A review by mikathereviewer
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This review includes spoilers, read at your own risk.



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In Depth Discussion/The Review

The book is hard to read sometimes and the translations have a huge variety. I read P&V translation and I think it was quite good.

Don't understand how Raskolnikov is so insane and no one seems to notice it. Also when Raskolnikov is right about to say something that makes him immediately be known as the killer they all seem to not hear it, or misinterpret it or anything, but suspect him

Zamyotov was so close to find out who the murderer was but decided otherwise only 'cause Raskolnikov seemed to be too mad? How can one be too mad to commit a crime? The reasoning is so absurd!

Razumihin was also odd sometimes. I get it that he is a nice person, but come on saying how a killer would act and not. How would he know? Is he a killer? No. So why does he act like he knows how one would behave?

Also can someone explain to me why Raskolnikov is so similar to the author who wrote him? Like both have anxiety and if I remember correctly Dostoevsky was in prison too, even though I can't recall for what. Reading this story makes me feel uncanny in so many ways. As if Dostoevsky's psyche is exactly this one character he wrote; Raskolnikov. Or I just imagining things, but it still feels so odd that they both are so alike. 

Part 4, chapter 4 was the best. Why? Raskolnikov has his breaking point there and tries to reject any interacion, including family and friends so that he can be alone as he is at the verge of confessing his crime and I think doesn't want to see his families reaction in case they find out the truth. It's so emotional and does the book title all its honour. 

Not only was Raskolnikov bad, but also good. That made him the perfect character for this book. As bad is capable of doing good. There are grey-areas that most people forget. Great character!

Character review

Raskolnikov tries to make himself confess but in a way of making others guess it and report him to the police. I think therefore he has some kind of mental fight between right and wrong, which is also what the book is about. I like the way how Raskolnikov tries to confess and that makes me take back the theory of him having a split personality disorder, as he seems to rather have a personal conflict than him possessing multiple personalities (especially as he CAN remember the things he did when he was acting differently). 

I kinda get it that Raskolnikov doesn't want his sister to marry Luzhin, but in all seriousness, you can't say 'either him or me', as this is a narcissistic trait. He made the conflict only bigger instead of explaining his reasoning for all this fuss. No wonder everyone thinks he is raving. I would think the same!

Ok stop talking about the main character lets get over Dunya since we already talked about her. She's the sister of the protagonist and she is way more reasonable and polite. She has her weird manners too I must say and sometimes makes stupid decisions like wanting her brother still to attend the evening with Luzhin even though she knows it would end in a catastrophe. But she is way sweeter and softer and more empathic. Honestly, I could say this about any character as Rodion literally murdered two people and is mentally ill. 
I also like the way how she respects herself and says she only marries Luzhin if he respects and values her. Rodion might think she lies, but I think that's not the case and her little speech about it was amazing.

I hated the fact that Sonya was a prostitute. I know she had no choice, but I still dislike such jobs and when Raskolnikov also saw a liking to her, I was kinda disappointed. Sorry but why does he need to like such a girl? It's such a shame. 
Before someone hates me; She has a kind and innocent soul, I just dislike the job and would have wished it would have turned out differently.
Lastly, why is Sonya religious if she has such a profession? Like it makes no sense and no wonder Sonya once thought of ending it all. 

Porfiry is literally the only smart character in this book. Suspecting Raskolnikov (the actual killer!) to have done it, based on some article perhaps, but he did his research. He isn't like the rest saying he is too mad or extraordinary. 'Cause that's exactly what a killer is and Porfiry noticed it too. A smart one indeed!
Some might say he is manipulative but I would rather call it a strategy to make someone confess. If you manipulate someone you would make one confess without them being guilty, but Porfiry rather uses strategy to get inside the mind and brain of the murderer and make him confess willingly by playing tricks. He is smart. I love that about him. 
His apology speech about trying to make Raskolnikov admit his crime was quite professional and I liked it. (and I know it was just another trick, so brilliant)

Lebezyatnikov was the kind character. Pure soul. Protect him. 

Near the end of the book Raskolnikov is thinking of killing Svidrigailov and even tells him. Like what?! Hold your horses! 

Svidrigailov is the worst. How could Dostoevsky write such a cruel and evil character? What was he thinking? But his writing was good as I truly hate that character now. Also why the ... is he engaged to a 15 year old?!!

I like that Dunya and Razumihin married, seems better than the other man before. 


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Rating

How it works: Only everything that is lower than 9 gets reduced from the final rating. Depending on how strong it inflicted the overall enjoyment of reading it effects differently. 

[ Story 8 / 10 ]

[ Characters 10 / 10 ]

[ Triggering 2 / 10 ]

[ Topic/Genre 8 / 10 ]

[ Writing style 7 / 10 ]

[ Grammatic and spelling 10 / 10 ]

[ Ending 10 / 10 ]

Final Rating

4/5


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Final thoughts/Questions

Classics of this sort (philosophy, etc.) aren't my taste as I found out with this book. It was hard sometimes to read and the long dialogues were something new to me, which I needed to adapt myself into. Definitely recommending it for people who like such kind of books, but if you are new into this type of genre and topics, you might consider a shorter book of Dostoevsky. 



Started the book: 23. June 2024
Finished the book: 25. June 2024
Wrote the review: 25. June 2024
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