Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Crime and Punishment

Born- 11/11/1821 Died- 2/9/1881 Grew up amid an orphanage, an insane

asylum, and a cemetery for criminals. Served as an officer in the Russian Army. Became noticed in 1846 for Poor Folk. Arrested for treason Originally sentenced to death Later resentenced to hard labor in Siberia Forced back into military service

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Moved back to St. Petersburg Wife dies five years later Depression and gambling Sped through Crime and Punishment Moved through Western Europe Married a twenty year old woman Wrote successful short fiction between

1873 and 1881. Dies……

Fyodor Dostoyevsky cont.

Hit and miss writer Criticized by many Russian authors Russian literature under developed One of first Russian users of symbolism Known for work with character’s psyche Represented how society and politics

morphed characters

Fyodor Dostoyevsky cont.

Setting: Saint Petersburg, Russia (mid 1860s)

Point of View: Third Person Limited (Extreme focus on thoughts of protagonist)

Themes: Alienation from Society Pychology of Crime and Punishment

Symbols: Saint Petersburg

Tale of the Tape

Raskolnikov- Protagonist (sort of) Sonia- Raskolnikov’s girlfriend Dunya- Raskolnikov’s sister Marmeladov- Sonya’s father/resident

drunk Pulcheria- Raskolnikov’s mother Porfiry Petrovich- Murder investigator Ilya Petrovich- Police official

Major Characters

Svidrigailov- Dunya’s former employer Razumikhin- Raskolnikov’s foil Katerina- Marmeladov’s wife Luzhin- Dunya’s fiancé Alyona Ivanovna- Pawnbroker/victim Zossimov- Raskolnikov’s doctor

“Assisting” Characters

Raskolnikov is a former student living in a tiny apartment just struggling to get by.

He is considering killing a pawnbroker and stealing her money. He meets Marmeladov who is drinking away his family’s money

while his daughter, Sonia, works as a prostitute. He gets a letter from his mother saying that she and

Raskolnikov’s sister, Dunya, are moving back to Saint Petersburg. Dunya also plans to marry a jerk named Luzhin who can help

Raskolnikov financially Raskolnikov splits the pawnbroker’s head open with an axe. Oh yeah…he kills her sister also. Raskolnikov becomes mentally and physically sick because of his

dirty deeds.

Condensed Summary

Razumihin knows Raskolnikov is acting strange so he comes over to take care of him.

Raskolnikov meets Luzhin, threatens him, and forces him to leave. He runs into a cop and confesses…and then says he is just playing

around. He later finds Marmeladov who has been ran over by a horse

drawn carriage. He assist s Marmeladov back home to die, there he gives all his

money to his wife Katerina. Raskolnikov returns home where his mom and sister wait to

discuss Dunya’s marriage to the jerk. Svidrigailov comes to St. Pete, Raskolnikov “takes care of him” Raskolnikov goes to the police station and basically confesses

again

Cont.

Raskolnikov begins to fall in love with Sonia. He falls for her so much, that he confesses his crime to her. Remember Svidrigailov? He overhears the conversation… Svidrigailov doesn’t get any and he commits suicide. Raskolnikov confesses (for real this time) He is sentenced to eight years in sunny Siberia Sonia moves there also Happy Ever After…

Cont.

“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.” 

Favorite Quote