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Crime and Punishment

by Fyodor Dostoevsky

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Reading for the 3rd time

read in December 2024

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Dave said:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

" “Because suffering…is a great thing.”

This book was even more life changing the second time. The main themes were salvation (represented most frequently by water), benevolence (do we help people for our own selfishness like Luzhin or Svidrigailov, or “Because suffering…is a great thing.”

This book was even more life changing the second time. The main themes were salvation (represented most frequently by water), benevolence (do we help people for our own selfishness like Luzhin or Svidrigailov, or is it out of unconditional love like Sonya or Razhumikin? Also, it was interesting to see how the need/urge to receive/offer help impacted the characters.), and suffering. It was written at a time when people were starting to think freely and have their own ideas in Russia.

This book shows the importance of exercising your free will (so you don’t end up like the drunks passed out on the sidewalk or being pseudo-intellectual like Luzhin), but also understanding that free will is a gift, and will lead to a world of pain if taken advantage of. If everyone in the world “considered themselves so intelligent and in unswerving possession of truth, then no one could agree about what should be considered evil and what good.” Thinking freely (represented in this book) can either lead to a pure heart, or pure chaos.

It also shows how one’s pride matches up against the objective truths in the world. Raskolnikov says that an “extraordinary man” can “step over obstacles” and even his conscience if he has full belief that what he is doing is right. It’s interesting that even in prison, Rodya still holds on to his “extraordinary man” theory, and feels no remorse because he was in there with “men who have done far worse things than he.”

Why does Rodya suffer mentally throughout the book? I think it’s because he tried to overstep his conscience, which deep down has an unconditional urge to help people. When he gives his only money to the poor, supporting strangers who experience loss, rescuing kids from a fire, etc… It all shows that it’s difficult to escape one’s true self, even if the mind is set on something that goes against it.

Lastly, something that I agree with that was mentioned is that salvation is gradual. I feel like lots of folks walk away from faith because they called on God and nothing happened. Or at least nothing happened in their eyes. Salvation comes through suffering, as represented by Christ on the cross (another recurring theme in the book). Svidrigaïlov ends his life because he is unwilling to accept the suffering he deserves for his terrible actions. And even he has an opportunity to receive salvation (represented by him being drenched with rain on the night of his death). But his mind was made up that he was beyond saving. Sonya on the other hand, even though she was a prostitute and living in filth, finds meaning in faith and unconditional love for her friends and family. She suffers constantly by bearing the burden of financially supporting her family and even emotionally supporting Raskolnikov. I feel like these two characters represent the different paths Rodya, who is kind of in the middle, could take. Svid let his sin define him, Sonya did not. Sonya also represents salvation, because she is not bound by her sin.

As far as the writing goes, the long paragraphs and stream-of-consciousness can be a bit exhausting. But every word carries weight without being fluffy or try-hard. Everything is blunt and to the point. And all the plots converged. The philosophy was disguised in the main plot, and I appreciated that. It’s clear the stance that the author takes on all this, but he gave each character a fair shot at defending their beliefs.

This is just a sliver of what is running through my mind, and it’s only for my own sanity that I’m writing this short essay. It’s only my interpretation. I could speak endlessly about this. I will be reading this book once a year for the rest of my life. Bravo Dostoyevsky. You’re a real one. 2,000 ⭐️/5 ...more "

progress:

(page 143 of 656)
— Aug 28, 2026 06:24AM

Dec 27, 2025 08:36AM · see review