The first impression from reading Crime and Punishment. My reflections on Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment

The novel "Crime and Punishment" is the first book by Dostoevsky that I have read. After reading the book, I realized how wise and smart person was Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. Despite the fact that Dostoevsky was from the upper class, he knew life ordinary people not by hearsay and perfectly understood them. In his novel, he writes about poor and helpless people, about them without origin, about poverty, and about the many problems that surround them.
I think that the question of life priorities is the main problem society, and I believe that main character novel - Rodion Raskolnikov - an extraordinary person, sensitive, intelligent. But at first, he put money above all else, and then everything else. Of course, he committed the murder not only because of money, but also because he saw the suffering and torment of poor people, felt like one of them, and tried to find a way out of this situation.
The main idea of ​​this problem is the question: what is more important? What to put in the first place? Throughout the story, Raskolnikov is gradually changing, and, consequently, his priorities are reversed. As in any person with honor and soul, conscience dictates to act one way or another. Thus, Raskolnikov gradually comes to the conclusion that money is not the main thing in this life, that he had no right to kill, take a person's life. And only by the end of the novel does he fully repent of his deed.
The second problem of Russian society, in my opinion, is poverty. People, in the novel, cannot earn money for their existence. And the consciousness of this provokes people to the fact that gradually, they sink lower and lower, engage in prostitution, theft. An example of this is Marmeladov, who spent all his free time in taverns, not caring that his wife and children are in a distressed financial situation. Sonya Marmeladova also degraded, getting money in a fast way - through prostitution.
But, nevertheless, among the cruelty of this world, feelings of compassion and love did not die. Sonya sincerely loves Rodion Raskolnikov, trusts him and tries to help him even after Raskolnikov confesses to her the murders of the old pawnbroker and Lizaveta. From the very first minutes, a feeling of compassion for Raskolnikov woke up in her: “... - What are you, that you did this to yourself! - she said desperately and, jumping up from her knees, threw herself on his neck, hugged him and squeezed him tightly with her hands. Throughout the novel, Sonya did not leave Raskolnikov, eventually following him to hard labor, at a time when callousness and cruelty reign in the rich strata of society, the ability to pass by someone else's grief. The same Luzhin, who wants to marry Raskolnikov's sister, Dunechka, only because she met all his requirements: she was beautiful and smart, and besides, she had no money. Luzhin wanted Dunechka and her mother to be completely dependent on him financially: “... There was another mistake, moreover, in the fact that I didn’t give them money at all,” he thought, sadly returning to Lebezyatnikov’s closet, “and why Damn it, did I expect so much? There was not even a calculation! I thought to hold them in a black body and bring them to look at me as if they were a providence, but they are out!”
And, it seems to me, another problem in Dostoevsky's novel is the city itself - St. Petersburg, where all the events take place. He plays an important role in the novel. St. Petersburg is known to everyone as a magnificent and majestic city, with beautiful architecture, palaces and parks. But on the pages of the novel, we are presented with that Petersburg, which cannot but cause pity and disgust at the same time. Pity for those people who inhabit most of the city, pity for their pessimism and lack of originality. And disgust for those who have completely degraded, spending their last pennies in stinking taverns. As mentioned above, Petersburg plays a very important role in the novel. This city aggravates a person’s life, affects his psyche, destroying it: “... The heat was terrible on the streets, moreover, stuffiness, crush, everywhere lime, scaffolding, brick, dust and that special summer stench, so known to every Petersburger. “The whole situation on the streets of the city, the chaos that reigned in it, the people inhabiting this city - all this can push a person to a suicidal mood: “... The unbearable stench from the taverns, of which there are a special number in this part of the city, and drunks who come across every minute, despite the weekday, they completed the disgusting and sad color of the picture.
The book impressed me with its content. It's a shame that some people who read it, not only do not understand the meaning and ideological content novel, but they also claim that "out of nothing they inflated a huge problem." They are, of course, wrong. Dostoevsky conveyed the problems of the people and society in the best possible way. And from all this follows the age-old question of Rus': "What to do?"

The works of F.M. Dostoevsky are included in the golden fund of world literature, his novels are read all over the world, so far they have not lost their relevance. Crime and Punishment is one of those eternal works touching on the themes of faith and unbelief, strength and weakness, humiliation and greatness. The author skillfully draws the situation, immerses the reader into the atmosphere of the novel, helping to better understand the characters and their actions, making them think.

In the center of the plot is Rodion Raskolnikov, a student who is mired in poverty. And it's not just the lack of money for some pleasure, it's poverty, which destroys, drives you crazy. It's a closet like a coffin, rags and not knowing if you're going to eat tomorrow. The hero is forced to leave the university, but he cannot improve his affairs in any way, he feels the injustice of his position, he sees around him the same destitute and humiliated.

