Reviews with content warning for Murder - Crime and Punishment

this is not a good intro classic, you should probably have a few under your belt before you start this or you will give up because it is so long and dry at points

Content Warnings

jayenhope's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Crime and Punishment seems to me like a 600-page in-depth exploration of the human psyche. And what a masterpiece it is!

I have been reading a lot of classics these past few months. And there was always this problem I had with the characters. I was ready to look over it due to my modern differences but then Dostoyevsky sir here comes along. His characters are so well made and make so much sense. There is no divide between the main character and the others. Nor between the females and the males.

It's long and, no doubt a tiring read but I would recommend it to everyone.

One of the points I would like to research is a few of the thoughts expressed by some of the side characters in the book, generally looked down upon by the rest of the class of characters, even our very own resident murderer. What I would like to know is if those thoughts were hidden in the other rubbish spoken by such characters on purpose or was it actually rubbish in the eyes of the author.

I could never guess what Rodion would do next (though Porfiry seemed a little too comfortable in doing so). While his story was what kept me reading, Svidrigailov, and Dounia kept me so intrigued. My understanding of his character is so vague that I feel a reread is necessary.

Side note, I am Team Sonia Deserved Better.

But the real question here is, did Rodya?

As far as I have thought about it, he didn’t. If anything he got off too easy. And while he made such strong points, he insisted on his theory and the comparison to Napoleon, I get it, I, to some extent. even agree, but what boggles my mind is how much he doesn’t ever include Lizaveta in his arguments. He insists on not feeling at all guilty at having killed that wretched old pawnbroker who would have caused misery all around’ but refuses to even acknowledge the ‘accident’ he inflicted on that woman. Dostoyevsky sets her up to fail to gain any sympathy for her patheticness. But at the scene of the actual crime, he portrays her helplessness beautifully. So, I am sure he himself realizes. It has to be a defect in Romanovitch.

Crime and Punishment: So, that period’s concept of punishment is repentance. People hope you repented for your crime and asked for divine forgiveness, and all that. Rodian obviously didn't. He did, however, suffer quite a bit. Does the reason for suffering have to be specifically expiation? But also doesn't it have to be? For, wouldn't every suffering be punishment otherwise.

Svidrigailov really caught my eye, like really, really. Perhaps even a bit more than Raskolnikov. Though I don't think it is fancy when I draw parallels between the both. I mean I think Arkady himself said it. There was both their propensity to donate money when they didn't have much on themselves, to murder for nothing more than to test out their theories and to experiment. Svidrigailov took the step where Raskolnikov couldn't. Was Rodya right to, was Svidrigailov? I want a book solely on Svidrigailov, not as a victim, that would be wrong, but someone gray.

Dounia. With Crime and Punishment as the theme, I think Dounia (Sonia, Rhuzumihim, etc) remaining unexplored was understandable. Tho I have to say there was still exploration. Good deal. Parallels between the siblings were also worth noticing. The showdown between Dounia and Arkady is the most culminating one.

Once again I see this review has failed to review anything and has become the inevitable amateur stream of consciousness it always does. But here we are. Team This Book Deserved Better.

Content Warnings

mme_carton's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

More...