Talk:Crime and Punishment

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"Some reviewers have seen in the novel a criticism of modern American life, including the American penal system; towards the end, the character Svidrigailov shoots himself and instructs the only witness to tell those who ask that he was 'going to America'." While it is a common thread in Dostoevsky's works to have characters off themselves rather then flee to America, I don't get how its a critisim of the modern American penal system, considering the book was written just a couple years after the US Civil War. Is there any thing to back up this statement? ScottM 16:12, 4 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Yes, this seems absurd. john k 18:06, 4 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Name Considerations

In some other translations of the book, the character names are spelled differently. Raskolnikov = Roskolnikov Porfiry = Porphyry "Roskolnikov" has no results on wikisearch

I redirected Roskolnikov to Raskolnikov's article
Talkstosocks

The article also gives Porfiry's full name as Pyotr Petrovich Porfiry, but in the three translations I've seen he is only Porfiry Petrovich. Indeed, several analysts attach significance to his lack of a family name (and suggest "Petrovich" implies "son of Peter the Great" as a public servant). Where did the Pyotr come from in the novel itself? (The Russian site appears to say only "Porfiry Petrovich"; perhaps someone mixed up Porfiry with the character of Luzhin?) I didn't want to change anything in case I was incorrect. Jediknil 03:41, 26 February 2007 (UTC)

Today someone changed Sonya's Russian name to match what is written here, i.e. "Sonya Semyonovna Marmeladova". But her "real" first name is Sofya (which matches the old Russian text, I think). Which one is more appropriate, both for the section title and the first mention? Right now it says "Sonya Semyonovna Marmeladova...variously called Sonya..." which clearly doesn't work. Jediknil 21:34, 4 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Dostoevsky's existentialist views?

I may be a little off about this, but I heard that Dostoyevsky was actually highly critical of existentialism and nihilism, and was an advocate of Russian orthodoxy.

Is this a glaring mistake in the article, or have I been reading the wrong interpretations of his work? edit: or by "Dostoevsky's existentialist views", does the author of the article allude to Dostoyevsky's critical view on existentialism? Should that be cleared up a little bit?


Despite being very Christian he wrote about issues which became prominent in existentialist thought, but yeah, it could be clearer in the article. - TheMidnighters

I don't think he said much regarding existentialism because the word was not really used until after his death (sartre brought it to the largely encompassing term it is now). He was very anti-nihilist though. I guess if existentialism is nihilism he could not really be considered an existentialist; but that statement is hard to affirm because existentialism is so broad a topic. Raskolnikov The Penguin 02:53, 17 July 2005 (UTC)

There's nihilistic existentialism and christian existentialism among the many variants. Each simply states which school of thought's framework is being employed while approaching the main tenets of existentialism. --TheMidnighters 04:06, 17 July 2005 (UTC)

Dostoevsky was in fact highly critical of nihilism which can be seen in his later work The Idiot. But in reference to existentialism, Dostoevsky was a firm believer. His ultimate thesis in Crime and Punishment is that suffering leads to salvation. This parallels Kierkegaard, the father of existentialism and his work in the same time era. (KDC)

How can Dostoyevsky have been a "firm believer" in existentialism if he preceded all existentialist philosophers (save himself)? (SH)

It seems that this article misses the point. Dostoevsky advocates not one Ideal or Philosophy over the other, but rather that one should use reason to moderate an extreme ideal such as nihilism or existentialism. This is demonstrated with the fact that each of the characters crumbles in a way similar to Raskolnikov (who followed, or tired to, very nihilistic principles) when each of them followed their own extreme set of principles. Lebezyatnikov was constantly antagonized with his socialistic thoughts, Marmeladov went down a spiral of self destruction with hedonism, Luzhin was constantly dour and cannot find happiness with his aristocratic greed, Sofya carried the burdens of the world with her Orthodoxy. The other characters withered similarly with their single minded obsessions. Feromors 00:08, 23 April 2006 (UTC) -Feromors