Raskolnikov is proud, sensitive and intelligent, the atmosphere of poverty and injustice presses on him, which is why a terrible and destructive theory is born in his head. It lies in the fact that people are divided into lower (“ordinary”) and higher (“actually people”). The former are needed only to maintain the population of people, they are useless. But the latter move civilization forward, put forward completely new ideas and goals that can be achieved by any means. For example, the hero compares himself with Napoleon and comes to the conclusion that he is also able to change the world and set his own price for changes. In this sense, he is no different from the old pawnbroker who evaluated the things brought to her. Be that as it may, Rodion decided to test this theory on himself (“Am I a trembling creature or do I have rights?”), Killing an old pawnbroker and not only, saving thousands of people from her arbitrariness, and improving his own financial situation.

Why did Raskolnikov still kill the old pawnbroker?

The hero hesitates for a long time and nevertheless affirms his decision after meeting with the official Marmeladov, who drinks black, impoverishing himself, his wife Katerina Ivanovna, her children, and daughter Sonya (she is generally forced to work as a prostitute to help her family) . Marmeladov understands his fall, but he cannot help himself. And when a horse crushed him drunk, the situation of the family turned out to be even more disastrous. It was to these people who were ruined by poverty that he decided to help. Comparing their plight with the unfair contentment of Alena Ivanovna, the hero came to the conclusion that his theory is correct: society can be saved, but this salvation will require human sacrifice. Having decided and committed the murder, Raskolnikov falls ill and feels lost to people (“I didn’t kill the old woman ... I killed myself”). The hero cannot accept the love of his mother and sister Dunya, the care of his friend Razumikhin.

Raskolnikov's twins: Luzhin and Svidrigailov

Also a double is Svidrigailov, who tried to seduce Dunya. He is the same criminal, guided by the principle of "a single evil is permissible" if the end goal is good." It would seem that it is similar to the theory of Rodion, but it was not there: his goal should be good only from a hedonistic point of view and for Svidrigailov himself. If the hero did not see pleasure in her for himself, then he did not notice anything good. It turns out that he did evil for the benefit of himself, moreover, for the benefit of his depravity. If Luzhin wanted a caftan, that is material well-being, then this hero longed to satisfy his base passions and nothing more.

Raskolnikov and Sonya Marmeladova

Tortured and languishing, Raskolnikov draws closer to Sonya, who also broke the law, like the hero. But the girl remained pure in her soul, she is more of a martyr than a sinner. She sold her innocence for a symbolic 30 rubles, just as Judas sold Christ for 30 pieces of silver. At this price, she saved the family, but betrayed herself. The vicious environment did not prevent her from remaining a deeply religious girl and perceiving what was happening as a necessary sacrifice. Therefore, the author notes that the vice did not touch her spirit. With her timid demeanor, her incessant shame, the girl contradicted the vulgarity and impudence of the representatives of her profession.

Sonya reads to Rodion about the resurrection of Lazarus, and he confesses to the murder, believing in his own resurrection. He did not confess to the investigator Porfiry Petrovich, who already knew about his guilt, did not confess to his mother, sister, Razumikhin, but chose Sonya, feeling salvation in her. And this intuitive feeling was confirmed.

The meaning of the epilogue in the novel "Crime and Punishment"

However, Raskolnikov did not repent at all, he was only upset that he could not stand the moral torment and turned out to be ordinary person. Because of this, he again worries spiritual crisis. Once in hard labor, Rodion looks down on the prisoners and even on Sonya, who followed him. The convicts answer him with hatred, but Sonya is trying to make life easier for Raskolnikov, because she loves him all pure soul. The prisoners sensitively responded to the caress and kindness of the heroine, they understood her silent feat without words. Sonya remained a martyr to the end, trying to atone for both her sin and the sin of her lover.

In the end, the truth is revealed to the hero, he repents of the crime, his soul begins to revive, and he is imbued with "endless love" for Sonya. The readiness of the hero for a new life is symbolically expressed by the author in a gesture when Rodion joins the sacraments of the Bible. In Christianity, he finds the consolation and humility necessary for his proud character to restore inner harmony.

"Crime and Punishment": the history of the creation of the novel

F.M. Dostoevsky did not immediately come up with a title for his work, he had options “Under Trial”, “The Criminal's Tale”, and the title known to us appeared already at the end of the work on the novel. The meaning of the title "Crime and Punishment" is revealed in the composition of the book. At the beginning, Raskolnikov, seized by the delusions of his theory, kills an old pawnbroker, violating moral laws. Further, the author debunks the hero's delusions, Rodion himself suffers, then ends up in hard labor. This is his punishment for putting himself above everyone around him. Only repentance gave him a chance to save his soul. The author also shows the inevitability of punishment for any crime. And this punishment is not only legal, but also moral.

