Ryan Pearson
Mr. Shapiro
May 5th,
2014
Life in St.
Petersburg in the 19th Century and its influence in Crime and Punishment
The nineteenth century was a turbulent time in Russia and in St.
Petersburg particularly. Russian society was largely divided with the
overwhelming majority comprised of the lower working class who struggled daily
to survive and who were clearly dissatisfied with their status in life.
Indeed, the poverty they endured and the oppressive atmosphere of their daily
life was constant. Fyodor Dostoevsky successfully conveys the tone and
mood abundant in St. Petersburg in the 1860’s in the literary novel, Crime
and Punishment. The setting of the novel, the rampant oppressive and
stifling atmosphere in the mid-nineteenth century is St. Petersburg is critical
to the development of the novel. Dostoevsky effectively outlines and
incorporates the disharmony and disconnect of the Russian impoverished class
overflowing in St. Petersburg in many elements of the story and in the daily
existence and in the actions of the main character Raskolnikov. The
oppressive living conditions, the stifling climate, high unemployment, rampant
alcoholism and a general day-to-day sense of futility are effectively used by Dostoevsky
to illustrate the suffering of the working society and to link the city’s
problems to Raskolnikov’s actions.
To begin with, the deplorable living conditions in St.
Petersburg, Russia during the 1860’s that Dostoevsky writes about and
effectively incorporates into the novel Crime and Punishment serve as a
constant reminder to the reader of the depressing and gloomy existence of the
large majority living in the city during that time. Images of squalor and
poverty emerge from the pages of the novel. References to the filth of the
city, the shabby buildings, the dirty taverns peeling paint, windowless
bedrooms provide detail and realism to the story which help set the tone for
the sequence of events which unfold. Raskolnikov’s living conditions are
prison-like: small, cramped, five or six feet in length, wedged in the top of a
seemingly old and decrepit building. His furniture is old and tattered.
His “home,” while appalling, is comparable if not superior to many of the other
characters in the story. The Marmeladov family lives in much worse
conditions, without bedding or basic necessities for survival. The children are
sick, hungry, dirty and emotionally and even physically tortured. Sonia, who
becomes a prostitute to help her family exist, lives in squalor in an irregular
shaped barn like room with low ceilings and almost no furniture, filled “with
every sign of poverty” (Dostoevsky, 302). The environment is one which
understandably influences the weak to give up and often surrender to
ill-advised ideas and bad decisions. Dostoyevsky effectively uses the theme of
poverty in many aspects of the novel to set the stage for Raskolnikov’s
criminal actions and others choices in the story. Indeed, the deplorable
and hopeless existence of day to day life for the lower socioeconomic class in St.
Petersburg is an important component of the novel’s setting and helps to
connect the gloom, hopelessness and despair felt and experienced by Raskolnikov
and many of the other characters in Crime
and Punishment.
The hot and stifling climate
referred to by Dostoevsky throughout the novel also effectively illustrates the
oppressive atmosphere which existed during the mid-nineteenth century. The
miserable environment and stifling weather conditions symbolize the constant
suffering in St. Petersburg and serve as a constant reminder of the
uncomfortable existence of the Russian population during this time. These
constant references provide the reader with a somewhat realistic impression of
life during this period. For example, throughout the novel Dostoevsky
references the stickiness and humidity prevalent day-to- day and the bad “odor”
that fills the city. Similarly, he writes about the crowdedness and dirtiness
of St. Petersburg. This theme permeates the book and operates as a constant
reminder of unhappiness and despair. The imagery conveys the personal struggle
and sense of hopelessness experienced by so many lower socio-economic Russians
struggling to survive. It also is a brilliant use of foreshadowing by Dostoevsky
which helps him illustrate the inescapable desperateness of some of the main
characters in the story including Raskolnikov, Marmeladov and his wife
Katerina.
The inability to escape St. Petersburg and its weather symbolizes
the inability to escape reality, and contributes to the demise of many of the
novel’s characters. Marmeladov uses alcohol to avoid his responsibilities and life,
which ultimately contributes to his death. His wife Katarina fares no
better. She suffers from illness which she cannot escape. She lashes out
physically and emotionally to those closest to her: her children and her
husband. She drives Sonia to a path of prostitution as a way to provide money
to Katarina and her family. She dies from her sickness, which, similar to
the oppressive climate and harsh life, she is unable to escape. The disorder,
bedlam and oppressive environment contribute to and parallel Raskolnikov’s
disturbed state of mind. In fact, it is only at the conclusion of the
story when Raskolnikov is sent to a prison in Siberia that he is able to escape
the “prison” of St. Petersburg and release some of his anger and troubled mind.
In addition, Dostoevsky uses prevalent social problems in St.
Petersburg, including high unemployment and poverty, to develop the theme of
the novel and to support the actions of many of the characters. Most of
the characters in the story have no money. Poverty binds these characters
together in many ways although their financial struggle also leads to poor decision-making
and ill-advised conduct. The social and financial injustices revealed in Crime and Punishment are detailed in the
actions of many of the characters including Raskolnikov, his sister Dunya, and
Sonia.
Raskolnikov lives in a state of agitation that fuels his thoughts
and clouds his judgment. His impoverished life and his need for money lead him
to the home of Alyona Ivanovna, the pawnbroker. He develops a lingering
disdain for her and her treatment of others. He concludes that life would
be better without her and creates a plan to kill her. Raskolnikov executes his
plan and kills Alyona and her pitiful sister Lizaveta, who shows up before he
is able to flee from the scene of murder. His sister Dunya follows a different
path. She agrees to marry Peter Luchin solely for financial stability. The
contemplated marriage is seemingly loveless but filled with conveniences and
ulterior reasons by both Dunya and Luchin.
Dostoevsky also uses the prevalent abuse of alcohol to
illustrate the unhappiness and despair that permeated St. Petersburg in the
mid-nineteenth century. Many of the characters drink daily and suffer from
alcoholism. Alcohol is used as an escape from reality and is introduced into
the story by Dostoevsky as a social commentary about the troubled and harsh
reality of life in St. Petersburg. Dostoevsky implies that alcohol is one of
the main causes of misery and suffering in St. Petersburg and indeed alcohol
permeates many of the story lines. For example, several of the important scenes
take place in or around crowded and dirty taverns. Raskolnikov, himself,
often frequents local drinking pubs and much of the story line is developed in
these places. Raskolnikov meets Marmeladov the father of Sonia and husband of
Katerina at a tavern at the beginning of the novel. Marmeladov is an alcoholic
whose drinking problem is wrecking his family and himself, and, in the end,
leads to his death, either accidentally or intentionally—this is unclear. Also,
during a visit to a different pub, Raskolnikov overhears a student talking
about Alyona Ivanov, the pawnbroker, and how society would be better off if she
was dead. The idea to kill Alyona and is seemingly hatched in this bar and the
murder of Alyona and her sister is central to the plot, the demise of
Raskolnikov and the events that unfold in the novel. Interestingly, Raskolnikov
does not drink, but despises those who do. Even at the funeral of Marmeladov,
Katarina ironically spends much of the money Raskolnikov gives her to buy
alcohol for the guests, even though alcohol is the main cause for the death of
her husband and the demise of her family. Dostoevsky brilliantly uses alcohol
in Crime and Punishment to symbolize the suffering of those living in
St. Petersburg and the weakness and vulnerability of man.
Dostoevsky uses two distinct character studies to illustrate the
path of mankind and to provide a commentary on life in St. Petersburg. First,
he develops the feelings of day-to-day futility, lack of purpose and
hopelessness in Raskolnikov, Marmeladov, and Katarina, to show how their
impoverished lives lead them to a path of isolation and unhappiness, and
consequently, bad decisions. In contrast, in characters such as Sonia,
Razumikhin and Dunya, Dostoevsky illustrates that those who do not succumb to
poverty or hopelessness but rely on devotion to family, friends and faith to
guide their choices live life filled with compassion and a better sense of
morality. Dostoevsky effectively uses these two distinct character types
to develop the story line in Crime and Punishment.
Raskolnikov is a prime example. He
lives in isolation and a world filled with disdain. His own moral standard for
what is right leads him to kill Alyona and her sister. Although he alienates
himself from many, he is able to justify his actions, even though he is
tormented about whether he should confess. It is only once he is able to accept
his mediocre existence and his life status (which happens towards the end of
the novel) that he is able to find some happiness and appreciation for
humanity. It is in the Epilogue when “something
seemed to seize him and fling him down at her feet,” and “he wept and threw his
arms round her knees,” that Raskolnikov recognizes that he loves Sonia and that
is ready to re-engage in society and humanity (Dostoevsky, 520). Marmeladov is another character whose life is
filled with hopelessness. He drinks
regularly to escape his unhappiness and his depressing and gloomy circumstances. He is so poor that he allows his daughter to
sell her body to support him (and his drinking habit) and his family. His wife
Katarina is physically and emotionally ill and unstable. She beats their children (and Marmeladov) out
of frustration and unhappiness. He loves
her and is seemingly aware that his drinking is ruining him and his family, yet
he continues to drink to avoid his situation.
In the end, his reality leads to his death, although it is unclear
whether it happens by accident or on purpose.
In contrast, Dostoevsky illustrates
through Sonia and Dunya the benefit of positive outlook, self-sacrifice and
faith in humanity, in family and in religion.
Both of these characters are seemingly examples on the virtue of strong
females, positive outlook, and devotion to family and fellow man. Sonia sacrifices herself and her life for her
family. She lives an oppressive and
shunned life, which is embraced by Katarina and her father. Rather than use the money that Sonia earns to
get ahead and pull Sonia out of her life as a prostitute, Marmeladov drinks
through her earnings, unable or unwilling to face reality. In spite of this, Sonia remains devoted to
her family and to religion. Her faith
leads Raskolnikov to confess and her devotion to him leads him in the end to a
path of happiness. Dunya is another strong, compassionate character who
also sacrifices for the good of her family and her brother. She is not
tormented by her poor status but maintains a positive outlook and approach
throughout the story. She makes choices
in her life (such as her consideration of marriage to Luchin) to try to benefit
her family but remains strong throughout the story even when she discovers
Luchin and his motives are fraudulent.
Life in St. Petersburg, Russia during the mid-nineteenth century
was for the vast majority difficult and stifling. Poverty was rampant and unhappiness was
overflowing. There existed an oppressive atmosphere fueled by unemployment,
alcoholism, and a general sense of futility. Many people emerged as heroes
while many others remained isolated and unable to advance. Fyodor Dostoevsky
successfully conveyed the tone of Russia during this time period through his
detailed account of life in Crime and
Punishment. Many factors contributed to the success or failure of each
character however, as admirably conveyed through each character the most
important qualities included a sense of self-sacrifice and compassion and a
strong commitment to family, humanity and faith. As Dostoevsky effectively communicates, those
who embraced these qualities were able to prevail and emerge stronger and be a
successful part of mankind; those who were unable to do so were less fortunate.
Ryan Pearson
Works Cited
Dostoevsky,
Fyodor. Crime and Punishment. New York: Barnes & Noble, 2007. Print.
No comments:
Post a Comment