What can the character’s surroundings about the his/her struggles? With the author’s usage of such techniques, it helps to further advance the reader’s understanding of the characters. The novel Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky demonstrates how the author uses setting to highlight Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov’s internal conflicts throughout the novel.
The author’s depiction of Raskolnikov's lodging reveals the origination of Raskolnikov’s nihilistic nature. It is a “little yellow room that was like a cupboard or a box” and “like a tomb… [that causes him] to become so melancholy” (Dostoyevsky 33, 184). Raskolnikov describes his apartment with hatred and states how his room causes him to “sink into blank forgetfulness” and evoke him …show more content…
The two most contemptuous characters in the novel, Svidrigailov and Luzhin, make their first entrances in Raskolnikov's room. With their presence in the already gloomy room, it causes the mood to become depressingly morbid. Later in the novel, the two men unfold to be malicious antagonists who are the “most worthless scoundrel[s] on the face of the earth” because they approach Sonia and Dounia with spiteful intentions and disturb Raskolnikov’s sanity (370). Svidrigailov and Luzhin provide only eccentric anger and sadness to Raskolnikov intricate matters and complicates the underlying conflicts of the novel. After doing each of their nefarious deeds, they disappear instantaneously just like how they appeared first in the novel. The shabby apartment room serves in introducing the most unpleasant situations into Raskolnikov’s life and illustrates his mental instability. The symbolism of his room is depicted by the repetition of the cynical notions such as his dreadful dreams and depressive …show more content…
Petersburg. Dostoevsky uses this setting to illustrate Raskolnikov’s dual characteristics through his actions and thoughts he has outside of his oppressing apartment. Whenever Raskolnikov needed to clear his muddled thoughts and “his eyes and mind craved for space, he took up his hate and went out… [and] as his habit was, without noticing his way, muttering and even speaking aloud to himself” (33). As Raskolnikov escapes his suffocating room for just a moment, he performs many of his redeeming acts for society. From rescuing a young prostitute from the eyes of a stranger to aiding a poverty stricken family to carry out a funeral, Raskolnikov reveals his altruistic side and the author allows Raskolnikov to step out of his island of seclusion. The usage of this setting portrays an open space for Raskolnikov to develop his benevolent side and allows readers to sympathize with him as he conflicts with internal struggles. However, the nature of his dual characteristics is evident as Raskolnikov performs his good acts out on the streets. Raskolnikov constantly doubts himself on whether he has “any right to help? What is it to [him]?” (41). When Raskolnikov sees a person in need of aid, he instantaneously has a desire to aid those to the best of his abilities, however it quickly transitions into questioning the reasons for his interference. It was evident that Raskolnikov’s double characteristics were conflicting
The author’s depiction of Raskolnikov's lodging reveals the origination of Raskolnikov’s nihilistic nature. It is a “little yellow room that was like a cupboard or a box” and “like a tomb… [that causes him] to become so melancholy” (Dostoyevsky 33, 184). Raskolnikov describes his apartment with hatred and states how his room causes him to “sink into blank forgetfulness” and evoke him …show more content…
The two most contemptuous characters in the novel, Svidrigailov and Luzhin, make their first entrances in Raskolnikov's room. With their presence in the already gloomy room, it causes the mood to become depressingly morbid. Later in the novel, the two men unfold to be malicious antagonists who are the “most worthless scoundrel[s] on the face of the earth” because they approach Sonia and Dounia with spiteful intentions and disturb Raskolnikov’s sanity (370). Svidrigailov and Luzhin provide only eccentric anger and sadness to Raskolnikov intricate matters and complicates the underlying conflicts of the novel. After doing each of their nefarious deeds, they disappear instantaneously just like how they appeared first in the novel. The shabby apartment room serves in introducing the most unpleasant situations into Raskolnikov’s life and illustrates his mental instability. The symbolism of his room is depicted by the repetition of the cynical notions such as his dreadful dreams and depressive …show more content…
Petersburg. Dostoevsky uses this setting to illustrate Raskolnikov’s dual characteristics through his actions and thoughts he has outside of his oppressing apartment. Whenever Raskolnikov needed to clear his muddled thoughts and “his eyes and mind craved for space, he took up his hate and went out… [and] as his habit was, without noticing his way, muttering and even speaking aloud to himself” (33). As Raskolnikov escapes his suffocating room for just a moment, he performs many of his redeeming acts for society. From rescuing a young prostitute from the eyes of a stranger to aiding a poverty stricken family to carry out a funeral, Raskolnikov reveals his altruistic side and the author allows Raskolnikov to step out of his island of seclusion. The usage of this setting portrays an open space for Raskolnikov to develop his benevolent side and allows readers to sympathize with him as he conflicts with internal struggles. However, the nature of his dual characteristics is evident as Raskolnikov performs his good acts out on the streets. Raskolnikov constantly doubts himself on whether he has “any right to help? What is it to [him]?” (41). When Raskolnikov sees a person in need of aid, he instantaneously has a desire to aid those to the best of his abilities, however it quickly transitions into questioning the reasons for his interference. It was evident that Raskolnikov’s double characteristics were conflicting