Raskolnikov's Crime And Punishment

A character from The Sense of An Ending stated, “Mental states may often be inferred from actions” (Barnes, 10). While this quote is said in one book, it is very applicable to the infamous Raskolnikov from the classic, Crime and Punishment. This famous novel focuses on a series of events that occur due to the main character committing two murders early on in the story. Raskolnikov’s, psychological state can be defined by examining his character before, during, and after the murders he commits. Through analyzing certain events in the story and psychoanalyzing Raskolnikov’s mental state, it can be inferred through his actions that the murders initiated a cycle of guilt, forcing him to process his emotions in phases.

Crime is defined as “a violation of a law in which there is injury to the public or a member of the public and a term in jail or prison, and/or a fine as possible penalties” (Legal Dictionary, 2005). What constitutes a criminal act depends on the country, the current laws in place, and the time period. However, the one crime that transcends throughout all periods of time and across the globe is murder, “intentionally causing the death of another person without extreme provocation or legal justification” or “the causing of the death of another while committing or attempting to commit another crime ” (Cornell Law). Raskolnikov believes that there are exceptions to whether someone has committed a crime or not which is completely different than how the legal system views crime. At one point in the novel, the detective Porfiry, was questioning suspects regarding the murders of Alyona and Lizaveta and began questioning Raskolnikov about his article “On Crime”. In his moment of rage, Raskolnikov argued that murder or a...

... middle of paper ...

...During his confession to Sonya, Raskolnikov he describes himself as a villain and having “a spiteful heart” (494). He accepts the fact that he had “no right to do it” and that he was “a louse like everyone else” and agrees with Sonya’s plan to pray and confess in public (502).

Due to guilt, stemming from the act of two murders, Raskolnikov undergoes a series of psychological processes evident through his behavior from before the murder to after the murder. The behaviors he demonstrated can be classified into one of the five phases of dealing with loss according to psychology. Through analyzing this process, it is proven that he is guilty for committing the murders and his grieving the loss of his uncriminal self. The murders forced Raskolnikov to go through a psychological change eventually leading to him burying a piece of himself and accepting who he truly is.