bellalee

Crime and Punishment

24 min read

Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky

plot

themes

  • Modernity vs. tradition
    • Capitalism
    • Consumerism
    • Individualism
  • Practicality of ideas
  • Tension between desire to do good and personal suffering
  • Destitution and humiliation
    • Dignity in suffering
  • Transcending morality

characters

characters

notes

  • In a sense, because Raskolnikov breaks the limits of morality, his freedom from societally imposed constraints on what is “good” drives him mad

    And these nights were being acted out under a foreign sky, with no one to watch, no penalties attached — it was this last fact which was our undoing, for nothing is more unbearable, once one has it, than freedom. – p. 5

    Link to original

thoughts

2024-01-14 This is probably not the main point of the passage, but I’m captivated by the erotic tension in part 5 chapter 4 when Raskolnikov is confessing his sins to Sonia. But why did I read it as erotic? It seems like the overwhelming compassion and unwavering love, the intensity, and the vulnerability created this atmosphere. There is strong tension between Sonia’s innocence and goodness and Raskolnikov’s twisted wretchedness. This is the first time I’ve seen Raskolnikov genuinely expressing his thoughts in this novel.

highlights

This opposition of Russian spiritual values to Western rationalism underlies the duality of Raskolnikov’s personality. — location: 277

This conflict was Dostoevsky’s deepest concern after his release from prison, at a time when Russian radicals began propagating Western ideas that Dostoevsky believed were based on a false vision of human nature. — location: 277

This dramatic pairing—money, arithmetic, and calculation with their opposite: intuitive, Christian compassion—runs through the novel, and is present in each of its parts. — location: 291

“Dear sir,” he began almost with solemnity, “poverty is not a vice, that’s a true saying. Yet I know too that drunkenness is not a virtue, and that that’s even truer. But destitution, dear sir, destitution is a vice. In poverty you may still retain your innate nobility of soul, but in destitution—never—no-one. — location: 780

compassion is forbidden nowadays by science itself, — location: 803

Moreover, in order to understand any man one must approach gradually and carefully to avoid forming prejudices and mistaken ideas, which are very difficult to correct and remedy afterwards. — location: 1175

better for a wife to look upon her husband as her benefactor. — location: 1191

Power dynamics

Petersburg.To suit his own arrangements he is anxious to have the ceremony as soon as possible, — location: 1227

Suspicious…

I am afraid in my heart that you may have been visited by the new fashionable spirit of unbelief. — location: 1244

Disenchantment

at the very hour, the very minute of his life when he was just in the very mood and in the very circumstances in which that meeting was able to exert the gravest and most decisive influence on his whole destiny — location: 1624

But why, he was always asking himself, why had such an important, such a decisive and at the same time such an absolutely chance meeting happened in the Haymarket (where he had moreover no reason to go) at the very hour, the very minute of his life when he was just in the very mood and in the very circumstances in which that meeting was able to exert the gravest and most decisive influence on his whole destiny? As though it had been lying in wait for him on purpose! — location: 1623

“Yes, she is so dark-skinned and looks like a soldier dressed up, but you know she is not at all ugly. She has such a kind face and eyes. Very much so. And the proof of it is that lots of people are attracted by her. She is such a meek, mild, gentle creature, always willing, willing to do anything. And her smile is really very sweet.” — location: 1695

Kill her, take her money and with the help of it devote yourself to the service of humanity and the common good. What do you think, would not one tiny crime be wiped out by thousands of good deeds? For one life thousands would be saved from corruption and decay. One death, and a hundred lives in exchange—it’s simple arithmetic! — location: 1707

as though there had really been in it something preordained, some guiding hint — location: 1724

It was his conviction that this eclipse of reason and failure of will power attacked a man like a disease, developed gradually and reached its highest point just before the perpetration of the crime, continued with equal violence at the moment of the crime and for longer or shorter time after, according to the individual case, and then passed off like any other disease. The question whether the disease gives rise to the crime, or whether the crime, due to its own peculiar nature, is always accompanied by something like a disease, he did not yet feel able to decide. — location: 1803

Now if the whole room had been filled, not with police officers, but with those nearest and dearest to him, he would not have found one human word for them, so empty was his heart. A gloomy sensation of agonizing, eternal solitude and remoteness took conscious form in his soul. — location: 2338

