Crime and PunishmentCrime and Punishment

Fyodor DostoevskyFyodor Dostoevsky

Written in 1865-1866Written in 1865-1866

St. Petersburg, RussiaSt. Petersburg, Russia

The Life of DostoevskyThe Life of Dostoevsky

Born one of six children in Moscow in 1821Born one of six children in Moscow in 1821 Fyodor was emotionally troubled and Fyodor was emotionally troubled and

alienated friends with his moodsalienated friends with his moods After quitting the military, he began After quitting the military, he began

writing about his own youth which was full writing about his own youth which was full of misery, isolation and insecurity.of misery, isolation and insecurity.

First bestseller was First bestseller was Poor Folk-Poor Folk- it was it was admired for its character study and admired for its character study and romantic socialismromantic socialism

Troubled TimesTroubled Times

Arrested in 1849 for his reckless socialistic Arrested in 1849 for his reckless socialistic articles and condemned to die by firing squadarticles and condemned to die by firing squad

Saved by the tsar, he was instead sentenced to Saved by the tsar, he was instead sentenced to 4 years of hard labor in Siberia.4 years of hard labor in Siberia.

This further contributed to his fears and This further contributed to his fears and alienation and he developed epilepsy.alienation and he developed epilepsy.

In 1853 he experienced a religious conversion.In 1853 he experienced a religious conversion. He began a socialist newspaper and once more He began a socialist newspaper and once more

received unfavorable criticismreceived unfavorable criticism

Crime and PunishmentCrime and Punishment

Poor and reduced to begging, Fyodor Poor and reduced to begging, Fyodor began writing C and P.began writing C and P.

It was serialized in It was serialized in The Russian The Russian MessengerMessenger and appeared in English 4 and appeared in English 4 years later.years later.

Became a literary idol.Became a literary idol. Died in 1881 of a epileptic seizure.Died in 1881 of a epileptic seizure.

About the NovelAbout the Novel

Setting Setting – 1860’s - – 1860’s - Russian city of St. Russian city of St. Petersburg and a Petersburg and a prison in Siberiaprison in Siberia

Third person Third person omniscientomniscient

Psychological Psychological novel-novel- Raskolnikov’s Raskolnikov’s tortured tortured psychological psychological punishmentpunishment

Main CharactersMain Characters Rodion Romanovich RaskolnikovRodion Romanovich Raskolnikov:: variously called Rodya and Rodka, is variously called Rodya and Rodka, is

the protagonist from whose perspective the story is primarily told.the protagonist from whose perspective the story is primarily told.

Sofya Semyonovna MarmeladovaSofya Semyonovna Marmeladova: variously called Sonya and : variously called Sonya and Sonechka, is the daughter of a drunk, Semyon Zakharovich, Raskolnikov Sonechka, is the daughter of a drunk, Semyon Zakharovich, Raskolnikov meets her father in a tavern at the beginning of the novel.meets her father in a tavern at the beginning of the novel.

Porfiry PetrovichPorfiry Petrovich: the detective in charge of solving Raskolnikov's : the detective in charge of solving Raskolnikov's murdersmurders

Avdotya Romanovna RaskolnikovaAvdotya Romanovna Raskolnikova: Raskolnikov's sister, called Dunya : Raskolnikov's sister, called Dunya for short, who plans to marry the wealthy, yet morally depraved, Luzhin to for short, who plans to marry the wealthy, yet morally depraved, Luzhin to save the family from financial destitution.save the family from financial destitution.

Arkady Ivanovich SvidrigailovArkady Ivanovich Svidrigailov: wealthy former employer and current : wealthy former employer and current pursuer of Dunya, torments Dunya and Raskolnikov but never goes to the pursuer of Dunya, torments Dunya and Raskolnikov but never goes to the police.police.

Dmitri Prokofych RazumikhinDmitri Prokofych Razumikhin: Raskolnikov's loyal, good-natured and : Raskolnikov's loyal, good-natured and only friend. He and Dunya ultimately become romantically involved.only friend. He and Dunya ultimately become romantically involved.

Russian TranslationsRussian Translations

Raskolnikov – “raskol” means Raskolnikov – “raskol” means “schism” or “split” in Russia“schism” or “split” in Russia

Razum – “reason”, “intelligence”Razum – “reason”, “intelligence”

Russian word for crime is Russian word for crime is “prestuplenie” “prestuplenie”

Directly translated means -“stepping Directly translated means -“stepping over the line”over the line”

Themes Themes

Alienation from Alienation from SocietySociety – at first – at first Raskolnikov is Raskolnikov is separated by his separated by his PRIDEPRIDE, and later by , and later by his his GUILTGUILT and its and its intense intense psychological and psychological and physical effectsphysical effects

Superman themeSuperman theme An extraordinary An extraordinary

person above moral person above moral lawslaws

““steps beyond” and steps beyond” and has no consciencehas no conscience

Nietzsche – “In Beyond Nietzsche – “In Beyond Good and Evil”, 2 Good and Evil”, 2 types of morality: types of morality: master-morality and master-morality and slave-morality.slave-morality.

The higher type of The higher type of man creates his own man creates his own values and the meek values and the meek and powerless are at and powerless are at their mercy.their mercy.

NihilismNihilism Philosophical idea – Philosophical idea –

developed in Russia 1850-developed in Russia 1850-18601860

Rejected family, societal Rejected family, societal bonds and emotional and bonds and emotional and aesthetic concernsaesthetic concerns

Favored strict Favored strict “materialism”- no mind or “materialism”- no mind or soul outside of the physicalsoul outside of the physical

Nietzche’s nihilism – active Nietzche’s nihilism – active vs. passivevs. passive

Active nihilism seeks to Active nihilism seeks to destroy what it no longer destroy what it no longer believes in .believes in .

                                                            

Portrait of Friedrich Nietczhe

Be careful when you fight the monsters, lest you become one.

Friedrich Nietzsche

In heaven all the interesting people are missing.

Friedrich Nietzsche