Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

I own this book, and I can tell you, I fell in love in when I read this book for the first time. Mysterious, fun and thrilling, with detailed descriptions that make you feel the actual room, atmosphere and characters. You have a feeing that the plot happens in a year, when in reality, it is happening in just few days. Beautiful book, I recommend strongly to everyone

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Its a one of the best book related to psychopathology published in 1800's. The books show the story of poor student named Raskolnikov.

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The atmspehere of the book is very depressing and it reflects the inner world of the main character who committed the murder. This event changed him as his ideas and perceptions were ruined, he starts to rebuild his inner world and finds his way to repentance.

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Crime And Punishment was written by the great Russian philosopher, writer, novelist and playwright named Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky. when he write this Novel Russia was struggling with lots of internal conflicts, such as religion, culture, tradition and customs. They need a change. This was the time of Nihilist movement in Russia. The story's protagonist has also some features of Nihilism.

Crime And Punishment, contain the philosophies like feudalism, dualism, psychoanalysis, existentialism, realism etc. Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov, the story's hero is confused, and mentally disturb character. He planned the murder of Alyona(pawnbroker) but surprisingly murdered her sister too. After committing the crime, he tries to justify herself that whatever he did was beneficial for others. He goes through different theories but unable to justify his crime and become mentally ill. To gain metal relief he confesses his crime to Sonya to whom he love. Sonya had been forced to enter into the profession of prostitution to help her family financially. At the end, Raskolnikov confesses his crime to police and accept the punishment.

The plot is interesting, but some boring because much of the beginning part of the Novel deal with the protagonist and his dreams. He has his own theory of the world that there are two types of peoples in the world exist. First are those, who follow laws and traditions. The second types of peoples are those who are laws breaker. According to him, some individuals like him have a right to crime to attain a specific social goal. This theory leads him to his crime and punishment.

The story also describes the situation of Russia in that age that how peoples were struggling with poverty. When the story starts we find that our hero is passing to the difficult days of poverty. He has not enough money for food and cloth. Semyon Zakharovich Marmeladov tells his story that his wife is sick and his daughter "Sonya" sacrifice her life to helps her family.

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Crime and Punishment is one of those quintessential works of art that each peruser of composing knows they should read sometime in their life. There is an unmistakable clarification behind this, for Crime and Punishment is one of the best books of its sort in vicinity that I have encountered.

There are certain sorts of makers who seem to appreciate distinctive issues better than anything others. Charles Dickens for case, is the outline of an author who fathoms the weights of life and the courses in which society can tread upon individual adaptabilities in the mission for wealth. Moreover, a substantial bit of the goliath Russian inventors seem to understand continuing and destitution like couple of various makers can. In any case, where a man like Anton Chekhov utilizes the ease of vernacular overpowering everything in the region, Fyodor Dostoyevsky wields his pen to talk about persevering on a widely inclusive level.

Yet moral awkwardness in Raskolnikov's expiation and recovery seemed to scar the creativity of the mental battle, Crime and Punishment is mental novel doing what needs to be done.

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Crime and Punishment is one of those quintessential classics that each peruser of composing knows they must read eventually in their life. There is an unmistakable clarification behind this, for Crime and Punishment is one of the best books of its sort in vicinity that I have encountered.

There are certain sorts of makers who seem to understand distinctive issues better than anything others. Charles Dickens for case, is the delineation of an author who understands the weights of life and the courses in which society can tread upon individual adaptabilities in the journey for wealth. In like manner, a vast segment of the titanic Russian inventors seem to grasp persevering and poverty like couple of distinctive makers can. Nevertheless, where a man like Anton Chekhov utilizes the ease of vernacular overpowering everything in the region, Fyodor Dostoyevsky wields his pen to talk about continuing on a widely inclusive level.

Yet moral awkwardness in Raskolnikov's compensation and recovery seemed to scar the inventiveness of the mental battle, Crime and Punishment is mental novel doing what needs to be done.

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This book is a mental exciting ride, an adventure into the bleak lobbies of depression, ever extending premonition, daze and tension. Tons of immaculate Russian virtuoso! A significant investigation of human instinct, from the pits of madness to the statures of help.

