lizaveta that night, but it was by chance that he overheard that Alyona
Ivanovna would be at home alone. It was a coincidence that Raskolnikov's landlady had
an axe but it was chance that it was in the caretaker's shed. But either way you put it it
could still be right. But I'll go this way: where there could be logical explanation behind
everything, like Raskolnikov actually killing Alyona Ivanovna, it could be coincidence,
but the series of events that led to Raskolnikov ending up with Sonia, which were kinda
too convenient, I'll say that it was chance. I think Dostoevsky might've gone over a bit
too much to make things work. Not so much that it's unbelievable, but just enough for
you to doubt it really happening for just a second and then just roll with the story. There's
no real harm done to the overall plot of the story.
How does Dostoyevsky achieve suspense in the novel?
9. Dostoyevsky achieve suspense in this novel with the discriptive thoughts of
Raskolnikov. When Raskolnikov found out about his sister getting married in a hurry he
immidiately assumed the worst after that long letter from his mother telling him not to
worry. Raskolnikov stoms out his apartment and heads towards Razkumikhin house for
no apparent reason. While walking Raskolnikov has hundreds off thoughs going through
his mind but, yet still manages to save a girl from being taken advantage of again. The
spontaneous actions of Raskolnikov is what sustains the suspense in Dostoevsky's novel.
A very suspenseful scene is when Raskolnikov goes to kill the old women. Again
Raskolnikov has hundreds of thoughts going through his head but he is not sitting and
thinking he is acting and thinking. Raskolnikov kills the old ladies step sister, who was a
nice women thinking of everything except the fact that he was about to kill another
person. This novel has a lot of Raskolnkov's long inner thoughts but, the long
descriptions is what keeps the suspense.
What can we make of Raskolnikov’s “extraordinary man” theory?
10. Raskolnikov sees himself as an “extraordinary man,” a person who is extraordinary
and, therefore, above the rules and laws that govern the rest of society, or the "ordinary
man." Raskolnikov' uses his theory of the extraordinary man versus the ordinary man to
justify the murders that he commits. Because of this theory, Raskolnikov believes that he
is better than the rest of society. Raskolnikov exercises his belief in this theory, first by
alienating himself from the rest of society, then by committing mass murders.
Dostoyevsky's attitude towards this theory comes into play after Raskolnikov commits
the murders. Dostoyevsky disproves this theory by showing the psychological torture that
ensues after Raskolnikov commits the murders. Raskolnikov experiences a whirlwind of
emotions, namely guilt, which force him into confession and land him in jail, where he
finds solace, and realizes that he is not exempt from the rules that govern society; he is a
part of society. Modern-day examples of this theory put into practice include criminals.
AP Lit / Brown
Crime and Punishment blogs
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What are your thoughts on the female characters: Sonya, Dunya, Katerina
Ivanovna, and Raskolnikov's mom?
11. Dunya is a well rounded character. Dunya is a strong woman who could take care of
herself. Dunya had to get through work with Svidrigailov forcing himself and his money
upon her even though she constantly rejected him. Svidrigailov's wife did not know the
truth and slandered Dunya's name to the whole town. After Dunya's name was slandered
she was shunned by the towns people but she stayed strong. Dunya also had to deal with
her brothers illness. When Dunya and her mother came to Petersberg and visited her
brother he pushed them away. Dunya loved her brother with all her heart and planned to
marrying Luzchin with him in mind but he was not happ to see her or about the marriage
but she stayed strong. She conforted her heart broken mother and waited for her brother
to come to his senses. Dunya stayed true to her brother and saw through the evil in
Luzchin and that he did not respect him so she dismissed Luzchin. Dunya also went to
meet Svidrigailov by herself and she knew he was a murderer. And when Svidrigailov
ried to force himself upon Dunya again she tried to shoot him but couldn't go through
with it but continued to tell him no and he let her go. Dunya was the strongest and helped
all the other women get through Raskolnikov's illness
Why does Raskolnikov reject the kindness of others for so long?
12. Guilt accompanied with the fact that Rasko thinks he is better than everyone else or
"extraordinary." I think that Rasko. rejects his family and solace for two reasons. The
first reason is that his sister is happy and getting married and doing better than Rasko
both socially and financially. These feeling that Rasko is a lesser being is one that he
does not like feeling and that probably is why he rejected the kindness of his family. The
second reason is that he wants to feel powerful and the family and not knowing who his
sister is marrying probably makes him feel weak or not appreciated. Rasko probably
wanted to give his sister his blessing himself.
Analyze Dostoyevsky’s complex characterization of Raskolnikov
13. Rask is a very interesting character. He is a combination of today's society all in one.
One minute he is giving the last of his money to someone or helping a drunk teenager in
the park. Then, he can create this rage of anger and be ready to just get anyone in his path
that has hurt him. Mentally he is not stable. If he knew he killed someone (with an axe),
then why wouldn't he NOT have any blood on him or his clothing? That moment still
bothers me in the book. Really, Rask? I hope today's society doesn't have any more
Rasks. But, if they do I will try my best not to get on his bad side.
14. I think that Dostoyevsky is trying to put every personality into one person,
Raskolnikov. In doing so Raskolnikov has many emotions during his illness. In doing so
he can that Raskolnikov is a good person at heart but has a bad side. For example
Raskolnikov pushes Razumikhin away when he tries to help him through his illness but
Raskolnikov is very cruel to his friend. But Raskolnikov also trust him to watch over his
family and accepts him as a brother and good enough to marry his sister. Raskolnikov
also speaks very highly of Razumikhin through out the novel. This the best qualities in
Raskolnikov as well as the worst in him.