Crime and Punishment

(1866)

This is a work which analyses not only the mind of an young man but a whole community. I was deeply affected by the 30th chapter where Raskolnikolf opens his heart to Soniya...who can give such a description...--Submitted by anil.

Crime and Punishment is by truth the best book ever written. It talks about Raskolnikov, a foreign student troubled by money woes who commits a heinous crime. Then he gets sick of himself and has all of that guilt in his heart and can't let go of it.--Submitted by Laura

~

This book was written by Fyodor Dostoevsky to help outline the life of a young man struggling with insanity. It is powerful and moving as he takes you into the psyche and behavior of one of the most deranged characters of any fictional tale.--Submitted by Matthew Stankowicz.

~

Does madness turn a man into a criminal or does crime turn a criminal mad?--Submitted by Craig Fleming.

~

Crime and Punishment is an indisputable classic, with insight into the lives of poverty-stricken Russians during the late 19th century. Although on the surface it appears to be a nothing more than a stretched out story line, the depth of pyscological premises and the existentialist nature of the novel create a picture of true suffering and enable the reader to question the basic moralities of both historical and modern cultures. With continuing fatalities and guilt stricken chapters, Crime and Punishment brings forth an autobiographical aspect of Fyodor Dostoevsky and allows for the reader to gain insight and learn to question the systems of society.-- Submitted by morgs.

Fan of this book? Help us introduce it to others by writing a better introduction for it. It's quick and easy, click here.

Quizzes on Crime and Punishment
No quizzes available to take yet.

Please submit a quiz here.

Recent Forum Posts on Crime and Punishment

What is everyone's opinion on the Epilogue?

So i just finished reading Crime and Punishment for the first time today and I loved every second of it. It was a brilliantly written novel that almost perfectly balanced character and story. I just have what i think is an interesting question which could lead to a good discussion possibly. Do you think the novel is better with or without the epilogue at the end? Personally I think the novel is best without the epilogue. I feel that Roskolnikov's confession is a more fitting end to the novel. I like the fact that upon finishing the book (minus the epilogue) there was some ambiguity which made me enjoy the ending more. Upon reading the epilogue i felt that questions that didn't really need to be answered were answered. This is just my initial thought and i'd be more than happy to debate about this tomorrow once i have time to sleep on in and decide for sure my opinion, but until then I'm interested in getting some other opinions on the epilogue as to whether or not it was really needed.

Posted By Cygnus X-2112 at Tue 11 May 2010, 11:47 PM in Crime and Punishment || 1 Reply

Part IV ch4-6 questions

Hey guys! Im going to discuss Part IV chapter 4-6 in class. But, I cant think of any other questions that I can ask the class about the stuffs from Part IV chapter 4-6 of C and P. So do you guys have any suggestions? Thanks in advance!!!:]

Posted By lala1128 at Wed 16 Dec 2009, 4:43 PM in Crime and Punishment || 0 Replies

Female Charecters in Crime and Punishment

How would i show that the female characters in C&P are not trodden personalities but strong characters? this refers mostly to the main charecters, like Dunya and Sonya. even nastasya might work. thanks

Posted By Gustav at Sat 5 Dec 2009, 6:30 PM in Crime and Punishment || 3 Replies

What is a yellow ticket?

I have just recently started reading this book, and I noticed more than once the term yellow ticket was used in reference to the character Sonia, and once it was referred to as her yellow passport, and while I gather that it is linked to her prostitution I wondered just what does the term yellow ticket mean?

Posted By Dark Muse at Mon 16 Nov 2009, 2:45 PM in Crime and Punishment || 7 Replies

Crime and Punishment compared URGENT

i need help urgently. I have a paper due Tuesday in English and I was thinking of doing it on a comparison of Crime and Punsihment and was wondering what book would be a good comparison. THANKS SO MUCH

Posted By morphius at Wed 11 Nov 2009, 10:24 PM in Crime and Punishment || 6 Replies

