The image of little people in crime and punishment. “Little People” in the novel F

In his socio-psychological novel “Crime and Punishment,” Dostoevsky reveals one of the main themes of his work - the theme “ little man" It seems to me that Dostoevsky wants to show that the injustice of St. Petersburg society leads to the division of people into those with power and into people of low classes, “little people.” Thus, Semyon Marmeladov, Katerina Ivanovna, Sonechka, even Rodion himself represent humiliated and insulted people.

Let's start with Marmeladov. He, once a titular councilor, “always respected education combined with heartfelt feelings.” But what did fate do to him? Marmeladov was overtaken by poverty. Marmeladov was a weak man; he could not provide his family with anything. He lost his job due to staff reductions, he couldn’t find a new one, and it was easier to drink than to do anything. So he became an alcoholic and was a regular visitor to pubs in St. Petersburg. He did not appear at home so as not to listen to his wife’s reproaches, which, as he himself understood, were fair. I think he hated himself, and he would like to change his life, but he did not have the willpower to cope with the blows of fate.

As for Katerina Ivanovna, I personally do not consider her a fallen woman. In my opinion, she has become a hostage to circumstances: her husband drinks, there is no money, children need to be raised and fed. All this affected her physical and psychological health. But, despite this and being a specially educated and staff officer’s daughter, she was happy with the city and did not tolerate insults from Lebezyatnikov and Amalia Lippevehsel. She loved cleanliness, was hardworking, and even washed her husband and children’s clothes at night so that they would wear something clean the next day. I believe that her life was full of injustices and suffering that she did not deserve.

And Sonya, this poor sweet girl, how much she suffered in her 18 years of life! Sonya could not tolerate her stepmother's reproaches and she had only one way out. She took the yellow ticket to save her family. But how much it cost her. Not only did she “serve” people, but she also often listened to insults from people higher up. The only salvation for Sonya and other “little people” in this novel is faith - faith in God, faith in better times.

Dunechka and Pulcheria Alexandrovna are also humiliated and insulted, since they had to endure the slander of Marfa Petrovna, and then the insults of Luzhin. And they couldn't do anything about it. The main feature of all the “little people” in Dostoevsky’s work is helplessness. They are all oppressed by more influential personalities, but they can't do anything about it.

And finally Rodion Raskolnikov, a poor former student, confused in himself. In his thoughts he was Napoleon, a great man, but in reality he belongs to the category of “little people”. Although he is smart and educated, he lacks what is inherent in worthy people - a goal. Rodion did not have a main goal in life, he floated with the flow of fate, he did not want to study, he did not want to work either, he was not looking for love. He wanted to make money in an easy way, but he himself did not understand what to do next. With thoughts of killing the old woman, he forgot what he lived for.

In conclusion, I would like to mention that Dostoevsky himself was not from the circle of these “little” people, but he was able to understand their destinies and emotional experiences in such a way that you involuntarily begin to understand that Dostoevsky is a master in revealing secrets human soul.

(349 words) The plot of the novel “Crime and Punishment” is inextricably linked with its main character, Rodion Raskolnikov: we watch how he worries about making decisions that define him future fate. Choosing his path, he communicates with different people. These relationships influence his choices. It is on the characteristics of individual minor characters I'd like to stop.

Almost all the images of the heroes whom F.M. Dostoevsky in the novel brings him closer to Rodion Raskolnikov, built on the criteria of a single type - a little man. In Russian literature, the phrase “little man” defines the type of characters who are unable to withstand life’s cataclysms and occupy a low rank in the service. They are limited by modest needs and even more modest capabilities. In Crime and Punishment, the author exaggerates the problem of these people, placing them at the very bottom: the heroes waste their days in poverty and have no chance to return to a normal lifestyle.

The hero who most clearly reflected the features of a little man is Semyon Marmeladov. His story can cause the reader both regret and misunderstanding. Although Mr. Marmeladov lives on the brink of poverty, while having a lot of debts, it is difficult to justify the hero’s problem. The retired official brought himself to this state. Without even intending to look for a way out of the current situation, he found solace in alcohol. Ignoring his children and wife, Marmeladov spent his last pennies on himself and his vicious desires. The hero complained that no one was waiting for him at home, but that was only his fault.

