What characteristics do the heroes of the novel give to Raskolnikov? Crime and Punishment: a portrait of Raskolnikov. The hero's crime and punishment

Each of us has probably heard the story of an old woman killed with an ax by a crazy student - this is Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky’s novel “Crime and Punishment.” The main characters are woven into a chain of complex events from which they find a way out. The work will teach everyone to live judiciously, forgive sincerely and love passionately.

The history of writing the novel

"Crime and Punishment": the main characters of the work

In the novel, the author involved a few people around whom the main series of events takes place. The main character is Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov, a retired student who decides to kill Alena Ivanovna, an old pawnbroker. Lizaveta is the sister of the pawnbroker, who also dies at the hands of young man. Experienced investigator Porfiry Petrovich takes on the task of solving the crime. Pulcheria Alexandrovna and Avdotya Romanovna are the mother and sister of Rodion Raskolnikov. The family lives modestly and tries to help the poor student. Dunya was even listed as a servant of Arkady Ivanovich Svidrigailov, who tried to corrupt her. In order to completely forget her past, the girl accepts the offer of the wealthy Mr. Pyotr Petrovich Luzhin to get married and move to St. Petersburg. Andrei Semenovich Lebezyatnikov is a retired official who lives in a small apartment with his wife Katerina Ivanovna and three small children. Raskolnikov falls in love with him eldest daughter Sonya, who will subsequently be his salvation. Dmitry Prokofievich Razumikhin is a faithful friend of Rodion, who in difficult moments takes care of Duna and Pulcheria Alexandrovna.

The main plot line of the novel

Rodion Raskolnikov lives on his mother’s money and sometimes sells his belongings to the pawnbroker Alena Ivanovna. The old woman annoys him so much that he guesses the timing, breaks into the apartment and hacks her to death with an ax. Suddenly, Sister Elizabeth returns and also becomes an unfortunate victim. He acted like a cruel man, but Raskolnikov’s characterization is his positive traits- allows readers to look at it from a different perspective. He is obsessed with the desire to take possession of the old woman's wealth only because he is poor himself, but his conscience does not allow him to appropriate the loot for himself, and he gets rid of the profit.

After the crime, Avdotya Romanovna and Pulcheria Alexandrovna visit Rodion and try to help him - he seems to them to be sick. In the first chapters, Raskolnikov meets the bankrupt official Lebezyatnikov in a tavern, who drunkenly throws himself under a horse and dies. Due to an accident, Rodion recognizes the family of the deceased and pays attention to his eldest daughter Sonya, to whom he confesses to the murder of the old woman and her sister. An understanding girl asks him to repent, but the investigator is in no hurry to put him in prison and allows him to walk free for a few days.

Epilogue Analysis

In the afterword, the author talks about the imprisonment of the main character in a Siberian fortress. Here Raskolnikov’s characterization changes - he becomes sensitive and conscientious, repents of his crime and does not try to justify himself. Dunya tells her mother that her son went on a long business trip, but the old woman, without waiting for him, dies of illness. Razumikhin does not leave his friend in trouble and decides to move to Siberia. Amazed by the nobility of her friend, Dunya marries this man. Sonya found every way to see Rodion - they love each other, and neither the distance nor the sentence frightened them.

Women's and in the novel

In each work, heroes can be divided into positive and negative. The images in Crime and Punishment are so colorful that the reader cannot immediately evaluate them. Dostoevsky portrays Raskolnikov as a criminal who has a big loving heart, a desire to help his neighbor, and a desire to repent. Ambiguous opinion It also turns out about Lebezyatnikov - he is a big drinker, rarely remembers his family, but the justification for this is his naivety and unstable financial situation. Several pages are devoted to a description of the unhappy life of a bankrupt official in the novel Crime and Punishment.

The main characters of the work are predominantly positive, and among the secondary ones, two negative male images stand out - Svidrigailov and Luzhin. Razumikhin is Raskolnikov's best friend, supporting both himself and his family. Women's images Pulcheria Alexandrovna, Dunya and Sonya are idealized in the novel, and it is impossible to evaluate the old woman-pawnbroker alone: ​​to the hero she seemed stingy and evil, and Dostoevsky is silent about her other qualities.

Execution cannot be pardoned

People are born and die day after day, and Raskolnikov begins to think that there is nothing terrible if he kills the old money-lender. But is he right to reason like that? The novel "Crime and Punishment" raises complex philosophical questions, the answers to which are subsequently found by the hero himself.

Rodion thinks for a long time whether to “execute” the old woman or “have mercy,” but still doubts the need for her existence, and therefore decides that if she ends up in the next world, everyone will be calmer. At the crime scene, the killer behaves less confidently: he is lost and is not even able to bear all the wealth of the pawnbroker. He is tormented by hallucinations, phobias, and goes crazy from hopelessness. It would be better if he had pardoned Alena Ivanovna, because now, after her death, he was left with nothing.

Characteristics of Rodion Raskolnikov: is he a trembling creature or a rightful one?

The main character does not have manic tendencies, and he deliberately decides to kill Alena Ivanovna. The old woman lives out her life alone with wealth, which is more suitable for orphans, and not for one who needs nothing. Raskolnikov's plan seems extremely simple, but the hero does not think about the consequences. This youthful naivety became the reason for the poor student's subsequent failures. The novel "Crime and Punishment" teaches you to think about the consequences, and not be as unreasonable as main character.