There were a few decent subjects in it, however there were a ton of parts that were truly moderate or dry. It's certainly a mental read instead of a plot driven read that requests full focus. Not my exceptionally most loved fantastic, but rather I didn't despise understanding it either. It was doubtlessly intriguing!

It took me a while to complete it, however it was justified, despite all the trouble. I'm not certain I comprehended it completely, but rather I appreciated understanding it.

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Crime and Punishment is one of those quintessential classics that each peruser of writing knows they must read sooner or later in their life. There is an unmistakable explanation behind this, for Crime and Punishment is one of the best books of its sort in presence that I have experienced.

There are sure sorts of creators who appear to comprehend different issues superior to anything others. Charles Dickens for case, is the illustration of a writer who comprehends the weights of life and the courses in which society can tread upon individual flexibilities in the quest for riches. Likewise, a large portion of the colossal Russian creators appear to comprehend enduring and neediness like couple of different creators can. Be that as it may, where a man like Anton Chekhov uses the effortlessness of dialect overwhelming everything in the vicinity, Fyodor Dostoyevsky wields his pen to discuss enduring on an all encompassing level.

Albeit moral gracelessness in Raskolnikov's atonement and reclamation appeared to scar the imaginativeness of the mental fight, Crime and Punishment is mental novel taking care of business.

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A great novel! A story which revolves around the mind of a guy who committed a crime, told in an awesome manner. Rich in literature.Only Dostoevsky can do this as no one else in the literature world has got more experience of life than him.

This book left a deep impression on me, one that is likely to stay forever. Dostoevsky was able to peer into the darkest corners of the human soul and lay it bare. It is a classic, so it's a slow read.but then again, I have seen slower plots in contemporary novels. It changed the way I looked at life. This book will leave a mark on you if you give it half a chance.

A must read to all those bookworms out there. The book portrays beautifully the ever miserable state of mind of the corrupt.how a single crime makes life a living hell and how powerful the weight of guilt can crush a man.

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Sonia or Sofya Semyonovna Marmeladov is an immortal creation of Dostoevsky. Her father, though mostly drowned in drinks, could appreciate her greatness:

" On the last day God will come and ask:' where is the girl who had compassion on her earthly father, and did not turn away in disgust from the habitual drunkard? Where is the girl who sacrificed herself to an unkind, consumptive  stepmother, and children who were not of her own flesh and blood?. He will forgive my Sonia. He will forgive her, I know. I felt convinced of it when I was with her just now. We shall all be judged by Him and He will forgive us all; the evil and the just, the wise and the gentle. " This faith in divine dispensation, the forgiveness of God was Sonia's anchor in life.

Dostvesky has described two well defined types of character the Double and the Meek. If Raskolnikov is the representative of the Double, Sonia stands for the Meek, who are dreamers, unpractical, and suffering suffering for themselves as well as for humanity. The Meek characters never suffer from psychological, religious, moral and aesthetic disorder. A thin and lovely girl of eighteen, Sonia is a symbol of self sacrifice in a world where  chaos and disintegration were rampant. She was guided by the heart rather than head and intellect. She had to earn for her family by selling her flesh to so many heartless people. She was not allowed to live with her people even at night, because the tenants thought it beneath their dignity to live with a prost itute under the same roof. And yet she had no complaint against any body. For a woman of her profession is, was difficult if not impossible to retain so much innocence, but she did.

Raskolnikov(hero of the novel) heard all about Sonia from her father, and developed compassion for her complete self-denial. He met her for the first time at the time of her father's death. the heroine entered into the room.'  Timidly and noiselessly a young girl made her way through the crowd, and strange was her appearance in that room, in the midst of want, rags, death and despair. She, too, was in rags, her attire was all the cheapest.' The dying father looked at his daughter, crushed and ashamed in her humiliation' Sonia! Daughter! Forgive! with these words the father breathed his last in her arms.

