In the novel Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Raskolnikov drastically changes by the end of the story, ceasing to believe in his original philosophy about life, God, and the universe. Throughout the novel, the main character undergoes this change of personality and ideas with the help of Svidrigailov, Sonya, and his essentially good conscience. Even though Raskolnikovs change of heart could be overlooked or doubted because of the complexity of ever-changing thoughts and feelings that he revealed throughout the story, it is very strongly implied, in part through the intense scene of revelation in the last few pages of the book, that Raskolnikov has altogether ceased to believe in his initial theory.
Primarily and most surprisingly, one of the people who influenced Raskolnikov in changing his theory about life is the character Svidrigailov. Being the cynical, seemingly unreliable pedophile he was, Svidrigailov at first appears like one of the weakest examples of a character who would trigger positive change in someone else; the author, however, implies otherwise. Throughout the discussions he has with Svidrigailov, Raskolnikov seems to intensely hate the character and consider him inferior in moral sense; Raskolnikovs ability to recognize Svidrigailovs low characteristics is one of the initiators of his rational thinking process concerning morality (a process that did not seem to exist in him as strongly before he met Svidrigailov). His passionate disapproval of Svidrigailovs actions (as well as his attempted charitable act towards Dunya to make up for those actions), reveals in Raskolnikov an extremely protective and caring nature as a brother - and above all, the fact that he has a true sensor for negative (and positive) characteristics in humans. Even though Raskolnikovs thoughts and ideas from his half-mad monologues and scenes of delirium are shown as much more outrageous than Svidrigailovs ideas and discussions, it is very important to note that every time these two characters are together, Raskolnikov changes quite noticeably, becoming someone with much more stability and rationality than when not in Svidrigailovs presence. Thus, simply through meeting Svidrigailov and spending time with him, Raskolnikov seems to come back to Earth for a while and reconsider his ideas; he does this unconsciously, most of the time, which is the reason why he doesnt understand Svidrigailovs importance in his personal development until Svidrigailov commits suicide. Clearly, this character is a fundamental factor of Raskolnikovs change in his initial philosophy.
However, Svidrigailov does not only teach Raskolnikov of what negative characteristics and actions he should avoid; he also partly conveys to him, through his love for Dunya, what most important positive characteristic a human should possess. After Svidrigailovs suicide, Raskolnikov tells his sister that he attempted to resort to the same fate as him, but that I couldnt bring myself to do it... (616); at this, Dunya responds, God be praised! [...] That means you still believe in life! (616). Raskolnikov was not able to commit suicide not only because of his pride, as he mentions shortly hereafter, but because Svidrigailovs actions sent to him a clear unconscious message, a message telling him that through suicide everything does end, and that any hope for redemption is lost. Raskolnikov believes in life more strongly after Svidrigailovs suicide (as Dunya mentions), so this is one of the top turning points in Raskolnikovs change of philosophy. Since this philosophy was based in part on the fact that life is not necessarily something concrete and that, if necessary, it could be taken from some by others more powerful, it is obvious that the philosophy had to start disintegrating at this point (since Raskolnikov now fully believes in life). Thus, Svidrigailov teaches Raskolnikov the true value of life, and the fact that simply being alive is enough to trigger natural and human motivations to keep on living. The other positive lesson that Svidrigailov teaches Raskolnikov is that to love is the only way to be forgiven. During the scene when Dunya goes to Svidrigailovs house and at some point tries to kill him, she understood that he would sooner die than let her go (592). Because of the nature of Svidrigailovs suicide (he was too in love with Dunya as to get anymore true happiness out of a life without her), the feeling and tone of Svidrigailov is a tragic one; he appears somewhat like a martyr of love. Thus, readers (and some characters in the book) end up feeling sorry - and forgiving of - Svidrigailov. Since Raskolnikov has not really shown any signs of true love throughout the story so far, and, reflectively, since his philosophy includes absolutely nothing based on this feeling, he is now forced to reexamine it as a result of the message about love that Svidrigailov unintentionally sends him. Thus, surprisingly, Svidrigailov creates the foundation for much of the change that happens to Raskolnikovs theory.
Furthermore, the fact that Sonya is the person without whom Raskolnikov would not have changed so relatively quickly and deeply by the end of the story is clearly shown through the authors development of these two characters relationship. Raskolnikov confessing to Sonya is a strong enough reason of why the girl should be viewed as his ultimate and most important savior. The main character could have chosen different ways to eliminate the suffering and the internal conflicts that he faced as a result of his murder (suicide and exile, to name a couple examples). Instead, however, Raskolnikov chose to confess his sin to this young girl because he unconsciously felt that she, one way or another, would understand what was needed for him to do in order to redeem himself. Rather quickly after she processed the dreadful news about Raskolnikov, Sonya passionately declared, Oh, what can we do now?... Together, [...] well go and do penal servitude [...]! (492). Through this statement, she confirms Raskolnikovs conscious thought and unconscious hope that they will rid themselves of their individual sins together, and that they will help one another through the journey towards redemption. It is to be noted that this hope was also foreshadowed through Raskolnikovs earlier words in the book, words that he said almost immediately after he met Sonya. In this particular scene of the book, however, Raskolnikovs reaction to what Sonya said, I may not be willing to go and do penal servitude yet, Sonya (492), could be conveyed as an example of his still immature judgment and lack of enlightenment towards life, as well as a lack of understanding of the conscience. Even though Raskolnikov was inexplicably and magnetically attracted to Sonya from the moment he met her, he did not understand why she was his savior (at this point in the novel), and was not aware of the fact that she would change his initially confident theory about life.
