Overview Of Redemption In Crime And Punishment

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Fyodor Dostoevsky, the author of Crime and Punishment, touches upon the topics of sin and redemption within his novel, as it was written in a society rife with crime and suffering. Although this novel was written in a distinct time period and location, St. Petersburg and Siberia in the mid-1860s, there are numerous instances of sins within this novel that are even relevant to contemporary society, as the topic of sins is universally applicable. However, with sin comes the need to atone and redeem oneself in order to find peace and pave a path for a better future. The Christian religion and the societal norms and law within this society dictate such a concept. The recurring topic of redemption aids in developing many characters throughout the novel such as Raskolnikov, Sonia, and Svidrigaïlov, as they are enlightened to a certain extent about the consequences that their actions may have brought. This paper will delve into the sins of these various characters and evaluate how their undergoing of redemption adds to or affects specific qualities or actions of the characters.
Looking at how Raskolnikov from Crime and Punishment commits a murder and undergoes change will allow for the understanding of the role redemption process plays in his character development. “[Raskolnikov] was crushed by poverty, but the anxieties of his position had of late ceased to weigh upon him” (Part 1, Chapter 1). He was put in a state of extreme isolation and poverty, as he “was hopelessly in debt to his landlady” (Part 1, Chapter 1). Then, an idea is implanted within him when he listens to a conversation at a bar. “‘Kill [Alyona], take her money and with the help of it devote oneself to the service of humanity’” (Part 1, Chapter 6). This notion that has b...

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...re religious man, and this in turn leads to him realizing the need to turn himself in to the police. Otherwise, he will constantly suffer psychologically for the rest of his life. Next, Sonia remained faithful to her religion in order to redeem herself and stay innocent. Lastly, Svidrigaïlov suffered so much that suicide seemed to him as the only way to stop himself from committing more sins. In a sense, each character evolves from their previous states and become more aware and accepting of their sins. They acknowledge their wrongdoings, and now hope for a better future. The topic of redemption has not only aided in the development of Raskolnikov, Sonia, and Svidrigaïlov, but also in the development of many of the other characters, as these three are not the only ones who have sinned. Redemption is a timeless concept and is applicable to societies across the world.

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