And what was most agonizing was that it was more a sensation than a conception or idea, a direct sensation, the most agonizing of all the sensations he had known in his life. — location: 2346

Alienation

But if you look at men in all ways—are there many good ones left? — location: 2847

You’ll never improve a man by repelling him, — location: 2850

“What’s the most offensive is not their lying—one can always forgive lying—lying is a wonderful thing, it gets you closer to the truth—what is offensive is that they lie and worship their own lying — location: 2872

Therefore, in acquiring wealth solely and exclusively for myself, I am acquiring, so to speak, for everyone, and helping to get my neighbor a little more than a torn coat; — location: 3099

quote Science now tells us, love yourself above everyone else, for everything in the world relies on self-interest — location: 3097

In a word, we have cut ourselves off irreversibly from the past, and that, to my thinking, is a great thing … — location: 3088

Ideas, if you like, are fermenting,” he said to Peter Petrovich, “and desire for good exists, though it’s in a childish form, and honesty you may find, although there are people who hijack it. Anyway, there’s no practicality. Practicality has to have some kind of experience behind it.” — location: 3081

He drove away thought; thought tortured him — location: 3203

Let me tell you, that you are all a set of babbling, posing idiots! If you’ve got any little trouble you brood over it like a hen over an egg. And you are plagiarists even in that! There isn’t a sign of independent life in you! You’re made of spermaceti ointment and you’ve got lymph in your veins instead of blood. I don’t trust any of you! When anything happens the first thing all of you do is fail to behave like human beings — location: 3412

But no sound came, everything was dead and silent like the stones on which he walked, dead to him, to him alone … — location: 3535

“Nonsense! That is … I am drunk like a fool, but that’s not it; I am not drunk from wine. It’s seeing you that has turned my head … But don’t mind me! Don’t take any notice: I’m talking nonsense, I’m not worthy of you … I am utterly unworthy of you! The minute I’ve taken you home, I’ll pour a couple of bucketfuls of water over my head in the gutter here, and then I shall be all right — location: 3938

Because they got me into an argument, damn them! I’ve sworn never to argue! They talk such trash! I almost started a fight! I’ve left my uncle to keep an eye over them. Would you believe, they insist on complete absence of individualism and that’s just what they relish! Not to be themselves, to be as unlike themselves as they can. That’s what they regard as the highest point of progress. If only their nonsense were their own, but as it is — location: 3948

I’ve sworn never to argue! They talk such trash! I almost started a fight! I’ve left my uncle to keep an eye over them. Would you believe, they insist on complete absence of individualism and that’s just what they relish! Not to be themselves, to be as unlike themselves as they can. That’s what they regard as the highest point of progress. If only their nonsense were their own, but as it is … — location: 3948

Through error you come to the truth! I am a man because I err! — location: 3954

quote Talk nonsense, but talk your own nonsense, and I’ll kiss you for it. To go wrong in your own way is better than to go right in someone else’s. In the first case you’re a human being, in the second you’re no better than a bird. — location: 3955

We prefer to live on other people’s ideas, it’s what we are used to! — location: 3959

Dunia was standing up for her brother, which meant that she had already forgiven him. — location: 3992

Avdotia Romanovna was remarkably good looking; she was tall, strikingly well-proportioned, strong and self-reliant—the latter quality was apparent in every gesture, though it did not in the least detract from the grace and softness of her movements. In her face she resembled her brother, but she might be described as really beautiful. Her hair was dark brown, a little lighter than her brother’s; there was a proud light in her almost black eyes and yet at times a look of extraordinary kindness. She was pale, but it was a healthy pallor; her face was radiant with freshness and vigor. Her mouth was rather small; the full red lower lip projected a little as did her chin; it was the only irregularity in her beautiful face, but it gave it a peculiarly individual and almost haughty expression. Her face was always more serious and thoughtful than gay; but how well smiles, how well youthful, light-hearted, irresponsible laughter suited her face! — location: 4001

warm, open, simple-hearted, honest giant like Razumikhin, — location: 4007

retain serenity of spirit, sensitiveness and pure sincere warmth of heart into old age. — location: 4013

There’s the featherbed element here, brother,—ah! and not only that! There’s an attraction here—here you have the end of the world, an anchorage, a quiet haven, the navel of the earth, the three fishes that are the foundation of the world, the essence of pancakes, of fish-pies, of the evening samovar, of soft sighs and warm shawls, and hot stoves to sleep on—as snug as though you were dead, and yet you’re alive—the advantages of both at once! — location: 4080

