Crime and Punishment

Death, a word that creates the image of fear and seclusion. We either suffer emotionally or physically. There is never a time when death brings happiness. Death is a foreshowing of misery, and suffering. Raskolnikov has an internal battle with himself throughout the story. The two murders are the very beginning of the tale. Death leads to punishment and sometimes punishment leads to death. Death is the main motif of Crime and Punishment. The major theme for this story is man vs. mind. Raskolnikov plays the role of the tragic hero, he tries to do the right thing, but he fails repeatedly and then eventually turns himself in. Raskolnikov gives exposition throughout the story.

Raskolnikov, the speaker of the story rehearses the murder of the pawnbroker. The mood of the story is depressing and sad. He is so sure of himself and thinks that the murder will make everything right. The guilt drives him nuts, and when he thinks about confessing it makes things worse, like the story of Judas. The murder forces Raskolnikov to deal with tormenting guilt that drives him totally utterly mad. Indeed, by focusing so little on Raskolnikov’s imprisonment, Dostoevsky suggests that actual punishment is much less terrible than the stress and anxiety of trying to avoid punishment. Crime and punishment is related to the story of Judas. Like Judas, Raskolnikov does not confess his sins. He tries to avoid it, but he is haunted by his horrible deed. Judas kills himself to escape form his insanity. Raskolnikov takes a different road and turns himself in instead.

Whether or not the murder is actually a utilitarian act, Raskolnikov is certainly a nihilist completely unsentimental for most of