Fyodor Dostoevsky Violence

“Introduction: How’d He Do That?” A literature professor and an average person have very different ways of analyzing a novel. A professor will ask a series of questions while reading; “Where did that effect come from? Whom does this character resemble? Where have I seen this situation before?” (page xxvii). This allows for a deeper understanding of a novel. Another defining component is the recognition of memory, symbol, and pattern. By acknowledging these items, the reader can look beyond the basic plot to a novel and create a more in-depth analysis. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky can be analyzed using the techniques described in this chapter. Memory, symbol, and pattern allow for a deeper analysis of a novel. By using these

Violence is very symbolic and is an intimate act. There are two types of violence in novels: physical violence and narrative violence. Physical violence is a confrontation between two characters. Narrative violence is what the author inflicts on the characters. This is done for a number of reasons including plot and theme development. Violence is very emotional and can add a deep level of understanding. By understanding the reason for violence in a novel, the novel can be more fully analyzed.

Violence is spread throughout the novel Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Raskolnikov commits an act of physical violence by murdering the pawnbroker, Alyona Ivanovna, and her sister, Lizaveta. Narrative violence is seen in Raskolnikov’s mental struggles. The murders effect Luzhin in a certain way. Luzhin is driven by his need to solve the murders and eventually it makes him commit certain crimes of his own such as falsely accusing someone of a crime. Raskolnikov’s internal conflict affects him in the opposite way. Raskolnikov is driven mad by guilt, but it causes him to do the right thing and confess. These different kinds of violence produce opposite outcomes that present an example of the struggle between classes that is a theme throughout the