Book review - Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

The latest read is a work of literature and philosophy, believed to be one of the suberb portrayals of the human psyche and emotions by 18th-century Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky, titled Crime and Punishment.

Crime and Punishment is an unparalleled tale of suspense set amidst nineteenth-century Russia’s troubled transition to the modern age. It features an engaging blend of intrigue, philosophy, political, social, moral, and religious commentary that all thread together to create literature that captures the deep, raw core of the human condition when it is at its most gruesome and vulnerable stage.

The novel's roughly 750 pages explore themes of murder (crime) and redemption (punishment).

It broadly has two parts: one following the inner turmoil of a murderer, Raskolnikov, and the other chronicling the melancholic destruction of a family due to a flighty, alcoholic patriarch, social norms, and other factors. Each character is carefully balanced with their foil, with unique speech and language styles. The novel seamlessly ties all these threads together with precision and care, as it progresses—bringing destruction into the lives of its characters to lead them toward either personal growth or downfall.

The book is like living a life. What I can write is that I am fascinated by Dostoevsky’s brilliant understanding of human nature. e.g.

• Raskolnikov believes some men are above the law, thinking they can gain power or do good. He views the murder as a test of his morality but is haunted by guilt and doubts he's that man.
• Sonya is one of my favourite characters, interesting because she's a fallen woman shunned by society, but also a religious woman who restores faith to Raskolnikov. She embodies goodness, innocence, and kindness despite her suffering.
• Dunya, sister of Raskolnikov, fascinates me because she seems noble and bold but is looked at for her beauty only. She’s strong and fights for her beliefs.
• Razumikin (friend) serves as both comic relief and a foil to Raskolnikov in his interactions with others and his resolve to find goodness in the world.

I want to share some of the questions and ideas that struck me the most this time reading this novel, making the read worthwhile!

• Is redemption possible for everyone, or are some acts unforgivable?
• What truly separates good from evil—is it intention, action, or consequence?
• Does suffering inevitably lead to growth, or can it destroy without producing wisdom?
• If society shuns the outcast, can the outcast still find meaning and value in life?
• Is it ever justified to sacrifice one person for the supposed greater good? Who decides?
• Does acknowledging one's guilt automatically lead to self-forgiveness, or is punishment necessary?
• How much of our identity is shaped by external judgment versus internal conviction?
• Can faith exist without doubt, or is doubt essential to authentic belief?
• If life has no inherent meaning, how do we justify morality?

Quotes from the book-

"Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth."

"To go wrong in one's own way is better then to go right in someone else's."

"Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most."

"Power is given only to him who dares to stoop and take it ... one must have the courage to dare."

"People with new ideas, people with the faintest capacity for saying something new, are extremely few in number, extraordinarily so, in fact."