I'm afraid a number of posters in this section seem confused as to what exactly "existentialism" is. I therefore feel the need to clarify that Existentialism is not a specific school of thought; rather, it is more like a cluster of related ideas and variations on those ideas. To illustrate this point, many consider Kierkegaard and Sartre to be existentialists, though these philosophers would disagree with each other on many important points (particularly religion). Doestoevsky's works, therefore, can be considered "existentialist" in the same way that many of Melville's are considered "existentialist" (i.e. Moby-Dick), that is, because his work anticipates the thought of many later philosophers like Kierkegaard and Sartre, but especially with regard to his views on suffering and its necessity in human experience. This is less obvious in "Crime in Punishment," though: his main purpose in this work is to refute the Nihilists who he saw -- rightly, as it turned out -- as threatening to Russian society. (His existentialist ideas are more fully developed in "Notes from Underground" and "The Brothers Karamazov.) The fact that Dostoevsky predated the actual term is merely a "problem" of language -- we simply didn't have a name for his ideas until after WWII.
In any event, I would argue that any articulation of Dostoevsky's philosophical ideas with relation to this specific work should focus on Nihilism and not existentialism, since the former is in fact the focus of "Crime and Punishment." --Todeswalzer 23:34, 6 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Audio version

I enjoy reading, but, in common with many people, have limited time to read. Weighty classics like "Crime and Punishment" are most affected by this aspect of modern life, and largely remain unread. This is a great pity. One solution, if you have a lengthy commute, is to obtain the book in electronic audiobook MP3 form, and listen to it during your commute. I've just done so with "Crime and Punishment" and found it to be an excellent listen, albeit very long, at about 24 hours. An added bonus was having the complicated Russian names properly pronounced. I strongly recommend this route. - Marius van Blerck.--Marius11 11:32, 15 Apr 2005 (UTC) This doesnt make sense

[edit] Protagonist?

I believe that Rodya is an antihero, not a protagonist. Anyone care to comment?

The two terms are not mutually exclusive. Protagonist simply means they are the main character, it has no bearing on the actual nature of the character. --TheMidnighters 21:04, 11 July 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Analysis

Just some comments on the Analysis section. While I think the section is a good addition, some of the content doesn't seem right to me, hopefully it can be fine tuned.

First, I really don't think Raskolnikov "revels" in his suffering, it's much better to say that he ultimately benefits from his suffering since it guides him towards redemption. Revelry implies enjoyment and merryment, which he doesn't express.

I agree, he revels in nothing, such is not his personality, he bears it as a necessity. If anything he despises it just as he oes every thing else. He sees it as the inevetible outcome as his failure to prove his "Napoleonic" status. An interesting question I would like to see addressed is whether or not Raskolnikov still believes in his little "Human-Superhuman" theory after his "rebirth" in the epilougeFeromors 00:18, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

Second, "He constantly tries to feel" is really vague. What is he trying to feel? Resolve, purpose, kinship?

Third, "his depravity is commonly interpreted as an affirmation of himself as a transcendent conscience and a rejection of rationality and reason" should be expanded and clarified or deleted. There should be specific reference to who (a critic, a school of thought, etc) interpreted it as such, otherwise it can fall under original research. Depravity is also really vague. What depravity in particular?

Hopefully there can be collaboration on this section to make it work, since this is a really important novel. --TheMidnighters 23:17, 16 July 2005 (UTC)

I did some editing of the analysis section but regarding the philosophy in the novel I could only mention a few people who had similiar views in their writings, and none who shared it exactly. I'm sure there are more links that can be put in regarding this and if anybody knows of any please add. I'm sure there's such a thing as Dostoevskiism out there too if somebody wants to look. Raskolnikov The Penguin 02:32, 17 July 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Genre and Style

[edit] Movie versions

I think Woody Allen's "Match Point" should join the movie adaptations of Crime and Punishment as "The Machinist" did. The final part of the film is strongly inspired by Dostoyevski's book. In fact at the beginning of the film the main character can be seen reading this book (probably as a justification of why he does the killing on the way he does)