But F.M. Dostoevsky introduces the image of Marmeladov into his novel not only to amaze the reader with his misfortune: in the work, acquaintance with the retired official should reveal Rodion’s positive traits character. Semyon Marmeladov's story about his “drunk” life causes bewilderment in the main character. The former student does not understand the actions of the “little man,” which once again proves that Raskolnikov’s soul is still alive and capable of rebirth. In addition, the grief of this family pushes Rodion to murder, justifying the sacrifice for the greater good.

Of course, Semyon Marmeladov is not the only hero of the novel on whose fate the stamp of the “little man” is left. In addition to him, Sonya Marmeladova, her stepmother, Razumikhin, Dunya and many others have the features of a common image. These heroes have only one main goal - to awaken contradictory feelings in Rodion, which are the psychological engines of the plot.

(378 words) Little man is a type literary hero, which arose in Russian literature during the period of realism, that is, in the 20-30s of the 19th century. It is not difficult to guess that this type characterizes a person of the lower class. Low social status and origin initially suggests that these people are not gifted with strong character and will; on the contrary, they do no harm to anyone, are kind and naive, like children. In the works of F.M. Dostoevsky’s “little man” also found its place. A whole gallery of heroes, humiliated and insulted, misunderstood by life, they play the role of martyrs in the novel “Crime and Punishment”: the Marmeladov family, Lizaveta, Pulcheria Alexandrovna and Avdotya Romanovna. Let's take a closer look at the examples.

So, the Marmeladov family. Starting from the head of the family Semyon Marmeladov and ending with his unfortunate children, one can give excellent examples of weak-willed and good people. The elder Marmeladov is weak because he allowed alcohol to take over him. He ruined the life of his wife, Ekaterina Ivanovna, who has to live in inhuman conditions with small children and daughter Sonechka. “My daughter lives on a yellow ticket, sir...” he said. The retired official evokes misunderstanding and pity among readers. After all, although he regrets what he did, he does not intend to change his life.

Why does the author introduce this type of literary hero? To show the best character traits of Rodion Raskolnikov. It was the Marmeladov family that awakened both bewilderment and regret in him. Thinking about the murder and subsequently committing it, Rodion Romanovich justifies his action as a sacrifice for the good.

But, in addition to the Marmeladov family, mired in problems, there are also heroes who are “little people”. For example, Pyotr Petrovich Luzhin, who differs from the Marmeladovs not only in wealth, but also in his vile character. Luzhin cares only about his own benefit, which he sees everywhere. Luzhin also decides to marry Raskolnikov’s sister not out of love, but out of his own convenience. Luzhin dreams of a poor, but beautiful and educated bride who would become a slave for him: “He enthusiastically thought, in the deepest secret, about a well-behaved and poor girl (certainly poor) ... who would consider him her salvation all her life, would revere him , obeyed, was surprised at him, and only him alone...” Thus, the author of Crime and Punishment introduces a character like Luzhin to show that a person with selfish thoughts will never be happy.

Thus, the “little people” in the novel “Crime and Punishment” differ from similar characters of other writers. But each of them is present in the novel in order to further reveal the image of both the image of the main character and to better show the plot lines.

We all pity and love the clean, washed dead, but you should love the living, dirty ones.
V. M. Shukshin

F. M. Dostoevsky’s novel “Crime and Punishment” describes an unusual crime committed by a poor student to test his terrible theory; in the novel it is called “blood according to conscience.” Raskolnikov divides all people into ordinary and extraordinary. The former must live in obedience, the latter “have the right, that is, not an official right, but they themselves have the right to allow their conscience to step over... other obstacles only if the fulfillment of their idea requires it” (3, V). Raskolnikov, having seen enough of the grief, the broken destinies of ordinary (“little”) people - the inhabitants of the St. Petersburg slums, decides to act, since he is no longer able to humbly observe the ugly life around him. Decisiveness, a deep and original mind, the desire to correct an imperfect world, and not to obey its unjust laws - these are the features that do not allow Raskolnikov’s image to be classified as a “little people”.

