Literary Techniques Used by Fyodor Dostoyevsky in Crime...

A Study of the literary techniques used by Fyodor Dostoyevsky in Crime and Punishment to convey the downfall and subsequent rise of the main character. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is the story of a young student Raskolnikov and his need to murder an old woman to prove one of his many philosophies. The book begins with the murder, but the primary focus is on his reasoning and reactions before and after the act. It is set in St Petersburg where the main character, Raskolnikov, appears to be an ex-student living, in poverty, a life of lethargy. However, it soon emerges that he, despite the physical nature of his situation, has a very active mind. To reveal whether he is of a special breed of humans, he finds†¦show more content†¦He had been crushed by poverty The use of crushed here implies that Raskolnikov is profoundly affected by the destitution from which he endured. This plays a large part in his mentality and the developments of his theories. The feeling that he has nothing to live for certainly further propels him towards his acts of murder. If he were indeed able to perform this act, without feeling regret, then he would be able to consider himself more than just a poor student. The author shows that Raskolnikov has grown to into his state of mind, suggesting a progression over a period of time. The theory that poverty is the cause of his actions is mentioned in the Epilogue during his trial: [Raskolnikov replied] that the cause of the whole thing had been his rotten social position, his poverty and helplessness However, it is not just his theories that this setting has nurtured; he has also become angry at everything around him: by this time, so much vicious contempt had built up in the young mans soul The phrase vicious contempt is very strong, and shows how the setting has encouraged the hatred inside him. It is the combination of this anger, apparently caused by the setting of poverty and pain, and Raskolnikovs keenShow MoreRelated Dostoevsky as Performer Essay4297 Words   |  18 Pagessleep with the sound of one of their parents reading. His mother would sometimes read to Fyodor from The Lives of the Saints, stories that imprinted themselves on his mind and were of great significance to his later development (Magarshack 26). The Gothic novels of Ann Radcliffe were favorites of the Dostoevskys. Frank contends that Dostoevsky, influenced by Radcliffe, would later incorporate Gothic techniques of plot, character, and atmosphere and carry them to a peak of perfection that has neverRead MoreArthur Miller s Psychological And Social Magnitude Of His Characters1657 Words   |  7 Pages(Shmoop) a) He wanted to achieve success through hard work, initiative, and determination. The Depression quickly ruined the success of Miller family and decreased their social status; this event caused the family as a whole to struggle, but Arthur used this to shape himself into the man he was to be. b) The struggle and change had an evident impact on Arthur Miller. As the years go by, it is no surprise that the majority of his plays deal with individuals rendered helpless in the face of uncontrollable