Unless we can source this - and the mention of Hitchcock's Rope (movie) - both links should come out. Merely being influenced by C&P isn't enough for inclusion; the list should be limited to direct and strong indirect adaptations. | Klaw ¡digame! 17:41, 16 January 2006 (UTC)
Probably Rope (movie) and The Machinist should come out as they are just influenced by the book, but last hour of Match Point can be said to be a direct adaptation of first book of Crime and Punishment. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 62.43.237.98 (talk • contribs) 09:43, 17 January 2006.
"Can be said to be" isn't sufficient; it needs a source. If there's a prominent critic who has said this about Match Point, or if Allen himself said it, then that would meet the standards. Otherwise, it's original research. | Klaw ¡digame! 13:57, 17 January 2006 (UTC)
I don't know exactly how this works, I don't have a source as I have not searched one, I haven't read or seen anyone related to the film saying that "Match Point" is a version of "Crime and punishment", but after reading the book and watching the film it's clear that the crimes in "Match point" are from the first part of "Crime and punishment".In fact, in wikipedia's page of "Match point" someone wrote that part of the film is based on this book.--62.43.237.98 15:53, 19 January 2006 (UTC)
What you just described is original research, which is not allowed on Wikipedia. If you find a reliable third party who makes the connection between the book and movie, that would solve the problem. | Klaw ¡digame! 15:56, 19 January 2006 (UTC)
Well, the article for the movie makes the connection, and while that does not entirely excuse us of needing a source lets admit that movies are often difficult to cite because until a text version comes out you have to rely on critics to provide details. The fact remains that the movie is based on the book. Not only does the main character read Crime and Punishment, but reads a companion at the same time and has an "authentic discussion" about the book. In Allen's world, this is most certainly an indication that the themes of the book will be discussed. I suggest only likely hood of influence, not a bona fide adaptation should meet wiki's infintly flexible standards. User:thechosenone021

Influence and adaptation are very different things. Plus there's still no source so I'm removing it again until there is one. --TheMidnighters 18:56, 12 February 2006 (UTC)

Okay, I have it now. I talked to a Russian Literature Phd who had seen the movie (Expert?) and he agreed that it was based on C and P. Also, the following http://www.altfg.com/Reviews/matchpoint.htm . Permission to edit? User:thechosenone021
Did he say that it was a direct adaptation or that the two share similar themes and/or characters? Anyway, my point is that the movie versions section is for direct adaptations. People could make arguments that many movies are directly influenced by, share themes with, and make reference to Crime and Punishment, but they're still not adaptations. --TheMidnighters 22:58, 12 February 2006 (UTC)
Direct adaptation. The point is that the book has serious plot similarities. Its a modern day c and p, except the protagonist is a former tennis pro, not student, who teaches tennis not tutors. He ends up being succesful and gets away with the murder, but the scene of the murder is the same as C and P, the burying of the loot, the use of random murder weapon, the difficulty usuing weapon, the call to the police office that seems unlikely. There is no Wiki Standard for movie adaptations. This deserves mention for being intensely derived. User:thechosenone021
Fair enough. --TheMidnighters 05:18, 14 February 2006 (UTC)
In terms of the spirit of the novel, Woody Allen's Crime and Misdemeanors is much closer to Dostoevski than Match Point, a deeply flawed and far inferior film, in my opinion. Neither film is an actual cinematic adaptation of the plot, but a meditation on similar themes: guilt, moral evil, the human condition. I still find it difficult to see how much favorable comment the later film has received; I think it is predictable and trite. 66.108.105.21 03:06, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

Not sure who I should reply to, but I strongly disagree with the argument that Match Point can be considered an adaptation. For one thing, most of Crime and Punishment takes place after the murder, while in Match Point the murder occurs at the end. Then consider that Woody's message is essentially the opposite of Dostoyevsky's - that you can indeed get away with murder and feel fine with it. Now, if Woody had still called it Crime and Punishment, or made it take place in Russia, or something, you might be able to call it an adaptation, kind of like Demi Moore's The Scarlet Letter was an adaptation of the original (even though it mangled the plot and threw in some heaving bossoms, skinny dipping and an Indian rescue... if I recall correctly). But Match Point has a very different plot, takes place in a different place and era, and has a very different message. Oh, and I think it is a bit funny that someone used the argument that in Match Point a character reads Crime and Punishment as an argument that it is an adaptation. To me that seems to rule it out, since I don't recall Raskolnikov reading Crime and Punishment in the original... --Chinawhitecotton 23:33, 31 January 2007 (UTC)

Oh, ha ha, never mind. Someone already took it out. Well, let this be a warning to you not put put it back. :)--Chinawhitecotton 23:35, 31 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] haphazardly

haphazardly planned murder?? -193.77.233.76 08:54, 7 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] References

I'd like to nominate this article at WP:V0.5N, since it is a major literary work by one of my favourite writers, but unfortunately it lacks sources ("further reading" is assumed not to be source material for the article). Would some of the major contributors to this article be able to put in their sources as a references and/or notes section, preferably with inline refs? Please nominate when you think it's OK, and also consider WP:GAN. Thanks, Walkerma 05:06, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

I've added the notes section, so the inline citations now are shown; right now it has eight citations. I've added it to the GA nominee list, and I'll do V0.5 right now. -Silvdraggoj 20:24, 3 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] First Para.

I haven't read the book but the first paragraph seems to contain spoilers, no? --A Sunshade Lust 05:42, 30 July 2006 (UTC) I mean, the introduction. --A Sunshade Lust 05:42, 30 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Übermensch idea

This book clearly is a precursor for the Übermensch theory later developed by Friedrich Nietzsche. Raskolnikov's musings that he is a morally superior human, and therefore has the right to put laws aside, is an almost exact example of Nietzsche's theory. It is interesting why Nietzsche would postulate formulate his theory in this manner, seeing the tragic consequences for Raskolnikov? After all, he did admire Dostoevsky very much. I unfortunately lack sources for this information, and am therefore reluctant to add it to a good-article. Errabee 12:34, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

Interesting observation, but I would like to point out that Dostoyevki is a firm believer that ALL humans are flawed and make mistakes. This, in some way, is confirmed by christian ideology (Adam & Eve screwed up by eating the fruit... why? because they're curious - they're human...) Anyways, in his other works and in the book, you can see how prone to error Dostoyevki characters are... The murder of Lizaveta was a mistake which implies that even although Raskolnikov had developed a 'perfect theory' its execution is bound to have mistakes. But I don't know why Nietzsche came up with the 'superhuman' idea if he was a fan of Dostoyevski (who persists that humans are flawed by nature) - by Dopeman ;)

The book is more clearly a criticism of the super-man idea than a support for it. It ultimately rejects it as incorrect, Raskolnikov only finds peace in the traditionalist view of salvation.


It seems that referring to "a Nietzschean Übermensch" in the section The Cross is a misnomer seeing that the Übermensch idea was formulated after Crime and Punishment's publishing.128.120.180.118 06:50, 13 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Translators

The table of info lasts one translater, but there are multiple translations. Shouldn't we mention all of them? -Unknownwarrior33 22:05, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

There's a longer list near the end of the article, McDuff is cited in the infobox since it's showcasing a specific edition. --TM 22:52, 10 August 2006 (UTC)
Oh, I missed that. Thanks. -Unknownwarrior33 22:55, 10 August 2006 (UTC)
Personally, I don't see the point in showcasing a particular edition. This article is about Crime and Punishment, not any particular translation. The only link to the edition is the use of the cover illustration; why list "translator" - and why is the language Russian AND English? That suggests the book was written in or includes both languages. I looked on the page for "The Idiot" and there is no reference to translators. Unless there is some standard Wikipedia policy for including translation info, I suggest removing it; it almost seems like a promotion of one translation over others.Chinawhitecotton 23:18, 31 January 2007 (UTC)
The section with list of translators is happily growing and growing with red links. If such information is important (which I somewhat doubt) then it should be farmed out into a leaf article, otherwise it would be better removed. Pavel Vozenilek 21:36, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] the crimes

perhaps worthwile to note Raskolnikov did not agonize over the death of the pawn broker.. but only the death of her younger sister. a lot of readings, interpretations try to white wash over this in order to come to somekind of moral absolutism that wasn't in the novel. Raskolnikov agonizes over the fact that he caused the suffering of an innocent. he never at anytime considered the pawnbroker an innocent. he thought out the death of the pawn broker beforehand... for him to agonize over that makes no sense in the novel. that's why the sister walks in