Raskolnikov came in contact with Sonia, and felt that she was a fellow sufferer. It was Sonia alone who was capable of teaching him the supreme lessons of humility, insight, compassion and purification through  intense suffering. Raskolnikov had no more doubt that his spiritual salvation was in Sonia's hands. He knelt down before her and kissed her feet:'  I did not bow down to you, I bowed down to all the suffering humanity.' She lived a life of shame and degradation and yet had such holy feelings, which elevate the soul. She was a lady with the lamp illuminating their dark and dreary life of prisoners.

Raskolnikov was sustained by Sonia's love. Sonia, in her turn, had no doubt that he loved her beyond everything.' They were both pale and thin: but those pale faces were bright with the dawn of new future, of a full resurrection into a new life. They were renewed by love: the heart of each held infinite source of life for the  heart of the other.'

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What if mankind could be divided in 2 classes: material (Low) and superior (High); with superiors having the freedom of no law being applicable on them, infact they make the laws for the rest. They have the right to kill at will and can bring about events like wars resulting in millions of causalities. We only need to peep into the history and can assign this superior class to number of historical figures like Hitler, Napoleon etc.

Now, what if someone who hypothesizes this theory believes himself to be a superior being with every right to kill people of material class (to develop the world); and what if in this state of mind he murders few material beings and later on – on facing his conscience – he realizes that he infact belonged to material class only with no strength and mind of a superior being. One can only imagine the suffering he has to endure in his life afterwards.

In Crime and Punishment, C&P, Raskolnikov, RSK, the protagonist – a poor but brilliant ex-law student – formulates such a theory and murders an old pawn broker woman and her sister. “When reason fails, the devil helps” With devil on his side and fortune favoring him – not without some hair raising and thrilling experience - he flees from the crime scene without leaving any evidence to trace him. But as they say “You can fool the world, but you can’t fool your own self”, for days afterwards RSK finds himself in a delirious state with continuous suffering. Everyone believes him to be sick and feverish and at times - through his actions and sayings - he reveals a lot about the murder. Porfiry Petrovitch, detective handling the case, after going through all available evidences, RSK’s behavior in general, and having read his theory of material and superior class strongly considers him to be the murderer. He grills RSK - where in he plays with his mind to made him accept his crime (Believe me, these interrogations form the most remarkable and intriguing part of the story).

Porfiry must convince RSK to atone and accept his crime and surrender as that’s only way to save Nikolay (one who has declared himself the murderer fallaciously) and to end the sufferings of RSK forever. Will Porfiry be able to win the battle of mind with RSK? What path will RSK take to end his sufferings; will he surrender or run away?

That’s the tail from the protagonist’s perspective but that’s not all C&P offers; there are around dozens of very interesting characters – not as widely covered and not as complex as RSK – that suffers alongside RSK and play vital roles in his life. His mother (Avdotya), sister (Dounia), friend (Razumihin), his doctor (Zometov) – unaware of his sin - tries to ease his pain and bring normalcy in his life. Dostoevsky has brilliantly given each one of these characters space of their own, without dragging from the central theme and such is there place in the theme that reader – at times – wonder who actually the protagonist is?

"I didn’t bow down to you, I bowed down to all the sufferings of Humanity".Though C&P is majorly about the crime that RSK commits and punishment he receives for it in terms of the torment his SOUL has to go through. “If he has conscience he will suffer for his mistake. That will be his punishment – as well as the prison.” Dostoevsky very meticulously throws light on the sufferings of various other forms through C&P's other characters. Be it the self attained suffering of Marmaldov and Svidrigailov; or suffering one has to endure for kindness and generosity of nature – Razumihin and Sonia; or suffering one has to bear for the sake of love – Dounia and Avdotya; or the suffering of bad luck in terms series of undesired events – Katarina (Sub-plot of Katarina really touches ones heart and its hard to get out of the gloom it creates in a readers heart.).