In addition to the variability in the title, the novel originally had a different concept. Being in hard labor, the writer conceived the novel as Raskolnikov's confession, wanting to show the hero's spiritual experience. Further, the scale of the work became larger, it could not be limited to the feelings of one hero, so F.M. Dostoevsky burned the almost finished novel. And he began anew, already the way the modern reader knows him.

The subject of the work

The main themes of "Crime and Punishment" are the themes of poverty and oppression of the majority of society, on which no one gives a damn, as well as the themes of rebellion and delusions of the individual under the yoke of social disorder and suffocating poverty. The writer wanted to convey to the readers his Christian ideas about life: for harmony in the soul, one must live morally, according to the commandments, that is, not to yield to pride, selfishness and lust, but to do good to people, love them, sacrificing even their own interests for the good of society. That is why at the end of the epilogue Raskolnikov repents and comes to faith. The problem of false beliefs raised in the novel is still relevant today. The theory of the protagonist about permissiveness and the crime of morality for the sake of good goals leads to terror and arbitrariness. And if Raskolnikov overcame a split in his soul, repented and came to harmony, having overcome the problem, then in larger cases this is not so. Wars began because some rulers decided that the lives of a thousand people could easily be sacrificed for their goals. That is why a novel written in the 19th century does not lose its sharpness of meaning to this day.

Crime and Punishment is one of greatest works world literature, imbued with humanism and faith in man. Despite the seeming depressiveness of the narrative, there is hope for the best, that one can always be saved and saved.

The idea of ​​Dostoevsky's novel "Crime and Punishment" is very deep and complex. From the very beginning, the author simply introduces us to the main character, but the atmosphere of the novel is already clear - the atmosphere of closeness before a thunderstorm. Raskolnikov's morbidly nervous state is immediately transmitted, and one can feel what will happen next.

Since the novel depicts a single line of action related to the murder of an old pawnbroker, there are no side lines, and the entire work is devoted to the psychological problem of Raskolnikov, we can say that in the whole novel the main idea is that the protagonist realizes his own theory.

Raskolnikov survives the murder three times: before the crime - calculation, during the crime - the implementation of fatal plans, and after it - the realization of what happened. Even in his sleep he is tormented by remorse. Three dreams reflect all his experiences. At first, Raskolnikov does not yet really understand why he has strange, absurd thoughts about a future crime (and their inevitability is inevitable), he is afraid to think about it, but still some force makes him pay attention to all the little things concerning the old woman -interest-bearers. Not only the theory of two categories of humanity, but also just random coincidences constantly contribute to crime. For example, a conversation between two students in a tavern, heard by Raskolnikov, was not the only one who thought that the old woman should be killed.

Then Raskolnikov, in an insane monologue, admits to himself that he is plotting a terrible murder: “Yes, really, really, I’ll take an ax, I’ll beat her on the head, I’ll crush her skull.” After this confession, he already feels that “he no longer has any freedom of mind or will, and that everything has suddenly been decided completely.” He cannot find peace. Disturbed by one constant thought, he is no longer able to resist it. This idea comes from his theory. But why is he, so convinced of his reasoning about "trembling creatures" and " the mighty of the world this," was horrified when he saw how his theory is reflected in practice? Maybe he decided to test his principles? Or prove to himself that he himself is not a "louse"?

Raskolnikov lived in poor conditions, and he undoubtedly wanted to a better life. But was it worth all the lives of the old woman and Lizaveta, even if they were "trembling creatures"? According to Raskolnikov's theory, yes.

The very name of the protagonist characterizes him. The split occurs in his soul, both good and evil coexist in it. And there is a constant struggle between these two principles. Dostoevsky depicts Raskolnikov either as a cold-blooded killer who did not retreat before the murder of two people, or as a caring brother and good friend. At first, evil triumphs - Raskolnikov committed a crime. But after, having comprehended all his actions, he repented, having gained faith. His own theory betrayed him and helped Porfiry solve the crime.

Dostoevsky introduces almost all the heroes of the novel into impasse situations. Many do not find a way out of this labyrinth and die (the old woman, Katerina, Marmeladov, Svidrigailov) by the will of fate or by their own will. But other heroes survive in difficult conditions (Raskolnikov, Sonya, Dunya).

What helped Raskolnikov to avoid a dead end, what prompted him to realize what had been done, to repent? Of course, if Sonya had not appeared in his life, everything would have ended with the fact that he would have committed suicide. It was to Sonya that he opened his soul, to her he was the first to tell the truth. Perhaps, already when reading the Bible, Raskolnikov realized his guilt to the end?