It's been a long time, but I seem to recall that by the end, it's pretty clear Raskolnikov's entire moral self-justification has fallen apart, and that he can no longer sustain the idea that he is a Great Man who has the right to kill other people. Certainly the idea that "for him to agonize over [the pawnbroker's murder] makes no sense in the novel" is completely unjustifiable - I read the book as it being Dostoevsky's point that Raskolnikov feels guilty over the whole business, because he does have a conscience, and because his a priori self-justification was, from the beginning, a total fraud. You seem to be buying into the idea that Raskolnikov's self-justifications are legitimate, when it seems fairly clear (at least, from what I can remember), that they're bogus from the start, and that he's only desperately trying to convince himself that he's justified. The sister may make the whole business more difficult, and may even be the straw that breaks the camel's back, but I don't think it's right to say that he only agonizes over the one death. Rather, he agonizes over the whole thing, with the sister's death being particularly agonized over. Can you provide any support from literary criticism for your position? john k 22:33, 13 August 2006 (UTC)

When he confesses to Dunya he's very reluctant to say that he regrets the killing of the pawnbroker woman. As Dunya embraces him in relief, he flares up and the dialogue goes, like, R:"Hey, what kind of a crime are you talking about? She was a friggin' louse! Killing her was more worth that forty confessions of one's sins. She spent her days sucking the sap out of poor people...And everybody's pointing their finger at me saying 'crime, crime, crime...' Only now do I fully realize the absurdity of this, as I've decided to take on this senseless shame."

D:"Rodya, please! What are you saying, you've committed murder!"

R:"Well, don't everybody? Everywhere around us, always, blood has been tumbling like torrents or flowing like champagne, some people even get laurels for it. I might have done a lot of good [---] My mistake was mere clumsiness, I should have been more careful. The idea in itself wasn't all that bad, not at all as bad as it looks now when it's failed."

D:"That's not what it's about at all. Think of what you're saying!"

(approximately, I don't have the English translation around, I'm putting this over from the Swedish translation). I think Dostoevsky is realistic in giving an idea of how hard that point would be, Rodya sort of strips himself of any defence if he says he was a mere killer, because already when he started toying with the idea he was in a very down-and-out situation (as he marches off to the police he's thinking "I wonder if within the next ten years I'm going to get so stupid and squalid that I'll kiss the feet of everybody and tear-jerkingly scream out that I am am murderer? They want to break me down, they want to maul me!") - It's a bit like the way a business adventurer a la Nick Leeson or some cyberbiz whiz, who's speculated away torrents of money and has been fraudulent to many others, will defend himself by saying "you gotta be brave and experimental to gain some money in this world...I failed, but that was just a coincidence" and is likely to fiercely deny the suggestion that he was ultimately dealing with other people's money and going far beyond what he was trusted to do with that money.

Saying even killing the greedy pawnbroker woman was a mortal sin, that's the last and hardest step, and I don't know if we ever hear him say that right out in the book, though it's strongly implied he has to. Rodion's right in feeling that he and his family have been trampled upon by an unjust society, though that doesn't excuse the killings (Dostoevsky really is in ace form when he suggests the double aspects of love and hate that erupt in Raskolnikov when he meets, or thinks of, Sonya and Dunya).

I read Joseph Frank's The Stir of liberation (part of his big Fyodor biography) about the years leading up to C&P, and he underlines that Dostoevsky may have been a Christian, but he was never a stolid person who would take for granted what was taught, not even make an effort always to be orthodox. See his views on marriage and resurrection, discussed in the chapter "Will I ever see Masha again?" which draws on a little-known manuscript D. wrote in the days following the death of his first wife.

So I think you (the first poster in this section, who is anonymous) may have a point: when he finally does take on responsibility for both murders in front of Dunya, he does so because he sees the pain he's forcing on his beloved sister (and, he knows, to his mother and Razumichin) and he knows he can't tear that up if he won't surrender, resolve to go to the police and rely on the love of Sonya and Dunya.

On a side note, i think it's vital to the balance of the book that Rodya is not portrayed as a habitually violent person: if he were, Sonya's trust in him and love for him (even before he's confessed) would be impossible. He's sometimes snappy, ill-tempered, moody, but almost never physically violent. The murders are in some sense alien to his normal personality, and that's why they break him down so fast. Strausszek Sept 2, 2006, 23.55 [CET]

---the actual quote

“Crime? What crime? Killing a foul, noxious louse, that old moneylender, no good to anybody, who sucked the life-blood of the poor, so vile that killing her ought to bring absolution for forty sins – was that a crime?" (Raskolnikov)

this was consistant with the socio economic conditions of Russia at the time of the writing.... conditions which eventually led to the russian revolution. this view would not have been immoral at all. actually it still isn't but things were much much worse then.....this was pre industrial russia. the aristocracy were practically paving the road with the skulls of peasants.