After finishing C&P R. L. Stevenson wrote “It nearly finished me. It was like having an illness.” It was quite a same experience for me. When I completed Book 1 – which finishes with murder of two women – I felt restless and frightened as if I’ve committed the murder myself. Right through Book 2-5, I felt delirious, sick and suffered alongside RSK and others. With Book 6 – last one – as the sufferings of each of the characters begins to move towards a climax - like Death of Marmaldov, Katrina and Svidrigailov – it made me sad but it also reduced the suffering – theirs as well as mine – and I infact thanked Svidrigailov for ending the agony of many of them. In the end, as RSK finally settles on his final resolution and starts his journey towards the police Station for surrender, I felt myself moving alongside him and believed it to be the only way leading to HOPE.

Yes, C&P is an illness, but it’s an illness that’s worth being sick with and though it didn’t succeed in finishing me altogether; I must confess that it did finish a part of me, it made me delirious and it will certainly take time for me to come out of it. It did finish my reading habit too and I am still struggling to find any solace among any of the book I picked after it.

C&P is nearly 700 pages long and once you are done with first 160 pages(which marks end of Book 1) there is no way left for the reader but to finish it till very end. I didn’t find anything absurd in C&P; it’s full of interesting as well as variant characters. It belongs to the times of 1850’s Russia and successfully imports the reader to that world so that when you finish reading it you’ll feel as if you knew RSK, Sonia etc personally.Throughout C&P reader suffers with the sufferings of its characters and when – at last – it finishes with a ray of hope it brings a smile on reader’s face. I guess that’s necessary too, otherwise how’d one get out of the sickness that C&P spreads.

Brilliance of Dostoevsky lies in the way he plays with the mind of its characters, esp. that of RSK. RSK is a complex character, moving from firmness to doubt, self-satisfaction to lunacy, self loathing to hatred (for others) within a space of a paragraph. Events that take place are covered from varying perspectives through the reflections of C&P’s chief characters and it’s through these very varying viewpoints Roskolnikov’s mental journey is portrayed with its varying transformations.

C&P is a crime based novel involving murder and mystery, but its beauty lies in the fact that it has nothing to do with question of ‘Who done it?’ as that’s quite clear throughout; It’s the question of ‘Why it was done?’ that it addresses; and its not a question just for the investigator Petrovitch or Friend Razumihin or Sister Dounia or Sonia; or for the reader; but it proves out to be question for the murderer too. I am not a murderer – never would be – but if I were in such circumstances I am sure my mental conditions would’ve been like that of RSK and I don’t think it would've taken me more than a day or two to surrender. Torment that one has to bear in a jail is nothing compared to what a Soul has to go through after such a crime is committed, provided Soul is conscious one.

At last, I’ll recommend C&P to all; it’s a brilliant take on the mind of a criminal (with conscience). Like Dostoevsky (There is no happiness in comfort; happiness is bought with Suffering) I believe that in suffering lies the real peace. What life is a life if there is nothing to worry about; if there is nothing to suffer for? So, “Suffering is a good thing. Suffer!”

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A book written by Fyoder Dostoevosky probably in 1864 portraying Russia in the second half of 19th Century. Spanning from intrigue, brutal murder and self search to a psychological war that lasted with Punishment. Crime in all its form and with all its motives irrespective of criminal's innocence or underlying necessity has always been an object of apprehension.

Criminals deserve punishment, irrespective of their intellectual achievements and capacity, irrespective of their power and position and irrespective of their hunger, poverty or betrayal from social circle. But is capital offense like murder, for monetary gains, is justified for whatever the circumstances a person is exposed to? Is punishing someone justified as retaliation to injustices and inequality of whole society? Are some of the human beings are innate leaders with special right to govern the social order through force and power? Is bloodshed a certification to power and control? Can misery, poverty and disorientation in society can only be removed through stabbing the powerful to death?

Murder for whatever reason committed leave an impression of brutality, social disorder and dogmatic mentality. I was forced to think lot of similar questions; some of them I worked out for my own benefit while most of them remain unanswered. What is the mentality of first time murderer? How does he react post facto? How afraid he becomes? And how disruptive his personality turns out to be? are some questions well answered in this text. However, I am still thinking what disturbed the murderer to an extent that he surrendered himself? Was it the fear of punishment or a feeling that execution failed to comply with the plan? Was it the first murder, which was thought out, planned and justified to executor, that disturbed him or the one that was consequential, reactionary and unplanned? What if he would have escaped from suspicion? Would he have considered himself from the elite class bestowed with an ability to kill inferior human for the sake of society? Would he have continued executing others as well for greater benefit? How can a human be classified as an inferior being or a superior one? Why not history did punish those who executed the mankind for lust of power, geography and kingdom? Were they special? Are some of the human really special to execute their desires at any length?

