Rating: 
Summary: Less Enjoyable Than A Warm Bowl of Mayonaise
Review: It's been six years since I read Crime and Punishment. I've moved out of state, switched jobs three times and gotten married, however, one thing has remained constant these past years. I STILL HATE THIS BOOK. I made a promise to my mother when I was in elementary school that if I ever finished the first chapter of a book I would read the book in it's entirety. What a monumental mistake. I normally read a book in one or two weeks. IT TOOK ME FOUR MONTHS TO SLUDGE THROUGH THIS GARBAGE! In fact the night that I finished the book I threw a party and was finally able to stop taking anti-depressants. Why Dostoevsky why? Raskilnov you are the most maniacal, narcissistic, pugnacious, cantankerous, pathetic main character of any novel that I have ever read. If there is a hell it is nothing but a book club that meets for eternity reading and discussing Crime and Punishment. The Horror! I will end this diatribe with my trademark haiku. Crime and Punishment
the worst book I ever read
what's wrong with Fyodor
Rating: 
Summary: Analysis of a sociopath
Review: Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment is the story of a poor man in czarist Russia who can only purge himself of his guilt through suffering. It deals with the mental and physical tribulation brought upon him by his crime. His troubles are compounded by the conflicting personalities which he possesses.
The central conflict in Crime and Punishment stems from Raskolnikov's crime of murder and his struggles with his conscience over whether or not he should confess to the police. At
one level, therefore, it is a kind of detective story where the police seek the criminal, and he evades arrest until the last pages of the novel. On a deeper level, the conflict springs from Raskolnikov's exaggerated theories of "the extraordinary man" and how such western ideas are opposed to the Slavophile concepts indigenous to Russia. The novel also highlights the eternal conflict between the
forces of good and those of evil. Raskolnikov, the protagonist of Dostoevsky's novel, is a handsome and brilliant law student who holds firm but unusual views. He believes that certain superior people in a society stand
above the ordinary human and moral laws. To test his thesis, he murders an old woman that is a greedy moneylender. He feels her death is no great loss to society because she preys upon the misery and poverty of her fellow humans. After the deed, he is seized by alternate moods of great cunning with which he tries to outwit the police and moments of nagging guilt when he resolves to confess his crime. Through this fascinating study of a criminal's conscience. On the surface level, the antagonist is apparently the police force of St. Petersburg, especially Porfiry Petrovitch, who investigates the murders that Raskolnikov has committed. All through the novel, the murderer attempts to evade arrest and to mislead the police. However, on a deeper level, the very order of autocratic society in Tsarist Russia seems to be the antagonist against whom Raskolnikov is pitted. He theorizes that vicious, predatory humans like the pawnbroker are evil and deserve to be eliminated in a society that permits such vile people to prosper. Raskolnikov also believes that some "extraordinary" humans like himself have the right to transgress and oppose ordinary social laws in order to create a new and more just social order. At another level, ironically, Raskolnikov himself may also be looked upon as the antagonist of conventional society and its unjust system. Throughout the novel, Raskolnikov toys with the idea of confessing his guilt. However, he never manages to do so. He brings himself to reveal to Sonia that it was he who murdered the moneylender and her half-sister, Lizaveta. Although she is deeply shocked by his terrible revelation, Sonia promises to share in Raskolnikov's future sufferings and punishment in a Siberian prison camp.
