Examples Of Human Universals In Crime And Punishment By Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Human universals are traits that can be seen in every culture around the world. Some examples of these are paranoia, poverty, and violence. In the novel Crime and Punishment there are many human universals that can be seen. In this novel Fyodor Dostoyevsky focuses on the human universals of poverty, shame, and violence. Poverty is something that affects every culture. It leaves people hungry and sometimes on the streets. Dostoyevsky shows this trait in the majority of his characters, however it is the most present in Rodia. Rodia is “crushed by poverty” (Pg.1). He lives in an apartment which is “more a cupboard than a room. . .(and) deeply in debt to his landlady”(P. 1 Ch.1). The clothing Rodia wears resembles rags but it is all he has. Occasionally,

One of the strongest feelings of shame comes from a person needing to sell their own body for money. At the age of only 17, Sonya Marmeladov was forced into prostitution to help her family with bills and necessities. On her first night back home, she cannot even speak to anyone. Sonya “did not utter a word, she did not even look”(Pg. 16) at her family. From there all she could muster up to do was “lay down and face the wall”(Pg. 16). It is hard to imagine one person feeling so ashamed of themselves that they cannot speak nor make eye contact. All they can do is lay down and cry, absorbed in the feeling of shame that has consumed them. Sonya’s shame is not uncommon and it can be seen around the world. It can also be assumed that Dunia, Rodia’s sister, is experiencing shame. While she is not literally selling her body like Sonya, Dunia is marrying a man to aid her brother with the money she shall receive from the family. Therefore, the shame comes from marrying a man who she does not love and who will beat her in order to not help herself but help her brother. The focus that Dostoyevsky puts on the shame that the characters feel truly shows shame and the unlimited ways in which it can be

It is seen in crowded areas and it is seen in dark alleyways. Everyone experiences or causes violence. In this case violence is being caused in a private apartment, away from prying eyes. No one is prepared for violence like murder unless they are the one who planned it. This was the case when Rodia attacked Aliona Ivanovna. Overcome by shock and weakened by the blow to her head, all she could do was “(cry) out, but quite feebly”(Pg.74). With Aliona lifeless, Rodia believes he is done with violence. However, violence is unpredictable and Dostoyevsky must have known that while writing this novel. Lizaveta, the sister of Aliona, walks in to see the violent act performed on her sister. Also overcome by the initial shock, she too “was unable to cry out”(Pg.76). Knowing Rodia would do the same to her, “she raised an arm and. . . (backed) away from him into the corner”(Pg.77). Although the actual scene in the book is fairly brief, it is a focal point of the novel. Everything that happens, happens because of this event which keeps this human universal a focus in the