Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Information Crime and Punishment

• Author: Fyodor Dostoyevsky​​.
• Publication Date: 1866.
• Main Characters:
  • Rodion Raskolnikov: A impoverished student who commits murder for philosophical reasons.
  • Sonia Marmeladov: A young prostitute who plays a significant role in Raskolnikov’s redemption.
  • Porfiry Petrovich: The detective tasked with investigating Raskolnikov’s crime.
• Brief summary: “Crime and Punishment” narrates the story of Rodion Raskolnikov, a student in St. Petersburg who murders an elderly moneylender and her sister. The novel explores his internal struggle, motivations, and the consequences of his criminal act, as well as his relationship with Sonia, a prostitute who aids him on his path to redemption.
• Thematic analysis: “Crime and Punishment” addresses themes such as morality, guilt, Nietzsche’s superman theory, social alienation, and redemption. It also delves into the psychology of the characters and the influence of society on their actions.
• Historical context: “Crime and Punishment” was written in 19th-century Russia, a time of social upheaval, political reforms, and ideological tensions. Fyodor Dostoyevsky uses the work to reflect on the ethical and philosophical dilemmas of his time, as well as to explore human psychology in a context of social change.