[edit] Dostoevsky's Contract

The story about the contract with the editor Stellovsky, who gave D. an advance on the condition that he would have free right to all of Dostoevsky's books, present and future ones, if D. didn't give him a new novel by the fall of 1866, is true, but it doesn't apply to Crime and Punisghment, instead to The Gambler. The contract did not exist when D. started out on C&P, which was sold to another publisher, Katkov. The gambler was dictated in less than a month to Anna Snitkina who then became Fedya's second wife, but that's another story. I rewrote a few lines in the background bit, early in the article. Strausszek August 29 2006 07:15 (CET)


[edit] Lazarus story

Edited the bit about New Testament references, the Lazarus story isn't in the epilogue, Sonya reads it to R the day before her mother dies and Raskolnikov confesses to her. It's interesting that Dostoevsky doesn't really spell out anything about the meaning of this (he has Sonya thinking it will lead to Rodya's conversion, but it doesn't get clearer than that, and it's not the conversion she thought it would be). After all the novel was written for a broad audience and wasn't meant to be an avant-garde novel, and with ,amany writers at this time it would have been an automatic move to give some explanation of why she reads this old legend to him.

I guess many people who read the book first time might wonder why R more or less forces Sonya to read the story. Well, so did I. Strausszek September 1, 2006 06:40 (CET)

[edit] second para

The second para states that Rodya becomes ill after the murder takes place. The translation I have suggests that he is ill before the murder, this may be trivial, but i thought i'd mention it. ( Translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky) --Carolyn Earnest 06:09, 11 November 2006 (UTC)

If I recall correctly it isn't too severe, with the passing out and delirium, until after the murder. Although it's likely he's referred to as not being well or something similar before the murder, with comparatively lighter symptoms like disorientation. Does this sound accurate? --TM 22:27, 11 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] GA Re-Review and In-line citations

Members of the Wikipedia:WikiProject Good articles are in the process of doing a re-review of current Good Article listings to ensure compliance with the standards of the Good Article Criteria. (Discussion of the changes and re-review can be found here). A significant change to the GA criteria is the mandatory use of some sort of in-line citation (In accordance to WP:CITE) to be used in order for an article to pass the verification and reference criteria. Currently this article includes only some in-line citations. It is recommended that the article's editors take a look at the inclusion of in-line citations as well as how the article stacks up against the rest of the Good Article criteria. GA reviewers will give you at least a week's time from the date of this notice to work on the in-line citations before doing a full re-review and deciding if the article still merits being considered a Good Article or would need to be de-listed. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us on the Good Article project talk page or you may contact me personally. On behalf of the Good Articles Project, I want to thank you for all the time and effort that you have put into working on this article and improving the overall quality of the Wikipedia project. LuciferMorgan 02:56, 16 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Plot summary

Hi, I was looking at the plot summary, and I realised that half of it is not there... It is replaced by an analysis of the text/story... Just wanted to let you people know! --Zouavman Le Zouave (Talk to me! • See my edits!) 02:11, 22 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Redemption from what?

Last sentence, second paragraph: "Moreover, Raskolnikov's attempts to protect his sister Dunya from unappealing suitors, and also his unexpected love for a destitute prostitute demonstrate Raskolnikov's longing for redemption." Redemption from what? Moral sins? Poverty? His mental condition? The sentence is not clear, and it's also a hasty interpretation of the novel. When Raskolnikov falls in love with Sonya, and when he feels like he's "living" when he helps other unfortunate people, I interpret it as a confirmation of his existence. He wants to see himself in other people, the "murderer" in other people. And when he does, that's the only time he acts normally. These people, like himself, have something in them that makes them special. They are all like Mikolka's nag who keeps on pulling their impossibly heavy burden. They confirm his existence, and his loneliness disappears. It's not at all redemption from sin or poverty or mental illness, but rather a confirmation of all these that Raskolnikov seeks. Moonwalkerwiz 05:24, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

It's likely adapted from the back cover of the Penguin edition, the last sentence of the first paragraph reads "Only Sonya, a downtrodden prostitute, can offer him the chance of redemption". +Hexagon1 (t) 06:14, 1 April 2007 (UTC)
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