To believe in himself, the hero needs to make sure whether he is a “trembling creature” (that is, an ordinary person) or “has the right” (that is, an outstanding personality), he can afford “blood according to his conscience,” like successful historical heroes, or he won't be able to. If the test shows that he is one of the chosen ones, then one should boldly set about correcting the unjust world; for Raskolnikov this means making the life of “little people” easier. Thus, in Raskolnikov’s theory, the happiness of “little people” seems to be the main and ultimate goal. This conclusion is not contradicted even by the confession that the hero made to Sonya: he killed not to help his mother and sister Dunya, but “for himself” (5, IV).

From the above reasoning it follows that the theme of the “little man” is one of the main ones in the novel, as it is connected with both social and philosophical content. Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment” sounded this theme even stronger and more tragic than Pushkin’s “The Station Agent” and Gogol’s “The Overcoat”. Dostoevsky chose the poorest and dirtiest part of St. Petersburg as the setting for his novel—the area of ​​Sennaya Square and the Kuznechny Market. One after another, the writer unfolds pictures of the hopeless need of “little people”, insulted and humiliated by the unscrupulous “masters of life”. The novel describes in more or less detail several characters who can certainly be classified as the traditional type of “little people”: the sister of the old pawnbroker Lizaveta, who in Dostoevsky becomes a symbol of the “little man”, Raskolnikova’s mother Pulcheria Alexandrovna, Marmeladov’s wife Katerina Ivanovna. However, the most striking image in this series is, of course, Semyon Zakharovich Marmeladov himself, telling his story to Raskolnikov in a tavern.

In this hero, Dostoevsky combined Pushkin and Gogol traditions in the depiction of “little people.” Marmeladov, like Bashmachkin, is pitiful and insignificant, powerless to change his life (to end drunkenness), but he retains, like Samson Vyrin, a living feeling - love for Sonya and Katerina Ivanovna. He is unhappy and, realizing his hopeless situation, exclaims: “Do you know what it means when there is nowhere to go?” (1,II). Just like Vyrin, Marmeladov begins to drink out of grief, out of misfortune (he lost his job), fear of life and powerlessness to do anything for his family. Like Vyrin, Semyon Zakharovich is worried about the bitter fate of his daughter Sonya, who is forced to “step over” and go to the panel to feed Katerina Ivanovna’s starving children. The difference, however, is that the daughter stationmaster was happy (with her love for Minsky), but Sonya was unhappy.

Dostoevsky built in the novel storyline the Marmeladov family in such a way as to emphasize the tragedy of the image of Semyon Zakharovich. Drunken Marmeladov falls under the wheels of a smart carriage through his own fault and dies, leaving his large family without a livelihood. He understands this well, so he last words addressed to Sonya, the only support for Katerina Ivanovna and the children: “Sonya! Daughter! Sorry!” - he shouted and wanted to stretch out his hand to her, but, losing support, he fell off the sofa...” (2, VII).

Katerina Ivanovna does not outwardly resemble the traditional “little person” who meekly accepts suffering. She, according to Marmeladov, is “a hot-tempered, proud and unyielding lady” (1, II), she fusses over the general for her husband, arranges “educational” scandals for her drunken husband, and brings Sonya with reproaches to the point that the girl goes to the panel to earn money for bread for the family. But in essence, Katerina Ivanovna, like all “little people,” is broken by life’s failures. She cannot resist the blows of fate. Her helpless despair is manifested in her last insane act: she runs out into the street with her small children to beg and dies, refusing her final confession. When she is asked to invite a priest, she replies: “What? A priest?.. No need... Where do you have an extra ruble?.., I have no sins!... God must forgive anyway... He himself knows how much I suffered!.. But if he doesn’t forgive, he won’t necessary!..” (5,V). This scene indicates that Dostoevsky’s “little man” even reaches the point of rebellion against God.

