In Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov’s dream about the mare can be used as a vehicle to probe deeply into his mentality to discover how he really feels inside. The dream suggests that Raskolnikov is a “split” man; after all, his name in Russian means “split”. His personality has a cruel and thoughtless side as well as a caring, compassionate side. Through the dream and the symbols therein, a reader can cast Raskolnikov, as well as other characters from Crime And Punishment, into any of the various parts in the dream. Each part that a character plays leads to a different conclusion about that character. Raskolnikov himself “fits” into the positions of Mikolka, the child, and the mare.
If Mikolka, the drunken owner of the mare, were to represent Raskolnikov, then the mare would most probably represent Alyona Ivanovna. The senseless beating of the mare by Mikolka is similar to the brutal attack on Alyona by Rodion. (It should be noted that both Alyona and the mare were female.) These heartless attacks foreshadow …
The Two Personalities of Raskolnikov in Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment
The Two Personalities of Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment
Raskolnikov, the main character of the novel Crime and Punishment by Feodor Dostoevsky, actually possesses two completely contradicting personalities. One part of him is intellectual: cold, unfeeling, inhumane, and exhibiting tremendous self-will. It is this side of him that enables him to commit the most terrible crime imaginable – taking another human life. The other part of his personality is warm and compassionate. This side of him does charitable acts and fights against the evil in his society.
The confusion in Raskolnikov’s soul is best seen when he tries to help a girl in the street who has been raped and left to the whims of whoever may find her. Raskolnikov tries to protect her from the evil of the street, but then stops himself when he is repulsed by the wickedness of his society. Why did I take it upon myself to interfere? Was it for me to try to help? Let them eat one another alive – what is it to me? ***IF THIS IS A QUOTE, IT SHOULD BE PLACED IN QUOTATION MARKS*** At one time, Ra…