Water In Dostoevsky's Crime And P

514 Words3 Pages
Water is evident in many instances throughout Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment - whether it be for washing, drinking, raining, flowing under the bridge in St. Petersburg - and may seem to nothing more than a part of the ambiance of the novel. Yet upon further evaluation there is a distinct tie between these encounters with water and the idea of purity and rebirth. Not only will Raskolnikov’s interaction with water develop his conflicting desire for redemption, but water’s interaction Svidrigailov with further water’s place as a symbol. Dostoevsky intersects water and Raskolnikov most often due to his constant desire, seen more obviously by other symbols such as religion, for redemption. This purification process is signified by water. When