Raskolnikov faces a dilemma: is he a trembling creature or a man with the right? The hero believes that he must establish himself in this world through murder, fulfilling his main desire - this is what he would do strong man. This philosophy leads Raskolnikov to a dead end.

What fate does F. Dostoevsky choose for the hero? "Crime and Punishment" as a novel-warning

Even the worst villain has the right to be acquitted. Raskolnikov’s action can be understood: the author first deprives him of his reason, and then directs him to let the truth be known. Rodion is experiencing this not because he committed a crime, but because he considered himself “having the right.”

Raskolnikov is very young and stupid, and it would be wrong to condemn him. Submitting to the slogan “the end justifies the means,” he kills Alena Ivanovna, but for a reason - he cares about his mother, his sister’s future, helps the family of the late Marmeladov, thinks about disadvantaged children and is going to allocate part of the money to needy orphans. If he had been a wealthy man, he would never have committed murder, and then the crime and punishment would not have been committed. The main characters - Rodion's friend, his mother and sister - do not condemn him, but try to understand him. Sincere repentance elevates any criminal, and a repentant Raskolnikov will be worthy of a different life with a person who will always be there, help and support - Sonya Marmeladova. Dostoevsky chooses an ending when a person’s life does not end on the scaffold, but has a continuation.

savior and guardian angel

Love can work miracles. It changes a person from the inside, directs him to the path of truth and gives him an incentive to live on. For Rodion Raskolnikov, Sonya turned out to be a salvation. “Crime and Punishment” tells how the main character changes after meeting this girl: without her, he would have died in prison from illness and boredom, he would hardly have realized his action, and would not have repented. Before confessing to the murder, he goes out into the street and kisses the ground, sincerely regretting what happened.

The work describes the love of two unhappy people who became happy in their own way. Someday Raskolnikov will be released from prison, and he and Sonya will live a full life and will thank fate that, after many trials, it allowed them to meet each other.

(392 words)

The main character of the novel F.M. Dostoevsky's student is Rodion Raskolnikov. It is through the narration of the fate of this character that the writer tries to convey his thoughts to the reader.

The entire work is, in fact, an exposure of the first near-Nietzschean ideas that gained a certain popularity in late XIX century. It is no coincidence that the hero comes from a student environment, which is most exposed to a wide variety of trends and worries.

Rodion is an attractive, intelligent, but extremely poor young man; he lives in a squalid apartment and cannot continue his studies. The idea of ​​the superiority of some people over others takes root in the hero’s head. He, of course, places himself in the highest category, and considers the rest to be a useless gray mass. Following his own logic, the Nietzschean theorist decides to kill the vile old woman in order to use her money for good causes.

However, Dostoevsky immediately shows the hero’s struggle with himself. Raskolnikov constantly doubts, then abandoning this idea, then returning to it again. He sees a dream in which he, as a child, cries over a slaughtered horse, and understands that he cannot kill a person, but having accidentally heard that the old woman will be home alone, he nevertheless decides to commit a crime. Our hero has developed an impeccable plan, but it all ends in a real massacre: he kills not only Alena Ivanovna, but also her pregnant sister, and runs away in panic, taking with him only a handful of jewelry. Raskolnikov is not a villain or a madman, but lack of money, illness and hopelessness drive him to despair.

Having committed a crime, Rodion loses peace. His illness worsens, he is bedridden and suffers from nightmares in which he relives what happened again and again. The ever-increasing fear of exposure torments him, and the hero’s conscience torments him from within, although he himself does not admit it. Another feeling that has become integral part Raskolnikov, there was loneliness. Having crossed the law and morality, he separated himself from other people, even his best friend Razumikhin, his sister Dunya and mother Pulcheria become strangers and incomprehensible to him. My last hope he sees in the prostitute Sonya Marmeladova, who, in his opinion, also transgressed the law and morality, and therefore can understand the killer. Perhaps he was hoping for an acquittal, but Sonya calls on him to repent and accept punishment.

In the end, Raskolnikov becomes disillusioned with himself and surrenders to the police. However, Rodion still continues to believe in his theory about “those with the right” and “trembling creatures.” Only in the epilogue does he come to realize the meaninglessness and cruelty of this idea, and, having renounced it, the hero embarks on the path of spiritual rebirth.

It is through the image of Raskolnikov that Dostoevsky overthrows egocentrism and Bonapartism, and elevates Christianity and philanthropy.

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A deep philosophical message lies at the heart of Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment. (the main character) is very complex and contradictory. Its whole essence unfolds gradually, from the first chapter to the last. Therefore, it would be more appropriate to consider the formation and transformation of the image in parts of the novel.

Part one

In this part, which consists of seven chapters, we are introduced to the main character. At the very beginning of the work, the author describes the external characteristics of Rodion Romanovich. He is good-looking, thin and slender, dark brown, his height is above average, he has beautiful dark eyes. And then the emphasis is placed on an excessively distressing situation. Dostoevsky writes that Rodion is dressed in absolute rags, in which another person would be very ashamed to walk down the street.

