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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Themes or Characters that Resonated with Me:
Raskolnikov: His internal struggle and justification for committing murder stand out as central to the novel. His rationalization that he is a "Napoleon," above moral constraints for the greater good, speaks to his inflated sense of superiority. As the novel progresses, his motivations become more complex, revealing that he isn’t driven purely by financial need, but rather by a philosophical justification of his actions. However, his ultimate cowardice and inability to reconcile his actions with his conscience were powerful in shaping his character arc. His confession at the end doesn’t seem to come from a place of repentance but as a result of his inability to live with the psychological consequences of his crime.
Sonya: The stark contrast between Raskolnikov and Sonya highlights the moral conflict at the heart of the story. While Raskolnikov justifies his wrongs, Sonya, a prostitute, does not attempt to rationalize her actions. Her character shows that morality is not just about justification but about the selfless nature of her sacrifices for her family. Despite her difficult circumstances, she embodies compassion and redemption in a way that Raskolnikov, despite his intellectual justifications, cannot.
Dunya: Dunya represents a different kind of strength. When faced with the threat of violence from Svidrigailov, she refuses to kill, even with a gun in her hand. Her moral compass and refusal to take another life show the stark contrast to Raskolnikov’s belief in murder for a greater purpose.
Emotions, Thoughts, or Memories it Brought Up in Me:
Raskolnikov’s internal torment, especially his conflicting emotions about guilt and fear of consequences, brought up feelings of how people often struggle with their own morality and the weight of their choices. His fear of the consequences seemed more significant than any true remorse, which mirrored how society sometimes prioritizes the fear of punishment over the actual morality of actions.
The relationship between Raskolnikov and Sonya made me reflect on the complexities of morality. Sonya’s self-sacrifice and willingness to endure hardships without moral justification, contrasted with Raskolnikov’s self-serving rationalization of his crime, painted a vivid picture of moral struggles and redemption. It made me think of how people often justify their own actions or the choices of others based on circumstances.
Opinion about the Author or Writing Style:
Dostoevsky’s writing in Crime and Punishment is masterful in delving deep into the psychological turmoil of the characters. Through Raskolnikov’s mental and emotional breakdowns, the novel paints a vivid picture of a person wrestling with guilt, pride, and fear. The shifting perspectives and unreliable narration mirror Raskolnikov’s fractured psyche. The contrast between Raskolnikov’s intellectual justifications and the simpler, more grounded morality of other characters like Sonya and Razumikhin is stark and works to highlight his inner conflict.
The novel’s exploration of morality, guilt, and redemption is still highly relevant today. It speaks to the human tendency to justify wrongdoing through rationalizations, especially when one believes they are above others. Dostoevsky’s portrayal of these themes remains a timeless exploration of the human condition.
Favorite Passage:
“The man who has a conscience suffers whilst acknowledging his sin. That is his punishment.”
My ratings-
Writing Style: 85
Relatability: 85
Originality: 95
Personal impact: 95
Plot: 90
Raskolnikov: His internal struggle and justification for committing murder stand out as central to the novel. His rationalization that he is a "Napoleon," above moral constraints for the greater good, speaks to his inflated sense of superiority. As the novel progresses, his motivations become more complex, revealing that he isn’t driven purely by financial need, but rather by a philosophical justification of his actions. However, his ultimate cowardice and inability to reconcile his actions with his conscience were powerful in shaping his character arc. His confession at the end doesn’t seem to come from a place of repentance but as a result of his inability to live with the psychological consequences of his crime.
Sonya: The stark contrast between Raskolnikov and Sonya highlights the moral conflict at the heart of the story. While Raskolnikov justifies his wrongs, Sonya, a prostitute, does not attempt to rationalize her actions. Her character shows that morality is not just about justification but about the selfless nature of her sacrifices for her family. Despite her difficult circumstances, she embodies compassion and redemption in a way that Raskolnikov, despite his intellectual justifications, cannot.
Dunya: Dunya represents a different kind of strength. When faced with the threat of violence from Svidrigailov, she refuses to kill, even with a gun in her hand. Her moral compass and refusal to take another life show the stark contrast to Raskolnikov’s belief in murder for a greater purpose.
Emotions, Thoughts, or Memories it Brought Up in Me:
Raskolnikov’s internal torment, especially his conflicting emotions about guilt and fear of consequences, brought up feelings of how people often struggle with their own morality and the weight of their choices. His fear of the consequences seemed more significant than any true remorse, which mirrored how society sometimes prioritizes the fear of punishment over the actual morality of actions.
The relationship between Raskolnikov and Sonya made me reflect on the complexities of morality. Sonya’s self-sacrifice and willingness to endure hardships without moral justification, contrasted with Raskolnikov’s self-serving rationalization of his crime, painted a vivid picture of moral struggles and redemption. It made me think of how people often justify their own actions or the choices of others based on circumstances.
Opinion about the Author or Writing Style:
Dostoevsky’s writing in Crime and Punishment is masterful in delving deep into the psychological turmoil of the characters. Through Raskolnikov’s mental and emotional breakdowns, the novel paints a vivid picture of a person wrestling with guilt, pride, and fear. The shifting perspectives and unreliable narration mirror Raskolnikov’s fractured psyche. The contrast between Raskolnikov’s intellectual justifications and the simpler, more grounded morality of other characters like Sonya and Razumikhin is stark and works to highlight his inner conflict.
The novel’s exploration of morality, guilt, and redemption is still highly relevant today. It speaks to the human tendency to justify wrongdoing through rationalizations, especially when one believes they are above others. Dostoevsky’s portrayal of these themes remains a timeless exploration of the human condition.
