Crime and Punishment is an unusual book. It is the narrative
of a criminal, yet ‘criminal’ seems too vile a word for Raskolnikov. He has a
twisted, almost maniacal thought process, and though never does he try
justifying his actions, the reader just ends up convinced that it was
justified. As a 'criminal' he has a pointed conscience, which keeps tormenting and failing him time and again.
One does start to question certain fundamental beliefs. Is murder
justified in certain circumstances?
Should the real value of life be accounted for before murder? Should a
certain section of society be exempt from any form of condemnation for murder?
Should your motives determine the extent of your guilt? Can you be morally free after committing a murder?
The great thing about this book, is that it is completely
devoid of any stereotypes. There is no typical character, whose moves one can
predict, each and everyone is a new and supremely interesting person. Porfiry
is one such, posing a very interesting contrast to the protagonist, he is an insightful
and manipulative investigator. The psychological duels between the two make for
the most interesting part of the book. As a reader, you end up not rooting for
either of them, you are just waiting with bated breath as to what follows next.
I do realize that nothing i say about the book will do
justice to it. It is just so beautifully layered, so deep, so conflicting and
so mind-fucking. I never really understood
when people who had read Dostoevsky told me that his writings are disturbing. Now
I know.