Next, the initial image of Raskolnikov begins to take shape. He is obsessed with a crazy idea that completely absorbed him. A man is thinking about whether he can decide to commit a crime “for the good of humanity.” And when Rodion began to doubt his decision, he headed to the tavern, where his anxious thoughts left him.

He meets Marmeladov, his wife and children. Rodion learns about his daughter Sonya, who went to the panel so that the family would not die of hunger. A letter received from his mother, in which she writes about the situation with Dunya, infuriates him. These facts reinforce the idea of ​​​​committing the plan.

The image of Raskolnikov sharply contrasts with the image of his comrade Razumikhin. He is also in poverty, but he perceives the hardships of fate completely differently.

This part describes Rodion's dream, which is based on memories from childhood. Here we see little boy sympathizing and empathizing with the horse killed by the owner. But the sweet image of Raskolnikov as a child, greatly upset by the death of an animal, dissipates like a dream. Before us appears a cold-blooded man who carefully thinks through the murder. At the moment of committing the crime, he experiences dizziness, his hands become weak for a moment. However, he swings and kills the old woman, and then Lizaveta, who accidentally entered. After this, he was overcome by fear. With every minute, Rodion’s disgust at the crime he committed grew.

Part two

In this part, the image of Raskolnikov continues to take shape. He is insanely afraid that he will be suspected, and carefully hides the evidence. He is not interested in stolen money. Rodion hates everything around him and is irritated that he deliberately undertook such a vile and vile deed.

While at home, he begins to delirium. This continues for four days. When Razumikhin and Zosimov start talking about murder, Rodion becomes even worse. Luzhin's arrival further aggravates his well-being. He remembers his sister and mother. Despite his general weakness, Rodion Raskolnikov (whose image is already somewhat emerging) boldly expresses everything that he thinks about this vile person.

The meeting and conversation with Zametov emphasizes how Raskolnikov is tormented in his soul. As if in a fit, he makes his interlocutor think that he himself committed murder. And then he asks very quietly: “What if I killed the old woman and Lizaveta?” Zametov does not take these words seriously, comparing Raskolnikov to a madman.

The main character is contemplating suicide. He returns to the crime scene.

Rodion Raskolnikov sees Marmeladov crushed by horses. His image is revealed from another side. This is a kind and not greedy person. He is ready to give his last to help the family of the deceased, whom he barely knew. Rodion is not a believer, but now he asks Sonya to pray for him.

Part three

Raskolnikov meets with his mother and sister. At first glance, it may seem that he is cold and overly cruel to them. However, thoughts about the crime he committed do not leave him for a second. He suffers so much and begins to hate himself that it is unbearable for him to be with his “pure” and “light” relatives. Therefore, the image of Raskolnikov (the essay is presented through the prism of all chapters) is very complex and internally contradictory.

He invites Sonya, introduces her to his mother and Dunya. Her humiliation amazes him, Rodion feels very sorry for the poor girl.

In this part there is a conversation with investigator Porfiry Petrovich, in which it is revealed that he is trying to prove that for the sake of something great any sacrifice can be made. In his opinion, people are divided into ordinary and extraordinary. He first gives the following definition: “louse”, or “trembling creature”. He compares the latter with Napoleon.

Upon returning home, Rodion weakens again. He understands that his conscience does not allow him to forget about the murder. Raskolnikov decides that he himself is a “louse.” All these thoughts and feelings complement the image of Rodion Raskolnikov.

Antipode

Another contrast to the main character is Svidrigailov. This is an overly selfish, cunning, nasty person who ended up here for a reason. Raskolnikov immediately senses that this is an unpleasant person. But Svidrigailov seems strange to Rodion, since he does not know his main goal.

In this part, the image of Rodion Raskolnikov takes on new facets. He fights with all his might for his sisters. Despite the protests, he gets his way and takes Luzhin to clean water. He is glad that his mother and Dunya open their eyes to this vile man, whom he immediately recognized.

He needed a visit to Sonya like air. He doesn’t understand how this unfortunate girl won his trust. But Rodion decided that it was she who should listen to him.

The interrogation of Porfiry Petrovich shows that Rodion can be resourceful at the right moment. He does not admit to the crime he committed, and the investigator only has speculation, there are not enough facts.

Part five

We continue to consider the great work. Raskolnikov's image is complemented by new colors. Rodion Romanovich comes to Katerina Ivanovna's wake, where, due to Luzhin's fault, something happens ridiculous situation with Sonechka. Lebezyatnikov and Raskolnikov are rescued an innocent girl who was slandered by this ignoble man.

Rodion Raskolnikov admits to Sonya that it was he who committed the crime. The man again talks about his theory, which the girl is trying with all her might to understand. He asks himself: “Am I a trembling creature or do I have the right...”. Sonya doesn’t understand how he decided to do this. The girl says that Rodion must atone for his guilt and accept suffering. However, Raskolnikov believes that he has nothing to repent of.

Complete opposites

And again the figure of Raskolnikov is contrasted with Svidrigailov. Disgusting actions, the desire to possess Dunya at any cost are disgusting. Raskolnikov, despite crime committed, seems much more noble and honest. One can characterize him as a true person who has lost his way or as a very confused, doomed person.

Raskolnikov comes to his mother and says goodbye to her. The man finally tells her how much he loves her.