Rodion Romanovitch Raskalnikov, central character of Crime and Punishment, a law student, would-be writer, enthusiastic, career oriented, theorist, perceived revolutionist, soft hearted helping individual and a Murderer. Does it all fit together? It had! A conflict between good and bad, positive virtues and evil deeds, inconsistent, incomprehensible and inevitable war between two sides of human mind and heart resulted in a victory of a Murderer over a human. But that victory did not last long, albeit it ended the next moment when blood sprawled over old lady’s head. Just after the brutal stabbing of an old lady to death; good prevailed over bad but unfortunately the damage was done; it went worst when an unanticipated moment occur and Lizaveta (old lady's sister) emerged from nowhere to surrender her life to brutality.

Atlast, intellectual realized that he was not one of 'them' and this only thought pushed him to surrender. He suffered from moral and spiritual punishment but that did not suffice the coldness of his crime. He wandered here and there, thought of suicide, helped people, fell drastically ill, was considered mad and was delirious most of the time only thinking of his misdeed and consequences, fighting with his soul to accept but his heart and soul were not ready to accept the reasons argued by his mind. Finally, he surrendered and was sent to Siberia to serve Seven years of Sentence. Sonia followed her and they might have lived happily afterwards.Novel ended but left me in delirium, with some new insights and some new questions to explore. Some new quotes to use in my conversation and few new philosophies to discuss and ponder over. I read it for the first time and would like to read it again probably after few years when I would be able to understand deeply what I did not get know. A single reading is recommended for Serious readers.

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"All I can say is, it nearly finished me. It was like having an illness"

That was the feeling reflected by R L Stevensonafter reading Crime and Punishment.Probably, he was reflecting the thoughts of myriad readers through this confession. I pick up this book at a tender age and almost took it as a crime thriller. It was a page turner but slowly, the character Raskolnikovstarted invading my emotions. I feel like being tormented in a dark room of solitary confinement.

Who was Raskolnikov?

Was he someone who proffered to take up a difficult task to prove that human beings should elevate his existence to the next level by bye passing rules and regulations? Or was he someone who was enthused by Napoleon and was nurturing obsequious genuflection over the his dogma! Laws are meant to be broken and that sets you apart from other human beings.

Crime

What made him do this? Is it something personal or ideological which remains as a myth? Razumikhin extend help to his friend Raskolnikhov to come out of the penuries as he opt to confine himself in the small rented room in St. Petersburg. He decided not to take favour from anyone as he got bigger plans.

He identified an elderly lady Alena, who was a pawn broker as his prey. For two days, he engaged himself with the meticulous plan to murder Alena. Once when he executed it, he had to kill Alena's cousin, Lizaveta who was present in the same room.

After crime

Raskolnikov proved himself to be capable of breaking the rules established by human beings. But, what about his conscience? He cannot find a better hideout to escape from his own conscience. He was subjected to extreme suffering and the interrogation by detective Porfiryon psychological ground left him devastated.

Finally, he found solace in Sonya who was a prostitute but guided by Christian values. Raskolnikov kisses her feet and told "I did not bow down to you, I bowed to the whole of suffering humanity" .This is one of the most famous dialogues ever written in the history of world literature. The chaste relation with Sonya kindled the element of compassion and sensitivity in him.

Raskolnikov confesses about his sin to Sonya which was overheard bySvidrigaylov who wanted to marry Dunya (Raskolnikov's Sister). Svidrigaylov represent someone who is not bothered about the morality and confession and path of atonement was not his ways. Finally, he ended his life in suicide and he represent the would be fate of Raskolnikov provided he would have chosen to remain in his original state of mind.

