A while after Raskolnikov commits the murder of the old pawnbroker, a strange man named Svidrigailov appears in Raskolnikov's apartment as Raskolnikov wakes up from a nap. The man is very vague throughout the first conversation they have but Raskolnikov is immediately aware that Svidrigailov somehow knows something about his secret. As the two continue to get to know each other Raskolnikov learns about Svidrigailov's true personality. Svidrigailov tries to tell Raskolnikov that they both have something in common; they both have an impure and immoral past behind them. Svidrigailov even states, "Wasn't it true when I said we were both apples from the same tree?" (Dostoevsky 290). Regardless of the sinful past they both share in common, there is a crucial difference between the two men. All of the sinful acts that Svidrigailov has carried out were for his own selfish pleasure and entertainment, while Raskolnikov's main motive to kill the pawnbroker was to take a stand for the poor people in the community who were not being helped. Yet, as Raskolnikov continues to spend time with Svidrigailov he brings out Svidrigailov's evil and darkness onto his own self. This continues to push Raskolnikov further away from God as well as eternal salvation. Eventually Raskolnikov realizes the negative impact Svidrigailov has on him and turns to Sonya once again for advice. Sonya depicts the complete opposite of Svidrigailov and gives off a contrasting impact towards Raskolnikov's life. At first Raskolnikov decides to turn to Sonya because she is a sinner as well. Raskolnikov accuses Sonya of being a sinner because she is a prostitute. Although her actions are considered a sin in the eyes of society, Sonya results to giving up her body in order to keep her family alive. She carries out these actions in the most selfless way possible and maintains a strong belief in her faith throughout her entire life. When Raskolnikov turns to her for help she encourages him to do the same thing in order to finally reach salvation. Sonya is able to bring back humility into Raskolnikov's life. With her help Raskolnikov has turned to a life of love and hope, leaving behind his prideful attitude. He accepts his actions as sinful and is prepared to accept all consequences fully aware that afterwards he will finally be forgiven by God and relieved of all guilt. Unlike Raskolnikov, Svidrigailov did not intend to seek salvation. After a series of nightmares reliving his past and a forceful rejection from Dunya, Svidrigailov finally realized the ruthless criminal he really is. While Raskolnikov sought to obtain forgiveness and rebuild his relationship with God, Svidrigailov resulted to committing suicide. Because of Sonya, Raskolnikov was able to avoid this path. Regarding the cowardly actions Svidrigailov committed in order to escape his inner guilt and pain and Raskolnikov's brave confession in order to finally obtain salvation depict the two different extremes of living with a guilty conscious and a life full of sin.
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