What's the real problem? Raskolnikov's Rent is Too Damn High.

Is He Really Mentally Ill?

It is hard to keep track of what is real and what is a hallucination in Raskolnikov’s head. I think its ironic that Razumihin is accusing the painters as being guilty because they are acting very bizarrely, when Raskolnikov is acting very peculiar himself. No one else seems to think that something mentally is wrong with Raskolnikov which makes me wonder why we think so strongly that something is wrong with his psyche. The only thing they think is wrong with him is that he is physically ill, not mentally. Razumihin still wants to take him out on walks and to his housewarming party which may suggests no one thinks he’s acting very unordinary. Perhaps because we can hear his thoughts and the reasons behind them so we believe he is going insane. Yet, we can imagine that after killing someone for the first time, anyone would be extremely nervous and paranoid. Even with more trivial things regular people over-think and when you say  thoughts out loud, it may sound crazy. Yet, its possible that the only reason Razumihin is looking out so much for Raskolnikov is that Raskolnikov does not appear to be able to take care of himself, which could reflect what others think of his mental state as well. 

I predict that Dostoevsky is trying to add more and more pressure onto Raskolnikov until he will finally burst. He could barley handle the solitary guilt, and now the guilt is going to be extreme when his inner thoughts tell him that now someone is going to be punished for his actions, and being surrounded by people giving him constant reminders of what he did. I still believe that there may be a deeper reason for him committing the murder and that reason is a significant indicator of his mental state.  

Comment on Davis' reaction

Davis brings up the point that Razumikhin serves as  Rahkolnikov's foil. As I reading the chapters, I noticed that as well. While Raskolnikov reacts to poverty in an ill-hearted manner, Razumikhin does not seem to be bothered by it. He has accepted the way he lives and continues to find a way to make money, unlike Raskolnikov. At the same time, they both tend to think of themselves as higher than anyone else. When the money messenger appears in Raskolnikov's apartment, Razumikhin introduces himself as Vrazumikhin, which has a nicer ring than plain Razumikhin. Davis' interpretation of the burial of the stolen items is interesting. After he buried the items, Raskolnikov loses his consciousness and starts to wander aimlessly until he ends up back home, not remembering how he had gotten there. This seems to be a recurring incident. He does something out of the ordinary and then forgets how he ended up at home or at Razumikhin's.

Comment on Jessicas post

     Jessica made several valid points regarding Raskolnikov and the money he was being handed. During the first couple of pages of the novel, we all realized that Raskolnikov was a very prideful person and he thought of himself very highly compared to the rest of the people living in his town. It did not shock me to see that Raskolnikov rejected all the money that he was being offered, despite how badly he needed it. His pride pride might be the only thing that remains in Raskolnikov ever since the murder occurred. Raskolnikov seems to be going mad from guilt, but he is still the prideful young man that he was at the beginning of the novel. Despite how badly we know that he needs the money, he will continue to reject the offers because he believes that he doesn't need money or pity from others and he can solve his own problems, when in reality due to his current state of mind I don't think he has any chances of fending for himself.

Raskolnikov's illness

            It was no surprise to see Rashkolnikov still delirious after the murder in chapters 2-4 of part 2. His “illness” seems to get worse in each chapter. He starts to hallucinate and “travel” without making any sense. At this point it is hard to keep up with his thought process. One moment he is filled with joy and the next minute he is paranoid. The guilt from murdering Alyona and Lizaveta eats away at him. He constantly falls in and out of consciousness and never remembers what happened.

            In previous chapters, Rashkolnikov complains about his lack of money and his shame of dropping out of school. I found it strange when Razumihkin offers him three rubbles to translate a page in German, Rashkolnikov rejects the offer and runs away. That same day, a couple handed him twenty-copecks but he threw it into the river. If he did not want to burden his mother or sister for money, why did he refuse the money people were giving him? As he becomes weaker over time, he refuses the money his mother had requested he received. Is this due to his deliria or is he ashamed to take money from anyone?

            Even though no one suspects Rashkolnikov to be the murderer, he still lives in constant fear of someone finding out what he had done. The painter, who was seen in Alyona’s building the night of the murder, is targeted. He does not try to defend himself and his nervousness about the subject makes him seem guilty of a crime he did not do. The painter was found with the jewelry that Rashkolnikov had already gotten rid of. Despite these facts, Rashkolnikov still believes they suspect him for the murder. His guilt, fear, and deliria is the punishment he receives for committing the murder.

