Abstract This paper discusses the thesis that the events of Dostoevsky's life and of Russia during the 1800s helped encourage much of his work and defined FyodorDostoevsky's concepts and views of freedom.
It looks at how Dostoevsky examined many different types of freedoms and aspects and used them as a central theme to many of his novels, such as "Crime and Punishment", "The Brothers Karamazov", and "Notes from the Underground". It also discusses how his background played an important part in how he portrayed freedom in his novels and how Dostoevsky had extreme views that landed him in jail for a period of time.
From the Paper "Throughout his life, Fyodor Dostoevsky surrounded himself with influences that helped to create his thoughts on freedom which he applied to characters throughout his numerous works. Many of Dostoevsky's novels focused on man and freedom. The Russian often used freedom in multiple forms and as an obsession of one or more characters (Jones 44). Fyodor Dostoevsky believed that any man held from his desire and need of freedom feels both social and psychological consequences (Amoia 283). Kept away from sensing and feeling freedom, man will start to break down mentally and want freedom more. Oftentimes, Dostoevsky does not mention freedom without connecting it to good and evil. "
Describes the symbolism that was lost in the translation of FyodorDostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" from Russian to English and also takes a look at the general symbolism of the book and some history.
Abstract Explains some history of Russian dialogue, Russian history, and FyodorDostoevsky's life experiences. It tells the symbolism of the names in "Crime and Punishment," how FyodorDostoevsky was imprisoned, and the history of Russian tsarist government.
From the Paper "Authors write their novels using literary techniques such as symbolism. However, when entire novels are translated from the native language to another, there are some things that are lost in translation. Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote Crime and Punishment in Russian and when the novel was translated to English, symbolism was lost in translation. The symbolism requires knowledge of Russian history and language and some history of Fyodor Dostoevsky's life, to know and understand. Without prior knowledge of the use of some names and words, the symbolism is unknown to the reader."
Abstract This paper examines the novel "Crime and Punishment" by FyodorDostoevsky. The paper describes the way in which Dostoevsky paid great attention to graphic detail and description when he created the setting and literary atmosphere of this classic novel. Careful study of Dostoevsky's prose style reveals the literary power unleashed by his graphic descriptions of scenes and characters that help to define Dostoevsky's view of the meaning of life, the nature of good and evil and the role of free will.
From the Paper "Crime and Punishment: An Analysis of Descriptive Elements In Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoevsky paid great attention to graphic detail and description when he created the setting and literary atmosphere of this classic novel. Careful study of Dostoevsky's prose style reveals the literary power unleashed by his graphic descriptions of scenes and characters. These scenes help define Dostoevsky's view of the meaning of life, the nature of good and evil, and the role of free will, which are important throughout the novel and are repeatedly expressed through setting, descriptive narrative, characterization, and plot structure. "
Abstract This essay examines some characters in the novel "Crime and Punishment" by the Russian author FyodorDostoevsky. Through the examination of some of the main characters the essay attempts to discuss which personality traits Dostoevsky admired and which characteristics he disliked in people, particularly those found in the Russian society of his time.
From the Paper " Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment This essay examines some characters in the novel Crime and Punishment by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. Through the examination of some of the main characters the essay will attempt to discuss which personality traits Dostoevsky admired and which characteristics he disliked in people, particularly those found in Russian society of his time. In Crime and Punishment Dostoevsky uses the characters of to demonstrate traits he admires, like humility, compassion, sacrifice and family bonds as well as traits he dislikes like vanity, lack of morals and shallowness. Dostoevsky's main character in Crime and Punishment is a study of the duality of human nature and the fight between good and evil."
Abstract This paper explains that FyodorDostoevsky's most influential works are "Crime and Punishment" (1866) and "The Brothers Karamazov" (1879-80), which, like most of his literary work attempted to justify the necessity of faith and of God as conditions of true freedom. The author points out that all works of Dostoevsky can be divided in two undying questions about the existence of God and about immortality of soul. The paper states that Dostoevsky was very interested in the theme of sin as related in his novel "Crime and Punishment": Sins can be different: when you offend a person, it is a sin; when you murder, it also is a sin.
