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Crime and Punishment
Fyodor Dostoevsky Collection
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Crime and Punishment - Week 6 (Part 4)
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Well, it took over 200 pages but I'm officially hooked after this part. Raskolnikov and Razumikhin staring at each other by the single light in the hall while the truth dawns was electrifying, and the interview with Porfiry terrifying, and Svidrigailov listening behind the door -- wow! I know see why this is such a classic.I realize this doesn't answer any of your questions, but I'm inspired to keep on reading.
I didn't notice that this was a second reference to Lazarus, but now I'm very worried that Raskolnikov will eventually see his victims risen from the dead...
Mod
No worries!
I have still 25 pages left to read for this section. I have not been able to do that, hopefully tomorrow night. I have just come back from almost 4 hours (incl. intermissions) of Opera and have to leave the house for work again in less than 8 hours. 😉😊I just wanted to let you know.
I have finally finished the section. It was maybe a little to long for me for one week, so many other things to do.1) I am a little torn regarding Svidrigailov. It almost seems that he has a bad conscience about his wife's death. He sees her ghost - so he is haunted. Even if I do not know why, he compares himself with Raskolnikov and that they have something in common. Is it death/ their responsibility for death that haunts them and makes them similar? But how does Svidrigailov know about Raskolnikov's involvement in death?
Maybe his conscience due to his wife's death has made him think about his wrongdoings and he wants to make it right somehow. I thought that might be the reason that he wants to give Dounia the large amount of money, which could solve much. He must have a certain liking for her as he does not want her to become Luzhin's wife as he disregards him.
And again Raskolnikov is very vehement in rejecting the money even though it is not his decision to make and despite him being against his sister's marrying Luzhin. So for him priniciple is again above pragmatism.
2) Luzhin shows himself very much here, as he alludes to his "sacrifice" of marrying "damaged goods" despite the clarifications that had been given in the case. He wants to be thanked for the rest of his life and that is why he chose this type of wife. He needs someone to be absolutely dependent on and grateful to him to boost his own ego, which indicates a certain lack of confidence from his part.
He makes Dounia decide between him and her brother while she was trying to reconcile everyone. I am glad that she felt that with her inheritance she could refuse him without having a bad conscience towards her family.
Luzhin still feels that she is the girl for him even after her rejection. Maybe there were not many girls like her, poor, but well-educated and from a decent family background and damaged enough to be possibly grateful to him. His background does not seem so great that many families would like him to marry their daughters.
BTW, I am a little irritated by the change in naming from one sentence to the other. Once he is called Luzhin and then in the next sentence he is called Pyotr Petrovitch, and then Luzhin again. It makes it a little confusing or at least you have to get used to it.
3) I think that Raskolnikov breaks it off as he feels unworthy of his family after what he has done. He cannot keep this all up and I think he cannot bear his family to have to deal with a murderer and sinner. Furthermore, Razumihin has a liking for them. So he leaves them in his hands.
4) This chapter with Sonia was for me a chapter of delirium. I got confused by it (might have been due to my lack of concentration when reading this section). The story of Lazarus is the story of resurrection and was attributed to Jesus shortly before his own resurrection according to the Gospel of John. Is Raskolnikov afraid of a possible resurrection of the dead people he is responsible for? This might also fit to Svidirgailov's "seeing" his wife/ wife's ghost.
5) This was a very interesting psychological cat-and-mouse game. And Raskolnikov partially acts exactly as predicted by Porfiry. I would have expected a little more calmness, but he has - of course - been in a state of half madness all the time, so who can expect him to act very calmly and rationally.
I think Raskolnikov is both shocked and relieved by the confession of the murder. The latter because he had acted in the way that Porfiry had alluded to in his speech about how to catch a murderer, and he was close to revealing everything. But I think there is also a little bit of a shock that knowing yourself to be the murderer seeing another admitting to that deed. Why would Nikolay do that? That is a little unclear to me, but it was late last night when I was reading this.
I hope this makes some sense. I am curious to hear your thoughts as well.
Mod
You bring up so many good thoughts.
1) Svidrigailov and Raskolnikov both have issues in their lives to be ashamed/guilty of. This reminds me of the saying, "It takes one to know one."
2) Luzhin, I didn't like this character from the first time he appeared in the book. He is arrogant and in order to make himself feel superior he has to stand on the shoulders of others. I can't help but to hope he will get his in the end.
Switching between names has confused me at times too. (I am also reading one version and have a second for reference my two versions use the names Sonya and Sonia I think I've used them both.) I wonder if the use of different names is a switch between formal and a more relaxed informal. I'm not sure I haven't paid that much attention to it but I will be going forward.
3) I've been wondering all along if Raskolnikov is not suffering from a or multiple mental illnesses. His thought process has been erratic, in my opinion almost like the way a schizophrenic processes, he's all over the place. I'm sure guilt plays a role but I can't help thinking about his behavior and his thought process all along. Something is wrong with him.
4) Good observation. I need to think about this. In my mind, it could have been related to new life.
5) Cat and mouse is the perfect way to describe this interaction. "Why would Nikolay do that? That is a little unclear to me, but it was late last night when I was reading this." I agree, it's unclear to me as well. I hope we'll an answer to this going forward.
Many unresolved questions in the section. Here are my muddled answers. 1). Svidrigailov is a liar and an abuser of women. He probably killed his wife deliberately and is now stalking Donya as another potential victim. I believe he is evil and has no conscience, whereas Raskolnikov is deeply mentally ill and has a conscience that is gnawing at him. In his attitude toward women, Svidrigailov is closest to Luzhin.
