You don’t need to read that much into the book to learn what its plot is: it’s a story about a Russian axe-murderer who kills an old lady who runs a pawnshop seemingly for money and afterwards tries to hide what he did from the authorities. It’s a shocking premise, and yet the depth and complexity of this book has made it a lasting member in the list of the classics, as well as being perhaps one of the greatest Christian novels of all time.
Since the murder of the old woman happens within the first sixth of the book, the whole rest of the book is focused on the mind of the murderer, Raskolnikov, and this is where the full genius and depth of the book really comes in. When Doestoevsky initially wrote this book, he told his publisher that he intended it to be the psychological account of a crime that was committed by a young man who “had submitted to strange ‘incomplete’ ideas which float on the wind,” and that certainly comes out. Crime and Punishment explores the complexities of human psychology within the mind of a murderer like few other books do and portrays rather keenly how destructive a vice pride really is.
What is perhaps most interesting about the book from a literary perspective is its use of foil characters. Foil characters are minor characters who are similar to the main character in many ways—but who also have major differences that end up having a lot of relevance in the overall scope of the book. In Crime and Punishment, Doestoevsky uses a plethora of foil characters to show the readers different examples of who Raskolnikov could turn out to be depending on the choices he makes. Is he going to become like one of his noble friends, or one of his less savory acquaintances? The book makes for an interesting study of foil characters, so if you’re a fiction writer looking to make more use of them in your story, this is a good book to study.
But looking back at the overall thematic points of the book, perhaps one of the biggest struggles of the book is the struggle between darkness and light in its war for a man’s soul. The book is centered around the psychology of a murderer; Doestoevsky handles it tactfully as he explores the destructive ideas that lead a man to commit murder, but it does mean that a lot of the book is handling rather difficult subjects. Doestoevsky was a Realist author, which meant that he believed in portraying reality the way that it actually is, which can make certain sections of the book seemingly-without hope.
However, Doestoevsky was also a Christian, which means that even in the times of hopelessness, he still believed in hope and the real power of the Gospel. While I don’t want to spoil the end of the book, I do also want to note that the Gospel does break through in the end of the book in a very real way. The darkness of the book is real; but it exists to portray the astounding power of the Gospel to change lives and impart hope when there was none. As fallen as man can be, God’s grace far exceeds it. And that’s why Crime and Punishment is more than a worthy addition to the ranks of the classics.
Discussion Questions:
1. Crime and Punishment is populated by a lot of foil characters to Raskolnikov.
Examine these foil characters and discuss how they end up influencing his character arc.
2. Discuss Raskolnikov’s relationship with Razhumin.
In what ways do they parallel and differ from each other?
3. Assess the morality of how Sonia decides to provide for her family.
How favorably or unfavorably do you view her actions? What do the Scriptures have to say about this?
4. Discuss the epilogue and what leads Raskolnikov to change.
Why is it that Raskolnikov takes so much time to finally turn?
Content Advisory: The book contains some language and can delve into some dark themes as it explores what leads the main character to murder the pawnbroker.
Wow… this sounds awesome. What age level would you recommend, content-wise?
I just finished teaching it to high-schoolers at a homeschool co-op, and that seemed to be an appropriate age to me. Honestly, half of it is probably due to the reading level as much as it is the content level for my age level recommendation.
Okay, awesome– thanks! 🙂
The book is worthy of reading and studying in high school and college, I truly endorse re-reading it later on in life to ensure you have tasted all the flavors that abound in this story. I am almost 50, and I think I have read it at the perfect age (finally – it is age appropriate for me)! Let me explain.
The story chiefly concerns the ideals taught in universities twisting around in a young man’s mind, and eventually twisting around a young man’s mind. Maturity, or lack thereof in the protagonist, is a factor – and Fyodor mentions as much in the final epilogue. It was living, instead of stewing in an artificial environment (university) that causes breakthrough. I recalled a time when I was at a state university and one of my friends, a self-proclaimed existential philosopher, decided that petty theft was morally OK. That led to his arrest and expulsion from college. (I pray that he has found God’s truth!) Nevertheless, I look back on that as a reflection of Raskolnikov’s mind, and the philosophies that can be catchy in the trained, yet un-matured, mind. Nowadays, they say that young people are maturing at a slower and slower rate. So, although young people may read it and remember the story or some excerpts from it, I believe it takes some age and perspective to appreciate the rest of the narrative.
Thanks for this review! It is the first thing that I looked for after finishing the book!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Dave! That’s a really great perspective to be able to hear about this book. I’m definitely looking forward to the time when I have more age and experience and can glean even more from this and other classics.
I was really pleasantly surprised by Crime & Punishment – I’d been expecting a really heavy, dense, and dark read, something that would be a real slog to get through… when, in fact, I found it a really engaging read, and laughed out loud many times. Raskolnikov is so flawed and so wrapped up in his own neurosis, in many ways I found him extremely endearing. It’s nice to encounter protagonists that aren’t perfect, that don’t always make the right decisions (in fact, in the case of Raskolnikov, he made some truly awful choices) – I think it comforts me, it makes them seem more relatable, and it makes (therefore) their narrative arc more accessible.