The apparent theme of the novel is that of planning and executing the perfect crime, as well as the subsequent suffering on the part of the criminal and his obsessive need to confess. Only the first part of the novel deals with the careful planning that precedes the crime. The other five parts are concerned with Raskolnikov's intermittent moments of remorse and his overwhelming desire to confess and to rid himself of the guilt. However, he is unable to do so until the end of the novel. The act of murder and its effects on the mind of the killer form the central subject of Dostoevsky's
Crime and Punishment. Linked closely to this cycle of crime and confession is the motif of all-encompassing fear. This fear reduces Raskolnikov to a quivering mass of indecision, subject to spells of illness, emotional
outbursts of anger and horrible nightmares. The crime and its long-term effects on Raskolnikov's behavior and peace of mind become the very punishment itself. Only in Siberia does he overcome the fear and begin the difficult process of social rehabilitation and moral regeneration. One of the important minor themes of this novel is that of the emotional estrangement and social isolation suffered by Raskolnikov, especially after he turns into a criminal. He feels terribly lonely and utterly devastated by his inability to turn to anyone after the double murder. He feels some sympathy for the unfortunate Marmeladov, who dies in a street accident and for the woman who attempts suicide in the River Neva. Sonia's patience and profound understanding finally help him to bring himself to confess his crime and ultimately to reintegrate into ordinary human
society. To reinforce the theme of isolation and alienation, Dostoevsky makes Raskolnikov often think of "the square yard of space" to which his crime has confined him. In addition, the novelist frequently introduces the motif of "fresh air" as a cure for the criminal's isolation and intermittent periods of sickness. Raskolinikov justified his act as follows. Napolean attracted him tremendously, that is, what affected him was that a great many men of genius have not hesitated at wrong doing, but have over stepped the law without thinking about it. He seems to have fancied that he was a genius too-that is he was convinced of it for a time. According to him he has suffered a great deal and is still suffering from the idea that he could make a theory, but was incapable of overstepping the law, and so he is not a man of genius. And that was more humiliating for him a young man with pride than a murder he had committed.
Rating: 
Summary: Go inside a murderer¿s head.
Review: Ever wanted to get inside the head of a murderer? That's exactly what the legendary Russian writer Dostoevsky does in this classic novel. On the face of it, by the usual standards of literature, this doesn't seem to be much of a novel. There isn't much in the way of plot (the murder happens in the early pages, we know who he is from the outset, and the only real suspense revolves around whether or not he will confess). The language is at times awkward and complex. The setting is believable but not captivating. But the people are, and here Dostoevsky excels: characterization. The focus of the novel revolves around the internal struggle within the murderer's mind, as he deals with the consequences of his action as a moral being. Most modern murder mysteries seek to entertain by focusing on the blood and gore; Dostoevsky goes far deeper by focusing on the mind. Dostoevsky has a deep insight into human nature and psychology. In the process of wading through the text, one can expect to come across wonderful pearls like these: "I have noticed more than once in my life that husbands don't quite get on with their mothers-in-law." (p37) "Even the poorest and most broken-spirited people are sometimes liable to these paroxysms of pride and vanity which take the form of an irresistible nervous craving." (p350) "And do you know, Sonia, that low ceilings and tiny rooms cramp the soul and the mind?" (p386) This insight into human behaviour especially becomes evident in Dostoevsky's treatment of the murderer Raskolnikov. Many writers are one-dimensional, but Dostoevsky shows how people have a complex system of emotions, often fluctuating from one feeling to the next. He depicts human nature with different layers and moods, as Raskolnikov moves between conflicting emotions such as fear, guilt, remorse, and courage. The brilliance is already evident from the first chapter, where Raskolnikov is introduced as a figure absorbed in selfish isolation. Completely absorbed with the self and away from love of God and man, as he contemplates murdering the old woman pawn-broker Alyona Ivanovna his wretched condition is a convincing portrait of the depravity of the human heart estranged from God. As Raskolnikov later