19th Century Theories in Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment Essay

19th Century Theories in Dostoevskys Crime and punishment I teach you the Super gentle humanss gentleman. homophile is something that has to be pass oned. What break you finished to surpass him? These words said by Friedrich Nietzsche encompass the theories present in Dostoevskys nineteenth century novel, Crime and penalty. Fyodor Dostoevsky, living a c atomic number 18er of worthless himself, created the character of Raskolnikov with the preconceptions of his own sorrowful and struggling carriage. Throughout his exile in Siberia from 1849-1859, his sentiments of abject, sorrow, and the plebeian man surfaced and heightened, inspiring him to begin writing Crime and Punishment in 1859.The main motif in this novel is that of throe. It is apparent that exclusively characters, major and minor, experience some sort of internal or outdoor(a) affliction. The over each(prenominal) theme of the work is that tout ensemble told mortal men suffer, and that redemption fuck not b e obtained unless this injure is present. Dostoevskys protagonist, Raskolnikov, moldiness develop and realize this fact to overcome his conflicts and reach the salvation of peace and tranquillity. Volumes and volumes of evaluate can be written on where this torture originated, only when Dostoevskys main concentration and focus is not where, provided wherefore suffering must exist and how this suffering can be overcome.See muchFirst Poem for You EssayThis is seen from the fact that byout the six sections of the novel, and one section is focused on the origin of the torment the Crime, and the rest five sections are concentrated on Raskolnikovs cut to overcoming this anguish the Punishment. By focusing solely on the punishment, the internal and external conflicts that pinch within the novel do not only provide Raskolnikovs own philosophy of the path toward salvation, but encompasses that of the German philosopher Nietzsche, as considerably as his contemporaries. Raskoln ikovs defenses for his actions are relayed in his own Extraordinary Man Theory, which states that on that point are two classifications of men in the world ordinary, and extraordinary.He wanted prove that he was extraordinary, that he could commit a discourtesy as horrid as murder, but because he did it for the betterment of society, he would feel no sympathy or regret for his justified actions. In following Raskolnikovs possible action, it lives apparent from where his conceptions originate. Though the whole work encompasses the philosophies of both the nineteenth century theorists, Raskolnikovs ideas spawn from that of Friedrich Nietzsche and Georg Wilhelm Hegel.Since it has already been established that the heartfelt novel contains theories of its era, to begin an analysis in regard to the novels main ideas evolving from the concepts of merely Nietzsche or Hegel would, in a musical mode, belittle the sizeableness of the remaining non-Hegelian nineteenth century philosop hers. By analyzing the ideologies of the major theorists from baffle to chalk (Kierkegaard to Freud) with note to Crime and Punishment, Dostoevskys intentions, motifs, and ideas can be interpreted with ease. Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) believed that uprightness is both power and suffering.He is often noted as the Father of Existentialism, an innovated modern belief that look has no meaning, and that we must live life just for the sake of living, and nothing else. To know the fairness about life and the man-to-mans living it would be a form of powerful knowledge paradoxical to man. The truth is Life is suffering. Kierkegaard believed that man was blessed with the greatest gift of wholly free testament, but this free will creates decisions, and decisions generate perceptions.Emotions are the trace to the suffering of man. Happiness creates a fear in losing prosperity, fear leads to vexation toward lifes unjust ports, anger leads to hatred of life in general, and hatr ed leads to the suffering of the individual mind. This is the path of the common man, the man who thinks that life can be blissful. The existential man believes that life has no meaning, no substance, and no path for happiness. He is the man who knows and accepts that all things, good and evil, exist, including suffering.This is why the existential man is indifferent toward the put ons and consequences of life. Raskolnikov believes that The Extraordinary Man feels no suffering and no pain. He is the man who can break the laws, transgress the laws, and raise the laws. Raskolnikov believed that if he were extraordinary, he could commit any iniquity, even the wickedness of murder, and fling away from it indifferent, apathetic, and without perception.What he did not realize was the main point of Kierkegaards philosophy, that no matter what man suffers. Raskolnikov thought that he could avoid the truth and avoid suffering. It is not until he confesses to both Porfiry and Sonia, wh ich coincidentally is the aforesaid(prenominal) newsflash