Who are they Raskolnikov's doubles? Luzhin is a double of Raskolnikov

The narrative structure of the work "Crime and Punishment" is considered quite complex. In the center of the novel is the image of Rodion Raskolnikov and his theory. In the course of the narrative, other heroes appear. Of particular importance in the work "Crime and Punishment" doubles Raskolnikov. Why does Dostoevsky introduce them into the plot? What do Raskolnikov and his counterparts look like? What is the difference? What are their ideas? What are the doubles of Raskolnikov - Luzhin and Svidrigailov? About this later in the article.

Petr Petrovich Luzhin - double Raskolnikov

The author characterizes it quite negatively. Luzhin is rich, is a brilliant businessman. He came to Petersburg to organize his career. "Getting out into people," Peter highly valued his own mind, his abilities, he used to admire himself and enjoy it. His main dream was to get married. Peter sought to bestow some girl, elevating her to herself. She must be educated and beautiful. He knew that in Petersburg you can "win a lot by women." His painful narcissism, all his dreams speak of a certain imbalance in character, about the presence of cynicism in him. With the help of money "breaking out of nothingness," he remained low inside. Further we will find out what indicates that Luzhin and Raskolnikov are doubles.

The theory of Petr Petrovich

Luzhin is represented by a business man, who most of all appreciates money, which are extracted "by all means and labor." He considers himself to be intelligent, working for the benefit of people, progressive and very much respects himself. Petr Petrovich has his own theory, which he develops with great pleasure in front of Rodion Raskolnikov. His idea of "reasonable egoism" presupposes love primarily to himself, since everything that is happening in the world is based, in his opinion, on his own interest. If all people act according to his theory, there will be many more prosperous citizens in society. Thus, a person, acquiring everything exclusively to himself, works for the benefit of the whole society and for the sake of economic progress. In life, Luzhin is guided by this theory. The dream of marrying Avdotya is amused by his self-esteem. In addition, this marriage can contribute to his future career. Raskolnikov, meanwhile, is against this marriage. But Petr Petrovich quickly enough finds a way to improve the situation. To denigrate Rodion in front of his family and restore Dunya's favor, he lays Sona's banknote and accuses her of stealing.

Why Luzhin - double Raskolnikov?

Carrying out an analysis of the theory of Petr Petrovich, one can find many analogies with the idea of Rodion. And in the first and second priority there is personal, personal interest. Raskolnikov argues that "Napoleon allowed everything." According to Peter Petrovich, the idea of Rodion is also called upon to save humanity from evil and is aimed at making progress in development. Move the world and lead it to the goal can only people who are able to destroy the present for the benefit of the future.

The similarity of opinions is the cause of hatred

It should, meanwhile, say that Luzhin's idea did not like Raskolnikov very much. Probably, on an intuitive level, Rodion felt similar to his ideas and thoughts. He points out to Pyotr Petrovich that according to his, "Luzhin" theory, "people can be cut". Apparently, the similarity in the thoughts and vision of the situation in the world determines the unconscious hatred of Rodion for Peter Petrovich. As a result, there is a certain "vulgarity" of Raskolnikov's theory. Petr Petrovich offers an "economic" version of it, one that, in his opinion, is applicable in life and is aimed at achieving goals materially in the main by means. Thus, we can conclude that Luzhin is Raskolnikov's double in everyday life.

Another character with a similar theory

In the course of the narrative, another hero appears, Arkady Ivanovich Svidrigailov. This rather complex character expresses a certain "non-uniformity" with his whole being. He is "not one-liner anywhere", but in his image the philosophical context of the expression of the idea of Rodion is traced. Thanks to the actions of Svidrigailov (it was he who revealed the true state of affairs to Martha Petrovna), the good name of Sister Raskolnikov is restored. Arkady Ivanovich also provides assistance to the family of Marmeladov, organizing the funeral of the deceased Katerina Ivanovna and building orphaned young children in a shelter. He also helps Sonia, supplying her with money for a trip to Siberia.

Brief description of Arkady Ivanovich

This man is intelligent, penetrating, he has his own special "subtlety." He has the ability to perfectly understand people. Thanks to this skill, he was able to immediately determine what Luzhin was like. Arkady Ivanovich decides to prevent the marriage of Petr Petrovich to Avdotya. According to some authors, Svidrigailov potentially represents a man of great strength and conscience. However, all of his makings are ruined by the social Russian foundations, the way of life. The hero lacks any ideals, there is no clear moral reference. Among other things, Arkady Ivanovich naturally has a vice, which he not only can not fight, but he also does not want. Speech in this case is about his propensity to debauchery. The life of the hero proceeds in accordance with his own passions.

What is the similarity between Rodion and Arkady Ivanovich?

Svidrigailov, when meeting Raskolnikov, notes a certain "common point" between them, saying that they are "berries of the same field". Dostoevsky himself to a certain extent brings these characters closer, depicting them, developing one motive - childlike innocence, purity. In the image of Raskolnikov there are features of the child - he has a "child's smile," and in his first dream, he appears before himself as a seven-year-old boy. In Sonia, with which Rodion is drawing closer, traces of innocence and purity are also traced. Raskolnikova, she looks like a child. Lizaveta's face was also childish expression at the moment when Rodion attacked her. For Arkady Ivanovich, meanwhile, children are a reminder of the atrocities committed by him, coming to him in nightmares. It is this general motive, the very fact of his presence that allows us to say that Svidrigailov and Raskolnikov are doubles.

