Title: Crime
and Punishment
Author:
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Publishing
Year: 1866
Genre:
Philosophical Fiction/Classics
Pages: 570+Let me begin my review with two quotes about redemption…
“Redemption is not a favor, it’s a reward!!”
“True redemption is seized when you
accept the future consequences for your past mistakes!!”
Fyodor
Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment is a story of redemption and liberation
through a rare form of suffering. Extreme form of suffering generated by the
protagonist’s destructive thoughts. The heart wrenching novel that explores the
human soul’s susceptibility to sin and regret.
This book is brilliant,
intelligent, cleverly written and it keeps engaging its readers through the
page one till the end. We had to accept the fact that, this book is not a “light”
read. It tests your patience like anything else. At times you feel like you had
to give up reading this and there is no way you can decide to do that. The theme
of this novel seemed like Crime (which is murder) and punishment in the most
generally understood terminologies. No, it is not.
Raskolnikov, our
protagonist in this novel and his arrogance in placing himself above his other
counterparts and thinks he is of the same elite personality as that of Napoleon.
His feelings or his opinion on certain matters has taken its toll and he
brought himself in the most unimaginable situation in this story, which he
regrets, at the same time enjoys, from his own standpoint. Raskolnikov is a
conflicted character; he is showing a lot of interest in the classes and
thinking he is of a higher class than others believes he has the right to
commit murder. Contrary to the title, this novel doesn't really focus on the
crime or the punishment but rather the inner turmoil of Raskolnikov as well as
the impact on his intellect and emotions. It is not until the very end that the
sense of guilt overwhelms him and he confesses and ends his alienation.
This novel is certainly about the psychology of a crime and the
punishment it measures. But more than that, the novel features exceedingly
contrasting views. These views, contrasting and even paradoxical, can sincerely
confuse a man. But, these seemingly contrasting views when scrutinized are
really just the product of a struggle inside a man's very being. His final
struggle of whether to finally detach himself from society, from life, from his
humanity, or to finally succumb to it.
Raskolnikov
is one such a man who didn’t care if he died, didn't eat, didn't care about his
illness and yet coward enough to commit suicide. He is enjoying this rare form
of suffering or we can call it as a delirium? Anyways, he commits two murders
without knowing the consequences or was he prepared for everything? That’s
least bothering point. At times he was being suspected of the crime and several
police officials confronted him and inquired him. But, Raskolnikov was simply
denying everything, but deep inside his heart, he knew that he was the one. He knew
that, today or tomorrow he had to succumb to his punishments.
The novel begins in
two separate tracks, one following the inner turmoil of a murderer and the
other chronicling the melancholic destruction of a family due to a flighty,
alcoholic patriarch. Dostoevsky deftly weaves together a multitude of
unforgettable characters as they interplay through their tangle of plotlines. Each
character is carefully balanced with their foil, each character is written with
their own unique style of speech and language, and the novel seems to tie every
thread together with such perfection and care as it churns forward, raining
destruction on the lives of its characters to bring them toward their own
personal redemption or demise.
There are many characters in the book which is equally important as
Raskolnikov. Especially Mr. Razumihin. He is a man of good heart and he is
deeply interested in helping Raskolnikov and his family. He often went and
arranged everything to defend his dear friend Rodya a.k.a. Raskolnikov. He eventually
marries Dounia. That’s sort of a relief from this novel. The character Sonia Sofya Semyonovna
is also a role to be remembered for. She has suffered equally as that of
Raskolnikov. Only thing is, she didn't commit any murder. Rather, she has sacrificed
herself for her family and her siblings. Raskolnikov was deeply moved by the
affection that Sonia had expressed for him. He felt, at last that, he had loved
her. Sonia took all those pains and sufferings and moved to Siberia in order to
be with him, visiting him during those punishment years, eagerly waiting to
start her life with Rodya altogether anew.
Over a
century has passed since its initial publication, yet Dostoevsky’s message is
still as poignant today as it was when it was first inked onto paper. Crime
and Punishment features an immensely engaging blend of intrigue;
philosophy; political, social, moral and religious commentary, that all thread
together to create a masterpiece of literature that captures the deep, raw core
of the human condition when it is at its most gruesome and vulnerable. The
exquisite literary genius of the novel evoked a strong emotional resonance in
me and the timing of my reading was just right to forever wed me to my love of
books.
Conclusively, a
fantastic book and it is highly recommended from my side. If you are a true
reader and have an adjective as voracious, you must read this book once in your
life time.
As I end my review, I have some excerpts from the book which I think it
is worth mentioning in my review:
"Go now, this minute, stand in the
crossroads, bow down, first kiss the Earth you've defiled, then bow down to the
whole world, on all four sides, then say aloud to everyone: 'I have killed!'
"
"Accept suffering and redeem yourself by
it, that's what you must do."
"He went on down the stairs and came out in
the courtyard. There in the courtyard, not far from the entrance, stood Sonya,
pale, numb all over, and she gave him a wild, wild look. He stopped before her.
Something painted and tormented something desperate, showed in her face. She
clasped her hands. A hideous, lost smile forced itself in his lips. He stood a
while, grinned, and turned back upstairs to the office."
"But
all at once, in the same moment, she understood everything. Infinite happiness
lit up in her eyes; she understood, and for her there was no longer any doubt
that he loved her, lover her infinitely, and at last the moment had come... "
My Rating:
5/5