confesses: "Sonia, I have a bad heart, take note of that. It may explain a great deal." (p383). With a window into the mind of a murderer, we begin to understand him to the point where we identify with him, and realize that we are all capable of enormous sin. Raskolnikov's loathsome heart is ultimately no different from our own. But Dostoevsky also excels in showing the tragic consequences of depravity: it results in isolation from other human beings, and ultimately from God. Raskolnikov's deteriorating mental and physical state is highly reminiscent of what David says in Psalm 32 about being in bed, wracked with unconfessed guilt. Although Dostoevsky shows the effect of sin more in relation to other humans (isolation) than in relation to God, he succeeds in showing the tragic consequences of the darkness of the human soul. Raskolnikov experiences an increasing sense of isolation. "It seemed to him, he had cut himself off from everyone and from everything at that moment." (p109) Such comments about the psychology of a murderer are particularly illuminating. Yet there is also a sense of hope, as Raskolnikov finds the answer to guilt and its consequences in heartfelt repentance. This solution is enhanced by way of a contrast with the remedy sought by Svidrigailov. Although his guilt is never directly affirmed, we are left with the distinct impression that Svidrigailov struggles with the same guilt over murder as Raskolnikov. Svidrigailov advises Raskolnikov that he has only two options: Siberia or a bullet in the head. But while Svidrigailov himself chooses the latter option of suicide, Raskolnikov chooses Siberia ... and repentance. This inner transformation leads to significant observable changes in his life, with Sonia functioning as a Christ figure. The novel ends fittingly with both realism and optimism about repentance: "He did not know that the new life would not be given him for nothing, that he would have to pay dearly for it, that it would cost him great striving, great suffering. But that is the beginning of a new story - the story of the gradual renewal of a man, the story of his gradual regeneration, of his passing from one world into another, of his initiation into a new unknown life." (p505) As a novel, "Crime and Punishment" is not entirely without weaknesses. The occasional blasphemy eg "Good God!" was surprising. The sentences are sometimes broken, and the flow of the English translation is at times unnatural and difficult to read. Dostoevsky's dialogue is frequently verbose, the lengthy soliloquys unrealistic and tiring. The Russian names are also difficult to keep track of, particularly because characters are at times referred to using different names (to keep your Petrovna's and Petrovitch's apart, consider keeping a character list handy while reading). But these difficulties are in part a result of the inevitable distance that arises from cultural and language differences. In the final analysis this book is not easy to read merely because of its weaknesses but because of its brilliance. Despite the heavy going, it's no `punishment' to read this book, but rather a `crime' not to. "Crime and Punishment" is a brilliant psychological and religious study of human depravity, giving you an opportunity to discover something more about your own corruption, as well as its only cure.
Rating:
Summary: A penetrating psychological study
Review: In the first of his string of classic novels, Fyodor Dostoyevsky delves deep into the human psyche. Using prose that is thick and penetrating, Dostoyevsky weaves a deep, stunning psychological portrait. The book is written in a very unconventional style: the murder is committed at the front of the book - as well as the interweaving of other scenes, which seem to have little or no relevance at first - without giving any motive or reason for it. It is only later, much later, in the book that the reason for the murder is revealed, and we spend the rest of the book in the mind of Raskolnikov. Slowly, piece by piece, more and more of his character is revealed, until we are aware that we have read one of the greatest character studies and psychological portraits in all of literature. The book raises several philosophical questions - as do all of Dostoyevesky's works - namely: is the intelligent human being beyond good and evil? Are they allowed to transgress moral if it will benefit humanity? Who qualifies and who doesn't? As relevant as this book still is today, it was, at the time, a deft exploration of the prevailing philosophies of the time, as well as a question into the then-just-emerging field of modern psychology. Raskolnikov shows the true fate of a Nietzschian superman, and begs the question, Is a man able to escape his own conscience? A true literary masterpiece with broad implications that hit hard to this day.
Rating:
Summary: Captivating!
