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Summary: Nietzsche and Dostoevsky
Review: Nietzsche, a man who was always first to annihilate other writers and thinkers, bestowed lavish praise on Dostoevsky, "that profound human being." But seemingly contrary to Nietzsche, Crime and Punishment illustrates the fallacies of nihilism. The main character Raskolnikov is obsessed with Nietzsche's "Superman" theory, that he is beyond all morals like great men, a la Napoleon. To prove this, he sets out to murder an old, disgusting pawnbroker who is "past all usefullness and should have died long ago." After he accomplishes the grisly deed the novel illustrates his conflict between his rationalizations and his conscience, and the corresponding madness that results. Finally, Raskolnikov is redeemed by love and faith, evincing the Russian Christianity that pervades Russian literature. He realized that his murder was just the disgusting attempt to prove his superiority, when in reality he wasn't such a man. His rational and nihilistic viewpoints at the beginning allowed him to rationalize the murder. The redemption of faith illustrates the point "If God doesn't exist then everything is permitted." To be fair to Nietzsche, he was looking for life-affirmation after removing all certainty of morality and truth, a near impossible task. He was hardly settling for nihilism, even if some of his work appears to be just that. And his Superman theory was probably more in response to someone like Jesus, who besides annihilating the corrupt values and beliefs of his time, creates something that is superior. Dostoevsky is responding to someone who interprets Nietzsche's writings falsely. On the novel, the writing is absolutely superb and clearly reflects the troubled and frantic state of a madman or someone undergoing physchological trauma. The themes are, of course, profound. A thoroughly brilliant novel.
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Summary: Tortured darkness
Review: The basic premise of this novel is well-known, namely that a young Russian law student (Raskolnikov) commits murder. He does this out of pride, vanity, and in order to act on a napoleonic theory of society and history that he develops. "Crime and Punishment" is a very dark novel that mostly deals with criminal psychology, psychology in general, and redemption. One would think that the "punishment" in the title refers to Raskolnikov's self-inflicted psychological torturings from the pangs of guilt for his crime, that he is "accepting his suffering" or "taking up the cross" to use expressions from the novel. However, Raskolnikov never really seems to feel guilty or come to acknowledge his guilt; his tortured state of mind seems rather to be mostly based on an intense questioning of his self-worth in the recognition that he is not destined to succeed like Napoleon. He is intelligent, selfish and vain.
There are no "moments of wild humor" as claimed on the back-cover of my edition! The novel does not really deal with crime and punishment in a legal or even a philosophical sense. Those pre-law students who read the book looking to perhaps gain some insights relevant to their crim law courses in law school will most likely be disappointed in this respect.
I read the translation by Jessie Coulson in Oxford Classics and can recommend it.
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Summary: Excellent Psycological Thriller!
Review: This book was written in 1865-1866 and shows the dark side of the human psyche. A young man (Rodion) commits a horrible, disgusting crime for two main reasons: 1) He believes that he is above the rest of humanity and that it is "permissible" for him to commit murder and 2) He believes he will be doing society a huge favor by getting rid of this old woman. He murders the old woman and is overcome with grief and guilt, although he doesn't recognize them as such. He is angry about these feelings because, as a superior human being (which is believes he really is), he shouldn't be having these kinds of emotions. The novel continues through his emotional hell and finally, at the end, his redemption through the love of a young woman. The details of this novel are incredible and, in my opinion, far surpass those found in the thriller novels of today. Dostoyevsky has a style that has yet to be equalled. This is not a "quick and easy" read, it is a somewhat heavy read, but it is (in my opinion) worth every minute of the reader's time!
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Summary: Existentialism before Sartre
Review: Dostoevsky's novel is so complex, so intelligent, and so disarmingly beautiful that one can only stand in awe and tremble before these pages. Ah, if you do not believe my words, then discover for yourself what can be found in this book! Few books are more rewarding. The mind is a dark place indeed...
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Summary: For those of a philosophical bent...
