Book Review #72: Crime and Punishment By Fyodor Dostoevsky

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