From the Paper "In his works, Dostoevsky proves that God exists in, or for, every person. The choice between 'Yes' and 'No' - the two answers that can be given to the transcendent, personal existence of God - is for Dostoevsky the same thing as the alternative: 'To be or not to be.'" His works are filled with Evil, but at the same time he clearly proves how this Evil is defeated by the idea of Christian morality - or in other words - belief in God. Without God life is a complete inanity. With this idea, Dostoevsky tries to show to the people that before they want to see a change in the society, it must begin with them first. People that came to be Believers, accepted laws of Christ as a guide for their entire lives, become more understanding of moral values. Because of that the most important judge of their actions is their own conscience, namely - their soul. It judges a person and it punishes him."
Abstract This paper examines FyodorDostoevsky's Crime and Punishment and notes its parallels to Marxist theory. Principally, the paper explores class struggle, atheism, violent revolution and the social causes for proletarian unrest as they reveal themselves in Dostoevsky's nineteenth century masterpiece. The paper argues that, unwittingly, Dostoevsky provides a social template that gives a certain real-world authenticity to Marx's ideas.
From the Paper "There can be little doubt that communist and Marxist theories suffuse Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment. Among other things, this paper will examine the uneasy "capitalist" relationship between the impecunious Raskolnikov and his avaricious landlady. The paper will also examine the redistributive theme found in Dostoevsky's text and its obvious parallel to Marxist theory. From there, the paper will explore the social roots of violence (an idea that is implicit in Marxist thought) and conclude with a look at how the absence of "God" in Raskolnikov's life makes him the ideal proletarian solider in Marx's imaginings. To sum it all up, Dostoevsky's text is a text about Marxist class warfare. As most university students who have studied the philosophy of Marx (and Engels) know, Marxism holds that all human actions, institutions and social distinctions in society are economically determined."
Abstract This fourteen page paper examines fear and angst in Dostoevsky's works. It specifically examines the pervasive presence of fear, anxiety, and angst in "The Brothers Karamazov", "Notes from Underground", "The Idiot" and "Crime and Punishment" and demonstrates that FyodorDostoevsky believed these negative emotions are triggered primarily because people inevitably become aware that their constantly struggling to understand the meaning of human existence is futile.
From the Paper "Dostoevsky's Writings: A Comparative Analysis of Existentialist Fear and Angst Examining the pervasive presence of fear, anxiety, and angst in The Brothers Karamazov, Notes from Underground, The Idiot and Crime and Punishment demonstrates the Fyodor Dostoevsky believed these negative emotions are triggered primarily because people inevitably become aware that their constantly struggling to understand the meaning of human existence is futile. Acknowledging this futility compels them to either give up and descend willingly into moral degradation or to continue struggling even if it appears useless. In terms of how Dostoevsky used fear in his writing and the manner in which his expression of fear reflects the existentialistic idea, it is evident first of all that his main characters in these four novels have been crafted to display the darkness of the human condition."
Abstract This paper relates the plot of FyodorDostoevsky's "The Grand Inquisitor" in which Christ comes back to earth in Seville at the time of the Spanish Inquisition. He is recognized, performs a number of miracles and is then arrested by Inquisition leaders and sentenced to death. The author points out that the story sets the person of Christ against the church, particularly against persons within the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church. The paper asks the question, "Can we draw a parallel to the modern evangelical church that aligns itself with the Republican Party and the war on terrorism?"
From the Paper ""The Grand Inquisitor" is in a way a lamentation of the course the organized church has chosen. Having a number of fast days annually set aside for lamentation is not something that would be generally encouraged within modern Christianity. We are pre-occupied with our creature comforts and want a 'feel good' faith, so tend to avoid discussions that remind us of our sins (individual and collective) or pain. The journey of the Church (Roman Catholic and others), with its individual and collective sorrows could be lamented. "Lamentations 3:39-42 says, "Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins?""
Tags: freedom, sins, lamentations, death, organized, church
Abstract The paper states that only the human species is known to inflict pain purely for retribution. The fact that justice and punishment for rule violations are evident in animals, and that different human cultures have defined justice, crime, and punishment in myriad, and often in mutually contradictory terms, suggests the need to establish objective principles for concepts of justice that are indeed just. The paper concludes that "justice" incorporates objective rules without basis, which reflect the strength to impose the will of the of those more powerful in society, over the less powerful. The paper also states that crime and punishment are exclusive to human societies, notwithstanding our current relative inability to administer those concepts uniformly and justly, in most human society.
