Who is the main character in Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Russian novel Crime and Punishment?
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The main character in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel Crime and Punishment is Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov, often referred to simply as Raskolnikov. This complex character, both fascinating and disturbing, embodies the very essence of 19th-century Russian literature, where philosophical, moral, and psychological questions intertwine to create a work of timeless depth.
Raskolnikov is presented as a young law student living in extreme poverty in St. Petersburg. From the very first pages of the novel, he appears as a tormented being, isolated from the rest of society and deeply marked by his existential reflections. His miserable condition and fragile psychological state lead him to develop a radical theory about the place of individuals in the world.
According to Raskolnikov, humanity is divided into two categories: “ordinary men,” who must obey the laws and submit to the established order, and “extraordinary men,” who have the moral right to transgress those same laws if they believe their actions serve the progress of humanity. This theory, which he admires in historical figures such as Napoleon, becomes the intellectual foundation for his criminal act.
The central drama of the novel occurs when Raskolnikov murders Aliona Ivanovna, an elderly pawnbroker whom he considers useless and harmful to society. This murder, committed with an axe, is compounded by a second accidental homicide: the victim’s sister, Lizaveta, an unexpected witness, is also killed. This brutal act, intended to prove his moral superiority and his ability to transcend human laws, quickly becomes a source of terror and remorse for Raskolnikov.
The novel, published in 1866, then follows the young man’s psychological evolution. Far from feeling liberated after his crime, Raskolnikov is overwhelmed by guilt and delirium. His mind oscillates between philosophical justification and deep disgust for his act. He finds himself haunted by growing anxiety, unable to find inner peace.
Raskolnikov’s journey is not limited to his crime: it is also a quest for redemption. Throughout the story, he encounters several characters who contribute to his moral journey, notably Sonia Marmeladova, a young woman forced into prostitution to support her family. Sonia, despite her trials and tribulations, embodies compassion, love, and Christian faith. Her presence contrasts with Raskolnikov’s cynicism and gradually becomes a beacon that guides him back to humanity.
Finally, overwhelmed by his torment and the pressure exerted by the investigating judge Porphyry Petrovich, Raskolnikov confesses to his crime. Sentenced to deportation to Siberia, he is accompanied by Sonia, who remains faithful to him until the end. The end of the novel offers a glimmer of hope for redemption: Raskolnikov, in prison, begins to glimpse a spiritual rebirth through love and faith.
The strength of Raskolnikov’s character lies in his duality. He is both victim and executioner, intellectual and criminal, arrogant and vulnerable. Dostoevsky makes him a reflection of the tensions of his time: the struggle between Western rationalism and Orthodox spiritual values, between the temptation of pride and the need for humility.
Even today, Raskolnikov continues to fascinate readers around the world. He is often considered the archetype of the “problematic hero,” a brilliant individual torn by his contradictions. His story illustrates the universal questions of evil, guilt, and the possibility of forgiveness.
The main character in Crime and Punishment is Rodion Raskolnikov, a poor student whose crime, motivated by an intellectual theory, leads to a psychological descent into hell before paving the way for possible redemption. Through him, Dostoevsky offers a timeless reflection on the human condition and the moral dilemmas that run through it.
literature
Who is the main character in Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Russian novel Crime and Punishment?
Answer
The main character in Dostoyevsky's novel Crime and Punishment is Rodion Raskolnikov, a poor student plagued by guilt after committing murder.