Summary:
Fyodor Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment" is primarily a book about suffering. The characters' views on suffering go from revulsion and denial, especially in Raskolnikov's case, to acceptance of it, as with Sonya. Only through suffering can the characters in the novel transcend their poor conditions. Only through
suffering can Raskolnikov gain religious redemption he so desperately seeks by the end of his story.
In the novel "Crime and Punishment" the theme of suffering surfaces time and
time again. Some forms of suffering may not be as visible as others, but in some way,
every single character experiences it, and goes through major sacrifices to improve their
condition.
The Marmelodov family can probably account for half of the suffering that goes
on in the novel. Marmelodov is an alcoholic who uses what little money the family has to
go on drinking binges, which results in the suffering of the entire family. His ill wife
must raise three small children in poverty, while their older daughter Sonya has decided
to go into prostitution to support the family. Things become even worse when
Marmelodov is run over by a carriage and killed, in plain sight of Sonya and her younger
siblings. The trauma of losing a father in a bloody accident is great, and now a supporting
force in the family is gone. Katerina Ivanovna, Marmelodov's wife also passes away
from her illness later on, leaving the children to fend for themselves on the street. It
seems as if bad luck follows the family everywhere, which is what Mavmelodov even
tells Raskolnikov.
Another character that suffers is the main character himself, Raskolnikov. He is a poor,
former student who is unable to continue his studies due to money problems. Like
everyone else, he suffers through poverty, but also suffers on a mental and emotional
level after he commits murder. When he is having a discussion with Porfiry on his theory
about the superior man, he is asked what happens to the conscience of the man who
commits murder because he believes himself superior to the victim. Ironically,
Raskolnikov tells Porfiry that if the person has a conscience, he will suffer greatly for it.
This exposes Raskolnikov's own inner turmoil with what he has done. Despite his cold,
hard demeanor, inside he is suffering for what he has done, and is even on the brink of
confessing. When he finally does confess to Sonya about the murder, she tells him that
through suffering, he will find redemption for his sin. She also tells him that she will bear
his suffering too, even if it means his imprisonment in Siberia.
A few chapters later, Raskolnikov's sister Dunya discovers her brother's crime.
Her advice to Raskolnikov is similar to Sonya's, she tells him that he must confess and
suffer through his sin. Raskolnikov does not understand why he should willingly suffer in
front of people who are criminals and idiots. He questions if suffering in prison is worth
what will await him afterwards. Someone who has the exact opposite views of
Raskolnikov, is Nickolay. Porfiry knows that he has been in contact with a spiritual
mentor, and believes that in his new religious fervor, he will undergo any type of
suffering, especially in prison, to gain penitence. He goes so far as to make a false
confession saying that he is the murderer.
The character in this novel that suffers more than any other is Sonya. Her father
is a drunk who can hardly support his family, her mother is on the verge of death due to
her illness and she still has three younger siblings that must beg in the streets to survive.
To better this condition, the pure and religious Sonya turns to prostitution. Raskolnikov
even says later on that she represents the suffering of all mankind, and bows before her.
Although her situation is bad, he is astonished that such a person can remain so pure. As
if she has not suffered enough, she tells Raskolnikov that she will suffer with him when
he confesses and goes to prison. Her patience with Raskolnikov finally pays off in the
end however, when he realizes that he truly loves Sonya and wishes to repay her for all
she has done and all that she has gone through in life.
Suffering, sacrifice, and redemption are major themes that circulate though this
eye opening novel. The character's views on suffering go from revulsion and denial,
especially in Raskolnikov's case, to acceptance of it like Sonya. Only through suffering
can the characters in the novel grow and transcend their poor conditions. Only through
suffering can Raskolnikov gain religious redemption he so desperately seeks by the end
of his story.
This is the complete article, containing 718 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
