The theory of Raskolnikov in the novel "Crime and Punishment" and its debunking

Dostoevsky creates his novel "Crime and Punishment" first, if we take into account only his ideological novels. In the center of the image - the main character Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov, to which all the threads of narration are reduced. The theory of Raskolnikov in the novel "Crime and Punishment" becomes a connecting and symbolic element, through which the work acquires integrity and completeness.

Summary

A young man who lives in a shabby, detachable little room, walks the streets of Petersburg and is plotting something. While we do not yet know what Raskolnikov is thinking about, it is clear from his morbid state that this is a crime. He decides to kill the old woman. However, one murder entails another. To eliminate the witness, he also has to kill Alena Ivanovna's younger sister - Lizaveta Ivanovna. After the crime, the life of the hero becomes unbearable: he is like in the hell of his own thoughts and passions, he is afraid that he will be revealed. As a result, Raskolnikov himself makes a confession, and he is sent to penal servitude.

Genre singularity of the novel

A brief retelling indicates that this novel can be regarded as detective. However, this is too narrow a framework for Dostoevsky's profound work. After all, in addition to a thorough depiction of the crime, the author also resorts to precise psychological sketches. Some researchers unequivocally refer the work to the genre of the ideological novel, because Raskolnikov's theory is brought to the forefront . In the novel "Crime and Punishment" it becomes known not immediately, only after the murder. However, from the first chapters it is clear that the hero is not just a maniac, his action is supported by some rational reasons.

What pushes Raskolnikov to murder?

First, the terrible conditions of life. A former student, who was forced to quit school because of a lack of money, Raskolnikov lives in a cramped room with tattered wallpaper. His clothes look so, that another and would be so wedded to such a thing. On the eve, he receives a letter from his mother, in which she reports that his sister Dunya is getting married to a wealthy man who is older than her. Of course, she is pushed by need. The old woman is a rich woman, but she is very mean and mean. Raskolnikov thinks that her money could help many, not just his family. The theory of Raskolnikov in the novel "Crime and Punishment" is supported by one minor character - a student who sees a hero in a tavern. This student is talking to an officer. In his opinion, the old woman is a vile creature, she is not worth living, but her money could be divided between beggars and sick people. All this strengthens the thought of Raskolnikov, what needs to be killed.

The theory of Raskolnikov in the novel "Crime and Punishment"

In what chapter do we learn that the hero had his own theory? Porphyry Petrovich in the fifth chapter of the third part speaks of Raskolnikov's article, which he wrote when he was still studying. He cites this article as charges. After all, in it Rodion divided people into two categories: the right of having and creatures quivering. The first - the strengths of this world - can decide fate, influence the course of history. The latter are the material. Making the murder of an old woman, Raskolnikov wants to prove to himself that he belongs to the first category. However, the agony that kills him, they say the opposite. In the end, we, the readers, understand that Raskolnikov's Theory in the novel "Crime and Punishment" is initially doomed to failure: it is inhuman.

The idea of duality in the novel

A huge role in revealing the theory and character of Raskolnikov is played by the so-called heroes-twins. There are many of them in the novel, but the brightest ones are Luzhin and Svidrigailov. Thanks to these characters, Raskolnikov's theory in the novel "Crime and Punishment" is refuted. The table shows the similarities and differences between the three characters.

The table shows that the most sinful of all three - Luzhin, because he never acknowledged his sins, did not do a single good deed. Svidrigailov, before his death, managed to atone for everything by one good deed.

Raskolnikov hates and despises them both, because he sees his resemblance to them. All three are obsessed with inhuman theories, all three sin. The most thought out is Raskolnikov's theory in the novel "Crime and Punishment" (the quotations of the hero confirm this). He cynically calls the old woman "louse", says that he wanted to become Napoleon.

Everything that happens in the novel refutes this idea. Even the very behavior of the main character. A special role in the novel is also played by Raskolnikov's dreams, in particular the last dream about the pestilence, thanks to which it becomes clear how disastrous the theory of Raskolnikov in the novel "Crime and Punishment". The writing on a similar topic can not do without deciphering this dream. If everyone thought like Raskolnikov, then the world would have collapsed long ago.

conclusions

So, the inhumane theory of Raskolnikov in the novel "Crime and Punishment" is refuted by the author, who calls people to live according to the laws of God. No rational reason can justify killing a person, whatever it is.