Crime And Punishment Foil

Fyodor Dostoevsky's 19th century novel Crime and Punishment explores the psychological torture and moral dilemmas that the main character Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov faces after he murders a pawnbroker and her sister. All of the characters in the novel face troubles and suffer as a result of them; however all characters do not respond to their difficulties in the same manner. Through the use of foils, a literary device in which one character is contrasted with another in order to emphasize particular qualities in the other, Dostoevsky explores characters' various responses to difficult situations. Both Katerina Ivanovna Marmeladov and Pulcheria Alexandrovna Raskolnikov are mothers living in poverty and are struggling to support their

Svidrigaïlov acts as a warning for Raskolnikov and foreshadows Raskolnikov's eventual end if he remains so cyclical and misanthrope. While Raskolnikov has many character flaws and has committed a gruesome act, his faults are much less grave than Svidrigaïlov's. Svidrigailov’s lacks morals and lives for his own pleasure; as a result, he assaults his wife and servant, he has his wife murdered, and he takes advantage of young women (221, 400). Furthermore, Svidrigaïlov is an embodiment of Raskolnikov's idea of extraordinary people, people who have a "right to commit breaches of morality and crimes" in order to "overstep certain obstacles [...] for the practical fulfillment of his idea" (205, 206). Svidrigaïlov believes that his actions are not bound human ethics. For a long period, Svidrigaïlov is able to contain and ignore his guilt, and he actually flaunts his lack of morals, but eventually his guilt overtakes him and drives him into insanity and results in him committing suicide: “Svidrigaïlov pulled the trigger” (402). Raskolnikov is in a similar situation in that he has also murdered two women due to his extraordinary people principle, but unlike Svidrigaïlov he is aware of his guilt and

Raskolnikov and Razumihin have fundamental character differences which directly influence their actions. Raskolnikov and Razumihin were students together while studying at university and both were “obliged to give up the university” (43). However, the two men respond differently; Razumihin attempts to improve his situation by working small jobs, such as translating books, in order "to save enough to return to his studies" (43), while Raskolnikov is too proud to teach lessons “without boots” because he does not want to look poor (24). Raskolnikov's pride and idealistic beliefs result in him secluding himself from society and also causes him to spend his time "thinking" rather than working (23). Raskolnikov is condescending and very selective about the work that he will do, while Razumihin is very practical and very accepting of all job opportunities. Raskolnikov's pride results in him rejecting help, which is graciously offered to him by many, including Razumihin, in that Razumihin offers him a job and cares for him when he is sick (105). Furthermore, as a result of his pride, Raskolnikov is egotistical and rude to other people, especially those who try to help him, but Razumihin is extremely loyal and continues to care for Raskolnikov