Review: From all the reviews, there is very little I can add to describe this masterpiece. This is just a suggestion. I have heard (though I have no idea if it's true, but it practically works all the same) that this novel was Dostoyevsky's response to Nietzche's "Beyond Good and Evil." If so, he did a wonderful job. So, if one wishes to read Nietzche at some point, read "Beyond Good and Evil," then directly follow it with this novel. It will be well worth it.
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Summary: Alli's Book Review
Review: This Dostoevsky Classic is about a young man named Raskolnikov. He is a young man living in St.Petersburg, Russia who is struggly financially. He lives in run down apartments in a bad part of town. Raskolnikov believes that his natural superiority places him above the moral law of common men. With that, he finds good reason for murdering two men. All through the novel, each reason is found to be insupportable. Raskolnikov starts to feel a lot of guilt for what he has done and cannot even spend the money obtained by the crime. Finally he turns himself in and is sentenced to hard labor in Siberia. Siberia is a very cold part of Russia. Raskolnikov soon begins to discover that what he did was wrong and he tries very hard to make up for it. I would recommend this book, but you really have to know how to understand that way it's written. There are a lot of hard words and complicating phrases. You also have to push yourself to read this because some parts can begin to get very boring at times but don't let that stop you because this is a great book!!!!
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Summary: overrated
Review: At long last I read this book. I think it is overrated. I also hope his others aren't.
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Summary: One of the greatest novels of all time
Review: I first started reading this novel when I was 12 years old. I only got through the first 50 or so pages before putting the book down. Now, another 12 years down the line, I picked it up again, and this time I didn't let go. Fyodor Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" is simply one of - if not *the* best novel I have ever read. Dostoevsky is the master of portraying characters in a believable way; when you're reading the book you feel as though you are in the room with Rodja, Dunja, Razumichin and Luzjin. It's like stepping into a time-machine set for pre-revolution Russia. The plot revolves around Rodion "Rodja" Romanovitj Raskolnikov, a poor ex-student who murders an old woman in the belief that he's doing it for the good of man. This happens in the first part of the book; in the rest of the book we follow Rodja in his feverish nightmare, walking the streets of Petersburg. The book is interesting not only because of it's great entertainment value, but even more so because of the philosophical questions it asks. The late great Ayn Rand was also a master of this type of novel. With the exception of "Crime and Punsihment," the only novel I have read where you really feel that the characters are so real is Rand's "Atlas Shrugged."
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Summary: mesmerizing
Review: Raskolnikov is a tortured murderer who believes himself to be an "extraordinary" man--a human being of a higher existence. He spends all of his time shut away in his closet of a room cogitating. Throughout Crime and Punishment, the reader is right inside Raskolnikov's head, listening as he suffers and suffering with him, but never knowing exactly why he suffers. Raskolnikov desperately wants to be left utterly and completely alone, to isolate himself and escape from society. However, he cannot escape from himself. While reading Crime and Punishment, I looked up and discovered that three hours had passed in a very short time. When you sit down to read this, make sure you have no plans for the rest of the day.
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Summary: Dark, Gritty, and Exquisitely Memorable!
Review: .... This unsettling trip back in time to nineteenth century St. Petersburg involves an unfortunate man named Raskolnikov, as he grapples with poverty, and begins to think about making his way in the society of that time. At a low point, and unable to continue at the university, he wanders about, watching and listening to stories of misfortune and misery, sinking further and further into despair and madness. He has an allegorical dream about an unfortunate horse, which foretells most of the rest of the happenings in this work. This is a bleak tale about a man's experience of adversity, his fall into the darkness and his search for redemption. It is a man's clash with his own demons and his quest for the meaning of life and the nature of God. It is a way to experience an uncompromisingly realistic and particularly poignant visit into the Russian psyche and perspective. It is set within the rich framework of some absolutely unforgettable women. These strong, longsuffering, and very wonderful ladies are what gives this work its soul and what act as a counterbalance to the grit and darkness. It is translated, of course, and quibbles with the work are probably more to do with the translation than the original language. However, it was difficult to keep track of the characters, but that may be just a difference in cultural viewpoint as well. .... Highly recommended!
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