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

Alex's Response to Ryan's Post

     Ryan, I agree that these couple chapters were very dry. The redundancy of Raskolnikov's condition has begun to make the book a little boring for me as well. His condition obviously worsens, as he is depicted as unconscious for four days straight. It is as if his mind is possessed; eating away any kind of connection to reality. In my reaction, I also pointed out my shock towards Razumikhin's care towards Raskolnikov despite him being unfriendly. Yes, it is hard to keep up with the characters because their names are spelled so similarly and are hard to pronounce.
    I stated in my reaction that due to the era in which they live in, St. Petersburg is probably not as big/bustling as it is now, so crimes did not go unnoticed. This particular crime is probably infamous because they have not yet found the murderer.
     I feel that Raskolnikov might seem ungrateful because he is so focused on not being caught, he does not distract himself with any other thought- he can't. Indeed, I agree with you that he cannot escape his sufferings because he is greatly conflicted about the morality of what he did.

Reaction to Part 2 Ch.3&4

     You can tell this is a novel from another century. The style of writing, the themes explored and the author's insistence on Raskolnikov's condition seems dated. The redundancy of exploring the psychological profile of this one deteriorating character might have entertained an audience in the 1800s, but in the 21st century, our minds are not attuned to this kind of repetition which seems to go on forever. There are people who care for him surprisingly, and I think that without them, Raskolnikov would not have survived. He would have lost all contact with reality. I find it surprising that a person that is so antisocial actually has people who care for him; lend him money, bring him soup, and call a doctor for him. This says a lot for the kind of society in which he lives in.
     Nowadays, if someone like Raskolnikov were to live in our current, urban, fast-paced society, he would have lost all contact with every human being because no one would have taken notice of him, or much less cared for him. He is too needy, too antisocial, and too much of a hermit. Typically a person in our society that suffers from these personality traits does not get by.
     So far throughout these two chapters, Dostoevsky continues to expand on Raskolnikov's condition, giving much of the same details as before. Paranoia continues to play a role, however I would like to see some change in events. Will he ever escape his conscience? Will he ever confess his crime? I hope to see these questions answered throughout the next reading.

Ryan's Response to Keri's Post

Keri,

Clever to comment “feverish with guilt.”  While I can’t say that I loved the scene where the others were discussing the murder in front of Raskolnikov, I agree it was a clever way, by the author, to introduce the development of the plot that has occurred while Raskolnikov was unconscious. Out of the two chapters we read for this week, that dialogue was the most interesting to me.  I didn’t think that Raskolnikov was considering disclosing his criminal conduct to the others at this point, but rather seemed to be trying to focus his energy on trying to avoid detection and minimize suspicion. I think it is clear that he is tormented by his crimes and even though he has been able to validate why he killed the two sisters, he is still ridden with guilt and a range of other emotions.  I agree that at some point his involvement will come to light, but I imagine that the police will start to focus on all of the circumstantial evidence that will make Raskinikov a suspect (if he isn’t already).

I am drawn to the contrast in characters and I think Dostoesvsky does a good job highlighting the differences between Raskinikov and Nastasia and Razmikhin.  More and more it seems that he is becoming isolated from the others and his disdain for their help and the aid of others is really starting to show.  

Keri's comment on Isa's reaction

Isa,
I agree that these chapters were very hard to get through in spite of the fact that there were only about twenty pages. The way Dostoevsky writes is certainly not intended to entertain people of our generation. However, I find that the issue lies solely with getting to the point. There is no lack of dramatic events. It would just be better if there was "less wind up and more pitch". It would be more entertaining if Dostoevsky would get to the point faster. I thought that chapter three was boring since it was dedicated to Raskolnikov's illness and there is not much hope for entertainment in this situation. The gist of it spoke about what was okay to eat or drink. There is not much potential there for an intriguing storyline. In contrast, chapter four was climactic. In chapter four, Raskolnikov is faced with the guilt of what he has just done. His comrades are conversing about the murder he committed but they are pinning it on someone else. It was so interesting for me to read since he ultimately has many decisions to make. He can either confess to the murder or he can keep his mouth shut and have to live with the guilt of being the only person that knows. It is a tough decision. On one hand, if he confesses, he will get in huge trouble but if he tells someone else, he will not have to deal with it alone. It will be interesting to see how the story unfolds in the next chapters.

Reaction to Part 2 Chapters 3 and 4

In the next section of "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky, the guilt Raskolnikov experiences escalates. He is feverish with guilt. It is a miracle when Nastasia and Razumikhin find him conscious. They are relieved to see that he is responding well and is able to eat and drink. They give him soup and begin to worry that perhaps he cannot have too much of it. They wait until the doctor, Zossimov, arrives and tells them that eating soup is perfectly fine. It seems ridiculous to me that there could ever be a situation where a sick person could have too much soup but I guess I would also worry too much if I was taking care of a person who constantly falls unconscious like Raskolnikov does. It was also weird to me how indecisive the doctor is when telling them what is okay for Raskolnikov to consume. He says Raskolnikov can eat meat but then takes this back and says that he actually cannot have too much meat. He does this with various other items also. It seems to me that a doctor is someone who should be very decisive when it comes to a matter such as this.
In my opinion, the most intriguing and dramatic part of the novel happened in this section. As known by the readers, Raskolnikov committed a murder involving two other women. As of now, he is the only person who knows that it was he who committed this crime. He tried his best to leave the property unscathed so that he would not get caught. He has been successful so far but I predict that he will eventually be found and arrested. I loved the scene where Razumikhim is talking to Zossimov about the crime pinning it on Nikolai and Dmitri. The tension is palpable since Raskolnikov is listening intently feeling guilty as ever. He listens to the errors in his concealing the event being attributed to others and I can bet that he either wanted to fess up or was feeling relieved that no one thinks of him as a suspect. I believe that this is the most interesting scene so far because the actual murder was a rash act whereas this is a situation where it is being put in his face and he has to decide whether to do something about it or just deal with the guilt he has to face.

Comment on Ryan's Post

Ryan,
First off, I completely agree with the Russian names. I found myself mixing up Razumihin and Raskolnikov continually. I even had to go back and remind myself who Nastasya was. Adding the doctor and the Russian word for "police" just complicated matters for me. It was frustrating because personally it disrupted the fluidity (which isn't  very fluid to begin with)of the novel when I had to keep tabs on the character's names. The names do complement the authenticity of the Russian society and setting, but it is very complicated and confusing.
I also found it strange that Rasumihin would be so dedicated to Raskolnikov's "recovery." I did not find Raskolnikov's reaction to the help that he was receiving ungrateful, but rather panicked, and frenzied. I think he sees his friends' involvement as suspicious, since he is incredibly paranoid. "Why would they help me if they didn't suspect me?"; could be his train of thought. Or he is simply so detached, as you said, from human society that he sees any help as a hindrance, as opposed to guidance.

Part 2; Chapters 3 & 4

For so much content, these chapters were very difficult to get through. The constant reminder that Raskolnikov is soooo “sick” because of what occurred is rapidly getting old for me. Raskolnikov is such a contradictory character to me. He at times is sadistic yet at other times he cannot handle the sight of pain. In my opinion, his suffering is not  really a result of his “guilt”, it has nothing to do with remorse or regret about his murders, instead its is the paranoia of being watched or discovered by the police. The fact that Raskolnikov only has his own intentions in mind, after murdering two women, testifies the selfishness of this character. On a different not, I have said before that I don’t think this character is a direct representation of the stereotypical “psychopath” though. It seems that he recognizes there are some consequences, and though he has not evolved enough to realize how heinous his actions were, the malady he feels does show me that he isn’t a completely cold-blooded man.

In these chapters, we are shown how Raskolnikov’s “inner circle” is shown taking care of him. It’s interesting that a man so bent on hating human society and such a lonely figure has such a support group around him. Why do these people rally around him?

I don’t know if it’s too early to say, but I just cannot seem to wrap my head around this novel. Is it a blunt commentary on Russian society? Does Doystyevsky paint such an unsympathetic character to make the reader question their own compassions? Using that critique, I would say that Raskolnikov’s character has made me more aware of my own judgments and thoughts toward that often antisocial and complicated figure that reacts with primal instincts.

Part II Chapters 3 & 4 Reaction

I just finished reading part II chapters 3 & 4. Personally, I found them very dry. Raskolnikov continues to suffer emotionally about his crimes and his conduct. He was unconscious for several days and when he wakes up, he is being taken care of by his old friend Razumikhin and by Nastaya, who works for his landlord. When he learns he rambled during his unconsciousness and that one of the police inspectors, Zametov, came to see him, he becomes fearful that he revealed something about the murders. His mind starts to imagine the worst and he begins to panic. I found it unbelievable that his old friend would look for him, go to the address bureau, find Raskolnikov’s address, go find him, and then stay with him for several days, especially after Raskolnikov walked out of his apartment days earlier. Is anyone else having trouble keeping up with the characters, especially given that their names are Russian? 

I also found it incredible that in a city as big as St. Petersberg, the group of characters taking care of Raskonikov would be so interested in the murders and in proving the innocence of the painter who lived in the house where the sisters were murdered AND that they talked about the facts and the evidence in front of Rskolnikov. This part of the book, while not exactly predictable, is not exactly believable. 

One final observation- chapters 3 & 4 illustrate the good in Razumikhin and the others. Their behavior is in sharp contrast to Rakolnikov’s who seems ungrateful of their collective efforts. While I understand how Raskilnokov is tormented by what he did, these chapters, to me, greatly highlight how detached he has become from society. Although he has not been formally charged in the murders, his suffering is a form of punishment that he cannot escape.

Ryan Pearson