At first, she tries to comfort her brother telling him that, “if by any chance, you should need me for anything or you should need…my entire life, or anything…just call for me and I’ll come. Goodbye” (Dostoevsky 399). However, when Raskolnikov does not turn to her for help, Dunya decides to take matters into her own hands. She agrees to meet with Svidrigailov alone, because he says he can provide help and security to her brother. However, this is a trap, and he tries to take advantage of her in exchange for her brother’s safety and protection. After that traumatic experience, and learning the truth about what her brother has done, she joins forces with Sonya to try to help Raskolnikov. Eventually, she confronts him alone in his room and tries to convince him that confession and repentance are the answers to all of his problems (Dostoevsky 486). However, this event does not directly lead him to confession and though Raskolnikov eventually confesses and is sent to Siberia to serve his punishment, it probably was not because of Dunya’s interference, or at least, not her interference alone. Unquestionably, his love, Sonya, was the largest motivation behind his moving confessional, as is clear in one of the closing scenes, where he finally confesses after seeing her outside the police station. It was Sonya who ultimately saved Raskolnikov. Therefore, it is somewhat safe to argue that Dunya didn’t genuinely succeed in helping her brother deal with the crime he had
At first, she tries to comfort her brother telling him that, “if by any chance, you should need me for anything or you should need…my entire life, or anything…just call for me and I’ll come. Goodbye” (Dostoevsky 399). However, when Raskolnikov does not turn to her for help, Dunya decides to take matters into her own hands. She agrees to meet with Svidrigailov alone, because he says he can provide help and security to her brother. However, this is a trap, and he tries to take advantage of her in exchange for her brother’s safety and protection. After that traumatic experience, and learning the truth about what her brother has done, she joins forces with Sonya to try to help Raskolnikov. Eventually, she confronts him alone in his room and tries to convince him that confession and repentance are the answers to all of his problems (Dostoevsky 486). However, this event does not directly lead him to confession and though Raskolnikov eventually confesses and is sent to Siberia to serve his punishment, it probably was not because of Dunya’s interference, or at least, not her interference alone. Unquestionably, his love, Sonya, was the largest motivation behind his moving confessional, as is clear in one of the closing scenes, where he finally confesses after seeing her outside the police station. It was Sonya who ultimately saved Raskolnikov. Therefore, it is somewhat safe to argue that Dunya didn’t genuinely succeed in helping her brother deal with the crime he had