It all depends on the environment. It’s all the environment and man himself is nothing. – p. 497

Note: Andrei Semionovich Lebaziatnikov

Everything which is of use to mankind is honorable. I only understand one word: useful! – p. 497

And suddenly a strange, surprising sensation of a sort of bitter hatred for Sonia passed through his heart. As it were wondering and frightened of this sensation, he raised his head and looked intently at her; but he met her uneasy and painfully anxious eyes fixed on him; there was love in them; his hatred vanished like a phantom. It was not the real feeling; he had mistaken one feeling for the other. It only meant that the time had come. – p. 543

Because I couldn’t bear my burden and have come to throw it on another: you suffer too, and I shall feel better! And can you love such a mean wretch? – p. 550

“Sonia, I have a bad heart, take note of that. It may explain a great deal. I have come because I am bad. There are people who wouldn’t have come. But I am a coward and … an evil wretch. – p. 550

whoever is strong in mind and spirit will have power over them. Anyone who is very daring is right in their eyes. He who despises most things will be a lawgiver among them and he who dares most of all will be most in the right! – p. 554

quote power power is only entrusted to the person who dares to bend down and pick it up. – p. 555

I wanted to find out then and there whether I was a louse like everybody else or a man. – p. 556

Did I murder the old woman? I murdered myself, not her! I crushed myself once and for all, forever … But it was the devil that killed that old woman, not I. – p. 557

Part three

CHAPTER THREE

It’s true that a normal man hardly even exists. It’s hard to find one in a dozen—perhaps even one in a hundred thousand.” – p. 325 · location: 4365

And even if you were right, if I really had decided to behave badly, isn’t it merciless of you to speak to me like that? Why do you demand I have a heroism that maybe you don’t have either? It’s dictatorial; it’s tyrannical. If I ruin anyone, then I’ll only be ruining myself … I’m not committing a murder. Why are you looking at me like that? Why are you so pale? Rodia, darling, what’s the matter?” – p. 333 · location: 4480

He is an intelligent man, but to act sensibly, intelligence is not enough. – p. 336 · location: 4515

CHAPTER FIVE

The living soul demands life, the soul won’t obey the rules of mechanics, the soul is an object of suspicion, the soul is backward! – p. 361 · location: 4876

I simply hinted that an ‘extraordinary’ man has the right … that is not an official right, but an inner right to decide in his own conscience to overstep … certain obstacles, and only in case it is essential for the practical fulfillment of his idea (sometimes, perhaps, of benefit to the whole of humanity). – p. 365 · location: 4927

I only believe in my leading idea that men are in general divided by a law of nature into two categories, inferior (ordinary), that is, so to say, material that serves only to reproduce its kind, and men who have the gift or the talent to produce something new. – p. 366 · location: 4943

The first category is always the man of the present, the second the man of the future. – p. 367 · location: 4954

“People with new ideas, people with the faintest capacity for saying something new, are extremely few in number, extraordinarily so in fact. – p. 369 · location: 4983

He will suffer if he is sorry for his victim. Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth,” – p. 371 · location: 5016

CHAPTER SIX

The more cunning a man is, the simpler the trap he must be caught in. – p. 377 · location: 5107

It’s for you to obey, trembling creation, and not to have desires, that’s not for you! – p. 384 · location: 5194

A huge, round, copper-red moon looked in at the windows. “It’s the moon that makes it so still, weaving some mystery,” thought Raskolnikov. He stood and waited, waited a long while, and the more silent the moonlight, the more violently his heart beat, until it grew painful. And still the same hush. Suddenly he heard a momentary sharp crack like the snapping of a splinter and all was still again. – p. 385 · location: 5220

Part four

CHAPTER ONE

that I am capable of being attracted and falling in love (which does not depend on our will), – p. 389 · location: 5263

“I am not particularly interested in anyone’s opinion,” Svidrigailov answered, dryly and even with a shade of pride, “and therefore why not be vulgar at times when vulgarity is such a convenient cloak for our climate … and especially if you are naturally inclined that way,” – p. 393 · location: 5316