Comment on Sofia

Following Sofia’s comment, I found it interesting that the author decided to have two friends come and stay with Raskolnikov. In my opinion, this almost seems to have been included to show the abnormalities present in the young murderer’s behavior. As most would be welcoming of two friends looking to take care of another obviously in a state of mental anguish, Raskolnikov is quite the opposite, as Sofia states. Raskolnikov “hates their presence at his house” showing that he is clearly spiraling down into a dark psychological disorder. As Sofia noted, I noticed how guilty the poor artist seems to appear. I am wondering if perhaps he committed some other petty crime against the old landlady that is creating this sense of guilt as he is obviously not the one to blame for the murder of the woman. I, like Sofia, wonder why nobody has yet to question Raskolnikov as the murderer. I am beginning to think that mostly everybody is not familiar with the Raskolnikov that readers meet in the book. It is insinuated in preliminary parts of the novel that Raskolnikov was not always this individual. He was, at one point, a dedicated and intelligent student. I think that it is likely that people that know Raskolnikov still associate him with this stable college student, but may just fall under the notion that he has been going through a difficult time, a far leap from murder. 

1-5 Part II

As the book progresses further and further, the true “punishment” following the crime ensues. Rather than a physical punishment as I had been expecting, Raskolnikov’s punishment has single-handedly been his own mental anguish brought own by his one sense of culpability. Almost appearing schizophrenic at many points with bizarre hallucinations and thoughts, Raskolnikov seems to be plunging further and further into a  irreparable state of mental anguish. You can tell, however, that he is still fully capable of feeling normal human emotions after he tries to hide his guilt by burying the goods under a heavy stone. This literal burial is resemblant of a burial of Raskolnikov’s conscience as he seems almost unbelieving that he actually committed the murder of the old pawnbroker and her sister. The character of Razumikhin is turning out to be a foil character of sorts as he exaggerates Raskolnikov’s oddities by his pleasant personality and disposition. Razumikhin, thus far, seems basically to be the perfect citizen. Far different from Raskolnik, Razumikhin is notably willing to help and taking pleasure in living his life. Raskolnikov, on the other hand, alienates himself from the rest of the world more and more as each day passes. Razumikhin’s upbeat personality in such terrible conditions also brought to my mind the fact that it does not seem to have been the circumstances that pushed Raskolnikov to commit the murder. Both poor students, Razumikhin is the mirror image or Rakolnikov reflected onto the side of the path that most people take, that is the path that does not involve the crimes that Raskolnikov has committed thus far in the novel. 

Comment on Sophia's reaction

Wendell Pfeffer

10/27/13

Comment on Sophia Waterhouse Reaction

            Sophia brings up some great valid points in her latest reading of the novel. Sophia you do mention that Raskolnikov’s guilt is impacting “his health heavily.” I do agree with you but I also think that there are other factors associated with his health. Such as the fear of him getting caught. I really think he’s almost passed the stage of guilt. I mean he does feel guilty for killing Lizaveta because she was innocent but the consequences he could face are real. He can’t imagine what would happen to him if he were caught. Right now I think he’s fine due to the fact that the police are blaming the murder on the painter, but eventually I think he is going to get the “punishment” he deserves. I also agree with your comment about the painter. Why is the painter making it seem like he committed the murder. Yes he was there but there should be no reason he should seem “nervous” or “guilty throughout the whole chapter, especially when they question him.” I agree with Sofia that the painter should stand up for himself and not let himself be pummeled by the police. If I were in his position I would not be nervous because I would know for a fact that I am innocent. Another question that Sofia brought up - why is no one suspecting Raskolnikov committed the murder? I think its because currently he is with the people that care about him. Unfortunately for him this will change, he is now listed at the police and his fear/guilt will get him caught. 

Reaction on chapter four

Wendell Pfeffer

10/27/2013

Reaction: Crime and punishment

            The book is starting to take a whole new turn now; Raskolnikov committed a murder against Lizaveta and the old pawnbroker. As a result, guilt begins to consume Raskolnikov. He lies in bed for day’s delirious shouting out things that make absolutely no sense, Nastasia ended up taking care of him for the duration of his sickness. When Raskolnikov wakes up and recovers from his sickness, he forgets about the murder he committed for some time. Moments before he recovered when he was in a semi delirious state a man named Vrazumikhin comes to see Raskolnikov. He convinces Raskolnikov into signing a book that entitles him to some money from his sister or so called husband, formally known as Mr. Chebarov. He receives the money and doesn’t even realize until Mr. Razumkhin gives him new clothes and tells him everything is taken care of. I thought Raskolnikov hated the man his sister was going to marry. This demonstrates Raskolnikov’s change in attitude towards money and his family. He cares more about the money he received then his own sister. I believe the murder caused him to change.  Raskolnikov’s rapid change of opinion from not needing the money to essentially now wanting it leads me to believe that he actually likes Mr. Chebarov now.