that his own pain begins to vanquish, that he fully understands and believes in the suffering of man.Georg Wilhelm Hegel (1770-1831), separate prominent philosopher of the nineteenth century, hypothesized a dialectic method for the analysis and cognition of history. He believed that all events in time move in a teleological fashion contrary to the popular belief of a flier path. Hegel stated that history, rather than repeating itself, learns and moves forward toward a purpose.In his system this purpose is the freedom of all men in a demythologised state, and moving toward such a beneficial purpose justifies all good and evil events in history. The dialectic method also consisted of a plat regarding this teleological path. Hegel believed that history is made up of a series of events all corresponding to a thesis, antithesis, and synthesis. The thesis and antithesis go to as the conflict in history, go the synthesis b ecomes the result.In Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov is the thesis, the symbol of good intentions, m close Svidrigailov is the antithesis, the epitome and reality of evil and suffering. With the involvement of good and evil comes salvation, or the synthesis, in this case Sonia, the representation and key to Raskolnikovs salvation. This method can also be viewed in the perspective of Dostoevskys primary concentrations. With that respect the crime can be viewed as the symbol of good intentions. Raskolnikov killed Alyona because she represented the evil in society. Because her death would be a blessing and benefit to the world he believed his crime would be justified.The punishment can be viewed as the reality of suffering. It is not until after he commits the crime that Raskolnikov realizes that all men in fact do suffer. The key is to overcome this suffering instead of avoiding it. The salvation can be viewed as the redemption and subvert to suffering the result of the crime and of the punishment. This analysis also maps Hegels teleological perspective because the novel moves in a linear fashion. The Crime (thesis) encompasses go away I of the novel, the Punishment (antithesis) is demonstrated in Parts II-VI, and the salvation (synthesis) is introduced in the epilogue. Friedrich Nietzsche (1844- 1900) did not believe in the suffering of all men.He believed that there existed a loony toons, a powerful individual that lived for self-gratification and nothing else. The Nietzschean superman asserts his own power to situations while he watches the common and ordinary man suffer because of lifes imperfections. This man deficiencys no justification in his actions, because as long as he has satisfied himself, accordingly his dominance over others requires no terra firma. Nietzsche also believed that in order to become a superman, an individual must surpass the common man.He must have no qualms or regrets in his actions, and above all, he must not fear his actions or consequences. Fear is the mother of morality, it is an emotion only known to ordinary men. A superman has no fear. peradventure the character of Svidrigailov emits the best example of a Nietzschean superman in the novel. He is the epitome of evil and lives only for self-gratification. His downfall to his superman visage is suicide. oddment is the escape to suffering. Svidrigailov feared its company, and in turn, took his own life to avoid it. Raskolnikov on the other hand, did not avoid suffering he conquered it.Though before his crime he did ask the Hegelian question of Will this crime work on a noble purpose, he also asks the Nietzschean question of Do I dare commit this murder and therefore prove myself to be a man by proving that my will is strong? It is after this that he commits the crime and begins to endure this suffering. Unlike his rival, Svidrigailov, Raskolnikov overcomes his pain done salvation with the help of Sonia, ends his isolation, and returns to the humanness of society.Karl Marx (1818-1883) believed that society was the root of suffering. His common man, the proletarian, struggled because of the capitalistic bourgeoisie. He believed that the proletariat goes through various stages of development. The first stage is the struggle against the bourgeois, which afterward turns to suffering.Through the harvest-tide of the masses, the final stages of the common man of say-so and victory evolve. The goal and path of the Marxist man is to emerge from being a mere good of society into being a creative and active member of it. The strength that allows him to do this is the realization that he is suffering because he lives for others, and his victory is obtained by overcoming this anguish through the bond of the proletariat.Though Raskolnikov does not face the same pain of worthlessness as the proletariat, he develops in the same fashion. He struggles against his inner emotions of reason and morality, and suffers because of it. T hough Sonia and Porfiry contribute to his salvation, it is Raskolnikov himself that overcomes his emotions. He does not need the bond of the masses to aid him in his survival