Crime & Punishment



Crime & Punishment

Fyodor Dostoevsky

RELIGIOUS MOTIFS

Rose Marie Mark

Prof. Olga Leontovich

October 5, 1999

Crime and Punishment is written in “7” parts and each part is given “7” chapters---

---Raskolnikov overhears a conversation in the Hay Market that Lizaveta, Aloyna Ivanova’s sister will be going on an errand at “7” o’clock—

---in a dream before the murder, Ras dreams he is a “7” year old boy---

--- Svid ri gai lov tells Raskolnikov:

1. for “7” years he never left Marfa Petrovano---

2. for “7” years, he never left the country and

3. for those “7” years, he wound that clock every week

and a child of “7”, singing the Hamlet---tavern---

---Sonia and Ras have to wait “7” years for him to be released from prison and be re-united---

In the video, while Ras was in A. I.’s room, the clock struck “7” times and again in his room the next morning.

The number “7”---

---is the sacred number of Judaism

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---God created the universe in “7” days (6+1)---Genesis 1:1-31/Genesis 2:1-3---

---there are “7” deadly sins (jealousy, lust, envy, anger, sloth, gluttony and pride)---

---there are “7” joys/ “7” sorrows of May---

---“7” Corporal works of mercy (fee/hungry, drink/thirsty, harbor/stranger, cloth/naked, sick, bury dead, prison)

--- “7” spiritual works of mercy---

Raskolnikov washes his hands after the murder. Pontius Pilate washed his hands of the guilt of Christ’s death; Ras, even though he is responsible for the murders is not going to allow himself to feel guilty of them and, therefore, washes his hands---

Marmeledov steals 12 silver roubles from Katerina---signifying Christ’s 12 Apostles---

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The Number “30”---

This Biblical theme is taken from the Passion Parables in the Gospels---Judas Iscariot received 30 pieces of silver from the High Priests, as a tribute for betraying Jesus Christ (Garden/Gethsemane)---

1. Sonia sells herself for “30” rubles---the Biblical character Dostoyevsky is portraying in Sonia, is Mary Magdelene—

2. Sonia gives her father “30” copecks---

3. Marfa Petrovano bought off Svid ri gai lov’s crimes/offenses/ charges for 30,000 silver pieces---

The Number “3”---

---Svid ri gai lov tells Raskolnikov that Marfa Petrovana has left Dounia 3,000 rubles in her will---

---the #3 can also represent the Trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit---

---the three wise men---Melchoir, Gasper and Balthazar---

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Luzhin is accusing Raskolnikov of giving the money his mother sent him to Sonia, calling Sonia a worthless person. Ras responds “To my thinking . . . at whom you throw stones, etc. This reference is a narrative in the Gospels, where Christ is intercepting the crowd wanting to stone a prostitute for adultery and asks, “He who is w/o sin, let him cast the first stone”---

Lazarus---

During his visit to Sonia, Ras asks her to read from a book he has noticed in her room. It is a Bible, which Lizaveta gave her. He specifically asks for the story of Lazarus in the New Testament. For those of us who are familiar with this Biblical narrative, Christ raised Lazarus from the dead after he had been buried for FOUR days---Dostoyevsky spent FOUR years in prison; it has been FOUR days since Ras committed the murders.

Also, during his FOUR years in prison, Dostoyevsky felt as though he was buried alive and it is there he formulated his theory about the necessity of “suffering” (additional thoughts at end of this presentation). Lazarus, was isolated from his family and is really dead; Ras, as a result of his crime,

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isolated himself from his family and friend Raz and therefore, is figuratively dead---

Lazarus through Christ, became alive and joined his family and community once again; Ras hopes through Sonia, that he will take his place among the living---

Both accounts are of a man separated from the living and through a miracle; Lazarus’ through Christ and Ras, through his confession to Sonia, hoping to be restored to life---

In video, Ras buried the stolen goods “under a stone”---

When Aloyna Ivanova was murdered by Raskolnikov, she was wearing two crosses:

1. wooden 2 Copper*

Like Christ who carried metal cross is worn

cross of wood, so too, A.I. signifying to others

carrying her cross--- she was a Christian---

*copper, perhaps sterling silver and gold as we know it, would be very

costly for them---

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The mention of crosses re-appears when Raskolnikov visits Sonia. She offers him a “wooden cross” but he is not ready to accept it.

