Crime and Punishment Thought Piece #1

         It is striking how the novel uses so many details in order to reveal how after a double murder was committed, the murderer, Raskolnikov, was constantly worrying about his consequences despite his feeling of satisfaction. For instance, directly after the murders were committed it describes the growing excitement within Raskolnikov as if he took it as a compliment that he was clever enough to follow through with them. After escaping the scene of the crime without notice, this excitement turns into the pride of a job well done. With a growing curiosity that the people around him may know about the gruesome act he had committed, his excitement turns into anguish and a giddy concern. With that in mind, a topic that stands out within the novel is the anticipation for the consequences of one's actions.


        Furthermore, the author accentuates the thought process which enabled a man to commit such a terrible act. "Why am I going there now? Am I capable of that? Is that serious? It is not serious at all. It's simply a fantasy to amuse myself; a plaything! Yes, maybe it is a plaything" (Dostoevsky). This demonstrates the uncertainty within the human mind to be able to commit such a crime. A human mind alone is not fully capable of doing such things without the sway of evil within the world. It is incredibly rare to find a being so drawn to the actual thought of carrying out the harm of others because within a society that discourages such actions, many are not brave enough to follow through with such a thing.

         So, why is this important within the novel? The novel is a very strong representation of the thought processes within the human mind. One is constantly questioning themselves, and questioning what they themselves are capable of. Whether these thoughts lead to such extreme measures as murder or not, everyone explores their own moral rights and wrongs. With a novel so centered with a concentration on consequences, it accurately portrays the timeline of human emotions after committing an act they morally know to be wrong. The more time one spends ignoring their actions, the more they internally focus on it. The initial joy that is caused by getting away with an offense is eventually overshadowed by the realization of the consequences they will eventually face. Dostoevsky uses Crime and Punishment to reveal the human thought process as well as the consequences that follow one’s actions.