Sonya Marmeladova - main character novel - outwardly very similar to the traditional “little man” who humbly submits to circumstances and meekly goes to death. To save people like Sonya, Raskolnikov came up with his theory, but it turns out that Sonya is only at first glance a weak character, but in fact she strong personality: seeing that her family had reached extreme poverty, she made a difficult decision and saved her relatives from starvation, at least temporarily. Despite her shameful profession, Sonya maintains spiritual purity. She endures with dignity the bullying of others about her position in society. Moreover, thanks to her mental fortitude, it was she who was able to support the murderer Raskolnikov, it was she who helps him find the right way out of the moral impasse, from Dostoevsky’s point of view: through sincere repentance and suffering, to return to normal human life. She herself atones for her involuntary sins, and supports Raskolnikov in hard labor. This is how the theme of the “little man” turns unexpectedly in the novel Crime and Punishment.

Raskolnikov’s friend Razumikhin, completely unlike the traditional “little man,” is a very attractive, complete hero. Courage, common sense, and love of life help Razumikhin to withstand all adversity: “He was also remarkable because no failures ever embarrassed him and no bad circumstances seemed to be able to crush him” (1, IV). Thus, Razumikhin cannot be classified as a “little people” because he constantly resists misfortunes and does not bend under the blows of fate. A faithful comrade, Razumikhin takes care of the sick Raskolnikov, invites Doctor Zosimov to see him; Knowing about Porfiry Petrovich’s suspicions about Raskolnikov, he tries to shield the main character by explaining his friend’s strange actions with illness. A poor student himself, he takes care of Raskolnikov's mother and sister, and sincerely falls in love with the dowry-free Dunya. She, however, unexpectedly and very opportunely receives a dowry inheritance from Marfa Petrovna Svidrigailova.

So, in the literary type “little man” we can identify common features: low rank, poverty, and most importantly, the inability to withstand life’s failures and rich offenders.

After Gogol’s “The Overcoat” (1842), Russian writers began to often turn to the image of the “little man” in their works. N.A. Nekrasov, acting as an editor, published in 1845 a two-volume collection “Physiology of St. Petersburg”, which included essays about people from the city slums and back streets of the capital: V.I. Dal portrayed a St. Petersburg janitor, I.I. Panaev - feuilletonist, D.V. Grigorovich - an organ grinder, E.P. Grebenok - residents of the provincial outskirts of St. Petersburg. These essays were mainly descriptive, that is, they contained portraits, psychological and speech characteristics"little people" Dostoevsky, in his stories and novels, offered a deep understanding of the social status and character of the “little man,” which fundamentally distinguished his works from the stories and essays of the above-mentioned authors.

If Pushkin and Gogol’s main feelings towards the “little man” were pity and compassion, then Dostoevsky expressed a different approach to such heroes: he evaluates them more critically. “Little people” before Dostoevsky were predominantly deeply and innocently suffering, and Dostoevsky portrayed them as people who were largely to blame for their plight. For example, Marmeladov, with his drunkenness, pushes his beloved family to death, blaming all worries about young children on Sonya and the half-crazy Katerina Ivanovna. In other words, Dostoevsky’s image of the “little man” becomes more complex, deepens, and enriched with new ideas. This is expressed in the fact that Dostoevsky’s heroes (Marmeladov, Katerina Ivanovna, Sonya and others) not only suffer, but they themselves declare their suffering, they themselves explain their lives. Neither Samson Vyrin nor Akakiy Akakievich Bashmachkin formulated the reasons for their misfortunes, but only meekly endured them, obediently submitting to the blows of fate.

In the formula “little man,” Dostoevsky places the emphasis not on small, as his literary predecessors, but per person. For the humiliated and insulted heroes of Crime and Punishment, the worst thing is to lose self-respect and human dignity. Marmeladov discusses this in confession, and Katerina Ivanovna screams before her death. That is, Dostoevsky’s “little people” themselves refute the theory of Raskolnikov, who considered them only “trembling creatures”, material for the experiments of “extraordinary” people.

