A Comparison of Crime and Punishment and Othello

A Comparison of Crime and Punishment and Othello

In both Crime and Punishment and Othello there is a theme of necessary

balance. Crime and Punishment's theme that man must be balanced in order to

function properly is very similar to Othello's theme that, tragically, jealousy

is destructive, even to the one that holds it.

In Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov's extreme intellectualism caused

him to stop functioning as a complete and balanced individual which ultimately

cost him his freedom. For Othello, it was his extreme jealousy that caused him

to become emotionally unbalanced, which cost him both Desdemona and his own life.

In both cases the extremes create unbalance which ends up costing a lot. There

is a difference, however, and that too lies in the extremes; while Raskolnikov

is too intellectual and lacks emotion, Othello is a rage of emotions and

requires some intellect or rationality.

One stylistic device both authors used to demonstrate this unbalance is

foreshadowing. On page 84 in Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov says, "If they

question me, perhaps I will simply tell. Fall to my knees and tell." This

foreshadows Raskolnikov's confession to the police and his subsequent sentencing

to Siberia. Raskolnikov is obviously unbalanced if he can detachedly

hypothesize about his confession. Similarly, Desdemona's willow song

foreshadows her own death. In this way we realize Othello must be extremely

unbalanced if his wife can foresee her own death when they are still newly wed.

Both foreshadowed events would usually be considered as negative. The main

difference is that while Raskolnikov's imprisonment is temporary, Desdemona's

death is permanent.

The interesting thing about both foreshadowed events is their irony.

While both events are usually construed as negative, good things come from both.

Not until he has been in Siberia a year does Raskolnikov finally renounce his

overman theory and become complete and balanced once again. Also, Desdemona

will be able to forgive Othello and be with him throughout eternity. What makes

these happenings different is their justness. Raskolnikov was rightfully

imprisoned for his crime, while Desdemona was unjustly murdered for a crime she

did not commit.

Finally, both stories include a very important epiphany. Raskolnikov's

acceptance of love and God at Sonya's feet is both similar and dissimilar to