“We always imagine eternity as something beyond our conception, something vast, vast! But why must it be vast? Instead of all that, what if it’s one little room, like a bathhouse in the country, black and grimy and spiders in every corner, and that’s all eternity is? I sometimes imagine it like that.” – p. 399 · location: 5410

CHAPTER TWO

Peter Petrovich belonged to that class of people who on the surface are very polite in society, who make a great point of behaving properly, but who are completely disconcerted when they are contradicted about anything, and become more like sacks of flour than elegant, lively people of society. – p. 408 · location: 5536

CHAPTER THREE

It was dark in the corridor, they were standing near the lamp. For a minute they were looking at one another in silence. Razumikhin remembered that minute all his life. – p. 430 · location: 5822

CHAPTER FOUR

How can she sit on the edge of the abyss of loathsomeness into which she is slipping and refuse to listen when she is told about the dangers which face her? Does she expect a miracle? No doubt she does. Doesn’t that all mean madness?” – p. 442 · location: 5992

Freedom and power, and above all, power! Over all trembling creation, the whole ant heap! … That’s the goal, remember that! – p. 450 · location: 6108

Part five

CHAPTER ONE

He was one of the numerous and varied legion of dullards, of half-animate abortions, conceited, half-educated idiots, who attach themselves to the idea most in fashion only to vulgarize it and who caricature every cause they serve, however sincerely. – p. 490 · location: 6636

It’s every man’s duty to work for enlightenment and propaganda and the more harshly, perhaps, the better. I might drop a seed, an idea … And something might grow up from that seed. – p. 493 · location: 6684

“What of it? I think, that is, it is my own personal conviction, that this is the normal condition of women. Why not? I mean, let us distinguish. In our present society, it is not altogether normal, because it is compulsory, but in the future society, it will be perfectly normal, because it will be voluntary. Even as it is, she was quite right: she was suffering and that was her asset, so to speak, her capital which she had a perfect right to dispose of. Of course, in the future society, there will be no need of assets, but her part will have another significance, which will be rational and in accordance with her environment. As for Sofia Semionovna personally, I regard her action as a vigorous protest against the organization of society, and I respect her deeply for it; I rejoice, in fact, when I look at her!” – p. 494 · location: 6699

It all depends on the environment. It’s all the environment and man himself is nothing. – p. 495 · location: 6712

Everything which is of use to mankind is honorable. I only understand one word: useful! – p. 497 · location: 6745

“And, what do you want with marriage, with legal marriage, my dear, noble Peter Petrovich? Why do you cling to this legality of marriage? Well, you may beat me if you like, but I am glad, truly glad it hasn’t succeeded, that you are free, that you are not quite lost for humanity … you see, I’ve spoken my mind!” – p. 503 · location: 6829

CHAPTER FOUR

And suddenly a strange, surprising sensation of a sort of bitter hatred for Sonia passed through his heart. As it were wondering and frightened of this sensation, he raised his head and looked intently at her; but he met her uneasy and painfully anxious eyes fixed on him; there was love in them; his hatred vanished like a phantom. It was not the real feeling; he had mistaken one feeling for the other. It only meant that the time had come. – p. 543 · location: 7355

Because I couldn’t bear my burden and have come to throw it on another: you suffer too, and I shall feel better! And can you love such a mean wretch?” – p. 550 · location: 7453

“Sonia, I have a bad heart, take note of that. It may explain a great deal. I have come because I am bad. There are people who wouldn’t have come. But I am a coward and … an evil wretch. – p. 550 · location: 7456

whoever is strong in mind and spirit will have power over them. Anyone who is very daring is right in their eyes. He who despises most things will be a lawgiver among them and he who dares most of all will be most in the right! – p. 554 · location: 7512

power is only entrusted to the person who dares to bend down and pick it up. – p. 555 · location: 7517

I wanted to find out then and there whether I was a louse like everybody else or a man. – p. 556 · location: 7539

Did I murder the old woman? I murdered myself, not her! I crushed myself once and for all, forever … But it was the devil that killed that old woman, not I. – p. 557 · location: 7547

CHAPTER FIVE

But what I say is that if you convince a person logically that they have nothing to cry about, they’ll stop crying. That’s clear. Is it your conviction that they won’t?” “Life would be too easy if that were so,” answered Raskolnikov. – p. 562 · location: 7619