Differences in the images of Arkady Ivanovich and Rodion

In the course of the narrative, the heroes' differences become more and more obvious. The crime that Raskolnikov committed was a symbol of protest against the cruelty and injustice of the world around him, the intolerable conditions of life. As a secondary motive is the plight of the family and himself. In addition, he sought to test his theory. However, after the crime, Rodion can not live any differently, as if he "cut himself off from everyone with scissors". There is nowhere to talk to those around him, and he is seized by a feeling of excruciating alienation from all people. Despite this, before and after the crime in the image of Raskolnikov ideals are preserved - for him the concepts of evil and good are very significant. So, after the atrocity, he helps Marmeladov, gives the last 20 rubles for the organization of the funeral of Semyon Zakharovich. In the image of Svidrigailov, nothing of the kind appears. Arkady Ivanovich appears completely devastated and spiritually dead man. In it, unbelief and cynicism coexist with a subtle mind, self-sufficiency, life experience. He is so "dead" that it is impossible to revive him even feelings for Dunya. Love for her awakened noble impulses and the manifestation of true humanity in Arcady Ivanovich only for a brief moment. Svidrigailov is bored to live, he does not believe in anything, his heart and mind are nothing. Together with this, he indulges his desires: both bad and good. Arkady Ivanovich does not feel remorse, destroying a very young girl. And only once her image is to him in a nightmare - on the night before death. This creates a view that this is his crime - not the only crime of the hero: there are a lot of rumors and gossip about him. However, the character himself is very indifferent to them and, in fact, does not consider his actions as something out of the ordinary.

The embodiment of the theory of Rodion in the image of Arkady Ivanovich

Speaking about the fact that Svidrigailov is a double for Raskolnikov, one should pay attention to their personal relations. At first, it seems to Rodion that Arkady Ivanovich has some power over him. Raskolnikov is drawn to Svidrigailov. But later, Rodion feels some kind of "heaviness", he becomes "stuffy" from this proximity. Gradually, Raskolnikov begins to believe that Svidrigailov is the most insignificant and most empty villain on earth. Arkady Ivanovich, meanwhile, goes much further than Rodion along the path of evil. In this respect, even a certain symbolic name of Arkady is traced. It has a Greek origin and is translated literally as a "shepherd". In Orthodox culture this word was used in the sense of "shepherd" - the leader, mentor, teacher in the spiritual life. In a way, Svidrigailov for Raskolnikov is the same: in his disbelief and cynicism he surpasses Rodion in many ways. Arkady Ivanovich demonstrates his "masterful", to a certain extent, "supreme" mastery of the theory of Rodion, practically embodying it.

Meaning of the characters in the work

Raskolnikov's doubles are close to him in spirit, but have different purposes. Each of them in his own way embodies the theory of Rodion. Raskolnikov's counterparts in his novel discredit his ideas with his own inner image. The image of Peter Petrovich seems to be a primitive embodiment of the theory at the everyday and everyday level. Arkady Ivanovich is a deeper character. Svidrigailov's application of the "schismatic" theory is more profound. He embodies it on a philosophical level. When you analyze the image and deeds of Arkady Ivanovich, the bottom of the abyss is exposed in some way, to which the "idividualistic" idea of the main character leads.

Sonya Marmeladova

If the characters described above are Raskolnikov's spiritual counterparts, then this heroine resembles Rodion only in terms of "life status." In any case, this was the main character of the work. She, as well as the rest of the characters, was able to cross that line, after which morality ends. Being active and active in nature, Sofya Semyonovna tries to save the family from death. In her actions she is guided first of all by faith, kindness, meekness. Sonia attracts Rodion, he begins to identify with him. However, like the other doubles Raskolnikov, Marmeladova soon becomes completely different from him. Rodion notices that he ceases to understand her, she even seems to him "holy fool" and strange. Subsequently, the differences between them become more pronounced.

"Crime" of Sonya Marmeladova

It should be said that her "crime" is different from the actions of Raskolnikov. Turning into a prostitute, saving children from starvation, she harms herself. While the other heroes inflict it on others, they ruin other people's lives. Rodion can freely choose between evil and good. Sonia, however, is initially deprived of this choice. Her act is not moral, but is justified in some way by the motive. Unlike other characters, Sonya's soul is filled with love, faith, mercy, she is "alive" and feels her oneness with others.

Conclusion

On the pages of the work the reader is presented with a lot of personalities. All of them are more or less similar to the protagonist - Raskolnikov. Of course, this similarity is not accidental. Rodion's theory is so terrible that a simple description of his life was not enough. Otherwise, the image of his fate and the collapse of his ideas would be reduced to a simple description of the criminal story of a half-mixed student. In his work, Dostoevsky tried to show that this theory is not so new and fully realizable. Its development and refraction permeates human destinies, people's lives. As a result, an understanding is emerging that it is necessary to fight against this evil. To counteract immorality, everyone has their own means. At the same time, we should not forget that the struggle with the enemy with the help of his own weapons becomes meaningless, since it returns again to the same path of immorality.