The image of the little man in Crime and Punishment is constructed somewhat differently, but basically in the same manner. His embodiment there is Marmeladov, a petty official who was expelled from service for drunkenness. His image is internally deeply dramatic. In this seemingly completely worthless person, capable of drinking away the last of his family's money and going to Sonya to ask for a hangover, Dostoevsky, true to his creative principles, finds a living human soul. From Marmeladov’s monologues it is very noticeable that he was once not devoid of pride and consciousness of his own human dignity. Now all that remains of this pride is shame. Marmeladov is no longer able to cope with his destructive passion, is not able to rise, but he is able to punish himself for this with the most severe moral punishment. If he were alone, he would not suffer. But the consciousness that Katerina Ivanovna and the children are suffering because of him is what torments Marmeladov, forcing him to turn with his heartbreaking and desperate confession to the regulars of the tavern, to Raskolnikov. He, once a proud and conscientious person, is not afraid to expose himself to shame and ridicule; on the contrary, he strives for this, because this is how he punishes himself. It is amazing the depth with which this degraded person is able to feel the moral suffering of Katerina Ivanovna, to constantly think about her and the children, about his guilt and his sin. And, what is very important for Dostoevsky, this man continues to trust in God - this is the meaning of the parable he told Raskolnikov. And - another important point for Dostoevsky - hope in divine mercy is combined in Marmeladov with humility and self-abasement, which replaced the former pride. Such a person, according to Dostoevsky, is not lost to God.

An extremely touching detail that completes the image of Marmeladov is the gingerbread that is found in his pocket after death - evidence of his last thought about children. This detail finally sets the evaluative emphasis: the author is far from despising or at least condemning Marmeladov; he is a sinner, but deserves forgiveness. Continuing the tradition of his predecessors, Dostoevsky brings to the fore in his interpretation of the theme of the little man the principle of humanism, the need not to condemn and throw a stone, but to understand and forgive.

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agent

The theme of the “little man” is fundamental to all of F.M.’s work. Dostoevsky. Who are the “little people”? These are poor characters, invisible in everyday life. They do not have a high rank or a huge fortune, but they have retained spiritual wealth, kindness and humanity.

Rodion Raskolnikov is a prominent representative of “people offended by life.” The creation of his theory is inextricably linked with living conditions. He is doomed to live his life in poverty and deprivation. The author skillfully emphasizes the wretched living conditions of the student, describing his housing, life and clothing. Rodion lives in the slums, in his dirty neighborhood you can always smell the unbearable smells of cheap drinking establishments. Rodion’s closet is so small that it can be compared to an old stuffy closet, from the walls of which the old yellow wallpaper has long peeled off.

The main character’s home is a symbol of hopelessness.

The author creates a contrast between a tall, well-built young man and his old, shabby wardrobe. Rodion is ashamed to wear such clothes, but he has no other choice. Expulsion from educational institution, lack of means of subsistence, and a sense of injustice suppress the hero and push him to commit a crime.

A feeling of deep loneliness haunts the hero, despite the fact that there are a huge number of people around. After all, he is surrounded by the same poor, pitiful and embittered characters. They have long been incapable of compassion and humanity. This fact is proven by the reaction of the crowd to the confession of the drunken Marmeladov. The petty official openly talks about his humiliating situation in which he can no longer exist. Every day he has to silently watch the humiliation of his wife, the hunger of his children, and most importantly, the crippled fate of his beloved daughter Sonechka. Marmeladov, exhausted by mental torment, expects sympathy and understanding from his listeners, but the cruel crowd is only capable of ridicule and humiliation.

Continued below

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agent
03/06/2019 left a comment:

The description of the suffering of the Marmeladov family reveals the theme of “little people” in the best possible way. Thanks to the detailed description of the difficult living conditions, everything around is shrouded in darkness and cold. Even the luxurious capital, St. Petersburg, is changing its appearance. In the work she creates the impression of gray, indifferent, dead and cruel city. The novel shows the other side of this city. Luxurious facades replace old dilapidated buildings in which people living offended by life live.