As mentioned in the Lazarus section of this presentation, Dostoyevsky spent FOUR years in prison and it was there that he formed his theory about the necessity of “suffering” --- suffering became the means by which a person’s soul is purified and sins are expiated---Dostoyevsky incorporates this theme of redemption through suffering, throughout much of the story—Ras’suffering, however, does begin right after the crime. As we recall from the story, he becomes ill and loses consciousness for days. Also, his suffering is a result of his split personality---

Part 5

Chapter 4

During Ras’ roundabout confession, “Take a good look”, Sonia is aware that he his suffering tremendously. Ras falls to the ground and kisses Sonia’s foot and when she becomes alarmed, he says, “I did not bow down to you, I bowed down to “all the suffering of humanity”---He (Ras) sees Sonia as the symbol of “all the suffering of humanity” and it is through her

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suffering that he is made to realize the importance of having love for your fellow man. Again Dostoyevsky is emphasizing the theory of suffering as a way of expiation. Sonia’s advice to Ras is to “go to the crossroads and confess” where he most likely will suffer even more, having bystanders jeer at him---

Raskolnikov said (when going into the police station, “if I must drink the cup” referring to Jesus Christ/Garden of Gethsemane) and he (Ras) wavers (again his ambiguous personality), but sees Sonia, the “Symbol of Suffering” and goes back into the police station and confesses.

Part 6

Chapter 8

He (Ras) NOW asks Sonia for the cross she once offered him and she gives him the one made of “cypress wood”, saving the copper one for later--

Christ Himself has told us, “He who does not take up his cross and follow me, is not worthy of me (Mt. 10:39). Ras was now ready to accept and bear his cross, for the redemption of his soul---

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Prof. Olga referred us to King Solomon of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) where he states, “suffering and pain are always obligatory/on those of wide intellect and profound feeling/truly great men . . . .experience great sorrow on earth"” Ex. Jesus Christ, Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein, etc.

Another person having a desire to suffer was Nikolay, the painter. He belonged to an old religious order that believes a man must suffer and suffer, in order to expiate for his sins; especially at the hands of authorities---

I am ending this presentation with a scene from the beginning of the story, where Marmeladove states, “And He will say, ‘come to Me! I have forgiven thee one. . . thy sins which are many are forgiven thee, for thou has loved much . . . ‘”

Katerina, dying in the streets did not feel she needed a priest because she had suffered and loved much and that God would immediately receive her soul into Heaven upon her death---

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Additional notes on “suffering”---

The problem of suffering will never be solved and can be the means of drawing others more deeply into God’s love---suffering/can find all of us turning to God with tears in our eyes---the offering up of the trial has set off a chain reaction---

It is also a result of our own nature---our weaknesses and failings---such as pride, selfishness, lack of self-control, etc. Much suffering is caused by what we do and what we fail to do---

The lack of self-control---

Food, drink, drugs

Has destroyed many lives and families---

Uncontrolled anger

Wives/children

The lack of chastity---

Sin and unkindness have their own way of bringing misery into our lives—we are our own worst enemy---the more virtues we lack, the more suffering we bring on ourselves---

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Your offering up of the suffering moves another person, draws another person closer to Christ---closer to God and that person in time will learn to use his suffering in the same manner, and the ripples will move out from that person. Only God knows the extent of one’s role in the REDEMPTION OF THE WORLD---

God love each and everyone of you---

Respectfully submitted

Rose Marie Mark

Ramapo College

October 1999

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