What does Raskolnikov represent in Crime and Punishment?

Fyodor Dostoevsky portrays Rodion Raskolnikov as a man torn between two worlds. In one is his ability to be cold and calculating. The other half demonstrates kindness and humility. This dichotomy creates turmoil and conflict in ‘Crime and Punishment’.

How does Raskolnikov justify his crime?

But he does give five motives for the crime. First, he says he killed the old lady because he was poor and needed money. This motive is the social justification from poverty. Then he argues that he wished to benefit society, that the old woman was useless and would have let her money rot.

Is Raskolnikov a villain?

The antagonists of the story are Luzhin, Ilya Petrovich, and the landlady. Raskolnikov could be considered to be the primary protagonist, while Svidrigailov could be thought of as the primary antagonist.

Is Raskolnikov a psychopath?

It’s easy to dismiss Raskolnikov as a psychopath, but this is not an insight: it is an admission of failure to understand his psychology. Beneath the silence, the battle within Raskolnikov’s mind rages on, though his dejection and his nearness to confession mark its final stages.

What is the moral lesson of Crime and Punishment?

Alienation from Society Alienation is the primary theme of Crime and Punishment. At first, Raskolnikov’s pride separates him from society. He sees himself as superior to all other people and so cannot relate to anyone. Within his personal philosophy, he sees other people as tools and uses them for his own ends.

What is the message of Crime and Punishment?

What is the most striking thing about Raskolnikov?

Most striking are the poverty of Raskolnikov and that of Marmeladov and his family. Raskolnikov’s poverty becomes part of his motivation for killing the pawnbroker, since he perceives of her death as a chance to get enough money to resume his education and make progress toward a better life.

Is Raskolnikov a hero?

Raskolnikov is an anti-hero because of the lack of repentance he demonstrates after committing a cold-blooded murder. He does not possess the admirable morality the traditional protagonist of a novel does.

How is Raskolnikov prideful?

Rodion Raskolnikov’s pride is a driving force behind the actions that he takes in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s ‘Crime and Punishment. ‘ Even after his sentence, Rodion remains proud. His pride is what separates him from others.

Is Raskolnikov a nihilist?

Raskolnikov lives hypocritically: As a nihilist, he cares nothing for others’ feelings or social conventions, but as a conflicted human, he demands propriety from others.

Is Raskolnikov a narcissist?

As intelligent, and capable, as Raskolnikov is, he’s also very arrogant, and narcissistic, so he doesn’t quite understand nearly as much as he thinks. After Raskolnikov commits his murders, Dostoevsky uses the next 300 pages to outline Raskolnikov’s descent into madness, and psychological deterioration.