Fyodor Dostoevsky has written several really interesting and thought-provoking books. Two of these books are Crime and Punishment and Notes from the Underground. The latter book provides a discussion of some of the underlying philosophy found in Crime and Punishment. I am a fan of Russian literature – not sure why exactly, but I find that Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and other authors share beautiful storytelling with emotional stories and really bring a lot to the table.
Crime and Punishment is such an interesting book, in part because it is not what is expected. The horrific crime is committed early on in the book but the punishment is what takes a different direction than most books about crime and punishment. I read the 1993 Everyman’s Library version (Pevear and Volokhonsky translation) and the introduction by WJ Leatherbarrow was really interesting – leading to my diversion to Notes From the Underground. I thought Crime and Punishment was a good translation – the story was easy to follow and the text flowed well – but I always wonder how to choose a translation, how they differ, and whether I would have gotten something different from another translation.
Sometimes I read book introductions and sometimes not. For this book, the introduction provided valuable context and helped to set the stage for the story. The introduction mentions that the Russian word for crime that is used in the title translates to “stepping over”, which makes sense, as that is the lens through which Raskolnikov commits his crime. He believes that he was justified in committing this murder/robbery because he is one of the special/brilliant members of society who should not have to suffer the likes of his victim. The introduction notes that the story has been described as the “psychological account of a crime” and that is indeed the focus of the book. How does a person convince himself that he is justified in taking terrible actions and then how does he live with himself afterward? When does conviction of thought swerve into madness? Are some lives more valuable than others – and how does that answer play out morally? What role does religion play in fostering moral judgment and in finding redemption?
An intelligent young man, who has always been a bit out of the norm, comes to take the view that crime is permissible for those special people who are superior to the average workers of the world. They are able to step over those who are inferior in order to achieve a greater good. While this view is extreme and misguided, it is initially in the abstract realm of the intellect until Raskolnikov becomes so socially withdrawn and then physically ill that he begins to believe that he has the right to advance his own ideas and future. He brutally kills an old lady who serves as a stingy pawnbroker for the students and other poor people living in mid-19th century St. Petersburg. She becomes the object of his vengence. He is poor, had to leave school, lost his employment, and is becoming destitute (relying on the intervention by his poorly pensioned mother). The old lady doles out a pittance for his few remaining possessions. He decides, after a period of fever and delirium, that he is justified in killing her and that the world will be a better place without her and with him being able to ascend and advance his ideas.
However, once the deed is done, he vacillates between anger, fear, and isolation. He likes to provoke and bully people, as this shows his superiority. Yet, he is also vulnerable and his fear, frustration and despair are so palpable that it’s hard not to share his pain. But, he committed a heinous crime. The chaotic and emotional distress associated with dealing with his guilt (even while he tells himself that he was justified) are his true punishment. Once he is formally punished, some things become easier for him. In addition to his own processing of the crime, we see those who love him struggle to figure out how to help him. Once his guilt comes to light, they support him as best they can. This leads to movements toward redemption and hopefulness at the end of a long and painful journey. Usually when I re-read a book, I can remember the overall plot and characters, but forget some of the details; this book was the opposite, I vaguely recalled the overall story, but remembered certain passages like I read them yesterday (instead of 20+ years ago).
Notes from the Underground. The introduction to Crime and Punishment mentioned that Notes from the Underground serves as sort of a preface to the later novel. So, I decided to read this before starting C&P, since it is sitting on my shelf! This short book is interesting – the first part is sort of a discussion of scenarios that deal with human nature – free will, ambition, jealousy, etc. It is fairly random. The second part of the book is essentially a story of a man who is incredibly self-absorbed and self-loathing. He manages to alienate everyone around him, while patting himself on the back for “not giving in” to others and standing his ground. He justifies ranting and being obnoxious by the fact that he is more intelligent than everyone else. His poverty, though, is a source of shame. There is a lot more in this book and I will come back to it at another time. I’ll probably find another translation, though, as this seemed “over-translated” to me in that it seemed to be the translator’s voice rather that the author’s voice.