Sonya appeared in Rodion’s life for a reason. It was she who convinced him to confess. Raskolnikov comes to the police station and amazes everyone with his

Epilogue

The ending is striking in its suddenness. It would seem that everything is already clear: crime is punishment. However... Here there is a transformation of the image, which was announced at the beginning.

Raskolnikov received eight years of hard labor. Sonya followed him to Siberia, where she saw her lover at the gates of the prison on holidays.

He behaves very rudely with the girl, but gradually gets used to her visits. Rodion falls ill from wounded pride. The criminal blames himself for confessing. Raskolnikov repeatedly asks himself the question of why he did not commit suicide, like Svidrigailov. Rodion almost died at the hands of convicts. But it was not his destiny to leave this world. Resurrection awaited him.

On his next date with Sonya, he realizes that he loves her. This is the girl who was able to turn him around inner world. Rodion is ready to wait another seven years of hard labor. Now he has someone to live for. Thanks to Sonya, he felt as if he had been resurrected. And the convicts began to treat him differently. A book from Sonya - the Gospel - lay under his pillow for a long time. And now the thought flashed through: “Can her beliefs not now also be mine? Her feelings, her aspirations, at least..."

Conclusion

Everyone, of course, will write an essay on the topic “The Image of Raskolnikov” in their own way. But main idea attentive reader can't miss it. The outward emphasis is on the crime and subsequent punishment. And the whole novel is full life situations And philosophical reflections. The main characters of the book, like the people in real life, sharply contrast with each other. Everyone has their own thoughts and experiences, their own destiny. A somewhat veiled idea is belief in God. Perhaps Raskolnikov would not have committed the crime if he had not thought only about his theory, but was guided by something higher.

And another idea that comes to the surface at the end of the novel is that love can resurrect a person’s soul.

Who almost immediately became a household name in Russian literature. This character at the beginning of the novel is faced with a dilemma - he is a superman or an ordinary citizen.

In the novel “Crime and Punishment,” Fyodor Dostoevsky guides the reader through all stages of decision-making and repentance after the crime.

Crime and Punishment

Rodion Raskolnikov's crime theory, with which he is trying to solve more global issues, subsequently fails. Dostoevsky in his novel shows not only questions of evil and good and crime with responsibility. Against the backdrop of moral disagreements and struggles in the young man’s soul, he shows daily life Petersburg society of the nineteenth century.

Raskolnikov, whose image literally became a household name after the first release of the novel, suffers from the discrepancy between his thoughts and plans and reality. He wrote an article about the chosen ones, who are allowed everything, and is trying to check whether he belongs to the latter.

As we will see later, even hard labor did not change what Raskolnikov thought about himself. The old pawnbroker became for him just a principle that he stepped over.

Thus, in the novel by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, many philosophical, moral and ethical issues are revealed through the prism of the suffering of a former student.

The beauty of the work lies in the fact that the author shows them not from the point of view of the monologues of the main character, but in a clash with other characters who act as both doubles and antipodes of Rodion Raskolnikov.

Who is Raskolnikov?

Rodion Raskolnikov, whose image is stunningly described by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, was a poor student. Life in St. Petersburg has never been cheap. Therefore, without a constant income, this young man slides into hopeless poverty.

Rodion was even forced to quit studying at the university, as there was not enough money for anything. Subsequently, when we deal with different faces his personality, we will be convinced that this student lived for a long time in a world of illusions.

So, why did Raskolnikov consider murder the only right step towards the future? Was it really impossible to go the other way? Next, we will look at the motives for the action and the situations in life that led to such an idea.

First, let's give a description of Raskolnikov. He was a slender young man of twenty-three years of age. Dostoevsky writes that Rodion's height was above average, his eyes were dark, and his hair color was dark brown. The author goes on to say that due to the poverty, the student’s clothes looked more like rags, in which to an ordinary person I would be ashamed to go out into the street.

In the article we will look at what events and meetings led to Raskolnikov’s crime. An essay at school usually requires revealing his image. This information can help complete this task.

So, in the novel we see that Rodion, having read Western philosophers, is inclined to divide society into two types of people - “trembling creatures” and “those with the right.” The Nietzschean idea of ​​the superman is reflected here.

At first, he even considers himself to be in the second category, which actually leads to his murder of the old pawnbroker. But after this crime, Raskolnikov turns out to be unable to withstand the burden of the crime. It turns out that the young man initially belonged to ordinary people and was not a superman to whom everything is permitted.

Criminal prototypes

Literary scholars long years They argued where such a character as Rodion Raskolnikov came from. The image of this man can be traced both in press reports of that time, in literary works, and in the biographies of famous people.

It turns out that the main character owes his appearance to different people and messages that were known to Fyodor Dostoevsky. Now we will highlight the criminal prototypes of Rodion Raskolnikov.

There are three cases in the nineteenth century press that could have influenced the formation of storyline protagonist of Crime and Punishment.

The first was the crime of a young twenty-seven-year-old clerk, described in September 1865 in the newspaper Golos. His name was Chistov Gerasim, and among his acquaintances the young man was considered a schismatic (if you check the dictionary, this term in an allegorical sense means a person who acts contrary to generally accepted traditions).