Outline:
A Survey of Cultural Variation of Crime and Punishment Throughout History
Toward the Objective Standard of Justifiable Criminal Definitions and Punishment Conclusion
From the Paper "In particular, purposeful actions on the part of society or dominant group of leaders to address unwanted behaviors or actions of the individual is apparent among many animal species, such as in relation to violations of established social and pair-bonding relationships and hierarchy of access to food and other natural resources (Gerrig & Zimbardo 2005). In certain primates, for example, group members risk both physical retaliation and elements of social exclusion if they are discovered by other group members to have hidden or failed to share resources by not disclosing its existence or location."
Abstract A psychological novel is a work of fiction that places a lot of emphasis on the interior mindset of the protagonist. In particular, this paper examines how in his novel "Crime and Punishment", FyodorDostoevsky does just that with the character of Rodion Raskolnikov and the account of a crime that he commits. The paper first looks at how, throughout the first part of the novel, we see how this character conceives of his crime, plans it out, and ultimately commits the crime. The paper then looks at how, throughout the rest of this lengthy novel, Dostoevsky explores the psychological consequences that this crime has on his protagonist.
From the Paper "Early on in the novel, we are introduced to Raskolnikov and we see the deplorable conditions in which he must live and through a lengthy letter from his mother, we learn of his family situation. All of this is Dostoevsky laying the groundwork of the character's troubled psychology. Raskolnikov lives in a shanty room that he rents in the city of St. Petersburg. He has failed as a student and therefore his future prospects are fairly grim. Raskolinikov has some financial trouble but, though his friend Razumikhin offers to help him, he decides to handle it on his own. He decides to murder his money-lender, an old woman named Alena. Though he does plan to have financial gain from her murder, this does not seem to be his ultimate motivation. In any case, he bungles the murder. He panics and fumbles with the woman's keys and even slips in her blood. "
Abstract This paper offers a review of FyodorDostoevsky's famous work, "Crime and Punishment". The author explains that "Crime and Punishment" is the story of a desperate young man, Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov, who plots the perfect crime. Raskolnikov, alternately called Rodya, Rodenka, and Rodka throughout the novel, is a handsome, but poor student who lives in a garret in the slums of St. Petersburg. He owes money to his landlady and uses the services of a pawnbroker as a way to pay back his landlady. He plans carefully to murder an unattached pawnbroker, Alyona Ivanovna, an old woman loved by no one, whose conduct is despicable and completely unredeemed. He reasons carefully that it is just for a man of genius, such as himself, to commit such a crime and defy moral law because his action ultimately benefits humanity. He is disgusted by the thought of the murder, and yet he eventually kills the pawnbroker. He is ultimately convicted of the murder and sentenced to Siberia.
From the Paper "Like his other novels, Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" is heavily concerned with the psychological life of his characters. While Dostoevsky was alive, he suffered a great deal of criticism over the poor style of his novels, including their "hysterical and morbid nature", and lacking "balance, restraint, and good taste" (Terras, 4). In defense of Dostoevsky, Terras notes, "Dostoevsky's novels encompass antagonistic philosophies and value systems. He is an excellent 'devil's advocate'. Sophisticated readers have mistaken for his own ideas what Dostoevsky was in fact trying to refute"."
Abstract This paper discusses FyodorDostoevsky's novel, "Crime and Punishment," claiming it to be a critique of the super-rationalism of the 18th century Enlightenment, particularly the philosophies of J.S. Mill and Rousseau. The focus of this paper is Dostoevsky's use of Raskolnikov to expose fundamental flaws in Mill's utilitarianism and Rousseau's concept of natural man. The paper examines how he does this by using Raskolnikov as a representation of a typical psyche and by relying on an intuitive argument to show the inability of these philosophies to reflect empirical evidence.
From the Paper "The character of Raskolnikov exposes flaws in Mill's utilitarianism and Rousseauvian philosophy. Dostoevsky's philosophy is unique and radically different from the prevailing ideas of eighteenth century enlightenment because of its reliance on the existence of certain truths common to the psyche of man, instead of a focus on rationality, coupled with the exclusion of other psychological elements. Raskolnikov's two major conflicts are between the rational and emotional portions of his personality and, stemming from this, his tendency to both lament and perpetuate his separation from society. His inability to reconcile these opposing facets of his being results in the great imbalance in his life."
