The Paradox of the settings St. Petersburg the Siberian Prison in Crime Punishment Essay Example For Students

The Paradox of the settings: St. Petersburg the Siberian Prison in Crime Punishment Essay The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons (Dostoyevsky). This statement by Dostoyevsky in Crime and Punishment reflects the paradox of human civilization, whereby the settings of St. Petersburg and the Siberian prison reflect this political view. The Siberian prison, where Raskolnikov is imprisoned, is based on Dostoevskys own experience of being exiled and locked up in prison. This prison is also where Dostoyevsky writes through a religious call for redemption through suffering. By setting the novel in St. Petersburg, Dostoevsky draws attention to the miserable social conditions that existed in Russia during the time of intense loss, humiliation, and rage. Dostoyevsky uses a satirical analysis of liberal politics to reinforce his socialist values and criticizes the separation of the ordinary class and the superman class. St. Petersburg is usually thought of as a beautiful city with fabulous buildings and art; however, there is a much more impoverished side of the city. Almost all of the characters, including Raskolnikov, are alienated from society; thus, this renders him sympathetic to a degree. Although Dostoyevsky depicts the crime and the environment it takes place with great realism, he is more interested in the psychology of the murderer than in the external specifics of the crime. How does Dostoyevsky present the settings of St. Petersburg and the Siberian prison as a reflection of Raskolnikovs character in Russian society? In Crime and Punishment, Dostoevsky presents the setting of St. Petersburg as a microcosm of Raskolnikovs character and Russian society in general and ironically presents the Siberian prison as a hospital for criminals rather than a continuation of suffering. First and foremost, St. Petersburg serves as a microcosm of Raskolnikovs character while his character is ironically a microcosm of St. Petersburg as well. Starting with Raskolnikovs room, it symbolizes violence, abuse, and chaos as do the other homes in the novel, and is also metaphor for psychological confinement. It is small, grimy, and depressing, and is even blamed for his awful psychological state. It serves as a microcosm of St. Petersburg Its like a room without windows (Dostoyevesky). This room takes on a character of its own. It illustrates Raskolnikovs mental turmoil, becomes an image of him to others, and reinforces his degenerate state. It was a tiny little cubby-hole of a place, no more than six paces long and so low that anybody of even a little more than average height felt uncomfortable in it (25). Raskolnikovs first thought is loathing revulsion at his miserable existence. His disgust at his room mirrors readers revulsion at life in general in Petersburg. The description of the room itself creates a feeling of claustrophobia, for it is a mare six paces long with a ceiling too low to stand. From its first appearance, Raskolnikovs room is quite horrible and oppressive, yet by the end of the passage, he seems to find it agreeable. Although a more slovenly and degraded manner of life could hardly have been imagined, it suited Raskolnikovs present mood (Dostoyevsky). Just as Raskolnikov shifts between confidence and doubt, he ironically changes his feelings about his living conditions, which renders ambivalence for the reader. As he alters between loathings for his room and ironically feeling comfortable and depressed, his shifting relation with the room reveals the dual nature of his character. However, the room demands more attention as a tragic/comic setting and as a manifestation of inner psychological turmoil. It is likely that the room also creates th e turmoil within Raskolnikov; the desire to break free. He acknowledges his own rooms deeper function as motivator At last it began to seem close and stuffy in the shabby little room, so like a box or cupboard. His eyes and his thoughts both craved more space (33). This oppressive physical environment of the room constrains him, depresses him and darkens his thoughts, but later, his surroundings embolden him. The room embodies St. Petersburg, and Petersburg is a symbol of the cruelties of the modernizing world. Beyond symbolism, the room is also a direct cause of Raskonikovs condition and actions. His mother Pulkcheria claims it is responsible for at least half of his depression (Dostoyevsky). The physical conditions Raskolnikov experiences affect him greatly. His miserable existence of his room must have led him to value his own life less. With a view of how brutal his own life is, Rodya eventually questions the value of life in general. When he says Yes, the room made a big contribution, Ive thought of that too (222), he is well aware of the corrupting influence that his room inflicts, but realizes that it is too late to escape . It is through this intertwinement of settings that Dostoyevsky is able to reveal the paradox of nature and challenge the readers views by illustrating the settings as both tragic and comic. Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a novel about a young boys coming of age in Missouri of the mid-1800s EssayIn conclusion, Dostoyevsky reveals his socialist values that criminals are influenced by their environments as depicted in Petersburgian society. This is revealed in Raskolnikovs Napoleonic complex that extraordinary people possess the ability to decide their own conscience; which leads to his misconceptions about himself and society and murderous delusions. Dostoyevskys view of redemption through suffering is quite astounding because he presents murder/crime and the prison hospital with great rationalization and morality. The primary conflict between the two ideologies of the Christian characteristic of time and modernist humanism gaining prevalence clearly illustrates why the ideal of humanism represses our essential emotions and deducts all humanity. The changes in Raskolnikovs mental state provide an example of modernisms effect on man, placing emphasis on his quest for forgiveness and the effect of a repressed emotion. Presumably, this conflict leads to Raskolnikov having a greater capacity for sympathy because of his contradicting personalities. There are also many ethical issues that are relevant to modern society as well. Theories like utilitarianism, egoism, altruism, existentialism, moral absolutism/relativism, and deontology. Raskolnikov embodies every single one of these theories to an extent. But does end justify means? Dostoyevsky demonstrates the duality of human nature in the settings of a society where even the most flawed human beings have the capacity for compassion, goodness, and redemption.