Review: I was completely captivated by this book's character Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov. I hope I spelled his name right. He was called Rodya for short. When I first saw the title of this book I figured that it might be boring or either about a cut and dry murder and punishment. It was about crime and punishment but the crime was not exactly the way that I had imagined it. Rodya suffers greatly in this book for his sins and for his pleasures. This book looks deep into the psyche of one man against himself. Rodya doesn't fight to stay alive but he stays alive to fight with himself, his friends, and his beloved. The deep agony that is felt by Rodya as well as other people whom love him very much can be overwhelming at times. I would suggest breaks in- between readings to clear your mind. The psychological warfare that Dostoyevsky takes the reader through in an attempt to discover redemption through suffering can be draining at times. Rodya is a man that doesn't care about what other people think of him; his appraisal of himself is much more important. He wants to be the Napoleon of his people but finds that he can't even be responsible for his own life. This novel shows how self-reflection and self-forgiveness can set you free from the inner prisons that we sometimes create for ourselves. Sometimes the punishment that humans give out is not nearly as punishing as the punishments that we render upon ourselves. To see yourself as you really are can be the most exhausting thing to do but it must be done to truly find some contentment in life. Rodya is definitely a very captivating character. The crime and the punishment in this novel,hold symbolic meaning as well as literal meaning for Rodya and the reader. It will kind of make you stop and ask what is crime really? In this book, crime seems to be synonymous with sin or immorality. Punishment is referring to more than man's punishment. It seems that punishment can be many things to many people. Just choose your drug of choice. If you want to read a deep psychological drama with a few laughs in- between believe it or not then this book is the one to read. If you're looking to read about self-reflection and breaking free of inner prisons that we create then this is the read for you. If you want to read a book with almost no pronouns which has characters with long sometimes hard to pronounce names read this book. The crime and the punishment are not cut and dry.
Rating:
Summary: Great novel!
Review: This book is incredibly well-written. Throughout the book, it was tough for me to decide whether or not I liked Raskolnikov, and I realized this was because he has two personalities. At times, Raskolnikov is kind, like Sonia and other times, he is a dark, intellectual, like Svidrigailov. It was interesting to see a part of Raskolnikov die when he committed the murders, but then come back to life with the help of Sonia. This is just like the story of Lazarus read by Sonia. Overall, this is a great novel that you have to read.
Rating:
Summary: A pretty interesting read
Review: This was the 2nd book by Dostoevsky that I've read, well, kind of. About a year ago I started reading The Idiot, but I found that pretty boring and didn't even finish it, but it was a very different case with Crime and Punishment. This book tells the story of a man named Raskolinov who decides to kill an old pawnbroker, justifying his actions by reasoning that the death of this miserable old woman will be better for society. Anyway, it's pretty interesting seeing how the main character behaves throughout the book. Besides the main character, there is an interesting supporting cast such as his friend, his mother and sister, and a family he helps which includes a prostitute he befriends. There are subplots concerning these characters which are interesting and in other novels these subplots would maybe be distracting and bog the novel down, but I think they're pretty interesting in Crime and Punishment and if it weren't for them, the book would be a lot shorter. Also, Dostoevsky does a good job bringing life to every character. I found it pretty easy to distinguish each character and I had a vivid image of what they're like. In reading this book, it wouldn't hurt to know something about Russian ideas and such in the 19th century, but I certainly wouldn't say it's necessary. Reading the novel, despite Raskolinov's plot of murder, I found that I couldn't help liking the character and wanting things to work out for him. For the most part, he seemed like an educated and caring man. I think this novel provides an interesting look into the way in which one's conscience can practically drive a person mad, as it often does with the main character. Although the character is about Russian people in Russia, I don't think that made the story any less interesting as the theme of the novel had much more to do with human nature and little to do with the fact that the characters are Russian. I think most people will find characters and feelings in this book that they can relate to. Overall, I think this book is worth the read. I'm glad I read it and I think it's a pretty good book.