Favorite Passage:
“The man who has a conscience suffers whilst acknowledging his sin. That is his punishment.”
My ratings-
Writing Style: 85
Relatability: 85
Originality: 95
Personal impact: 95
Plot: 90
idk and i actually want to attempt again but i have to start from the beginning
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
i’m not sure i can find the perfect words to fully express how much i love this novel, but it’s undoubtedly one of the few i’ve read that truly deserves to be regarded as a literary masterpiece. raskolnikov is, in my view, one of the most psychologically complex and compelling characters ever created.
his ideology is especially fascinating: his belief in his own extraordinariness and his supposed ability to transcend traditional morality and law appears, in many ways, to serve as a compensation for a lack of self-worth and an underlying fear of powerlessness. yet the very ideology that initially seems to empower him ultimately becomes the source of suffering.
this leaves us to question whether a man of conscience can ever truly escape it. does punishment only come through legal consequences, or is the punishment of realizing you’ve destroyed yourself even worse? and does intellectual pride bring any real fulfillment, or does it inevitably lead to isolation and suffering?
his ideology is especially fascinating: his belief in his own extraordinariness and his supposed ability to transcend traditional morality and law appears, in many ways, to serve as a compensation for a lack of self-worth and an underlying fear of powerlessness. yet the very ideology that initially seems to empower him ultimately becomes the source of suffering.
this leaves us to question whether a man of conscience can ever truly escape it. does punishment only come through legal consequences, or is the punishment of realizing you’ve destroyed yourself even worse? and does intellectual pride bring any real fulfillment, or does it inevitably lead to isolation and suffering?
What do you think, would not one tiny crime be wiped out by thousands of good deeds?
Raskolnikov is an ex law student who lives a desperate and impoverished life. In order to improve his situation and that of his family he murders a deceitful pawn broker for money, believing that as a superior man he is above conventional morality. But once the deed is done, he is so gripped by guilt that he gets rid of the stolen money and locks himself out of sight and what follows is a dumb struggle within him as he suffers the consequences of his actions.
The man who has a conscience suffers whilst acknowledging his sin. That is his punishment.
And so he suffers his conscience that torments him every step of the way as he tries to evade a suspicious police investigator while keeping his family at an arm’s length. Even though he has accidentally committed the perfect murder and there are no facts against him, he slips into such a deranged and implacable situation that he is completely rent from the social fabric and cannot be assimilated back. Only Sonya, a downtrodden prostitute, can show him the way to redemption.
Such is the plot of this 19th century masterpiece which, to my mind, is the most realistic psychological examination of a man who commits murder. Other than being a deep study into the experience of crime and its understanding, the novel also blends together with flowing ease the political, social and religious themes and undertones that color that understanding. It is a journey into the back alleys and drinking dens of Russia where the less fortunate, the drunks, the harlots, and the poor, dwell.
A drama, a thriller, a tragic battle of ideas, and the lives of tormented souls – Crime and Punishment has all this and much more. The depth with which the ideas are presented warrants deeper study and attention.
Being a tome of 576 pages, it is indeed a page turner and reads like a feverish dream which is yet so indescribably palpable. The characters are so lifelike and their stories so desperate and heart-wrenching that they lay bare the human soul at its most grotesque and vulnerable times. The plot lines weave through the novel seamlessly offering a genuine glimpse into 19th century Russia that was plagued with poverty, class division, and new-age revolutionary theories that were just on the horizon.
I picked the audiobook version read by Anthony Heald after sampling on Audible, and I couldn’t have picked a better narration. The voice modulation and characterizations were on point, and listening to it I was able to grasp and appreciate better the subtleties, reading it as I was a second time.
Raskolnikov is an ex law student who lives a desperate and impoverished life. In order to improve his situation and that of his family he murders a deceitful pawn broker for money, believing that as a superior man he is above conventional morality. But once the deed is done, he is so gripped by guilt that he gets rid of the stolen money and locks himself out of sight and what follows is a dumb struggle within him as he suffers the consequences of his actions.
The man who has a conscience suffers whilst acknowledging his sin. That is his punishment.
And so he suffers his conscience that torments him every step of the way as he tries to evade a suspicious police investigator while keeping his family at an arm’s length. Even though he has accidentally committed the perfect murder and there are no facts against him, he slips into such a deranged and implacable situation that he is completely rent from the social fabric and cannot be assimilated back. Only Sonya, a downtrodden prostitute, can show him the way to redemption.
Such is the plot of this 19th century masterpiece which, to my mind, is the most realistic psychological examination of a man who commits murder. Other than being a deep study into the experience of crime and its understanding, the novel also blends together with flowing ease the political, social and religious themes and undertones that color that understanding. It is a journey into the back alleys and drinking dens of Russia where the less fortunate, the drunks, the harlots, and the poor, dwell.
A drama, a thriller, a tragic battle of ideas, and the lives of tormented souls – Crime and Punishment has all this and much more. The depth with which the ideas are presented warrants deeper study and attention.
Being a tome of 576 pages, it is indeed a page turner and reads like a feverish dream which is yet so indescribably palpable. The characters are so lifelike and their stories so desperate and heart-wrenching that they lay bare the human soul at its most grotesque and vulnerable times. The plot lines weave through the novel seamlessly offering a genuine glimpse into 19th century Russia that was plagued with poverty, class division, and new-age revolutionary theories that were just on the horizon.
I picked the audiobook version read by Anthony Heald after sampling on Audible, and I couldn’t have picked a better narration. The voice modulation and characterizations were on point, and listening to it I was able to grasp and appreciate better the subtleties, reading it as I was a second time.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes