Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment. New York, NY: Barnes & Noble, 2007.
1. Point of view- the perspective that the story is told from.
“Good God!” he cried, “can it be, can it be, that I shall really take an axe, that I shall strike her on the head, split her skull open… that I shall tread in the sticky warm blood, blood… with the axe… Good God, can it be?” (p. 60)
• Crime and Punishment is written from a third-person omniscient point of view. Primarily, the book is told from Raskolnikov’s perspective, but it does switch to the different perspectives of Svidrigailov, Razumikhin, Peter Petrovich, or Dunya. These different points of view change how the story is viewed, perhaps the different ways that people see the current situation.
2. Symbolism- using something to explain a greater idea.
“We will go to suffer together, and together we will bear our cross!” (p. 401)
• This image of a cross is used periodically throughout the book, used of course as a symbol of Christianity. Shown by the exclamation point at the end of the quote (spoken by Sonia to Raskolnikov), this conveys a sense of near excitement toward suffering to stop sinning (Sonia is a prostitute.)
3. Irony- The humorous or frustrating difference between what you expect to happen, and what actually happens.
“‘But if there is no one, if there is nowhere left to go? I mean, everyone must have at least somewhere to go. For there comes a time in every man’s life when he simply must have somewhere he can go! When my only daughter when on the yellow card for the first time, I went then too … (for my daughter lives by the yellow card, sir…)’” (p. 16)
The Essay on Vanishing Point Perspective Horizon Masaccio
... of the Agora in Athens. (Below) View of the Agora To draw in one point perspective, draw a horizon line and draw a ... Holy Trinity. The rules of perspective One point perspective The simplest form of perspective is one point perspective. It presumes a single Point, which all others move ... same shape and proportions as they would close up. Two point perspective This is all very fine if you are looking at ...
• The daughter that is spoken of within this quote is Sonia, a prostitute. The yellow card, was a system that began during the mid- 1800’s in Russia, as a measure to combat diseases spread by sex. The yellow ticket replaced all other means of identification for a prostitute, a yellow ticket pointing one out in a crowd. Although prostitution isn’t exactly a career that should be glorified in the world. Sonia, a prostitute, is Crime and Punishment’s most saint-like character. Sonia could be appointed a title of the Holy Prostitute.
4. Tone- the mood.
“There was no doubt that she was dead. Bending down and examining her again more closely, he saw clearly that the skull was broken and even battered in on one side. He was about to feel it with his finger, but drew back his hand and indeed it was evident without that. Meanwhile there was a whole pool of blood.” (p. 78)
• Even through the gruesome scene described here, there are still some elements of humor incased within this murder. A murderer such as Raskolnikov wouldn’t be expected to inspect the body as if they were intrigued with her battered skull and blood seeping onto the floor. Dark humor dominates the whole novel. Another example is when Pulcheria is pulling Marmeladov by his hair, but he is exclaiming that he loves it. This does creep the reader out, but also keeps the mood not too depressing.
5. Imagery- involves one of the five senses.
“The blood gushed as from an overturned glass” (p. 77)
• There are few symbols that can be so graphic in literature like blood. Blood can spur up emotions such as anger, fear, and confusion like no other. Blood is used very often within Crime and Punishment to convey Dostoevsky’s ideas. Blood represents the violence involved with the murders of Ivanovna and Lizaveta. One was struck with the blunt side of an axe, and the other struck with the sharp edge. The blood involved with these terrible deeds stay with Raskolnikov throughout the novel, not only in the guilt, but also as he wears the blood soaked socks afterward.
The Essay on Extraordinary Man Evil Sonia Acts
Mari Bauer The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a novel exploring the concept of sin and moral digression while considering its effect on the lives of people. The novel includes different levels of breaching morals and the outcome of the lives of each kind. Sonia, an image of Mary Magdalene, commits sin to better the lives of those she loves. Svidrigaylov ...