Fyodor Dostoevskys Crime And Punishment - 1378 Words

Fyodor Dostoevsky, who was considered to be a genius of his time, was spared from a death sentence he received for his involvement in a literary group that discussed banned books. As he was close to being killed, this experience provides an explanation for his belief that killing is unjust and does not better society. In Dostoevsky’s book Crime and Punishment, this belief is developed through a criticism of the theories and actions of the main character Raskolnikov. Raskolnikov believes that he has the right to kill an old pawnbroker because he views himself as extraordinary and her as a negative member of society. Porfiry, an older, logical detective, invalidates Raskolnikov’s extraordinary man theory through his questions and his own†¦show more content†¦This trait of Porfiry emphasizes Raskolnikov’s lack of logic. He easily fell into Porfiry’s first trap, and he did not consider the consequences of writing an article about becoming ill from a crime and then actually becoming ill from committing a crime. This oversight takes credibility away from Raskolnikov because it makes him seem less sharp than before. Similarly, Raskolnikov falls for Porfiry’s second trap. This time, Porfiry misrepresents one of Raskolnikov’s ideas from his article stating â€Å"the extraordinary have the right to commit all sorts of crimes and in various ways to transgress the law† (259). In this trap, Porfiry appeals to Raskolnikov’s pride for his article to bait him into revealing incriminating details of his theory. This tactic exemplifies Porfiry’s clever logic and characterizes him as a skilled detective. Oppositely, Raskolnikov’s response characterizes him as an easily manipulated criminal as he falls into the trap, explaining â€Å"I merely suggested that an ‘extraordinary man’ has the right...to allow his conscience to...step over certain obstacles, and then only in the event that the fulfillment of his idea--sometimes perhaps salutary for the whole of mankind--calls for it† (259). Not only does Raskolnikov reinforce that he believes the extraordinary man can commit crimes because ofShow MoreRelatedEssay on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment1017 Words   |  5 PagesFyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel â€Å"Crime and Punishment† brings the reader a glimpse into the mind of a criminal, tormented by the guilt of murder. Dostoevsky’s focal point of the novel does not lie within the crime nor the punishment but everything in between. Dostoevsky also vividly depicts the life and conditions of poverty within the confines of St. Petersburg. 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