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