Crime and Punishment Part IV

Crime and Punishment Part IV
Theme: “Suffering leads to salvation.” Through suffering, man’s sins are purified. Raskolnikov goes to Sonia because he sees her as a symbol of “all the suffering of humanity.” He goes to her to see if she can take his confession upon herself and help him to “bear his own cross.” Because she bears the sins of others (like Christ), Sonia is a “Christ like figure.”

Allusion: A reference to a well known person, place, historical event, piece of literature, music or art, etc. that the author expects the reader to be familiar. An author may use an allusion as a sort of short hand to suggest ideas, themes or views. The most often alluded to items in English/American literature are the Bible, Shakespearean plays and Greek and Roman mythology.

Lazarus allusion: Raskolnikov asks Sonia to read the story of Lazarus from the Bible. By speaking of Lazarus, Dostoevsky is saying that in some ways Raskolnikov and Lazarus are alike.


Raskolnikov & Lazarus Allusion Comparison

Lazarus Raskolnikov
Literally dead Spiritually & therefore
Figuratively dead through sin

Needs physical rebirth Needs spiritual rebirth

Jesus raises him from Sonia raises him from
Physical death spiritual death

Physically reborn Spiritually reborn by the ending of isolation through confession

Points to Remember

1. Svidrigalov is ease dropping on the conversation between Raskolnikov and Sonia.

2. Sonia’s purpose is to redeem Raskolnikov through her suffering for him (like Christ suffered for the sins of others); she will help him “bear his cross” (a Biblical allusion).

3. Porfiry’s purpose is to redeem Raskolnikov’s intellectual side. Point: He could have arrested Raskolnikov by this time. He has enough evidence, but he does not because:

• He has a sincere liking for him.
• (and most important) If arrested now, Raskolnikov would never come to a realization about the error of his theory. This is important because punishment without understanding is not beneficial nor corrective. Without understanding, the talents Raskolnikov has would be wasted and would not benefit him or Russia.

4. Nikolay’s confession is thematic and is a result of his belief that suffering (even without sin), leads to redemption.