Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoevsky Written in St. Petersburg, Russia

The Life of Dostoevsky Born one of six children in Moscow in 1821 Born one of six children in Moscow in 1821 Fyodor was emotionally troubled and alienated friends with his moods Fyodor was emotionally troubled and alienated friends with his moods After quitting the military, he began writing about his own youth which was full of misery, isolation and insecurity. After quitting the military, he began writing about his own youth which was full of misery, isolation and insecurity. First bestseller was Poor Folk- it was admired for its character study and romantic socialism First bestseller was Poor Folk- it was admired for its character study and romantic socialism

Troubled Times Arrested in 1849 for his reckless socialistic articles and condemned to die by firing squad Saved by the tsar, he was instead sentenced to 4 years of hard labor in Siberia. This further contributed to his fears and alienation and he developed epilepsy. In 1853 he experienced a religious conversion. He began a socialist newspaper and once more received unfavorable criticism

Crime and Punishment Poor and reduced to begging, Fyodor began writing C and P. It was serialized in The Russian Messenger and appeared in English 4 years later. Became a literary idol. Died in 1881 of a epileptic seizure.

About the Novel Setting – 1860’s - Russian city of St. Petersburg and a prison in Siberia Setting – 1860’s - Russian city of St. Petersburg and a prison in Siberia Third person omniscient Third person omniscient Psychological novel- Raskolnikov’s tortured psychological punishment Psychological novel- Raskolnikov’s tortured psychological punishment

Main Characters Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov: variously called Rodya and Rodka, is the protagonist from whose perspective the story is primarily told. Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov: variously called Rodya and Rodka, is the protagonist from whose perspective the story is primarily told. protagonist Sofya Semyonovna Marmeladova: variously called Sonya and Sonechka, is the daughter of a drunk, Semyon Zakharovich, Raskolnikov meets her father in a tavern at the beginning of the novel. Sofya Semyonovna Marmeladova: variously called Sonya and Sonechka, is the daughter of a drunk, Semyon Zakharovich, Raskolnikov meets her father in a tavern at the beginning of the novel. Porfiry Petrovich: the detective in charge of solving Raskolnikov's murders Porfiry Petrovich: the detective in charge of solving Raskolnikov's murdersdetective Avdotya Romanovna Raskolnikova: Raskolnikov's sister, called Dunya for short, who plans to marry the wealthy, yet morally depraved, Luzhin to save the family from financial destitution. Avdotya Romanovna Raskolnikova: Raskolnikov's sister, called Dunya for short, who plans to marry the wealthy, yet morally depraved, Luzhin to save the family from financial destitution. Arkady Ivanovich Svidrigailov: wealthy former employer and current pursuer of Dunya, torments Dunya and Raskolnikov but never goes to the police. Arkady Ivanovich Svidrigailov: wealthy former employer and current pursuer of Dunya, torments Dunya and Raskolnikov but never goes to the police. Dmitri Prokofych Razumikhin: Raskolnikov's loyal, good-natured and only friend. He and Dunya ultimately become romantically involved. Dmitri Prokofych Razumikhin: Raskolnikov's loyal, good-natured and only friend. He and Dunya ultimately become romantically involved.loyal

Russian Translations Raskolnikov – “raskol” means “schism” or “split” in Russia Razum – “reason”, “intelligence” Russian word for crime is “prestuplenie” Directly translated means -“stepping over the line”

Themes Alienation from Society – at first Raskolnikov is separated by his PRIDE, and later by his GUILT and its intense psychological and physical effects Alienation from Society – at first Raskolnikov is separated by his PRIDE, and later by his GUILT and its intense psychological and physical effects

Superman theme An extraordinary person above moral laws “steps beyond” and has no conscience Nietzsche – “In Beyond Good and Evil”, 2 types of morality: master-morality and slave-morality. The higher type of man creates his own values and the meek and powerless are at their mercy.

Nihilism Philosophical idea – developed in Russia Philosophical idea – developed in Russia Rejected family, societal bonds and emotional and aesthetic concerns Rejected family, societal bonds and emotional and aesthetic concerns Favored strict “materialism”- no mind or soul outside of the physical Favored strict “materialism”- no mind or soul outside of the physical Nietzche’s nihilism – active vs. passive Nietzche’s nihilism – active vs. passive Active nihilism seeks to destroy what it no longer believes in. Active nihilism seeks to destroy what it no longer believes in. Portrait of Friedrich Nietczhe

Be careful when you fight the monsters, lest you become one. Friedrich Nietzsche In heaven all the interesting people are missing. Friedrich Nietzsche Be careful when you fight the monsters, lest you become one. In heaven all the interesting people are missing.