Punishment

The real punishment emanate from one's conscience. Svidrigaylov was someone who never had this quality. Raskolnikov developed his quality by virtue of his association with Sonya and his own intellectual capability. He reached the stage of break down and offer himself before the law of the state which he wanted to challenge at one point of his life.

Finally, he was sent to Siberia for penal servitude and Sonya follows him. Sonya represents the human element of Raskolnikov who follows him where ever he goes. A perfect mystic ending!

Dostoevskyis a master literary stalwart who got the genius to reflect ideas through symbols. Each and every character, dreams, situations etc. in this novel represent myriad scenarios. The characters will start projecting their nature in such a manner that the readers will develop empathy of the highest order with them! No wonder, R L Stevenson was left with agony - Just like any other reader!

Those who are in love with letters and words - never miss it!

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Life’s surprises block our way to progress, true.  But the same circumstances bring the saint out of us some other time.

No man is born as criminal.   Circumstances make one crime.   After all it is fresh air that is what all human beings craving for.     People strive in their gloomy days with Sadness at it peak.  Pride in its infinity - struggle to keep life from the edge of complete destruction - the life would continue.    The crime is done in haste, as a moment’s thoughtless action but its ripples never dies.  Despair forces a criminal to make mistakes where law waits with a Siberia for suffering.

Fyodor Dostoevsky is my favorite author from any language so far.   I have read his novels during my college days.  After 20 plus years when I read CRIME AND PUNISHMENT again I now admit that in the first reading I didn’t absorbed the central principle Dostoevsky put forward nor enjoyed the read like I did this time.

A crime (Killing of a widow and her sister) is committed.   The story center on Raskolnikov, whose circumstances, thought process and helplessness which make him commit the crime.     He was a genius, think differently but he is poor.    In the eyes of Raskolnikov, the widow is doing a great injustice.   He decides to kill the woman to prove himself, to be different, to dare.  He feels that by killing her he is dong a great social justice.    His only sister and mother is coming to the city to visit him with a detective officer who engage his sister, Donia.  Raskolnikov knows very well that the marriage will not be good for his sister and decide to break it.   The crime follows with despair and anxiety which make him feverish and delirious.      The fear, despair follows him everywhere.

He gets in love with Sonia who gave away her flesh to feed the helpless children of step mother.   He gave her the hope and advises her to change her job, if not for the children but for herself.   Love paid back hope.    When he discloses all the secrets to Sonia, she asks him to surrender immediately and take the punishment but for him he feels he didn’t commit any crime.   Story takes interesting turn where another person Svidrigailov who overheard Raskolnikov’s confession to Sonia.   Add to this, Svidrigailov himself have committed a murder and half in the state of Raskolnikov.     A lot of story is there to unfold…the way Dostoevsky unfold is simply beautiful.

For a gripping suspense thriller the book gets a 100/100.  Till the very last page of the book (before the epilogue) the book kept the suspense.  Even in the last minute the story could have gone both the ways then the great writer finished it in style.    My forehead is still filled with the emotion the story left in me. Great work!

Dostoevsky applied different styles of writing in the novel and that made the book a never ending source of styles.  One can find beautiful short stories in it.  Beautiful symbolism and poetry!!   When he describes landscape in rarest occasion we can see the landscape before us and when he describes a girl we will feel as if the girl is standing in front of us.   In his notebook he himself mentioned that he treated Sonia as hope and Svidrigailov as despair.  Then I think it will not be wrong to assume his mother as orthodox mentality and sister as pride, the detective Luzin as law and the old woman the social injustice.

Another beauty of the book is that the central theme is discussed in the middle of the book.   So is the ultimate message of the book, HOPE!    The author, in fact covers the central principle with a beautiful cover of a story which extend to humanity and its mystery.     Poor man’s pride gets exposed.    Hollowness in the preaching by the ’criminals’ ripped apart.  He put the consciousness on top with hope.   The essence of the book is hiding in those 3 or 4 pages but to understand that we have to travel a lot.    While the author tries to explain what is a crime he little bother to explain the punishment.  The Cross of suffering follows him wherever he goes.  The protagonist's suffering is explained in such a way that the reader gets the feel of the punishment but he is not discussing it.