Another representative of the humiliated and insulted is Katerina Ivanovna. The famous author describes a tormented woman. Every day she tries to clean up the house and feed hungry children. Her stepdaughter, Sonya, is also trying with all her might to help the family, but, unfortunately, she makes the only possible decision - to go to the panel. Rodion's sister, Dunya, also deserves sympathy. She, like her brother, has to restrain her pride and pride, endure ridicule and bullying.

The novel "Crime and Punishment" is filled similar images, the heroes of the work are constantly in need, are in conditions of existence that are unsuitable for the life of normal people. These inhumane conditions force the characters to make difficult choices: endure and live like this or die?

A sense of duty and responsibility does not allow Sonechka Marmeladova to decide to commit suicide. “What will happen to them?” - the girl says when Rodion is thinking about how to get out of their situation with dignity. She refuses physical death out of a desire to help her family, but thereby chooses complete spiritual death. The same can be said about Dunya. She decides to marry an unloved person, dooming herself to a joyless existence. For Dunya, her brother’s education and the well-being of her family are more important than other joys in life.

All this means that despite the severity of their situation, the most important things remain in these people. human qualities- compassion, nobility and generosity. The author sympathizes with his heroes and at the same time admires their spiritual wealth, which they were able to preserve in such terrible conditions.

The theory of Rodion Raskolnikov is a creation cruel world. It represents a protest against such conditions of existence. Committing a crime did not restore justice and did not make Rodion a “rightful” person. On the contrary, it brought a feeling of remorse and disappointment. But at the same time, even in a world of poverty and deprivation there is a place bright feelings: love, friendship, compassion. This fills the author with the belief that over time, society can still improve and become less cruel. Love and respect for the people around us is the only way to create a civilized, humane society. Perhaps this is the meaning the author tried to convey in his famous work.

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Biz-lady
03/06/2019 left a comment:

In Dostoesky's novel "Crime and Punishment", central characters are the "little people". Who are they? "Little man" - a representative of the lower strata of the population, insignificant in social status Human. The fate of the “little people” is not simple. These people daily have to put up with social injustice and humiliation from other people who are higher in position in society.

Main character novel, Rodion Raskolnikov, also belongs to the number of “little people”. The young man barely survives in poverty. Chief's family hero - poor, the mother works all her life for pennies to help her son graduate from university. Sister Dunya is forced to enter service in the Svidrigaiovs' house, where she suffers humiliation. Dunya later marries Mr. Luzhin, despite her disgust with him. This is an example of self-sacrifice; Dunya wants to help her brother who is in a difficult situation.

Another example of “little people” in the novel is the Marmeladov family. Semyon Zakharovich Marmeladov is a former official whose drunkenness brought his family into deep poverty.

Marmeladov understands the hopelessness of his situation, but is unable to help his family, which only makes him worse. Sonya Marmeladova is an innocent girl forced to sell herself in order to feed her unhappy family. But, while making obscene earnings, Sonya did not fall into drunkenness and debauchery. Unlike Raskolnikov, she is convinced that no difficulties in life or supposedly humane goals can justify violence and crime.

"Little People" are one of the main themes of most works of literature. Life is not easy for them at all times. Fate plays a cruel joke on them. A life-long joke.

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V_V
03/06/2019 left a comment:

Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky - genius psychological novel and a true classic of Russian literature. His works touch the finest strings of the human soul. Fyodor Mikhailovich’s life’s work is the novel “Crime and Punishment.” It touches on many different topics: philosophical, psychological, social. I would like to focus on the theme of little people in the novel. This is exactly what I will be talking about in my essay.

But before we touch on this topic. It is necessary to define the term “little man”. The “little man” in Russian literature is a type of character introduced by Gogol in his work “The Overcoat”. Dostoevsky is a continuer of Gogol’s traditions, so let’s figure out what the role of little people is in the novel “Crime and Punishment.”

