Crime and Punishment: An Analysis of the Choice of Raskolnikov

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a novel that deals with the effects of guilt on Raskolnikov, the murderer of an old pawnbroker and her sister. During the course of the novel, Raskolnikov makes many questionable choices, but when you consider he is a man haunted by guilt all of his choices become much more believable. Out of the many choices that he made, the biggest was when he gave himself up.

Although admitting to committing a murder may not seem like the most logical choice for Raskolnikov to make, he really didn't have many other options. In the first place, Porfiry has become convinced that he committed the crime and told him that if he confessed he would get a lighter sentence. Since Raskolnikov really is guilty, he doesn't have the nerves to act innocent and has to confess.

Another reason for Raskolnikov's confession is the physical illness that his guilt caused. Ever since he committed the crime he has been pale, weak, depressed, and mostly stuck in bed. Raskolnikov begins to think that this sickness is from the guilt and stress of committing the murder, and frequently considers whether or not confessing and taking the punishment would stop his sickness. By the end of the novel, his hypothesis proves to be true and he does eventually find relief from his guilt and is able to begin a new life as seen when Raskolnikov realizes that "they had another seven years to wait, and what terrible suffering and what infinite happiness before them!" (429).

One other possible motive for Raskolnikov's confession is that he was so guilty he wanted to be caught from the very beginning. The only reason why he didn't confess earlier in the story may have been a lack of courage. The day after committing the crime, Raskolnikov is already considering confessing as seen on page 84 when he says "A strange idea suddenly occurred to him, to get up at once, to go up to Nikodim Fomitch, and tell him everything that had happened yesterday." Raskolnikov even goes so far as to actually say "And what if it was I who murdered the old woman and Lizaveta?'" to the clerk at the police station. Fortunately for him the clerk only thinks it is a sick joke, although it does add to the mounting suspicion against him. Raskolnikov also does suspicious things that only someone haunted by guilt would do such as walking to the scene of the crime and asking about the blood stains that used to be on the floor.

Another reason for Raskolnikov's confession was his new relationship with Sonia. After confessing the murder to her, she doesn't treat him as he expects and instead comforts him. When he realizes that she loves him and will follow him wherever he goes, Raskolnikov understands that he cannot be in hiding for the rest of his life and must confess eventually. The knowledge that someone would continue to love him and follow him whatever happens definitely made it easier for Raskolnikov to decide to confess.

Another reason that giving himself up was a believable choice was that much of what he had done prior in the novel was very unpredictable. Although he often planned his actions out and considered his options, when he carried out those plans was entirely dependent on his reaction to circumstances. One example of this is the murder, even with his careful planning it took a coincidence in the hay market to convince him to commit the crime. Another example is his reactions to Porfiry's questioning, he would have a plan for what he would say but in the heat of the moment he would frequently say incriminating things. He was very impulsive and made important decisions on the spur of the moment.

Dostoyevsky did a good job of making Raskolnikov's choice to give himself up believable through his prior actions, thoughts, and his other choices. Through his depiction of the effects of guilt on a logical man, Dostoyevsky is able to make a seemingly illogical choice perfectly believable.

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Crime and Punishment