            People all over Russia are starting to find out about the murder. Zosimov and Razumkhin in particular begin to discuss what’s been happening and their thoughts on the murder with Raskolnikov. Razumkhin demonstrates his want for the authorities to find the real murderer. I can’t wait to see his reaction when he finds out that his friend Raskolnikov was the one responsible. But, currently Raskolnikov is in the safe zone. The authorities have essentially blamed the painter for the murder. The evidence they hold against him is the earring’s Raskolnikov dropped while trying to get away. Ultimately, the story is really starting to develop, I can’t wait to find out what happens with Raskolnikov in the future. 

Reaction part 2 chapters 1-4

       Even though Raskolnikovs name has still never been brought up as a possible suspect for the murder of Alyona and Lizaveta, Raskolnikovs guilt continues to impact his health heavily. Hallucinations were now occurring more frequently, and Raskolnikovs body grew so weak to the point that he passed out and remained unconscious for about four days. This causes his friends Razumkhin and Nastasya to worry. They both decide to stay with him for a while to make sure that he is ok, but Raskolnikov hates their presence at his house.
        The only person taken in as a suspect right now is a painter that works on the same building that Alyona lived in. It may seem evident that he is the murder since he was also found with the earrings that Rasklnikov stole from Alyonas apartment, but then dropped onto the street. The painter seems very nervous and guilty throughout the whole chapter, especially when they question him. This makes the whole situation worse for him because it makes him look guilty and gives off more evidence, which is something that the police and others are desperately seeking for since no clues were left behind from the murder. I don't understand why the painter would act this way, especially since we know Raskolnikov was the murderer. Maybe he's getting nervous because they are charging him with the murder of someone which is a huge deal obviously but he should be able to act up and defend himself. This also leads me to think why no one would suspect of Raskolnikov as the murderer. Raskolnikov even openly admitted to wanting to murder Alyona before he did in front of a couple of people, and now every time the murder is brought up he either freaks out and blurts out random things or turns pale and passes out.
       

Part 2: Chapters 1-3 Review

      Raskolnikov’s guilt is setting into him to where he cannot even function. The book is about crime and punishment obviously, and its interesting that Dostoevsky took Raskolnikov to be the character to convey his ideas. Killers usually are not in a healthy state of mind, and to show that made me contemplate what Raskolnikov punishment “should” be. The overbearing guilt and paranoia of getting caught serves as an intense form of punishment. It was ironic and almost a tease to Raskolnikov for being called into a police station to be punished for debt yet not a murder. 

      I saw some connections to The Stranger when reading the descriptions of intense heat and just thought it was interesting how the hot setting effects the characters and their actions. 

    There were some more warning signs in Raskolnikov’s perhaps “true” character when  it read, “he too grew suddenly angry and found a certain pleasure in it” (page 97). The dream of beating his landlady, especially a few chapters after the dream of beating the horse is pretty sickening. I am not sure if this is foreshadowing an attempt to kill the landlady. But if it is, I hope that his answers to needing money will not be to kill, because that can become a vicious cycle. It would be worse if he began to feel pleasure in his murders.

    There is a big dichotomy between Raskolniov and Razumikhi. Razumikhi is trying to do the right thing and help Raskolniov, but I think the only one that can help him is himself. He won’t be able to get better unless he frees himself of the guilt, or possibly any new desires to kill to make money. 

Part 1 review

I was not surprised when Raskolnikov fulfilled his dark desire to kill Alyona Ivanovna. Something inside him was pressuring his mind that this was the right thing to do, but he did not have the exact answer to the question ‘why’. Like when he helped Marmeladov, or gave the police money to help the disheveled  girl on the sidewalk, he continuously goes back and fourth contemplating what he should do. I still do not know if I would consider Raskolnikov to be evil or a killer, and I do not know if as a reader I should be siding with him or not. His unstable attitude I think will lead to extreme guilt or to him blowing his cover. 

I still do not think that he is in a cohesive mental state. Something about him made him take that overheard conversation about killing Alyona so seriously. Many people talk of serious or dangerous things hypothetically, but he took it to heart. His mental state caused their words to be more persuasive then intended, and that may also be due to his background. The letter from his mother and the dream of witnessing men beat a dead horse show that the way he is now may not have been a recent switch. However, the mother’s letter shows that she may not realized the full condition of Raskolnikov’s state of mind. His once new and expensive hat that is now worn and torn to pieces tell us that something recently made him snap, and the result was the death of Alyona. I do not think she deserved what happened to her, but its interesting that Raskolniko this she does. 

Crime and Punishment Video Response

On youtube, you can actually hear what we say. I don't really know what happened when it posted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewzJhLiPiw4#t=231