Composition on the topic “Reflections on the pages of the novel“ Crime and Punishment ”

Reading the novel by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky left in my life experience indelible impression. First of all, I was struck by the characters and the description of the characters. Each of them is described by F. M. Dostoevsky with amazing originality and liveliness. Reading the description, a sickly and thin student Raskolnikov or a miniature girl Sonya Marmeladova immediately appear before your eyes. At the same time, each participating person cannot remain indifferent.

They can empathize, pity, support, hate, but it is impossible to remain indifferent. The plot of the novel is based on one of the most terrible events that need and poverty can push a person to, namely, the deprivation of the life of another person in order to obtain benefits and profits. Raskolnikov set foot on this slippery slope. But what colossal efforts it cost him! Fedor Mikhailovich described on the pages of his novel those feelings and experiences that poor and unfortunate people experience before a fatal step. Moreover, they are described so truthfully and thoroughly that there is a feeling that great writer he was on the edge. After all, Dostoevsky lived in very bad conditions and Money was sorely lacking.

But Raskolnikov is not the only one who ruined his soul in order to survive. Sonya Marmeladova is an unhappy girl who was forced by need to sell herself. Her feelings and experiences made me think deeply about what people are willing to go to meet their needs. And the novel shows that any person can do anything, even murder, just to get rid of hunger and want. But for everything in this life you have to pay. And the retribution will be terrible. Moreover, F.M. Dostoevsky describes the retribution not only on the part of the law and prison, but also "retribution of the soul." That is, those pangs of conscience experienced by the offender before and after the commission of the crime. Dostoevsky so vividly and believably describes soul feelings that doubts arise that prison or existence in freedom is worse, but with a constant feeling that retribution is near and punishment is inevitable.

In general, I really liked greatest novel Fedov Mikhailovich Dostoevsky "Crime and Punishment". But I would like to note that it is very difficult to read it in one breath. Because almost every two or three pages I had to stop and comprehend what I had read.

Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky's novel "Crime and Punishment" made me think about the problem of a person who went through mistakes and mental anguish and comprehended the truth.

It was interesting for me to get acquainted with the main character of the novel - Rodion Raskolnikov - former student living in great poverty in St. Petersburg. He seemed responsive and kind person, who is hard on someone else's pain and always helps people who are able to give the last penny even to a stranger. An example of this for me was the case in the Marmeladovs' house: Rodion donated the remaining money for the funeral of the deceased father of this family. On the other hand, along with the fact that Raskolnikov is unusually smart and even talented, he is proud, unsociable and, as a result, very lonely.

The plot of the novel is not as simple as it seems at first. At the center of the work is the “exclusivity theory” that has matured in the head of Rodion Raskolnikov, according to which all people are divided into two categories: “trembling creatures” - those who simply have to go with the flow of life, not trying to change anything; and “having the right” - like Napoleon, those who are allowed everything, even an encroachment on someone else's life. However, he did not take into account one thing: in order to really become Napoleon, one must not only kill other people, but, above all, destroy everything human in oneself. Under the influence of his theory and poverty, Raskolnikov decided to commit the murder of an old pawnbroker, justifying himself by the fact that with her money he could do thousands of good deeds, and most importantly, save his mother and sister from deep poverty. At the same time, Raskolnikov sought to check to which category of people, according to his theory, he himself belonged: “Am I a trembling creature, or do I have a right?” As a result, having overcome all doubts and stepped over himself, he killed not only the pawnbroker, but also Alena Ivanovna's pregnant sister, who happened to be nearby. After some time, he lost faith in his theory and realized that he did not belong to the "special". He began to be tormented by mental anxieties. And only at the end of the novel, having gone through suffering, recognition and love, Raskolnikov came to spiritual resurrection, embarking on the true path.

After reading the novel, I was left with a conflicting impression of the main character. On the one hand, Raskolnikov's theory is completely alien and incomprehensible to me, it is fundamentally different from my understanding and perception of the world. I do not like that our hero tried to exalt himself above others, his confidence that he is able to decide the fate of people is alien. I, as a believer, believe that no one has the right to take life from people. On the other hand, I understand our hero. After all, all people tend to make mistakes, fall under the influence of meaningless ideas and goals. And this is not surprising, because it is with such experience that a person learns to know himself and the world. And special respect deserves the one who managed not only to realize his mistakes, but also the one who managed to put himself on the true path.

In my opinion, I understood what the author wanted to convey to the readers, namely the impossibility of committing crimes with impunity. I believe that Dostoevsky showed humanity the way to moral rebirth through self-improvement, the humility of pride and the atonement of sin through suffering. Therefore, without any doubt, I am sure that this book has not lost its significance for the modern reader.