and path toward salvation he only needs the bond of his inner sharp and emotion states. This is why Raskolnikov survives. In 1859 the theorist Charles Darwin (1809-1882) published a controversial volume of survival entitled The Origin of Species.In this work Darwin established that an beingnesss growing or devolution in life is voice of their ability to conform, adjust, and survive within the harshness of its environment. This theory of survival of the fittest, later became the coined theme of Social Darwinism. Social Darwinism believes that man survives and prospers in nature because he is the organism that is fit enough to do so. In a battle between man verses nature, and even man versus society, only the strong shall survive, while the weak will parish.Faith and belief no longer have any bearing on the members of tomorrows society, only strength. his theory is presented many times in Crime and Punishment. Alyona and Lizaveta both perish because they are not capable of defeating Raskolnikov. Alyona also did not survive because Raskolnikovs beliefs were stronger than her will and intentions. Svidrigailov cannot conquer the constraints society has placed upon him, and in turn, he commits suicide. The only excommunication to this theory is Raskolnikov. His inner strength of intelligence may be strong, but his physical and emotional abilities do not coincide with Darwins fantasy of fit. Raskolnikovs survival is from his redemption.He reaches salvation because he chooses to, and therefore he survives because he chooses to. He does this through his own realization and rationalization. The psychologist and theorist Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) believed that an individuals decisions are not always determined by the rational state of mind. He believed that all humans possess three transluce nt decision making chambers of human sort. He refers to the first of these as the id. The id is the childhood and instinctual need of the individual. This is the sector that satisfies an individuals wants and trusts, accomplishing them at no fear of risk.The second portion of human behavior is referred to as the self-importance. The ego is the rationalist, the sector that makes decisions that benefit the individual and society. Freud believed that the majority of all individuals make decisions base on their ego. The final and third division of an individuals behavior is called the superego. The superego is the ideal individual. This individual makes decisions that should be made he does things the way they should be done in his opinion, and no matter what the results may be, has no reason for regret.Though most of the characters in the novel make decisions based upon their ego, it is clear and apparent that Raskolnikov does not. He knows what he believes to be right and wrong, and tries to right the wrongs in society with his superego. Though he is the only one to use his superego, all of the other Freudian sections of human decisions exist in the work. Throughout the novel, Svidrigailov uses his id. His encounters with women, prosperity, and possibility are not prolific because he deserves them, but because he wants them. It is his id that leads him to his desire for an end to suffering, and his death near the end of the novel. Sonia and Dounia both rationalize their actions through their ego.Though Sonia does not and should not be a prostitute, she knows that it is the only way for her family to survive. Dounia is in a similar predicament. She did not wish to marry Luzhin, but his wealth and proposal to help Raskolnikov rationalized her to stay. Later, her ego permits her to marry Razumihin for his compassion, admiration, and companionship. This use of the id, ego, and superego add a Freudian element to Dostoevskys work. With all of these theories ana lyzed, computed, and settled, we can end this critique where we began I teach you the Superman. Man is something that has to be surpassed.What have you done to surpass him? Is Raskolnikov a Superman? Well, he follows Kierkegaards existential arguing of I believe, therefore I am, which means that he surpasses the common man who merely thinks. Through the ideas of Hegel, his teleological movements from crime to punishment all serve a justified purpose in benefiting his moral and rational states. He overcomes the common man through the salvation he obtains from this linear evolution of trials. He suffers not from Marxist classes, but from internal struggle, excluding him as a member of the proletariat, or common man.Though not physically or emotionally fit to survive, his confession becomes his salvation, his survival, and his disclaimer in the Darwin theory of surviving. The common man may survive because he is fit to survive, but Raskolnikov survives because he chooses to survive. Unlike Freuds theory that the everyday man lives his life through his ego, Raskolnikov makes his decisions based on his superego, doing things not just because it would be rational, but because that it the way it should be done. So then, Is Raskolnikov a Superman? Yes.