2). Luzhin seems to be a little man who tries to make himself a big man by choosing a bride whom he deems inferior and who will be subservient to him. He never acts out of love or concern for her comfort but instead consigns her to a wretched apartment in an unfamiliar city while he lives as comfortable a life as possible. I hope she is truly rid of him.
3) I absolutely agree with Heidi that Raskolnikov is mentally ill and getting worse. He wants to think of himself as a superior man, but he is clearly wretched with guilt and fear. His behavior is ever more erratic, and he gives himself away at every turn. I believe he loves his family and says goodbye to them because he doesn’t want to drag them down with him.
4). The interaction between Raskolnikov and Sofia is puzzling. He has a mysterious attraction to her, and she is both afraid of him and drawn to his concern for her. My thought about the Lazarus section is that by helping Sofia, Raskolnikov hopes to resurrect her from a death-in-life and at the same time redeem himself. I really want to understand this part better.
5) Cat and Mouse is right on point. Engaging Raskolnikov in an intellectual debate seems like a good way to trap him into bragging about his crime, although it doesn’t work in this instance (or doesn’t seem to). Two thoughts about Nikolay: he may have broken under questioning until he actually thinks he is guilty, or he may be a part of the game being played by Porfiry. Again, I’m very interested in the thoughts of the group on this.
On whether Raskolnikov is wrenched by guilt and fear... I see plenty of fear in him but I'm not sure I've seen guilt (perhaps a little over killing the sister). Interestingly, fear alone is enough to keep the reader interested. I'm a long way from liking R. but I don't wish him caught.Nancy, I like your idea that Nikolay might be a plant, meant to summon a confession. My feeling was that he lied because suspicion had fallen on his friend... but I have to admit I've lost some threads from the plot so I'm none too sure.
Nancy, interesting thoughts about Nikolai. I had thought about the breaking down due to a hard interrogation, but it seemed less likely as Porfiry was already tending towards Raskolnikov as the murderer. However, planting this would support Porfiry’s cat-and-mouse game even more. He might need some more evidence and might expect Raskolnikov becoming less cautious. He had mentioned that methodology a little in his speech to Raskolnikov describing why not to catch a killer directly, but let him go on a little.
Nancy, interesting point about Sonia and Raskolnikov as well.One aspect in this is the age difference between the two. Isn’t she about 15/16 years old? And I thought that I had at some earlier point in the novel concluded that Raskolnikov must be approx. 22 years old (I might be wrong though).
That might partly explain this drawing to and from each other. Sonia might actually feel something for a man for the first time, at the same time it must be very confusing for her, in particular considering the mental status of Raskolnikov.
I think everyone has felt that way at some point in his/ her life. You like someone and feel attracted, but at the same time you feel that it might be wrong or end badly because there is something about it that does not quite feel right.
I am a bit behind in my reading schedule. Very interesting thoughts so far. I would like to add something about the Lazarus connection. Raskolnikov believed himself a superior human being, so his crime could be justified by that believe. But he should not have been feeling any fear or guilt after the crime, if that theory was correct. He realizes that it’s far from correct and it drives him deeper into desperation and mental illness. Now the connection to Lazarus - Raskolnikov thinks he is dying, not literally, but spiritually, so Raskolnikov compares himself to Lazarus. I believe he sees in Sonja his ultimate redeemer, if that ever should happen. That’s why it is important that he has her read the story. That way he tries to tell her what he thinks might happen. We will see how this pans out.
Detlef wrote: "...Raskolnikov thinks he is dying, not literally, but spiritually, so Raskolnikov compares himself to Lazarus. I believe he sees in Sonja his ultimate redeemer, if that ever should happen. ..."Very interesting thought! But Lazarus was an innocent, sick man as far as I know while Raskolnikov actually broke some of the ten commandments. Can he really dare to consider himself a Lazarus?
On the other hand he feels himself superior so he might have the sort of arrogance to look over it ... and still there is Lizaveta ... if it was only about the pawnbroker... just some thoughts...
I hope everyone had a good week and anyone who needed to catch up was able to do so.
1) Part Four opens with the appearance of Svidrigailov to Raskolnikov. Do you believe Svidrigailov is sincere in his stated desire to give Dunya a significant amount of money (10,000 rubles equates to about $50,000 in today's spending value)? How does Svidrigailov come across? Why does Svidrigailov make comments to Raskolnikov such as "we are birds of a feather" and "there is something about you like me"? How do you feel about Svidrigailov?
2) Chapter two shows Luzhin's true character. He describes Svidrigailov in derogatory terms, reminds Dunya of his "resolve to take her in spite of evil rumors about her," and even though he is completely convinced that the stories are wrong, he taunts her with the rumors. Is the rejection of Luzhin by the Raskolnikovs justified? What do you think about Luzhin's reaction to Dunya after she rejects him?
3) What is the significance of Raskolnikov's bidding his relatives farewell?
4) Chapter 4 is the second time we see a reference to the story of Lazarus. What is the significance of this? Why do you think Raskolnikov wanted to hear this story? And why was it so important to Raskolnikov for Sonya to read him the story as opposed to him reading it himself?
5) Raskolnikov presents himself to Porfiry for an interview. How does Porfiry work on Raskolnikov during their interview at his office? Then we see the painter Nikolay admit to the crime. Why would Nikolay do this? Then the porter apologizes to Raskolnikov for falsely accusing him. How do these two events affect Raskolnikov?