Crime and Punishment - Week 4 (Part 3)

[Gem , Moderator]

Week 4 - Part 3

1) Until this point in the novel our perspective has been through the eyes of Raskolnikov and now it shifts. Did you notice this shift as you were reading this Part? How does Raskolnikov's crime alienate him from family and friends? Do you think this alienation is magnified by the shift in perspective as written by the author?

2) Ruzumikhin is drunk when he first meets Raskolnikov's mother and sister. Does his behavior reveal anything about him? Did Pulcheria Alexandrovna and Dunya's reaction ring true to you? Would you be as willing to follow along with Ruzumikhin if you were in the mother and sister's position?

3) What do Raskolnikov's comments about the girl he was to marry demonstrate about him?

4) What do you think is the point of Luzhin's attempt to cause dissension between Raskolnikov and his mother by suggesting that Raskolnikov gave money to Sonia, a prostitute, rather than to Katerina Ivanovna? And what does his request that Raskolnikov not be present at their next meeting tell you about his (Luzhin's) character and his intentions?

4) What is so shocking about Raskolnikov's reception of Sonia? Based on her reaction to Sonia, what does this tell us about Pulcheria Alexandrovna, her priorities and her character? Dunya has a different reaction to Sonia, what does this tell us about her?

5) Did Raskolnikov's discussion with Porfiry indicate anything about his superman theory? At the conclusion of Raskolnikov's explanation of his magazine article, what is the significance of Porfiry asking about the belief in Lazarus' rising from the dead?

6) A bit of a mystery is who is the stranger who calls Raskolnikov a "murderer." Any idea who this stranger might be?

Next week is a catchup week so there will be no discussion posted.

[Tom]

I have just got to the end of Chapter 3 so have not collected my thoughts yet, but I thought I would reflect on how much I am enjoying this book.

I am very much reading it at face value; although a few pieces of symbolism and metaphor did hit me as I read, particularly the switch in perspective from Raskolnikov to Razumihkin - I feel that Razumihkin is becoming more degraded and confused, descending into Raskolnikov's mental state (although he is still quite capable of carrying out his actions). The book is so compelling. It completely feels like a dream world... The limitations in space and narrow-mindedness of the characters. Having said that, the male characters reflect an obvious political opinion of society at that time - poverty, individualism, socialism, etc

Pulcheria Alexandrova and Dunia seem initially quite sober characters. That is to say, they have not the political or mental heights of the main male characters. It struck me that they fairly quickly accepted Razumihkin's drunken explanations, posturings and actions. I don't really understand why, but just feel that the characters are geared towards either a kind of dream-like acceptance of others, or a complete defiance of others' opinions. When the male characters talk or have inner monologues, they often vehemently defend their own opinions and fiercely argue against others'. Is this all to do with individualism and the idea of accepting the super man? The more accepting nature of the female characters strikes me.

I love how the book covers these issues in tandem with the psychological state of the main character(s), while remaining in a few places within a locality, indeed just one room for large parts of the novel! It feels like a masterpiece to me, and I'm quite inept to explain why.

[Gem , Moderator]

Tom wrote: "I am very much reading it at face value"

This describes pretty much how I read most things. I'm pretty literal, it's got to be really obvious to me for me to see the symbolism and such. Satire is usually over my head for this reason.

That said when I read reviews and people bring up points I smack myself in the head and think, "How did I miss that," or, "That makes sense."

I'm glad you are enjoying this book, I am too.

[Hedi]

I am enjoying the book as well despite not warming up to the main character.
In these chapters I have been warming up to Razumihin. Even as a drunk he seems very helpful and trying his best to take care of Raskolnikov's mother and sister. He is rambling a little too much though and falling for Dounia, but somehow it was in a charming way to me. Compared to Raskolnikov he is much more solution-oriented and practical.
I do not know whether I would have followed Razumihin, but considering the odd situation/ encounter Dounia and her mother were in and the attitude and condition of Raskolnikov I might have been glad if someone was trying to help the situation.

I was a little disturbed how Raskolnikov talked about the girl he wanted to marry. He looks really down on her. Maybe he was just in "love" with her because she made him feel much more superior through her inferiority. At least he cannot name any positive things about her.

Luzhin tries to make Raskolnikov inferior. He has tried to show off his knowledge and education, but was somehow humiliated by Raskolnikov. So he tries to discredit him with the connection to a prostitute. Raskolnikov is only in the way between him and Dounia. I wonder whether Raskolnikov might consider Luzhin as someone who belongs to the "ordinary", but might consider himself more.
Luzhin seems to me someone who wants to have power and the lead over others. He might not be able to find that anywhere else, but in his domestic environment with Dounia and her mother as his victims. However, this is now all speculation, and I might be completely wrong.
The appearance of Sonia was somehow awkward - and of course why not, she had already been hinted at as a prostitute and certainly her outer appearance was maybe not very appropriate.
Both Dounia and her mother react to her with their eyes. I liked this situation from a literary perspective as we often forget how a look/ glance in a certain way can give us away.
Pulcheria has a strange feeling that her son has more feelings for Sonia than admitted, even though Dounia is trying to discourage them.

The philosophical discussion about the extraordinary man vs. the ordinary man irritated me a little, but I assume that many people in history and even today might use that explanation as a justification for their doings. I thought the analogy to Napoleon and the "crimes" he had done very interesting. I am also thinking of great people e.g. scientists in history who were not believed. Should they have killed the deniers for the greater good as Raskolnikov describes in Newton's case?
I was mostly fascinated by the psychological game that is going through Raskolnikov's mind. He is expecting traps and is trying to listen in, he is also often in a dispute with himself e.g. why he said a certain thing at just that moment.

The stranger might be someone who lives in the same house as the pawnbroker and who might have seen Raskolnikov at the evening of the murder - maybe through a small hole in the wall or door or maybe the keyhole.

[Gem , Moderator]

Hedi wrote: "I was mostly fascinated by the psychological game that is going through Raskolnikov's mind. He is expecting traps and is trying to listen in, he is also often in a dispute with himself e.g. why he said a certain thing at just that moment."

Spot on. Raskolnikov's mind is a dangerous place.

I am seeing him thinking he is the "superman" we've discussed in the past and therefore he feels he is more intelligent... of course, they won't be able to solve the crime without his input. Hence the hint-dropping and suggestions about how the crime happened and what the criminal did.