He killed two old servants with an ax in the house of a bourgeois woman, Dubrovina. The cook and laundress prevented him from robbing the premises. The criminal took out gold and silver objects and money, which he stole from an iron-lined chest. The old women were found in pools of blood.

The crime practically coincides with the events of the novel, but Raskolnikov’s punishment was slightly different.

The second case is known from the second issue of the magazine “Time” for 1861. The famous “Lacenaire trial”, which took place in the 1830s, was outlined there. This man was considered a French serial killer, for whom the lives of other people meant absolutely nothing. For Pierre-François Lacenaire, as contemporaries said, it was the same “to kill a man and to drink a glass of wine.”

After his arrest, he writes memoirs, poems and other works in which he tries to justify his crimes. According to him, he was under the influence revolutionary idea“the fight against injustice in society,” which was instilled in him by the utopian socialists.

Finally, the last case is connected with one acquaintance of Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. Professor of history, Muscovite, relative of the merchant Kumanina (the writer’s aunt) and the second contender for her inheritance (along with the author of Crime and Punishment).

His last name was Neofitov, and he was detained during the process of issuing counterfeit domestic loan notes. It is believed that it was his case that prompted the writer to put into the thoughts of Rodion Raskolnikov the idea of ​​instant enrichment.

Historical prototypes

If speak about famous people that influenced the formation of the image young student, then here we will talk more about ideas than about real events or personalities.

Let's get acquainted with the reasoning of the great people who could formulate the description of Raskolnikov. In addition, all of their treatises are visible on the pages of the novel in the remarks of minor characters.

So, without a doubt, the work of Napoleon Bonaparte comes first. His book The Life of Julius Caesar quickly became a bestseller of the nineteenth century. In it, the emperor showed society the principles of his worldview. The Corsican believed that among the general mass of humanity, “supermen” are occasionally born. The main difference between these individuals and others is that they are allowed to violate all norms and laws.

In the novel we see a reflection of this thought constantly. This is Rodion’s article in the newspaper, and the thoughts of some characters. However, Fyodor Mikhailovich shows a varied understanding of the meaning of the phrase.

The most cynical version of bringing an idea to life comes from a former student. Who did Raskolnikov kill? The old woman-pawnbroker. However, Rodion himself sees the event differently in individual parts of the novel. At first, the young man believes that “this is the most insignificant creature” and “by killing one creature, he will help hundreds of lives.” Later the thought degenerates into the fact that the victim was not a person, but a “crushed louse.” And on last stage the young man comes to the conclusion that he has killed his own life.

Svidrigailov and Luzhin also introduced Napoleonic motives into their actions, but they will be discussed later.

Besides the book French Emperor, similar ideas were in the works “The One and His Property” and “Murder as one of fine arts" We see that throughout the novel, the student is running around with an “idea-passion.” But this event looks more like a failed experiment.

At the end of the novel we see that in hard labor Raskolnikov understands the error of his behavior. But the young man does not finally give up on the idea. This can be seen from his thoughts. On the one hand, he laments the ruined youth, on the other, he regrets that he confessed. If I had endured it, maybe I would have become a “superman” for myself.

Literary prototypes

The description of Raskolnikov, which can be given to the image of the character, accumulates various thoughts and actions of the heroes of other works. Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky examines many social and philosophical problems through the prism of the doubts of a young man.

For example, the lone hero challenging society exists in most romantic writers. Thus, Lord Byron creates the images of Manfred, Lara and the Corsair. In Balzac we recognize similar traits in Rastignac, and in Stendhal we recognize similar traits in Julien Sorel.

If we consider who Raskolnikov killed, we can draw an analogy with Pushkin’s “Queen of Spades.” There, Hermann tries to gain wealth at the expense of the old countess. It is noteworthy that Alexander Sergeevich’s old woman’s name was Lizaveta Ivanovna and the young man kills her morally. Dostoevsky went further. Rodion really takes the life of a woman with that name.

Besides this, it is enough great resemblance there are with the characters of Schiller and Lermontov. The first in the work "The Robbers" has Karl Moor, who faces the same ethical problems. And in “A Hero of Our Time,” Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin is in a similar state of moral experimentation.

Yes, and in other works of Dostoevsky there are similar images. First it was “Notes of the Underground”, later - Ivan Karamazov, Versilov and Stavrogin.

Thus, we see that Rodion Raskolnikov combines an opponent of society and a realistic character with his environment, origin and plans for the future.

Pulcheria Alexandrovna

Raskolnikov's mother, with her provincial naivety and simplicity, sets off the images of the capital's residents. She perceives events in a more simplified way, closes her eyes to many things, and seems unable to understand. However, at the end of the novel, when they break out in her dying delirium last words, we see how wrong our assumptions were. This woman perceived everything, but did not show the whirlpool of passions that raged in her soul.

In the first chapters of the novel, when Rodion Raskolnikov is introduced to us, his mother's letter has a significant influence on his decision. Information that the sister is preparing to “sacrifice herself for the good of her brother” plunges the student into a gloomy mood. He finally becomes convinced of the idea of ​​killing the old pawnbroker.

Here the desire to protect Dunya from crooks is added to his plans. The loot, according to Raskolnikov, should be enough not to require financial handouts from his sister’s future “husband.” Subsequently, Rodion meets Luzhin and Svidrigailov.

