Crime and Punishment Thought Piece #1

"All is in a man's hands and he lets it all slip from cowardice, that's an axiom. It would be interesting to know what it is men are most afraid of. Taking a new step, uttering a new word is what they fear most" (5).

Throughout his novel, Dostoevsky analyzes the human mind, and seeks to reveal why a particular person acts in a certain way. He also challenges what is "socially acceptable" and mocks humanity, as well.

Dostoevsky uses this quote in the very first chapter to set up the theme early on within the story. It not only outlines the entire story, in my opinion, but it causes the reader to think about this concept in his own life. In fact, the reason this quote stood out to me was because it made me analyze my own life. I had to ask myself, "Am I afraid of taking a new step"? Interestingly enough, I found that change is one of the things I tend to dislike most or that brings out an irrational fear within me.

Back to the story, this quote makes the story universally relevant to all people. Every person has a fear of change. Crime and Punishment reveals what would happen (in Dostoevsky's opinion) if man attempted to overcome this fear or "jump over the fence." This really makes the whole book a predictation. The story is not only an interesting fiction piece, but rather Dostoevsky's theory on man's limitations and greatest fears.

It's also significant how Raskolnikov believes man holds "everything in his own hands." Dostoevsky mocks man's prideful attitude and how man believes himself often to be the "supreme being". Since Dostoevsky has this idea ruin Raskolnikov and drive him mad, it's inadvertently reveals his belief that there is a higher power. When man takes life into his own hands and believe himself "above" the moral code, it will ruin him. For no one is above this. It also suggests that there is a higher "moral law" that all man is subject to.

Since every person has this fear of change, as well as curiousities, this piece is truly relevent to all mankind. In everyday experiences, there are boundaries. What would happen if I behaved "above" the boundaries? How would it affect me, as well as others? Crime and Punishment answers all these questions. While murder seems a great extreme, it also applies to less radical concepts in the 21st century. Do I REALLY need to pay my taxes? Is it REALLY necessary for me to follow the dress code at my school? Is it REALLY wrong for me to cheat on this test? Dostoevsky's story reveals the dangers of these thoughts, as innocent as they may begin. Whenever someone thinks themself "above" the set boundaries, it is no doubt due to pride. Pride is the worst vice, which is truly at the center of all sin. So while disobeying the dress code may not seem "that bad," it encourages the pride within one to grow, which will lead one down a slippery slope to more and more compromises.