Crime And Punishment: Svidrigalov Versus Raskolnikov Essay

Svidrigalov vs. Raskolnikov

Throughout most of the novel, Crime and Punishment the characters Svidrigalov and Raskolnikov show a constant parallelism in their actions, but show diverseness between their physiological minds. Before diving into the inner unconscious of these two characters minds, lets analyze their common actions.

The biggest commonness in their actions is that they both commit murder. Svidrigalov kills his wealthy wife, while Raskolnikov kills the pawnbroker and her sister, Alyona and Lizaveta Ivanovna. The second alikeness between the two of them is that they both intend to use the money they gained from the murders and present it to the greater good. For example, Svidrigalov gave most of the money from the inheritance of his dead wife to Sonya and the Marmeadov orphans, Dunya, and the family of his fifteen year old fianc. Though Raskolnikov did not use any of the money he stole, his intent was to give all of the money he gained from killing the pawnbroker and spread it to the lower class that lost their possessions to her. They both know how in common they really are, that they both committed murder, however neither one truly confronts it until after Svidrigailov overhears Raskolnikov actually admitting to committing his murders. Really? Well didnt I tell you we had a certain something in common, ah? (Dostoevesky 282-283)

Now looking at the differences between the physiological minds of Raskolnikov and Svidrigalov we can interpret they are exact opposites of each other. Svidrogailov acts on impulse. He unconsciously has no sense of right or wrong, he only does good and bad based on what he has learned from the people around him. This is why he has the ability to play it cool throughout the novel against all the superstations of him murdering his wife. This is also the reason why he got away with murder in the first place.

If we look at Raskolnikov and his subconscious mind we can see that he is the reverse. Rasolnikov feels guilt very prominently after he has committed the murders. His extreme feelings of guilt that drive him to the point of madness prove to the reader that Raskolnikov does know the difference between right and wrong.

So why did Drostoevsky create Raskolnikovs psychological opposite? To emphasize Raskolnikovs desire to be a super human. Raskolnikov wants to be Napoleon. I want to become a Napoleon, thats why I killedWell, is it clear now? (Drostoevsky 415) He fully knows and understands the differences between what is right and what is wrong, but is too selfish to do the right thing. Oddly enough, in the end Raskolnikov ends up confessing to the police. But he only did this because he knows that if he does, he will be seen as a savior to Sonya, to Razhumikin, and too many of the other characters in the novel.

Svidrigalov contrasts Raskolnikov by proving to the readers just how weak Raskolnikov is. In the end Svidrigalov commits suicide, an act that Raskolnikov could not do. While Svidrigalov understands that his behaviors were wrong, and punishes himself for it through his own murder, Raskolnikov simply accepts Profirys and Sonyas invitation and willingness to turn himself in. This is the meaning of the work as a whole. Those that selfishly strive to be the best are the weakest of human beings. And those that understand their weaknesses and try to correct them in order to benefit the greater good are the strongest of human beings.