Immediately after the first one came to introduce himself to him, the young man received him with hostility. Why does Raskolnikov do this? The mother's letter directly says that he is a scoundrel and a cheat. Under Pulcheria Alexandrovna, he developed the idea that the best wife is from a poor family, since she is completely in the power of her husband.

From the same letter, the former student learns about the dirty harassment of the landowner Svidrigailov towards his sister, who worked as their governess.

Since Pulcheria Alexandrovna did not have a husband, Rodya becomes the only support of the family. We see how the mother takes care of him and takes care of him. Despite his rude behavior and unfounded reproaches, the woman strives to help with all her might. However, she cannot break through the wall that her son has built around himself in an attempt to protect the family from future shocks.

Dunya

In the novel, Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky illustrates various life positions and personal philosophies through contrasting characters. For example, Dunya and Raskolnikov. The characteristics of brother and sister are similar in many respects. They are outwardly attractive, educated, think independently and are prone to decisive actions.

However, Rodion was crippled by poverty. He lost faith in kindness and sincerity. We see its gradual degradation social life. At the beginning of the novel, it is reported that Raskolnikov is a former student, but now he is hatching plans to “get rich overnight.”

Avdotya Romanovna, his sister, strives for a better, happy future, but in more realistic positions. She, unlike her brother, does not dream of instant wealth and does not harbor romantic illusions.

The culmination of their opposition is expressed in readiness to kill. If Raskolnikov succeeds and goes to this length to prove his own superiority, then with Dunya things are completely different. She is ready to take Svidrigailov’s life, but only out of self-defense.

We see Raskolnikov's punishment throughout most of the novel. It begins not at hard labor, but immediately after the death of the old woman. Gnawing doubts and worries about the progress of the investigation torment the student more than the subsequent years in Siberia.
Dunya, having defended her right to freedom, receives as a reward happy life In Petersburg.

Thus, Raskolnikov’s sister turns out to be more active than her mother. And her influence on her brother the stronger the that they mutually care about each other. He sees a certain outlet in helping her find her soul mate.

Raskolnikov and Marmeladov

Marmeladov and Raskolnikov are actually complete opposites. Semyon Zakharovich is a widower, a titular councilor. He is quite old for this rank, but his actions explain this turn of events.

We find out that he drinks shamelessly. Having married Ekaterina Ivanovna and their children, Marmeladov moved to the capital. Here the family gradually sinks to the bottom. It gets to the point where own daughter goes to work to feed his family while Semyon Zakharovich is “lying around drunk.”

But in the formation of the image of Raskolnikov, one episode with the participation of this minor character. When the young man was returning from a “reconnaissance” of the future crime scene, he found himself in a tavern, where he met Marmeladov.

The key is one phrase from the latter’s confession. He, outlining the abject poverty, says “there are absolutely no barriers.” Rodion Romanovich finds himself in the same position in his thoughts. Inaction and dark fantasies led him to an extremely disastrous situation, from which he saw only one way out.

It turns out that the conversation with the titular adviser is superimposed on the despair that the former student experienced after reading the letter from his mother. This is the dilemma Raskolnikov faces.

The characterization of Marmeladov and his daughter Sonya, who will later become a window into the future for Rodion, boils down to the fact that they submitted to fatalism. At the beginning, the young man tries to influence them, help, change their lives. However, in the end he dies under the pressure of guilt and partly accepts the views and life philosophy Sony.

Raskolnikov and Luzhin

Luzhin and Raskolnikov are similar in their irrepressible vanity and egoism. However, Pyotr Petrovich is a much smaller soul and stupider. He considers himself successful, modern and respectable, and says that he created himself. However, in fact, he turns out to be just an empty and deceitful careerist.

The first acquaintance with Luzhin occurs in a letter that Rodion receives from his mother. It is from marriage with this “scoundrel” that the young man tries to save his sister, which pushes him to commit a crime.

If you compare these two images, both imagine themselves to be practically “superhuman”. But Rodion Raskolnikov is younger and susceptible to romantic illusions and maximalism. Pyotr Petrovich, on the contrary, tries to force everything into the framework of his stupidity and narrow-mindedness (although he considers himself very smart).

The culmination of the confrontation between these heroes takes place in the “rooms”, where the unlucky groom, out of his own greed, settled the bride with her future mother-in-law. Here, in an extremely vile environment, he shows his true colors. And the result is a final break with Dunya.

Later he will try to discredit Sonya by accusing her of theft. With this, Pyotr Petrovich wanted to prove Rodion’s inconsistency in choosing the acquaintances whom he introduces into the family (previously, Raskolnikov introduced Marmeladov’s daughter to his mother and sister). However, his nefarious plan fails and he is forced to flee.

Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov

In the novel “Crime and Punishment,” Raskolnikov, whose image undergoes evolution in the course of events, encounters his antipodes and doubles.

However, there is no direct resemblance to any character. All heroes act as the opposite of Rodion or have a more developed certain characteristic. So Arkady Ivanovich, as we know from the letter, is inclined to the constant pursuit of pleasure. He does not disdain murder (this is his only similarity with the main character).

