| Dostoevsky, a talented writer as well as an outstanding thinker, highlighted social and ethical problems in his novels. His representative work Crime and Punishment is a perfect combination of narration and moralization by revealing intensive problems and exploring thoughts. Using Raskolnikov's crime and his punishment as a central clue, the novel revealed some significant social problems and discussed ethical problems of human existence, crime and punishment, the good and the evil.Crime and Punishment mainly focused on the four ethical problems---destitution, murder, God and salvation. This thesis is dedicated to the analyses of how these problems are presented and developed in the novel. The symbols in the narration are generalized as four phases in man's self-realization, which refers to falling , standing up, worship and standing up again.Bogged down in destitution, man was deprived of dignity physically and mentally. Self-realization could not come true, which is why man was compelled to fall. Raskolnikov's motives of crime is analysed in this thesis. Regarding himself a superman who can do everything , Raskolnikov committed the crime of killing the pawnbroker, and then isolated himself from others. Sonia was a symbol of belief in almighty God who believed that sufferings were inevitable and even beneficial. Raskolnikov's worship of Sonia brought him back to earth, helping him find his connection with others. The salvation part of the thesis is related to redemption. Through spiritual punishment and sufferings, Raskolnikov, the criminal, finally came to redemption. |
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