Even with all the possible accumulated goodness of conscience in the world, someone with Raskolnikovs personality would most likely have not been able to carry out a change from darkness towards forgiveness without advice such as Sonyas. In order for Raskolnikov to redeem himself, he needed to reject his earlier theory completely and to go back to his initial spirituality and faith; only then would he place his unconscious need for redemption into action. Sonyas main advice for Raskolnikov was to accept suffering and redeem yourself by it (501) and to bear our crosses together!... (504). She not only urged Raskolnikov to suffer, but she conveyed to him that suffering is required for redemption; she did this through showing pain and suffering towards Raskolnikov and his situation, and through not only holding on to but arguably glorifying her faith in God, as to help both of them through their journey. Sonyas exemplifying and preaching of religious faith is one of the key things that changed Raskolnikovs theory in the end. At the conclusion of the story, Raskolnikov started to diligently read the Bible, ultimately realizing that not only was his theory against the God that he believed in earlier on in his life, but that it was arguably against morality. Ultimately, his faith reemerged; since he was again religious, he could not have possibly still believed in his unreligious philosophy. Thus, Sonya helped Raskolnikov dismiss his theory through showing passionate religious faith and significant understanding of suffering.
It is perhaps surprising that throughout Raskolnikovs phases of unstable, private thoughts, he would hold on to Sonya so stubbornly; it is even more so surprising that Sonya would not desert him throughout his very turbulent journey. When looked at from a different perspective, however, it is not at all surprising that the characters were so mutually loyal to each other; through love, the book teaches, one learns how to not be selfish.The authors purpose for showing Sonyas saintly patience is to give another example of why she is his savior, and the most important influence that contributed to Raskolnikovs change of theory and heart. The author states, clearly implying Sonyas loyalty and love towards Raskolnikov, that she had long ago made up her mind and got herself ready to follow the gang of convicts with which he too was to be dispatched (643). The fact that they were to be together all along foreshadows what ultimately turned out to be Raskolnikovs confession of love towards Sonya at the end of the book. Even though Raskolnikov seemed to switch between lack of emotion and over-emotionality until the very last moment of the story (and thus could not tell the difference between suffering and self-inflicted, artificial pain), it is described in much detail that he did suffer for his sins while in prison, as Sonya urged him to do. Throughout the first part of his servitude, he still did not understand that he was suffering, or that he needed to suffer - something that was required in order for him to change his philosophy. However, any doubts about Raskolnikovs suffering are completely erased by the very last scene of the novel. The revelation takes place when suddenly it was as though something had snatched at him, and he was hurled to her feet (654). The very core of the books teaching, and the final turning point of Raskolnikovs initial philosophy, is when he realizes that What had revived them was love, the heart of the one containing an infinite source of life for the heart of the other (655). Earlier on in the book, after he had confessed to Sonya, Raskolnikov was wondering of how she could love him as much as she did; he felt sadness at the idea that she loved him, because he did not know how it would have ever been possible for him to reciprocate with such intense feeling. Of course, he at first also did not understand how she could love a murderer.Thus, throughout the book, there are no real examples of Raskolnikov ever truly loving anyone (despite his hidden ability to do so). His judgement was too clouded at the beginning (or middle) of the novel as to experience and to share love; however, by the end of the story, Sonya sparked in him this ability to share his pure and unaltered feelings, which were declared in the very last pages of the novel. Therefore, through discovering love, Raskolnikov automatically rejects his earlier philosophy about life, one based on pure logic, lack of love, and immorality.
Of course, none of this change could have happened if it werent for Raskolnikovs fundamentally good conscience. For a seemingly psychopathic criminal like Raskolnikov, a confession was not necessarily inevitable or required as for him to be mentally and emotionally fulfilled. Since he was not able to pass over his crime and make room for it in his conscience, as he stated in his theory was the key to being superhuman, it is obvious that Raskolnikov changed this dreadful idea of his in the end. His theory explains that in order to be extraordinary, one must not give in to the ordinariness of being human, such as showing compassion, or bothering to define what is moral. However, it is not only apparent in his ultimate change of theory but in his actions throughout the book that Raskolnikov was always human, and thus had a good conscience. His acts of kindness towards Marmeladovs family, his constant monetary charity, and his intentions to help the disheveled girl in the streets towards the beginning of the novel, to name a few, are some examples of Raskolnikovs good conscience, which came through whether he wanted to show it or not. The interruptions of compassion and the occasional acts of cruelty that the character showed throughout the book were only a result of his wavering faith at that point in his life, and of his outburst of anger at the world, the very thing that prompted him to start his theory. Ultimately, Raskolnikov, despite his faults, his wrong approaches towards his anger at the world, and his grave mistakes of action and judgment, is a character with a strong and good conscience, clearly proving that his original theory about life was only a phase.
Raskolnikov started out as a rough, bipolar, confused and slightly insane character in the book, factors of his then-personality that prompted him to create a complex, cynical and inhumane theory about life that showcased the dark phase he went through as a human being. After committing a murder or two and realizing that he could not deal with his conscience as he originally assumed he would be able to, Raskolnikov was redirected to the path of goodness and redemption by two characters in the book, Sonya and Svidrigailov. While Svidrigailov showed him what he shouldnt be like and what one needs to be like in order to be forgiven, Sonya showed him what he should do. Laid on the foundation that was his independently and fundamentally good conscience, the combination of these forces helped Raskolnikov pass through the phase of his original theory and reach full spiritual and emotional maturity at the end of the novel, thus completely creating for him a new, humane, and moral philosophy about life, one based solely on love.
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