Summary:
An argument in favor of the regret and overwhelming guilt that plagues the character Rascolnikov in the novel Crime and Punishment following his double-murder. Rascolnikov at first rationalized his act of murder against the old woman through reason and logic, but it is evident that he is timid and uncertain with his actions and ill prepared for the doubt and insecurity that ensued after the murders.
During a time that sought political unity, radical groups were constantly rising and falling in the late 19th century Russia. These radical groups tried to progress towards drastic political changes. Groups such as these seem to encapsulate the mindset of "Crime and Punishment's" Rascolnikov, who used reason and logic to rationalize his act of murder against the old woman. He figured that since the old woman was a plague to society, Rascolnikov should kill her to eliminate her burdensome decisions. Rascolnikov conceals a super-human ego that leads to his regret.
Rascolnikov initially displays a determined, steadfast conscience as he plots to kill the old woman. On the night before the murder he "slept unusually long and without dreaming" (66). This characterization seems to imply that his mind was so clear and defined the night before the murder that he didn't need to consider any other option. He planned on killing the old woman because she negatively affected others. His resolution seems to be predestined, as he reflects following the conversation between the solider and the student: "This negligible tavern conversation had an extreme influence on him in the further development of the affair; as though there were indeed some predestination, some indication in it," (66). This feeling of predestination gives Rascolnikov peace and comfort to follow through with the murder. His actions during the day of murder are precise: he cuts the hole in his jacket to place the axe; he arrives at the old woman's house precisely when she is supposed to be alone, and plans how to get rid of the evidence. Throughout his meticulous thinking and planning though, he forgets to close the door once inside the house to murder the old woman. This crucial mistake is the result of Rascolnikov's arrogance. In his egotistically boosted super-human mindset, Rascolnikov thought he had planned out every small detail; however, this mistake proved to be the disrupting factor to his plan. It led to the death of Lizaveta, who wasn't supposed to be killed in his plan.
Because of his overblown ego, Rascolnikov was ignorant of the warnings he received to not kill the old woman. The most vivid caution Rascolnikov ignored was his dream of the beating of the horse. The dream was set in Rascolnikov's childhood, representing his innocence. The men take jubilant joy and satisfaction out of beating the horse to death, as if they had no moral feelings at all. Rascolnikov wakes up "panting, all in sweat, his hair damp with sweat, and started up in a terror," (59). If he had such a negative, unpleasant reaction to a dream of killing a horse, then one would think that the thought of savagely killing a human with an axe would hold more grave results; however, Rascolnikov wakes up, saying, "Thank God it was only a dream! But what's wrong? Am I coming down with a fever? Such a hideous dream!" (59). This quote reveals Rascolnikov's ignorance of the potential results of his own actions. The torture that Rascolnikov faces after he kills the old woman is far greater than the torture he as the young men beat the horse ceaselessly to its death, but Rascolnikov seems to repress this warning. The dichotomy of Rascolnikov's conscience vs. his own sub conscience reveals the arrogance of Rascolnikov. In his sleep, Rascolnikov's sub conscience tries to warn him to not kill the old woman, yet his normal, awake conscience directs him to follow through with the murder.
Immediate signs of regret are displayed following the murders. Although Rascolnikov truly believed that he could murder a human and not suffer grave repercussions, it is evident that he is timid and uncertain with his actions. He is characterized as if he "would have jumped up at once and shouted" (86) if anyone were to walk into his room because he is so anxious. Regret seems to fill his thoughts, thinking, "Bits and scraps of various thoughts kept swarming in his head; but he could not grasp any one of them, could not rest on any one, hard as he tried..." (86). Rascolnikov, because of his arrogance, was not prepared for the doubt and insecurity that ensued after the murders.
This is the complete article, containing 699 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