However, Svidrigailov appears as a character with a dual nature. He seems to be a reasonable person, but he has lost faith in the future. Arkady Ivanovich tries to coerce and blackmail Dunya into becoming his wife, but the girl shoots him twice with a revolver. She failed to get in, but as a result, the landowner loses all hope of being able to start life from scratch. As a result, Svidrigailov commits suicide.

Rodion Raskolnikov sees his possible future in Arkady Ivanovich’s decision. He had already gone several times to look at the river from the bridge, thinking of jumping down. However, Fyodor Mikhailovich helps the young man. He gives him hope in the form of Sonechka's love. This girl forces a former student to confess to a crime, and then follows him to hard labor.

Thus, in this article we got acquainted with the bright and in an ambiguous way Rodion Raskolnikov. In Crime and Punishment, Dostoevsky dissects the soul of a criminal with surgical precision to show the evolution from determination inspired by illusions to depression after a collision with reality.

The literary character Rodion Raskolnikov is a complex image. Many consider him the most controversial character in Russian literature of the 19th century V. What kind of hero is this, what is the essence of his mental turmoil and what crime did he commit? Let's look into this.

Who is Rodion Raskolnikov

Before considering the image of Rodion Raskolnikov in F. Dostoevsky’s novel “Crime and Punishment,” it is worth learning about his biography.

Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov is a student at the Faculty of Law of St. Petersburg University, age 23. He is handsome, smart and educated. Coming from a poor middle-class family, Raskolnikov came to Russia at the age of 21. Northern capital Russia.

Since his father had died several years earlier, and his mother and sister lived very modestly, the young man had to rely only on his own strength.

Living and studying in St. Petersburg was quite expensive, and in order to earn money, the young provincial gave private lessons to noble children. However, fatigue and exhaustion of the body led to the young man becoming seriously ill and falling into deep depression.

Having stopped teaching, Rodion lost his only source of income and was forced to quit his studies. Being in a difficult moral state, he planned and carried out the murder and robbery of an old money-lender. However, due to the appearance of an unwanted witness, the young man had to kill her too.

For most of the novel, Raskolnikov analyzes his action from different angles and tries to find both justification and punishment for himself. At this time, he saves his sister from a marriage forced on her and finds a worthy and loving husband for her.

In addition, he helps the family of a prostitute named Sonya Marmeladova and falls in love with her. The girl helps the hero realize his guilt. Under her influence, Rodion surrenders to the police and is sent to hard labor. The girl follows him and helps Raskolnikov find strength for future achievements.

Who was the prototype of the main character of the novel “Crime and Punishment”

F. Dostoevsky took the image of Raskolnikov from real life. So, in 1865, a certain Gerasim Chistov, during a robbery, killed two female servants with an ax. It was he who became the prototype of Rodion Raskolnikov. After all, Chistov was an Old Believer, that is, a “schismatic” - hence the surname of the hero of the novel.

The theory of one's own chosenness as a defensive reaction to the injustice of the world

Analyzing the image of Raskolnikov in the novel “Crime and Punishment”, first of all it is worth paying attention to how a good-natured young man from a decent family decided to become a killer.

In those years, the work “The Life of Julius Caesar,” written by Napoleon III, was popular in Russia. The author argued that people are divided into ordinary people and individuals who make history. These chosen ones can ignore the laws and go towards their goal, without stopping at murder, theft and other crimes.

This book was very popular in the years when Crime and Punishment was written. Russian Empire, and therefore many intellectuals imagined themselves to be precisely these “chosen ones.”

Raskolnikov was like that. However, his fascination with the ideas of Napoleon III had a different background. As stated above, the hero was a provincial who had recently arrived in the capital. Judging by his good character, which he (despite own desires) often demonstrates in the novel (he helped Sonya with the funeral, saved an unfamiliar girl from a scoundrel), initially the young man was full of the brightest hopes and plans.

But, having lived in the capital for several years, he became convinced of the immorality and corruption of its inhabitants. Being a highly moral person, Rodion Romanovich was never able to adapt to such a life. As a result, he found himself on the sidelines: sick and without money.

At this moment, the sensitive youthful soul, unable to accept the surrounding reality, began to look for joy, which became for her the idea of ​​chosenness expressed by Napoleon III.

On the one hand, this faith helped Raskolnikov accept the reality around him and not go crazy. On the other hand, it became poison for his soul. After all, wanting to test himself, the hero decided to kill.

Murder as a test of oneself

Having examined the prerequisites for the commission of a crime by the main character of the novel, it is worth moving on to the murder itself, which became a turning point that influenced the image of Rodion Raskolnikov.

Having taken on that mission, Raskolnikov thinks that he is doing a good deed, because he is saving the humiliated and insulted from the tormentor pawnbroker. However Higher power show the hero the insignificance of his action. Indeed, because of his absent-mindedness, the old woman’s deranged sister becomes a witness to the murder. And now, in order to save his own skin, Rodion Raskolnikov is forced to kill her too.

As a result, instead of becoming a fighter against injustice, Raskolnikov becomes a banal coward, no better than his victim. After all, for his own benefit, he takes the life of the innocent Lizaveta.

Crime and Punishment of Raskolnikov

After the perfection, the image of Raskolnikov in the novel acquires a certain duality, as if the hero is at a crossroads.

