Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoevsky

Historical and Cultural Context

Crime and Punishment is a novel by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky, first published in 1866. The novel is set in St. Petersburg, Russia, reflecting the socio-economic conditions of the time.

The novel unfolds during the era of Tsarist Russia, a period marked by political repression and great social inequality. Dostoevsky, himself, experienced Siberian exile and penal servitude, which influenced his depiction of suffering and redemption in the book. 

The novel explores themes of morality, guilt, and the psychological effects of crime, influenced by Dostoevsky's engagement with Russian Orthodox Christianity and Western philosophical ideas. 

The protagonist, Raskolnikov, embodies the 'Superman' theory influenced by Nietzschean philosophy, questioning whether moral laws apply to 'extraordinary' individuals.

Dostoevsky's experiences with the Russian judicial system, as both a prisoner and a court reporter, inform the legal proceedings and the depiction of crime in the novel.

The text reflects the rising urban poverty in St. Petersburg, contributing to the depiction of desperate characters and bleak environments. 

The book features the tension between traditional Russian values and Western modernising influences, a major concern in 19th-century Russian society. Dostoevsky's focus on mental anguish and moral dilemmas in the novel reflects his own struggle with epilepsy and his ongoing philosophical and spiritual queries.

Questions

1. Who is the author of Crime and Punishment?

A. Leo Tolstoy

B. Anton Chekhov

C. Alexander Pushkin

D. Fyodor Dostoevsky

2. In which city is Crime and Punishment set?

A. Moscow

B. St. Petersburg

C. Vladivostok

D. Yekaterinburg

3. What type of society does Crime and Punishment reflect?

A. Communist Russia

B. Tsarist Russia

C. Modern Russia

D. Democratic Russia

4. Which philosophical idea is embodied in the protagonist, Raskolnikov?

A. Epicureanism

B. Utilitarianism

C. 'Superman' theory

D. Empiricism

Discussion

How do Dostoevsky's life and Tsarist Russia affect how poverty and moral choices are shown in Crime and Punishment?

Further reading

1. Bloom, Harold, ed. Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment. Chelsea House Publishers, 2003. This book is a reprint edition edited by Harold Bloom.

2. Frank, Joseph. Dostoevsky. 5 vols. Princeton University Press, 1979-2003. Joseph Frank's five-volume series, is an extensive and comprehensive study of Fyodor Dostoevsky's life and literary works.

3. Grossman, Leonid Petrovich. Dostoevsky: A Biography. Translated by Mary Mackler, Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1975. Leonid Petrovich Grossman provides an in-depth look into the life of Fyodor Dostoevsky, translated by Mary Mackler.

4. Magarshack, David. Dostoevsky. Harcourt, Brace & World, 1963. David Magarshack biographical account explores the life and literary achievements of Fyodor Dostoevsky.

5. Miller, Robin Feuer, ed. Critical Essays on Dostoevsky. G. K. Hall, 1986. A collection of scholarly essays analysing the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky.

6. Sekirin, Peter, ed. The Dostoevsky Archive: Firsthand Accounts of the Novelist from Contemporaries’ Memoirs and Rare Periodicals. McFarland & Co., 1997. A compilation of firsthand accounts, memoirs, and rare periodicals that provide insights into Dostoevsky's life and times.

7. Terras, Victor. Reading Dostoevsky. University of Wisconsin Press, 1998. Guides readers through the complexities of Dostoevsky's novels and offers critical interpretations.

8. Tuten, Frederic. Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment. Monarch Press, 1966. Study guide that provides analysis and commentary on Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment.