Alex's Comment on Isa's Reaction

     Isa, I don’t feel that Raskolnikov has any type of emotional connection with his family. In fact, I don’t think he is capable of forming emotional connections. His reaction towards his family and their wanting to help is a clear indication of his inability to receive and his feeling he does not deserve any help. He is both critical and harsh in regards to his mother and sister and the reunion turns out to be a failure. 

     I agree that we are all very frustrated with his actions, however, I feel that Dostoevsky wants us to understand Raskolnikov more than reject him. I feel that Razumihin's fixation on Douina actually changes the novel up a bit because it distracts the reader from the Raskolnikov’s tedious condition. 

I have also noticed this behavior in Raskolnikov, but I think that it is normal to have a physiological reaction to stress or trauma. 

     I think that high levels of impulse and emotion are ignited in certain moments. I am not sure about what triggered his murderous instinct, possibly something from his past, but I do agree that he is definitely receiving a form of self-inflicted punishment. 

Alex's Reaction to P2 Ch7&P3 Ch1, 2

     Chapter 7 of Crime and Punishment marks the turning point in Raskolnikov’s condition. After identifying with Marmeladov, Raskolnikov is able to heal himself by helping him and his family during a health crisis. Witnessing family reunification has allowed himself to see healthy interactions which has pulled him out of his deteriorating state. This chapter demonstrates for me the fact that human beings aren’t all evil or all good. Raskolnikov is capable of selfless acts towards others. Whether he does it out of guilt or not is besides the point, he isn’t all bad. 

When isolation was his only state of existence, he was a lot sicker. Now that he has ventured out onto the street, isolation terrifies him. He is unable to be alone with his thoughts. Isolation serves as a reminder of what he has done in his past. 

     During the reunion with his family, Raskolnikov’s dark side is revealed once again. I don’t know what triggers this reaction, but perhaps it is the fact that they are gathered in his room. I am now starting to question my speculations about him having some kind of antisocial personality disorder, he is definitely bipolar. It is clear to see that Raskolnikov does not get along well with his family because he refutes their help. 

     Raskolnikov’s guilt is so relentless that again the story of the two murders comes up and no one wants to believe he is the true killer. He seems to want to get punished; he wants justice to be made but he is paying the price mentally by going mad with shame and guilt. Guilt is a deep desire to get punished for having murderous instincts. It is a desire for someone to stop and control his behavior. He is afraid of these instincts and emotions and wants someone to limit the fact that it could even happen again. The end of chapter 2 of part 3 leaves us with that sense of his paranoia, this feeling that he is being watched, judged and excluded and it could all very well be in his mind. Crime and punishment has been rightly said to be a very good psychological portrait of a man’s mental states. 

Ryan Pearson's Response to Keri's Reaction

Keri,

 

      I agree it was strange about the horse driver showing no remorse.  I think it is Dostoevsky’s way of highlighting the difference in the class systems in St. Petersburg during that time period. I agree with you that it was bizarre that Raskolnikov begged the police officer to allow Marmeladov to be bought to his home to die rather than to the hospital for treatment.  Again, I think the point the writer was trying to make is to show the awful day to day existence of the poor working class in St. Petersburg or in the case of Raskolnikov, the poor non-working class.

      I also agree that the coincidences in the book at this point defy reality.  I found it totally unbelievable that Raskolnikov would stumble on the scene of this “accident” and am not sure why the writer keeps having all this coincidental meetings.

      I found Dunnia to be a breath of fresh air.  She seems poised and refined and added an element of normalcy to the odd and depressing cast of characters—it is understandable why Peter wants to marry her.  It was a strange and creepy twist that Razumikhin was infatuated with her—of course, it really is no surprise given the plot and story that we have read so far.   I’m sure the upcoming forced family meeting will be a s-storm!!

Ryan Pearson

Isa's comment on Keri's Reaction

Keri,
          I don't know if this is just my personal opinion, but I wonder if you too are also sick and tired of Raskolnikov's "guilt" and his indecisiveness regarding confession or not. It seems the majority of my posts here as well as yours, Alex's and Ryan's mention at least once the guilt that this man feels regarding his murder. I find that the author of this novel is becoming incredibly repetitive regarding this subject. I'm not sure if this a mechanism to demonstrate Raskolnikov's inability to move on (he physically cannot forget) or just to drill it in to the reader... whatever the case, I am over it.
     I agree that Raskonikov's unusually cold treatment of his family was necessary for his mind; it is a way to channel all of his guilt and paranoia into another medium. He is literally distracting himself from his own troubles by treating his family both indifferently and rudely. Since his guilt is obviously eating him alive, I wonder if he will tell someone in confidence rather than "confess" to the authorities. This could be somewhat of a quick fix for his pain.

Part 3 Chapter 1 & 2 Reaction

           Part 3 begins with the strange emotional connection that Raskolnikov has with his family. It is obvious he cares deeply for his family; though he treats his sister harshly, one could make the argument that his immature ultimatums are as a result of the protection he feels over her regarding this fiancee. But he simultaneously alienates himself further by proposing said ultimatums and criticizing his mother for the constant affection she bestows upon her son. While reading these chapters, it almost seems as if Dostoevsky wants the reader to hate Raskolnikov. His actions are unexplainable and frankly, frustrating. At this point, I am so tired of his actions that I just want him to get caught already. Considering the amount of pages left in this novel, I fear that these internal "cat and mouse" games that Raskolnikov plays with himself will continue for the majority of the novel. I'm not sure how I feel about Razumihin's fixation on Douina. Maybe it's my overall frustration with this novel, but I just feel that any "sub-plot" distracts me. But then again Raskolnikov's ramblings are becoming tiresome... so I don't know which I really prefer.
           One thing that I have continually noticed is the fact that Raskolnikov passes out any time commotion or high excitement occurs. Obviously the murder has traumatized him, but why doe sit cause this particular reaction? Is he now so personally detached from his own emotions that any form of hysteria is too much for him? I think it's ironic that he murdered these women in an impulsive, emotional and raw moment, and he now cannot handle such moments anymore because of that murder. Once again, punishment in this novel is self-served, and Raskolnikov is certainly getting his share.

       

Keri's comment to Ryan

Ryan,
I agree that the Russian names are oftentimes off-putting and out of place. They are ridiculously hard to pronounce and out of place. I am following the storyline and a ridiculous name pops up in the mix and it is just ridiculous. Another ridiculous aspect of this novel lies in the coincidences. In reality, it is unlikely that Raskolnikov would just happen upon the scene with Marmeladov. I have found that in life, you almost have to search for those things. They are certainly not natural occurrences that people just come across.
While reading part 3, I thought that Raskolnikov's cold treatment to his relatives was a direct result of the guilt he feels for the murder he has previously committed. This guilt is torturing him to the point of illness. It is certainly not healthy but then again, this situation is far from ideal. I really want Raskolnikov to just confess and directly deal with this situation. I get that he may be afraid of the consequences but he is honestly dealing with much worse by keeping it to himself. I think that confessing will be a very cathartic process for him. I predict that he will be a much happier person once he confesses.

Reaction to part 2, chapter 7 and part 3, chapters 1 and 2

In the next section of "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Raskolnikov is on the cusp of confessing to the murder he has previously committed. He is ready to finally free himself of all of the guilt he has experienced. He is ready to free himself of the illness, which in my opinion, is caused by this same guilt. I find that this novel is filled with sketchy coincidences like in television shows. It seems awfully coincidental that Raskolnikov is walking on the street and just happens to discover the scene with Marmeladov. I was rather shocked by the fact that the carriage driver, who basically ran Marmeladov over, failed to even apologize. Not only did he not care to see what would happen to Marmeladov in his apartment but he also did not say sorry. Instead, he rationalizes the whole situation by saying Marmeladov scared the horse. I was appalled by this. The driver just severely injured another man and all he has to say for himself is that Marmeladov scared the horses.
Honestly, I thought Raskolnikov's solution to this incident was horrific. Since when is it smart to take an injured person, on the verge of death, to his own apartment? Yes, the doctor's office may have been far but in the end, it took the same amount of time for a doctor to arrive anyways. As a result of this, Marmeladov's poor children had to watch their father die. I felt so bad. I cannot even imagine what I would do if this happened to me. Therefore, I predict that this will be very traumatizing for the children. They watched him articulate some words and with each word, their hope grew. It was all for nothing. Marmeladov dies in front of his entire family. This leaves his wife sad and alone. She constantly complains about how he does nothing to help her with household affairs and now she is really left without a hand. This scene was tragic to read.
As for part 3, I believe that Raskolnikov keeps desperately trying to get rid of all of the guilt but it never works. This, in turn, most likely leads to the cold treatment he is giving his relatives. Finally, we meet Dunnia and her fiancé. As predicted, her fiancé is widely disliked by all. I could tell this would happen from the beginning. I guess I will see what happens as I delve further into part 3.

Ryan Pearson Part 2 Ch. 7, Part 3 Ch. 1 and 2

Once again, I find this week’s reading full of coincidences which to me are unrealistic.  The fact that Raskolnikov is drawn to a commotion that turns out to be the running over of Marmeladov, the public official he met in a tavern earlier in the story and that Raskolnikov heroically steps in, identifies him, announces their long friendship and convinces the police officer to have Marmeladov transported to his rooming house a few steps away is almost laughable. So is the fact that Raskolnikov jumps into action almost as a hero in a warped sense and takes on an authoritative role.  Again, the theme of alcohol and drunkenness permeates this week’s reading and highlights Dostoevsky’s apparent impression that the fine folks of St. Petersburg are mostly poor drunken souls who live in squalor and despair and in many instances (such as the suicide jumper and maybe even Maremeladov- just a thought) choose to end their life as opposed to the alternative.

Reintroducing Sonia in as her father was dying was another bizarre and depressing twist.  I found it disturbing to have her show up, dressed as a prostitute for all the pathetic gawkers to witness and for her father to realize the horror of the situation as he died.  The whole scene reminded me of a terrible train wreck that no one can bear to watch yet everyone is glued to—in this regard Dostoevsky did a solid job of creating a vivid picture in my mind of the ridiculousness of the whole situation.  Also, again we see that Raskolnikov gave away the last rubles he was given—perhaps his repeated pattern of giving away any money he has is symbolic of his desire to take care of those he selectively decides to take care of?  Honestly, what a strange cast of characters.

The beginning of Part Three highlighted the emotional conflict eating at Raskolinikov. It was evident to me as I read these two chapters that his mother and sister idolized him and that his cold and offensive treatment of them was unexpected and met with much concern and emotion.  Dostoevsky did a god job of painting a pleasant picture of Dunnia—I imagine her as a refined gem, full of dignity and grace despite her poverty and social status.   Her fiancé seems like a louse- not liked by really anyone—however, how Raskolnikov’s ultimatum to Dunnia was cold—another example of his further isolation from those who care about him. 

To sum up this week—I am really over all of the Russian names- it is slowing down my reading of the book.  I am not enjoying the sense of hopelessness and despair that we are reading about in every chapter.  And for me, I am not enjoying the continual character study of so many different people in St. Petersburg.  The book is very drawn out and slow.  We are almost half way through and while we have been clearly exposed to the internal emotional struggle of Raskolnikov and the horrid existence of many of the people living in St. Petersburg during this time, personally I am over it.  Anyone agree?

Ryan Pearson

Comment on Keri's Reaction

     Yes, Keri I also notice this new level of guilt in Rasknolnikov. His attitude in general throughout these couple chapters has changed drastically, and not for the better. I would not have anticipated his urge to confess at all. Although his urge to confess seems to be early in the novel, I cannot quite grasp a sense of time in the book. Perhaps Raskolnikov feels the need to prove that he is not insane- not inferior, which justifies his behavior. Keri, I do not think he is subtle at all. In fact, he is so blatant that I wonder whether the detective himself is insane. I wonder what it is that drives Raskolnikov to actually want to confess- could it be the guilt? Or is it something else? Maybe he feels that confessing could be a way of releasing his guilt. However, after what seems to be a confession, Raskolnikov does not feel any sense of relief whatsoever. In fact, he witnesses an attempted suicide, which I feel further emphasizes how “stuck” he is in this state, in which not even a confession could save him. He finds it hard to escape death when it literally surrounds him. 

Part 2 Ch.5&6

     More seems to be going on throughout this week’s reading. There is more action and dialogue between the characters, the plot is finally unraveling and of course- so is Raskolnikov’s deteriorating condition. Although Luchin’s character could have been introduced sooner into the story, since I felt like the last couple of readings dragged, he brings out some important personality traits in Raskolnikov that have been portrayed in previous chapters. For example when he discovers Sonia’s prostitution and reads the letter certain aggressive/overprotective urges are ignited. His comatose state of mind turns aggressive when Luchin starts to bring Raskolnikov’s mother into the conversation. His over protective feelings towards women in general, makes me question why he chose to murder two women. 

     Throughout chapter 6, it is evident that Raskolnikov is being devoured by his own guilt. Realizing that this is the cause of his illness, he decides to confess, however, I do not think he is capable of realizing the severity of his punishment. His random laugh attack and urge to stick out his tongue at the detective he encounters is further proof of his guilt and anxiety in the form of mockery towards the legal system; authority. After this, the detective is convinced of his insanity and isn’t quite convinced that he capable of murder. I feel that not taking Raskolnikov into consideration for the murders is unrealistic. The signs are so blatant and everyone seems to be blind to the truth. Could the suicide attempt that Raskolnikov witnesses be a foreshadowing of his own? 

Ryan Pearson's Reaction to Isa's Post

Isa,

I agree with you that his emotional state is pretty exposed in this week’s reading.  He is full of conflict and turmoil.  His emotions and “guilt” (if he has any guilt) seem to lead him down a road of confession but so far he has yet to make the decision to relieve his conscience and admit his involvement in the murders.  I share your opinion that his internal torture is a form of hell that equals “punishment.”  His comments to the police clerk and his return to the apartment are both clues that suggest he is on some level contemplating confession but in the end his self preservation instinct returns which so far has precluded any real admission on his part.  Like you, I noted with interest his contemplation of suicide but as you suggested in the end he does not follow through with this thought. Instead Dostoevsky has other characters at the apartment building where the murders occurred question his presence at the building.  They throw him out and plant the idea of turning him into to the police, which is where he seems to be headed at the end of the chapter.

It will be interesting to see where he goes from here and how his punishment evolves.  I hope that the reading in the upcoming chapters will be as easy to follow as I found it to be this week.

Ryan Pearson

Comment on Isa's reaction

Isa,
I agree that it is so interesting to see how crazy this crime has driven Raskolnikov. As stated in my reaction, I believe that Raskolnikov used the situation with Zametov as a kind of release. He revealed himself in such a nonchalant way so that Zametov would not suspect anything of him. It won him two things: release from guilt and absolutely no blame as a factor of the nonchalance. To answer your question, I do not believe that this reveal is merely a game. I believe that it is the result of the tension that he has built up as a result of the crime that seems to be all of the rage in the town.
I also think that the title is more a metaphor than an actual concrete circumstance. Guilt is often the worst kind of punishment since it can often drive a person to madness. I found the symbolism in the scene where the woman attempts suicide to be astounding. It flowed with the situation perfectly. I would agree with Raskolnikov that it is better to just confess to the crime rather than to kill himself. Killing himself would make a scene whereas it will hopefully be taken care of in a professional manner when he confesses. As you mentioned, I am also left to wonder if he will actually go through with the confession. I feel like the author will drag his journey out enough to fill the novel. We will have to see whether this means Raskolnikov will have second thoughts or if he will decide against confession.

Reaction to chapters 5 and 6

In the next section of "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky, the readers see a whole new level of guilt on the part of Raskolnikov. It was shocking to me since I did not anticipate that he would want to confess so quickly. I thought that it would be dragged out for a much longer period of time. It all started when Peter Petrovich randomly visited Raskolnikov. I found this to be quite strange. He comes in and just feels the need to make a show of himself to what will become his family. It is almost as if he feels inferior to them so much so that he has to prove his competence. He comes in and just imposes his political views and his general views of society which I thought was out of place. Raskolnikov is finally driven to a stupor. He feels as though he needs some air. He sneaks out of the house to rid himself of the guilt that has plagued him to the extent that it drove him to illness. He walks about to find a neighborhood filled with drunkards and other party goers. It is interesting to see the difference between where he is now and where he was. He was in complete solitude while ill but escapes to immediately arrive in a neighborhood filled with activity. He meets a woman who he seems to be interested in. I am not sure what to think about the outcome of this meeting. We will see if anything comes of this.
This leads him to a tavern. He walks in and immediately notices Zametov but is not completely sure it is him. It is, indeed, Zametov. Zametov walks over to where Raskolnikov is sitting and has a conversation with him. Push comes to shove and Raskolnikov subtly reveals that he is the murderer. However, he does this in such a nonchalant way that Zametov does not believe him. In my opinion, this was just an opportunity for Raskolnikov to vent his guilt in a way that would not place any blame on him for anything. This was merely an escape from the pain of knowing what he has done. There is no escape though. The town is bustling with the mystery of who committed this murder. I believe that Raskolnikov has finally realized this and that this is what has lead him to want to confess to the police. Before he does this, he witnesses an attempt at suicide and then proceeds to visit the location of the murder. He is shocked to find that the place is in the process of being remodeled. I believe that this is so shocking to him because it is hard to see that people have moved on from this since it is all he has been thinking about during this time.

Comment on post

Ryan,
I agree that the coincidences in this novel fill in a majority of the plot holes. Its unrealistic to me that this one murder makes up almost every topic between the group, but it is an effective way for the author to keep the story moving in a more rhythmic way. I too think these chapters were much more fluid as well as easier to read compared to the first two. I. Once agin I think the repetitiveness of Raskolnikov's guilt has been driven home a little too much. I think we all understand how sick he feels, so why continually mention it? I sincerely hope this is t the formula for the rest of this novel.
You mentioned Raskolnikov's struggle between guilt and self preservation. I wonder if you also feel that it was strange he almost desired to toy with the detective and reveal his own guilt. For someone so character about hiding his guilt,  he seemed to be gambling with his own fate in this scene with the police detective. Was he bored? Or is it just a result of his extremely fragile mind?

Ch 5 and 6

In these chapters, one can definitely see just how much Raskolnikov's mind has unraveled. His grasp over the situation at hand and his own emotions have moved beyond control. In the scene with Zometov is very poignant and telling. Raskolnikov almost has this irrational need to express himself to the police detective. He is almost making a game out of his confession. Does he do this to look cool and brave? Or is this false bravado simply his  method of alleviating tension that has resulted out of his crime?
Almost all of us in this group have thought that this "punishment" alluded to in the novel's title isn't a concrete punishment, but the guilt and insecurity that Raskolnikov will endure for his "crime". After reading this chapter, I have no doubt in my mind that this is exactly what the author intended for. The last scene of chapter 6 just further demonstrated how much emotional torture this character is enduring. He vacillates between the equally painful ideas of suicide or confession. Both seem to be horrific ends for him, but he chooses the lesser evil by going to the police station. I personally think he will chicken out because there is just too much left in this novel for it to be over already. Once again even the idea of confession, which is for atonement and a selfless act, is based on a selfish thought for this character. He has no interest in remorse or forgiveness for his sins; he simply wants to end his own suffering. I find this character very primal; he only acts on his instincts which lead him to such violent acts and equally violent repercussions.

Part II Chapters 5 & 6

Well, this week’s reading at least picked up from last weeks.  I found that the reading was easier to follow and quicker to get through. Raskolnikov is one strange guy. His behavior runs the gambit from delusional to depressed to angry and irritable. In chapter five, I realized that he really is a loner. He prefers to live in isolation and, more and more, he pushes those surrounding and helping him away. His criminal activity seems to have pushed him further away from others—perhaps this is because of his guilt and inner conflict that is consuming him. When Luchin appears at his door, he treats him with disdain and disgust. While Luchin spent much of his time at the apartment trying to impress Raskolnikov and Razumiikhin, Raskolnikov’s remarks to him were offensive and inappropriate. Does anyone else agree? I am also finding that much of the story at this point is full of coincidences. There is so much discussion about the murders amongst everyone throughout the story and always in front of Raskolnikov. I am sure this is part of Dostoevsky’s writing style and is a way that he is able to continually expose Raskonikov’s thought process but to me, it borders on being incredible. St. Petersberg is a large city and Dostoevsky portrays those who live in it as being poor, drunk, and desperate and describes their day-to-day existence as being chaotic and problem-ridden.  Surely there is something else equally interesting going on in the town and not just this unsolved double homicide.

Chapter six was also bizarre. Again, full of coincidences- running into the police inspector and running into Razmuikhin. The conversation with Zametov, the police clerk in the tavern, was definitely odd. To me, it showed Raskonikov’s conscience and internal struggle with his actions and with his desire for self-preservation. Again, this must be part of the writing style of Dostoevsky but to me, it was unrealistic. Similarly, running into Razumikhin in the street and after a heated discussion (on top of the earlier discussion at the apartment) being invited to his party was unrealistic. Of course, I guess many parts of the story are unrealistic so I am not sure why I keep making this observation. But as I continue to read, I do find all of the “circumstances” that come into play distracting me. My final comment is about Raskolnikov returning to the apartment where the pawnbroker lived and the scene of the crimes. Really? Why? Perhaps he wants to get caught? I think that his conscience continues to eat at him and his punishment, even though his involvement has not been discovered, has already started. 

Ryan Pearson