Abstract The paper attempts to show how FyodorDostoevsky, in his work "Crime and Punishment", skillfully creates characters that are as complicated and incomprehensible as people in our real life. The paper explains that the atmosphere of hesitation is created by means of a third-person narrator who leaves the reader without any explanation of the motive of Raskolnikov's crime, and does not give any evaluation of his actions, ideas and words.
From the Paper "To begin with, William Leatherbarrow believes that in Crime and Punishment Dostoevsky's most important sacrifice to the principle of uncertainty is that of omniscience - one of the traditional novelist's prerogatives (par. 6). In other words, Dostoevsky shuns "God's eye" or omniscient point of view; the narrator doesn't see events in perspective not available to the characters of his work. As Leatherbarrow points out, "The author sees the world through the same haze of subjective uncertainty as Raskolnikov does" (par. 7). The third-person narrator, whose nature and point of view isn't clear, just records everything and locates his character in time and space but doesn't impose his values on the hero. Indecisiveness, constant feeling of hesitation introduce Dostoevsky's innovative principle of uncertainty and indeterminacy in the presentation of his character."
An examination of the works of FyodorDostoevsky, proving that "If God does not exist, then everything is permitted" is the central thesis of the author's writings.
Abstract The paper briefly reviews Dostoevsky's early life, through his imprisonment in 1849, and then examines his correspondence about his writing and his belief in God. It identifies books in which Dostoevsky's belief is a factor in the book. The paper also examines the author's fascination with the idea of sin, and similarly analyzes his works with sin as a major theme, focusing on "Crime and Punishment". In conclusion, the paper finds that in Doestoevsky's work those characters who fail to learn that only God has the right to decide people's fate will have a terrible end.
From the Paper "Fyodor Dostoevsky was born on 1821 in Moscow and attended school there. Later he attended the School of Military Engineers in St. Petersburg. His life was one full of misfortune and suffering, his works filled with religious views and philosophical discussions. In Dostoevsky's life an important turning point was his arrest in 1849 and imprisonment at the age of twenty-seven, shortly after the beginning of his writing career. He was sent to Siberia for eight years. This event interrupted his career for nearly ten years. After that event Dostoevsky started to write again. While Dostoevsky was planning his newest novel Idiot he wrote a letter to his friend A.N Maikov. In the letter he wrote: "with which I have been tormented, consciously or unconsciously all my life - that is, the existence of God" (Dirscherl 59). While he was in prison (where the only book allowed was the Bible) it appears Dostoevsky began to arise as a believer, writing in a letter to N.D.Fonvizin: "I believe that there is nothing lovelier, deeper, more sympathetic, more rational, more manly and more perfect than the Savior;... If anyone could prove to me that Christ is outside the truth, and if the truth really did exclude Christ, I should prefer to stay with Christ and not the truth" (Dirscherl 54). According to those events: arrest, prison, deportation in Siberia, Dostoevsky began to find answers for many questions in Religious aspects. Indeed, Dostoevsky was raised in religious family and was well educated with the contents of the Bible. Most of his literary work was consecrating with justifying the necessity of faith and of God as conditions of true freedom. His most influential works are: Crime and Punishment (1866) and The Brothers Karamazov (1879-80)."
Abstract The paper discusses FyodorDostoevsky's "Notes from the Underground" and his concern that if science is used as the only tool to discover meaning and lay blame, then human emotion and free will will no longer exist. The paper explains how Dostoevsky worries about the loss of responsibility for one's actions, which would eventually allows people to legitimately act with cruelty. The paper also shows how his words foreshadow the times that would come, when the German "scientific" culture would convince millions to take the lives of innocents in WWII.
From the Paper "Dostoevsky, lived in a time when science and new ideas were coveted all over the world, but when his homeland Russia oppressed it with zeal. Bureaucracy and administration censored new findings and ideas with a vengeance so great even great literary minds such as Dostoevsky would spend some time in exile in Siberia as a result of "subversive" wittings and political affiliations. Though Dostoevsky was initially sentenced to death, with several of his affiliation members, his sentence was commuted to four years of exile in Siberia, only after he and his fellow liberals were standing outside for some time awaiting execution. (Dostoevsky vii)"
