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Fyodor Dostoevsky had been attending meetings on socialism with some intellectuals in Russia when he was arrested for suspected revolutionary activities. He went to prison and was about to be executed when the Tsar had a pardon delivered and it was learned that part of his punishment was making him think we was going to die.
In 1866, after this experience, Dostoevsky’s published his novel, Crime and Punishment, about a student named Raskolnikov living in the slums of St. Petersburg who planned a brutal murder to demonstrate his own intellect.
Dostoevsky often used symbols in his writing and the name Rodian Raskolnikov comes from “Raskol” which refers to a “split” or “schism” that took place within the Russian Orthodox Church in the 17th century.
Raskolnikov mind reveals the soul of a man possessed by both good and evil who cannot escape his own conscience. He believes that he can commit the perfect crime.
Raskolnikov uses an axe to kill the pawnbroker Alyona Ivanovna, a defenseless old woman, and her younger sister Lizaveta Ivanovna. The axe is another symbol used by the author representing the basic tool of the Russian lower classes and later in prison Raskolnikov is criticized by some of the inmates saying since he was really a gentleman himself, he shouldn’t have used an axe for the murders.
Raskolnikov confessed to the crime and presented at the trial his defense that society was not hurt by the loss of the pawnbroker and he did not personally benefit from the money he took but instead used it to help others detailing some the kind deeds. It was concluded that he must have suffered from a mental condition and he was sentenced to serve only 8 years in prison.
See Review of Notes From the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky click here to go to the review
Quotes
“Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth.”
“To go wrong in one's own way is better than to go right in someone else's.”“The darker the night, the brighter the stars,
The deeper the grief, the closer is God!”
“We sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers, who begin to interest us at first sight, somehow suddenly, all at once, before a word has been spoken.”
