| The main character of the novel Crime and | | | | revulsed by the wickedness of his society. Why did I |
| Punishment by Feodor Dostoevsky, Raskolnikov, is in | | | | take it upon myself to interfere? Was it for me to |
| reality two totally contradicting personalities. One part | | | | try to help? Let them eat one another alive - what is |
| of him is the the intellectual. He is cold, unfeeling and | | | | it to me? At one time Raskolnikov is both caring and |
| inhumane. He exibits tremendous self-will. It is this | | | | concerned and yet he is able to push aside the whole |
| side that enables him to commit the most terrible | | | | affair by being totally indifferent. The goal of the |
| crime imaginable - taking another human life. The | | | | novel is to make Raskolnikov into one character. |
| other part of his personality is warmand | | | | Sonya helps bring Raskolnikov back into his emotional, |
| compassionate. This is the side of him that does | | | | humane side. |
| charitable acts and fights out against the evil in his | | | | Through her suffering, she shows him that it is |
| society. | | | | important to have a love for all humanity and that no |
| The confusion in Raskolnikov's soul is best seen when | | | | person should ever be able to exist like a parasite off |
| he tries to help a girl in the street who has been | | | | of another person. Porifery, the official investigating |
| raped and left to the whims of anyone who finds | | | | the crime, acts as the intellectual who shows |
| her. Raskolnikov tries to protect her from the evil of | | | | Roskolnikov that all intellect must be used for the |
| the street, gut then stops himself when he is | | | | good of mankind. |