A special form of misery had begun to oppress him recently. There was nothing poignant, nothing acute about it; but there was a feeling of permanence, of eternity about it; it brought a foretaste of hopeless years of this cold leaden misery, a foretaste of an eternity “on a square yard of space.” – p. 565 · location: 7667

Part six

CHAPTER ONE

The final moment had come, the last drops had to be drained! So a man will sometimes go through half an hour of mortal terror with a brigand, yet when the knife is at his throat at last, he feels no fear. – p. 590 · location: 8011

CHAPTER TWO

I see you as one of those men who would stand and smile at their torturer while he cuts their entrails out, if only they have found faith or God. Find it and you will live. You have long needed a change of air. Suffering, too, is a good thing. Suffer! Maybe Nikolai is right in wanting to suffer. I know you don’t believe in it—but don’t be over-wise; fling yourself straight into life, without deliberation; don’t be afraid—the flood will bring you to the bank and set you safe on your feet again. – p. 605 · location: 8206

Since you have taken such a step, you must harden your heart. There is justice in it. You must fulfill the demands of justice. I know that you don’t believe it, but life, in fact, will bring you through. You will live it down in time. What you need now is fresh air, fresh air, fresh air!” – p. 605 · location: 8214

CHAPTER THREE

Moreover, he was conscious of immense moral fatigue, – p. 609 · location: 8257

There are few places where there are so many gloomy, strong and strange influences on the human soul as in Petersburg. The influence of the climate alone means so much. – p. 614 · location: 8327

In this vice at least there is something permanent, founded upon nature and not dependent on fantasy, something present in the blood like an ever-burning ember, forever setting one on fire and possibly not to be quickly extinguished, even with years. You’ll agree it’s an occupation of a sort.” – p. 619 · location: 8388

CHAPTER FOUR

And once a girl’s heart is moved to pity, it’s more dangerous than anything. She is bound to want to ‘save him,’ to bring him to his senses, and lift him up and draw him to nobler aims, and restore him to new life and usefulness—well, we all know how far such dreams can go. – p. 624 · location: 8460

Nothing in the world is harder than speaking the truth and nothing easier than flattery. – p. 626 · location: 8481

CHAPTER FIVE

but was incapable of boldly overstepping the law, and so he is not a man of genius. And that’s humiliating for a young man of any pride, in our day especially – p. 644 · location: 8742

Her lower lip was white and quivering and her big black eyes flashed like fire. He had never seen her so beautiful. The fire glowing in her eyes at the moment she raised the revolver seemed to kindle him and there was a pang of anguish in his heart. He took a step forward and a shot rang out. – p. 650 · location: 8819

CHAPTER SEVEN

“But why are they so fond of me if I don’t deserve it? Oh, if only I were alone and no-one loved me and I too had never loved anyone! None of this would have happened. – p. 680 · location: 9226

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Is it possible that he has nothing but cowardice and fear of death to make him live?” she thought at last in despair. – p. 682 · location: 9248

He suddenly recalled Sonia’s words, “Go to the crossroads, bow down to the people, kiss the earth, for you have sinned against it too, and say aloud to the whole world, ‘I am a murderer.’ ” He trembled, remembering that. And the hopeless misery and anxiety of all that time, especially of the last few hours, had weighed so heavily upon him that he clutched passionately at the chance of this new unmixed, complete sensation. It came over him like a fit; it was like a single spark kindled in his soul and spreading fire through him. Everything in him softened at once and the tears started into his eyes. He fell to the earth on the spot … He knelt down in the middle of the square, bowed down to the earth, and kissed that filthy earth with bliss and rapture. He got up and bowed down a second time. – p. 686 · location: 9305

Official duty is one thing but … you are thinking I meant to say friendship is quite another? No, you’re wrong! It’s not friendship, but the feeling of a man and a citizen, the feeling of humanity and of love for the Almighty. – p. 690 · location: 9367

EPILOGUE

And what comfort was it to him that at the end of eight years he would be only thirty-two and able to begin a new life! What did he have to live for? What did he have to look forward to? Why should he strive? To live in order to exist? He had been ready a thousand times before to give up existence for the sake of an idea, for a hope, even for a whim. Mere existence had always been too little for him; he had always wanted more. – p. 704 · location: 9548

Life had stepped into the place of theory and something quite different would work itself out in his mind. – p. 712 · location: 9654

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