LITERATURE ANALYSIS #1

Michael Hall

Period 4

9/12/14

Lit Analysis #1: Crime and Punishment

1.  1.    Crime and Punishment starts off in 19th century Russia, in St. Petersburg with Raskolnikov an ex-student who is struggling in the city. In order to try to survive he has to sell his last valuable item to an old pawnbroker who gives him a horrible deal. As he drowns his sorrows in a tavern he meets Marmeladov, another man who is very down. On his way him from taking Marmeladov back to his home he hears other people complaining about the old pawnbroker, this is where he starts to consider that if someone was to kill her than all people would be better off. He goes to bed that night and the next day grabs an ax and something to distract her and goes to her place, her he kills her with the ax but her sister walks in and he kills her as well. He slips out of the apartment before the police come and returns to his place where he collapses. This marks the climax of the story, from here on it’s about Raskolnikov dealing with what he has done. The nest day he is freaking out about his actions and gets even more nervous when he is summoned to the police station, but it turns out it’s because he landlord is trying to collect her money he owes her. At the station he faints when asked about the murders, and the police start to suspect him. From here on he struggles between telling friends and family and deciding whether or not to confess to the police. Porfiry Petrovich a police officer begins to suspect Raskolnikov but has no evidence to support his theory, his makes him even more nervous. After the death of Marmeladov and his wife along with the suicide of Svidrigailov he goes to the station. On the way he stops in the market place and kisses the ground, he almost turns around but sees his love Sonya and continues in. He ends up getting eight years of hard labor in Siberia, Sonya moves to the closest town and visits him.

2.      2.There are many themes that people can pull form this literary work, one that I thought was a major contributor to the story was that there is a major distinction between thinking about an action an doing it. Also based on that action it can change your whole life in the blink of an eye. He contemplated killing the pawnbroker and thought that he could live with it was doing the ”right” think but once he had committed the crime could barley live with himself. Also once he killed her and her sister his life completely changed and he ended up in prison.

3.    3.  I would say the authors tone is a hint of darkness, much of the story involves people with very hard lives and situations, for most there are no happy endings in sight. One example:”he was badly dressed; so badly, it would have embarrassed a tramp to go out in such rags in the daytime. In that neighborhood, though, nothing could surprise anyone.” Another example being, “Where’s the money? O lord, he’s drunk it all up!....Aren’t you ashamed ?”

4.   4.   There are many literary elements used throughout the story here is a list of just some:
(I have the signet classic version of the book from the library for citing.)

1,2. Parallelism and Repetition: on page 158 in part 2 Raskolnikov yells “why don’t you catch him, then? Go on, now, why don’t you!” and continues, ”Who’s going to catch him? You? You think you’ll catch him?...”

3. There are many similes one being on page 38 in part 1, “Because the whole thing is clear as day,” Raskolnikov said to himself after reading his mothers letter.

4. Allusion to the story of Jesus, “"I ought to be crucified, crucified on a cross…”

5,6. Much of the story is written in extensive dialogue between characters such as, “Good-bye, Mama dear.”  “What? This very day!... I can’t.. its time… I really have to-“  “No, but you can pray to god for me on your knees. Your prayer might reach.”(pg 490) Also this passage holds an allusion to Christianity, the most popular religion the area at that time.

7. There were also very detailed descriptions of the setting example: “outside, the heat had grown ferocious. Closeness, crowds, scaffolding, with lime and brick and dust everywhere, and that special summer stench familiar to very Petersburger who can’t afford a summer cottage….” (pg 2)

8. Ethos when the pawn lady tells Raskolnikov “that’s for me to say. I could sell your pledge right now.” It’s because he has no other choice to sell his watch and needs the money leavening her with all the power.

9,10. Symbolism, Sonia grabs two crosses, and Raskolnikov says, “That’s a symbol, I suppose. Means I’m taking the cross upon myself, ha-ha! As if till now I hadn’t suffered!” (pg497)  the second phrase is both a rhetoric question and sarcasm.

Characterization

1.      1.When Raskolnikov walk into the bar he meets Marmeladov there is a paragraph that describes Marmeladov’s appearance as “...a man in his fifties, he had a graying fringe of hair and a large bald spot….” He was described through direct characterization as was Raskolnikov in the start, “Not that he was cowardly or abject; quite the contrary. For some time, though, he had been tense and irritable.”

2.     2. The author alternates from long descriptive segments to long and fast paced dialogue between the characters. There are distinct differences in characters because Raskolnikov speaks a lot to himself through thought while most others only act through their reactions a direct dialogue.

3.    3.  The protagonist Raskolnikov is most diffidently dynamic, not only does he fight in exterior conflicts but more importantly he struggles fighting himself. He stated off thinking that killing the pawnbroker would be good for everyone and that he could handle it, but in the end he couldn’t take it and turned himself in.

4.  4.    I didn't really feel like I meet a new character I had a feeling that he wouldn’t be able to handle what he had done and most people wouldn't, I didn't find that much special  with his character overall.