Rating:
Summary: Handy dandy character guide
Review: The Russian names in "Crime and Punishment" are also difficult to keep track of, particularly because characters are at times referred to using different names. To keep your Petrovna's and Petrovitch's apart, consider keeping a character list handy while reading. The list of the following main characters may be helpful for readers, reduce your frustration/confusion, and enhance your reading experience: Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov (Rodya) - main character, murderer
Avdotya Romanovna Raskolnikov (Dounia) - Raskolnikov's sister
Pulcheria Alexandrovna Raskolnikov - Raskolnikov's mother
Dmitri Prokofitch Razumikhin - Raskolnikov's best friend
Zossimov - Raskolnikov's doctor during his illness
Alyona Ivanovna - the pawnbroker, murder victim
Lizaveta Ivanovna - pawnbroker's step-sister, abused by her
Nastasya Petrovna - servant/cook in Raskolnikov's house
Praskovya Pavlovna - Raskolnikov's eccentric landlady
Semyon Zakharovitch Marmeladov - alcoholic killed in accident, Sonia's father
Katerina Ivanovna Marmeladov - Marmeladov's wife
Sofya Semyonovna Marmeladov (Sonia) - Marmeladov's daughter, prostitutes to provide for stepmother/family
Amalia Ivanovna Lippevechsel - Marmeladov's landlady
Arkady Ivanovitch Svidrigailov - landowner, employed Dounia as governess & seduced her
Marfa Petrovna Svidrigailov - Svidrigailov's wife, died under mysterious circumstances
Pyotr Petrovitch Luzhin - Dounia's rejected fiance
Andrey Semyonovitch Lebeziatnikov - Luzhin's room-mate
Porfiry Petrovitch - police inspector
Alexandr Grigorievitch Zametov - clerk at police station
Ilya Petrovitch ("The Explosive Lieutenant") - police official, Raskolnikov meets after the murder, and confesses to at end
Nikolai Dementiev (Mikolka) - painter, falsely confesses to the murder
Rating:
Summary: Crime and Punishment
Review: Crime and Punishment was an excellent book and I recommend it for any high school level reader (11th and 12th grade) or higher. It is great literature, but is confusing at some points. If the reader tries to understand the book page by page, it is sometimes hard to put the book down. The book also helps you learn a little about the history of Russia during the 19th century after Napolean and his troops froze to death trying to defeat the Russians.
Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikoy lives a life of poverty. He seems to be crazy to the reader because he murders two sisters. His reasoning was based on the theory he wrote. Rodion feels uncomfortable whenever the subject of murder is brought up in a conversation. Although he believes his reasoning for killing the two girls was correct, he seems to still be uncomfortable about it showing he is partially innocent.
As the story moves on, tension builds because the reader does not know what will happen next.
This book is great to read if you are a high school level reader or higher. Otherwise, I do not recommend it as it may be difficult to understand most of the time.
Rating:
Summary: Justice in Crime and Punishment
Review: I felt that this book, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, was an extremely well written book. It took me back many years in time and showed me what the lifestyle of people in St. Petersburg was at the time. I would recommend this book to anybody who enjoys taking themselves into a new culture and/or lifestyle in the past. However, one must be an extremely patient and willing person if he/she is going to read this book. It contains many scenes which move quite slowly and seem at first to have no meaning to them. Yet, once this book is completed, every word has a significance to it. There are also quite a few characters in this story as well. Many of them, at first, seem to have no meaning once again. Yet only the patient reader will continue and realize that every character plays a key role in the story. There were many points in the story where I had an urge to close the book and never open it up again, for the first half of the story has very few moving scenes. However I guarantee that once the book is completed, you will be extremely happy for finishing the book. You will realize that the whole story was a puzzle and all the pieces fit together at the very end of the novel. The main theme of the story is justice. There are many scenes which work their way around the theme, but make sense eventually. The reader learns a great deal about the justice system back then and in that part of the world. It is not comparable to the justice systems today in any part of the world. In today's world, it is nearly impossible to commit murder and get away with it. However during the 1800's in St. Petersburg, the decision of penalty was indirectly left to the murderer. Dostoevsky's goal in this story was not necessarily to keep the reader consistently interested. His primary goal was to teach a lesson to the reader and did whatever had to be done for that to be accomplished. This book was a wonderful book and the reader will come out of this story knowing a great deal more that what he/she knew before.
|