Dostoevsky classify people as two; ordinary people and extra ordinary people.  Ordinary people are supposed to follow law and live as normal citizens.  The extra ordinary people have a right to commit any crime and to transgress the law in any way.    They only need the permission of their consciousness.  (Here Dostoevsky is not referring to all the crimes, but the crimes for the good.)  If they are successful in this endures, the society will treat them as saviors.   If they fail they will be treated as criminals.  The 'powerful' take the law in their hand and kill innocents and preach for peace and cry for humanity.

The major problem for the novel I believe is that the writer gives much importance in justifying the Crime where less importance to Hope.   Even in the last chapters the author’s arguments for crime get stronger where hope gets lighter.  Given the message and flow of the novel the epilogue at least should have pressed on the essence, Hope.  As things stand the message of hope was well explained in the middle with the help of the greatest miracle.   However, I know that Dostoevsky is one author who know the value of Hope as well which he explained well in his other works.  The ultimate hope.  So I can discount the fault.  Another hurdle I had to overcome was that until I get into the story, the Russian names were a hindrance but then he used short names to make things easy.    The book has 485 pages and in small prints.   It is a serious novel, so not recommended for light readers.  However, it is a treasure for all who wish to have a book to think with.

Let me conclude this review with a quote from the book but before that let me tell you, this is a book one should not avoid to read at any cost!

"I am a man because I err!  You never reach any truth without making fourteen mistakes and very likely a hundred and fourteen."

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Crime and Punishment - Sin and Redemption.

But that is the beginning of the new story, the story of the gradual renewal of a man, of his gradual regeneration, of his slow progress from one world to another, of how he learned to know a hitherto undreamed of reality. {Epilogue}.

A complex gripping novel,existential in character, a novel which has to be read more than once to be understood.This is the story (giving you the outline)Raskolnikov wants to murder a pawnbroker- in between Raskolnikov meets a drunkard(Marmeladov)- helps his impoverished family- he commits the murder-he falls ill (insane)- confesses - redeemed (Do Read the novel).Certain instances in the novel has to be mentioned:

Marmeladov's family is very poor, to survive he makes his daughter Sonia (Sofya Semyonovna Marmeladov)a prostitute and he thinks God will forgive her (for the sin is out of love) [note:Raskolnikov helps them).

Raskolnikov believes that extraordinary/superior men can breach the law, he sanctions ''bloodshed by conscience'' and also says Crime? What crime? Killing a foul, noxious louse, that old moneylender, no good to anybody, who sucked the life-blood of the poor, so vile that killing her ought to bring absolution for forty sins - was that a crime?(chp7 part 6).

Svidrigaïlov is a man who can commit sin without moral pangs- a man whom Raskolnikov wants to emulate- This man is fond of children(sexually).He loves Raskolnikov's sister Douniya and tries to seduce her but in the end leaves her free- after this he has a vision of having sex with a five year old girl- He shoots himself (Alas his love for Douniya was true and that was his salvation).

Raskolnikov first confesses to Sonia and later falls in love with her (the book ends thus).

Dostoevsky anlayses Sin,Fate,Redemption,Ego and Suffering. Life is what one chooses- this is what existentialism is all about.Dostoevsky was influenced by Sartre who believes one chooses before one acts. Raskolnikov chose to kill inspite of something forbidding him to do so. In a way he chooses insanity for he desires illness- he has visions,dreams and also a habit of thinking abstract.He is basically good but there must be a volcanic eruption for the transformation to take place. Mind constantly chooses, in some it becomes restless and when it becomes restless, it needs an eruption - the eruption begins here in raskolnikov's act of murder and ends in his confession.

Tragedy in itself is conquering pessimism as Nietzsche(German Philosopher) said. One confronts what one fears,like Raskolnikov. But Dostoevsky does not provide a distinction between Fate and Will(free)-It is for the reader to decide- according to me Dostoevsky does not distinguish Fate and Will. Raskolnikov's Will to murder is his Fate(for he chooses).Raskolnikov is a complex psychological character wanting to do something-he wants to commit a murder not out of personal revenge but because he feels that pawnbroker loots the poor(for so he hears a conversation of some who speak of murdering the pawnbroker).