He is trying to understand whether he can continue to live with such a stain on his conscience or whether he needs to confess and atone for his guilt. Tormented by the pangs of conscience, Rodion increasingly realizes that he is not like his heroes, sleeping peacefully, having sent thousands of innocent people to death. After all, having killed only two women, he is unable to forgive himself for this.

Feeling guilty, he moves away from people, but at the same time he is looking for a kindred spirit. She becomes Sonya Marmeladova - a girl who went to the panel in order to save her relatives from starvation.

Rodion Raskolnikov and Sonechka Marmeladova

It is her sinfulness that becomes what attracts Raskolnikov. After all, like him, the girl has sinned and feels guilty. This means that, feeling ashamed of what she did, she will be able to understand it. These arguments become the reason why Rodion Raskolnikov confesses to the murder of the girl.

The image of Sonechka Marmeladova at this moment is contrasted with the main character. On the one hand, she pities and understands him. But on the other hand, he calls on Rodion to confess and be punished.

Throughout the second half of the novel, and especially in the finale, a contrast occurs: Raskolnikov is the image of Sonechka. Having fallen in love with Rodion and forcing him to confess, the girl takes on part of his guilt. She voluntarily goes to Siberia, where her lover has been exiled. And, despite his neglect, she continues to take care of him. It is her dedication that helps Raskolnikov (who is confused in his philosophies and moral self-flagellation) to believe in God and find the strength to live on.

Rodion Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov: two sides of the same coin

To better reveal the delusion of the main character, Dostoevsky introduced the image of Svidrigailov into the novel Crime and Punishment. Although his ideals seem to differ from the Rodionovs, the main principle that drives him is: you can do evil if the ultimate goal is good. In the case of this character, his evil deeds are far from isolated: he was a cheater, unintentionally killed a servant, and may have “helped” his wife go to the next world.

At first it seems that he is not like Raskolnikov. His image is the complete opposite of Rodion, both in appearance (old, but well-groomed and incredibly handsome) and in his demeanor (he has the right connections, perfectly understands the psychology of people and knows how to get his way). Moreover, for a long time Svidrigailov successfully convinces both Raskolnikov and himself that the feeling of guilt is alien to him, and his only weakness is his insatiable desires. However, closer to the end this illusion dissipates.

Tormented by guilt for the death of his wife, the hero is haunted by hallucinations of her image. In addition, the character not only keeps Rodion’s secret (without demanding anything in return), but also helps Sonechka with money, as if repenting of the fact that he was unable to accept punishment for his misdeeds at one time.

The contrast also looks quite interesting love lines Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov. So, having fallen in love with Sonya, Rodion puts part of his torment on her, telling her the truth about his crime. Their relationship can be described in the words of Shakespeare: “She loved me for my torment, and I loved her for my compassion for them.”

Svidrigailov's relationship with Dunya begins on a similar note. Well versed in female psychology, the man portrays a scoundrel seeking redemption. Feeling sorry for him and dreaming of putting him on the right path, Dunya falls in love with him. But realizing that she was deceived, she hides from her lover.

During last meeting Arkady Ivanovich manages to get a kind of recognition of his feelings from the girl. However, realizing that, despite their mutual love, they have no future because of his past, Svidrigailov lets Dunya go, deciding to answer for his sins on his own. But, unlike Rodion, he doesn’t really believe in redemption and the possibility of starting a new life, so he commits suicide.

What is the possible future of the characters in the novel?

F. Dostoevsky left open ending of his novel, only telling readers that the main character repented of his deeds and believed in God. But has Rodion Romanovich really changed? He never abandoned his idea of ​​being chosen for a great feat, only adapting it to the Christian faith.

Will he have enough strength to really start? new life? Indeed, in the past, this character has more than once demonstrated the fragility of his convictions and a tendency to give in to difficulties. For example, when faced with financial problems, instead of looking for ways to solve them, I abandoned my studies and stopped working. If it weren’t for Sonya, perhaps he would not have confessed, but would have shot himself in a brotherhood fight with Svidrigalov.

With such a not at all optimistic future, the only hope is Sonechka’s love. After all, it is she who demonstrates true faith and nobility in the novel. Fighting with financial difficulties, the girl does not fall into philosophizing, but sells her honor. And after becoming a prostitute, she struggles to preserve her soul.

By taking responsibility for her loved one, she gets a chance to start life over again - Svidrigailov provides her relatives with money, and he also provides financial assistance to the girl herself, knowing about her intention to follow Rodion to hard labor. And finding herself in hard labor, among the dregs of society, Sonya tries her best to help each of them. In other words, this heroine does not prepare herself for some great feat for the benefit of humanity, but accomplishes it every day. Her “Love... active is work and endurance...”, while with Rodion she is “dreamy, longs for a quick feat, quickly satisfied, and for everyone to look at him.” Will Rodion learn wisdom and humility from Sonya or will he continue to dream of heroism? Time will tell.

Artists who embodied the image of Rodion Raskolnikov on the silver screen

The novel “Crime and Punishment” is one of the most famous among Dostoevsky’s legacy.

Therefore, it has been filmed more than once, not only in Russia, but also abroad.

Most famous performers the roles of Rodion Raskolnikov are Robert Hossein, Georgy Taratorkin and Vladimir Koshevoy.