Marmeladovs, Lizaveta, Pulcheria Alexandrovna and Avdotya Romanovna. They are connected by a special role in the novel - the role of spiritual martyrdom. I don't think it's worth looking into each one individually. Let's limit ourselves to two examples. Sonechka Marmeladova worked on a yellow ticket, endured constant bullying in order to feed her family, and Avdotya Romanovna had to marry a terrible, evil man, indifferent to everything except his capital - Pyotr Petrovich Luzhin, in order to help Raskolnikov financially.

All of these characters are little people, they are offended, they endure and are in some way God's creatures who do not affect anything in this world. But is this so, is their fate so terrible? Yes, their fate is truly unenviable and causes pity among the reading community. But each of them is undergoing or has undergone a moral revolution!

The drunkard Marmeladov is not afraid of his wife’s slap, but he is afraid of tears in her eyes, he is afraid of screaming, why? Because he loves her as a person, he doesn’t want to upset her, but circumstances, his position and character cannot allow him not to do this. However, he worries, he suffers precisely because of the experiences of another. The same can be said about each of the above, and especially about Sonya. She lives only for the sake of others, and isn’t this what a person strives for? Is he happy who can decide other people's destinies? No! And the one who is thirsty and ready to do anything to help? He's definitely happy! It is precisely the love of humanity that little people in Dostoevsky’s novel are endowed with. They seem to rise above the entire vile, greedy world and are humanity’s hope for salvation from darkness and darkness, which are personified in such characters as the pawnbroker, Luzhin.

In conclusion, I would like to note that Dostoevsky’s modernization of the image of the “poor man” emphasizes the uniqueness and genius of the author, but most importantly, it shows his true position, based on indigenous Christian principles: philanthropy and love for one’s neighbor

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buzz
03/06/2019 left a comment:

In the novel Crime and Punishment, Dostoevsky describes the hero as an ordinary poor student who was dressed in rags, pawned all his money and lived very wretchedly. He lives on the brink of poverty, and therefore is a “little man.” This is the whole lowness of Rodion Raskolnikov. Life must break him, but he is strong in spirit, he is not downtrodden or humiliated by fate. Dostoevsky wanted to show how small and wretched he was in big world, but at the same time strong and big. In terms of his social status, Raskolnikov is a “little man.”

Dostoevsky emphasizes in the novel the power of the external environment over a person. This environment and everyday little things give a complete description of the hero. Looking at the conditions in which the hero lives, you can understand why he is like this. Raskolnikov rushes around the city and sees only tears and dirt. The city is cruel and inhuman, it does not look like a capital, but resembles the ravings of a madman. It is the surrounding poverty that shows the “little man.” In addition, the author clearly makes it clear how contradictory his inner world is. On the one hand, he is poor and unhappy, on the other, he does not evoke any sympathy.

He's actually not a small person. He has fallen into the abyss of poverty, but is not ready to accept it, he is fighting. He commits a crime and then justifies himself. Rodion killed the old moneylender, but believes that he has rid society of evil. All the time after the crime was committed, he devoured himself from the inside and convinced himself of the correctness of his act.

The life of the other characters in the novel is no less terrible. They are also “little people”. A drunken Marmeladov, his wife dying of consumption, Rodion’s mother and sister, experiencing the bullying of the rich, a girl who doomed herself to humiliation, children growing up next to their drinking parents. This is all a story about “little people”. The “little people” realize the hopelessness of their situation, but they can’t fix anything. Under the influence of terrifying existence, a philosophy of life is born.

The social and everyday motives for the crime committed by Raskolnikov are overlapped by philosophical motives. Having united his fate with the oppressed people, only in this way can he atone for his guilt before these unfortunate people. Raskolnikov comes to the conclusion that it is better to be a “little man”, to be crushed, than, on the contrary, to have power over people and crush them. He prefers to be a victim than an executioner. Humility comes to him. Therefore, at the end of the novel, readers see Rodion on the threshold of a new life, which is radically different from today's reality.