Insanity in Crime and Punishment (Essay Sample)

Writing
Insanity in Crime and Punishment
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27th March, 2010
Outline
In majority of literature works available today, there will be a great depiction of human life, and in that case, there would be appropriate analysis and description of characters who do not act in a manner that is ethically acceptable. This has been done in order to show how different individuals shall be found in different societies. In this paper, the major interest shall be on how insanity has been presented in the novel, Crime and Punishment, as brought forward by its author, Fyodor Dostoyevsky. This has been done in a revealing manner in which different characters have been scrutinised in order to draw conclusions which lead us into understanding how insanity has been described or presented in the novel.
Introduction
Crime and Punishment is a novel that shall be agreed to greatly focus on the anguish that is mental and ethical dilemmas of the major character, Romanovich Rosion Raskolnikov who is depicted as a totally impoverished ex-student from St. Petersburg. He comes up with an amicable plan in which he ends up killing a pawnbroker whom he greater loathed. The character, Raskolnikov is courageous to argue that he had done what was purely right and acceptable towards getting rid of a swarthy creature that did not deserve to torture people with his pawning. His motive towards this kind of killing was mainly to get rid of the pawnbroker and as well get some financial benefits as a result (Dostoyevsky 43). Very many occasions in the novel, the character is seen to greatly justify his own acts by acknowledging that he had done what had been right in pursuit for a higher justice and a form of purpose he were supposed to do, and the reason he argued that the murder of such a man should be freely permissible and be done without much qualms on ones conscience. Several themes and thesis have been greatly embarked on by the writer on the novel, however, the thesis of self-doubt and destruction has been given a much emphasis as the source of own punishment. Also, madness has been highly presented although it is something that is not so openly done. The author of the novel was a re-known writer of the ninetieth century who wrote a number of novels which have great places in the hearts of many. He is known to have written a number of classical novels like the Idiot, the Poor Folk, Crime and Punishment, and his greatest philosophical novel, The Brothers Karamazov. This paper looks at the portrayal of insanity in the novel, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
Presentation of Insanity in Crime and Punishment
The manner in which insanity and madness has been depicted in Crime and Punishment is something that deserves keener analysis and discussion. For instance, it will be agreed that, in the very time when need arises in man, it would be the same time when the same people think of resorting to absolute madness and self denial, a condition known as being a thinkexist (Dostoyevsky 56). In a common agreement, we shall see that this is the exact evident which has been profoundly analysed in the novel Crime and Punishment by its author, Fyodor Dostoevsky. In the novel, majority of the characters have been depicted to be living in extreme poverty and so they tend to resort to this kind of madness and insanity as a form of compensation. Having been set within the precincts of St. Petersburg, and before the Great Russian Revolution, it shall be noted that novel has profoundly dealt and embarked much on the irrefutable emergence of a number of ideologies that are new into the eyes of the society. These new ideologies that have been clearly demonstrated by the author include the utilitarianism and the capitalism ideologies which seem to be the source of oppression on the greatest majority of the individuals. Therefore, it is in fact from this kind of utilitarianism which is seen to greatly drive our protagonist in the novel, Raskolnikov, who contemplates of committing murder. Due to this kind of strong contemplation, the protagonist ends up in a strong kind of insanity which is as a result of overpowering paranoia and sense of guilt. As well, Katerina Ivanovna, who has been shown as another secondary character in the novel, and who is a mother to some three kids, she has to competently deal with her husband who is extremely alcoholic, and as well she is faced with a grand lack of cash which they can use towards purchasing the basic necessities for their house. Due to this kind of struggle and need for the key necessities, sees to it that she is mad. Her madness continues to torture her due to the fact that they are in a totally undeniable sort of poverty. In that case, several conclusions can be made, one, it is from what happens in different individuals’ lives that determine the progression of insanity, personal guilt, and the living conditions they are in. Therefore, ones duty can be in asking, what does this kind of madness seem to affect the major characters in the novel? Madness has hence been profoundly reflected and presented in the novel as a key thesis which would require a keener analysis (Robert 35).
From this kind of novel by Fyodor, we should agree that the exact picture and depiction intended by the author is something quite complex and something that would require a sharp analysis and study. The biggest issue that can be raised here is that, insanity and sanity is something that cannot be easily determined and especially when purely egocentric characters are being dealt with. Whatever they do seems to be what is right on them and hence they would not consider it to be any wrong. As well, in terms of philosophy, different individuals whom might be seen to be egocentric might end up acting or behaving in a manner that is purely questionable while they think they are in the right track. While these characters appear at some moment quite conscious of their conditions and deeds at one point, the next minute they act in purely questionable manner. This is where the whole issue of insanity would revolve around while demanding a keener outlook. Raskolnikov, who has been entirely depicted a lesser humorous character, will be thought by almost all the other characters in the novel, Crime and Punishment, to show batting characteristics on majority of the occasions (Philip 67). His insanity, however, which has been depicted as a strong form of monomania and delusion have been quite disguising between the reality and sanity objectives. At the same very time, wisdom is seen to appear in the very the midst of absolute lunacy with the character. This has been sincerely the journey of Raskolnikov journey in his spirits, and something that has been profoundly explored by the novel in detail. To any fervent, he or she shall see that the most crucifying, or even defining kinds of eccentricity with the main character, Raskolnikov, is in his obsession and desire to some theory. In that case, this kind of a theory that he greatly clings to for the ordinary as well as for the extraordinary ends up becoming the rightful framework which constitutes his entire existence on earth. Due to this kind of theory, which is a form of insanity in itself, he ends up doing each and everything in the perfectly twisted lens which form his own idea.
Having arrived at this point, we should come to an agreement that insanity has been profoundly presented by the author in the book. This brings in a classic kind of struggle which exists between the very good verses in the novel, and the evil verses in which we shall enumerate the scenes of insanity. Without this kind of understanding through which we can separate sanity from insanity, then it would be very hard to come up with a common understanding on what is insane in the novel. This is to say that one cannot be able come up with a rightful judgement of what is insane without understanding the sanity part which has an equal importance (Philip 75). In this Dostoevsky’s Novel, Crime and Punishment, it would be seen that two major characters have been often seen together because of a common friendship; however, these two friends have as well been presented to have a very huge and totally contrasting kinds of personalities which require a thorough examination. Dostoevsky has created the characters of Raskolnikov to be quite on the opposite of those of Razhumin. In that case, Razhumin would hence be looked upon as a benchmark through which the reader would be in a position of having an interest in the comparison of what is sanity and what is insanity from the novel. As well, the reader would also be in a position of noting their overall differences by scrutinizing on their overall abilities to show their caring, love and emphatic emotions. Raskolnikov’s character and image would be greatly seen to be quite different in terms of perception. This is the major reason why majority of the readers shall see Razhumin to be an ideal character while using that stench towards judging the protagonist, Raskolnikov, who would be greatly judged by the reader (Mathew 61).
From the very minute when Raskolnikov encounters his main friend, and this is for the very first time after a very long separation with Razhumin, Raskolnikov tried to embrace him, something which he does with a very incredible care, concern and compassion. Then, after the murder, Raskolnikov has been proved to be, on the contrary, a totally different and a truly ill individual. Having seen him to be ill, Razhumin decides to take it as his role and duty towards helps a great friend, and his one and only comrade whenever in need. He decided that it would be necessary that a doctor examines him, but he does not comply. This shows another presentation of insanity in the novel. To a keen reader, this novel shall present a totally conflicting...