Senior Thesis additional comments

Ok all, here goes... I'm currently a senior undergrad at a private liberal arts university working on my senior thesis. Below is my senior thesis proposal: As a natural tendency, many humans conform to society and its accepted ways of thinking. Various authors throughout history use literature or other outlets to demonstrate the values and philosophies that have been created and accepted as well as values and philosophies that threaten the normal. Writers, most evidently in the mid nineteenth century, have introduced and created characters that are driven by ideas instead of the conformed social behaviors. Fyodor Dostoevsky is one such author who created and introduced revolutionary, intellectual, and self-destructive characters in his works to show and/or possibly criticize the alternative, although not necessarily accepted, philosophies. As the reader, though, we see many different interpretations of Dostoevsky both in the present and at the time of original publication. These varying interpretations are helpful in understanding not only Dostoevsky’s drive to write, but also each period’s reception of the novel and how each has its own vastly different response to Dostoevsky. Dostoesvky’s Crime and Punishment was well-received when first published in 19th century Russia, and is now seen as a morally dark novel and taught as such. Why, though, has there been a shift from being sought after to being scarcely taught in the public school system? Readers in 19th century Russia recognized Dostoevsky’s social, revolutionary, and Populist attacks, but still sought his work for its unmatched artistry and realistic characters. Today, though, Crime and Punishment is hardly taught, and when it is, it’s treated with such caution that the socialist, revolutionary, and Populist views are overlooked. I’m going to be examining why there’s such a shift in reader response to this novel from communist/socialist 19th century Russia to democratic 21st century American society and why there’s a difference in outlook and treatment of Crime and Punishment. So yeah...any responses would help (since you are the reader/s that I'm seeking out). Responses could range from what you think of the novel, how you received this novel (critical reception), and any thoughts on why it's not widely taught. Thanks!

Posted By mattypants at Tue 3 Nov 2009, 7:33 PM in Crime and Punishment || 2 Replies

Crime and Punishment

I just picked up the book Crime and Punishment....Im sure many of you are familiar with:P I was wondering on tips on how to get in to it? or any back ground info i should know? I cant seem to get into it... I confess...

Posted By anxietygerl18 at Mon 3 Aug 2009, 2:28 AM in Crime and Punishment || 9 Replies

name games

Mrs. Marmeladov's name is Katherina Ivanova. Katherina Ivanova is also the name of one of the heroines in Brothers Karamazov; she was very proud and had an awful temper, though she could be tender when she wanted to be; and she wasn't low-born. Both Katherina Ivanovas share these basic characteristics. When I read Brothers Karamazov, I thought that Katherina was likely to end up going crazy if she didn't get herself and her ungovernable passions under control. My question is, Was were both Katherinas the same woman, were they different but Dostoevsky was trying to make a point, or did Dostoevsky just like the name and forgot he already used it?

Posted By Lady Marian at Mon 20 Jul 2009, 10:53 PM in Crime and Punishment || 1 Reply

Crime and Punishment: Yet Another Question

In Part V, specifically, in chapter 1, we see Luzhin characterized as a self-serving, materialistic, pompous person who is profoundly obsessed with money. In this section, he blames a specific character's rejection of him on entirely materialistic motives, thinking that once this character had the inheritance from Marfa Petrovna, she and her mother will no longer need him. Who is this character? Okay, that was an easy one, but it gets more interesting. After this section, Luzhin simply disappears from the text, never to be heard from again, why? And, after or following the aftermath of Luzhin, Dunya is completely free to turn her attention towards which character? One more: A specific character in the same section, next chapter, functions as a humorous, sarcastic caricature of the pompous but stupid intellectual, as well as the "proverbial emperor without any clothes." Who is this character? And why was it important for Dostoevsky to include this character in the novel? (This last question will have no clear answer; it is merely one that is formed from an opinion. What would be your opinion?)

Posted By mea505 at Fri 19 Dec 2008, 8:54 AM in Crime and Punishment || 6 Replies

Question for the Day

In the Novel, Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov is depicted, at first, as a self-centered individual with little to no regard for other peoples' feelings. This is true for most of the novel, in fact. This changes, however, during a crucial part in the novel, and allows the reader to realize that Raskolnikov does have empathy for others. At what point in the novel does this happen? What other significant event happens during this time? No, there are no hints. I have been asked to make these questions, well, difficult! I will present one a day (or try to) until such time as others have completed with the novel and grow tired of discussing it, or tired of my questions. They will all appear in this thread, so come back daily to see the question(s).

Posted By mea505 at Thu 11 Dec 2008, 8:10 AM in Crime and Punishment || 28 Replies

Post a New Comment/Question on Crime and Punishment

Crime and Punishment

(1866)

Related Links:

Quizzes on Crime and Punishment

Recent Forum Posts on Crime and Punishment