In Svidrigaïlov Dostoevsky presents Sin personified -alas in the end he shows him as a human being who is capable of love.Think of the evolution of the world- it is a mystery or even if known -where do we hide our faces? (Punishment is transformation).

The Process of evolution is on and on and on.How many more murders until we evolve.(They sometimes become inevitable for some). Raskolnikov evolved, so Hope we all will.

In Reverence to Dostoevsky

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Crime And Punishment

I read this book about a year back.I loved it.It took about 4 days to finish this book.I read this book because my friend pestered me to read this book.She said I would enjoy it.And she was right!!!!!!

I was initially prejudiced about this book(because it was Russian).I thought the essence of the book would be lost when it was translated.I was right.I still feel I could have enjoyed the book more if I knew Russian.But still it left a deep impression with me.

Raskolikov is a college student who doesn't have enough money to support his family or his education.He is in debt to an old miserly woman.To free himself he hatches a plot to kill the old woman.But unwittingly he kills the old woman's sister too(a very kind woman). Now Raskolikov is stung by his conscience.

The whole book deals with how he deals with his conscience and how he tries to free himself of the guilt. This book offers a good insight about the human conscience and psychology.The only thing I regret about the book is that its translated.So it does not help us understand the author's style properly.But I am simply amazed as to how the Russians can put emotions into words so simply.I mean the human mind is unravelled so easily.But as I have not read any other Russian authors apart from Tolstoy and Ayn Rand(whose books are thankfully not translated) ,i don't think I am qualified for critizing Russian authors.

Anyway this book is a must read for any one who loves good literature.

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I read this book say 20 years back and then again about 14 years back and then again about 5 years book so you can see the excellence of literery talent this book that has gone into the book.

These are the books of that era in which the authors were involved in the plot and character. These were not among the gory best sellers that we have had since the last 30 years.

The author is involved every moment with all the characters. The book is complex because the minds of the characters and their thoughts are complex.

Then one can say that so are the books of John Grisham or Robin Cook well may be they are but they have no message they have no use , at least to me they are not lasting books they will fade away within 10 years.

What then separates Crime and Punishment from the garbage now on sale, its message- a crime is a crime and best way to get rid of the guilt is to admit it and be ready to face the consequences.

The principal character is a bohemian he is not a goody goody fellow and neither is he a good for nothing guy he is sincere but he realizes the good self inside him , now this is one theme that transcends the boundries of race, culture, region, country , social setup, class and what not.

That is what is great about Dostoevesky , he wrote timeless novels, some of the novels are well tedious because after all most of them were written about a 100 years back in fact they are premarxist works if I remember correctly so readers of today who hardly have anytime are likely to find the books tedious but crime and punishment is not at all tedious.

If you are taking a long train journey or have a lot of time on your hands just get hold of one copy and read

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Well, I did it. After approximately 1-2 months of on and off again reading, I finally finished the magnum opus that is ''Crime and Punishment''. Overall I found the book fascinating and more detailed than any other book I've read. I think this is what left me most disappointed. After so many plot elements twisting and characters faltering, the ending seemed somewhat unfulfilling. Seeing as I don't wish to spoil the ending for anyone, I'll leave most of my criticism unsaid.

Dostoevsky has created a book solid in social criticism and quite heavy in the psychological aspect of the human condition. Raskolnikov is a socially distant character fed up with the world of immorality he sees developing around him. His family sees him as their only hope and those around him love him to death, while Raskolnikov takes all of these envious gestures as ''plagues acquired from Asia''. After committing his crime, Raskolnikov is forced to live in cowardice and fear. It is in this state of distress that Raskolnikov realizes he needs love and compassion as much as anybody. Unfortunately it takes him a couple murders and many many peoples shambled lives to find this out.

Considering this is a classic and should be read by anybody remotely interested in literature, I'll not say anymore.

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