Crime and Punishment (Enriched Classics (Pocket))
by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
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Book Summary Information
Author: Fyodor DostoyevskyEditor: Cynthia Brantley Johnson
Introduction: Margaret Brantley
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-04-27
ISBN: 074348763X
Number of pages: 704
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Book Reviews of Crime and Punishment (Enriched Classics (Pocket))
Book Review: An exposition into the reality resulting from discordance between the application of a theory and the consience of a man
Summary: 5 Stars
Crime and Punishment is, at surface and in heart, a psychological investigation into the mind of a man who commits a crime - a crime he feels justified in doing - but ultimately, a crime he fails to reconcile. As a student, the protagonist (a man named Raskolnikov) is well versed in the philosophical theories of his day, and has even written a published paper - specifically on the idea of the 'extraordinary' man. Raskolnikov's 'extraordinary man' is tantamount to Nietzsche's 'superman,' in that both represent a man of the modern era: The godless man, the man who suffers not from pangs of morality or conscience but is able to shape his will and coerce the world into supplication. There are other factors that fuel Raskolnikov's motives; he is impoverished, he is indebted to his family to be their savior...but still, he seems to cite his 'theory' most of all - and indeed, the novel, to a great extent, deals with the incompatibility between his theory on paper and its practical application. More obtusely, what happens when the incalculable nature and conscience of a man is entered into an otherwise elegant equation or theory? Dostoyevsky portrays the protagonist as not only a typical man, but an overly generous one...someone who partially justifies his act as not only beneficial to himself, but also, to the good of humanity. This is where the idea of the 'extraordinary man' and the main character diverge, as the protagonist observes the affects of his action on his surroundings, friends, and loved ones. Perhaps if Raskolnikov were more rational, cold, or calculating, he would have been able to murder without conscience, succeed in his theory and plan - the author seems to suggest - at the same time proposing that such men are, if not impossible, very unlikely. There is much to the book besides this idea however, and often the narrative focuses on other characters or strays into sub-plots to further illustrate minor points or arguments...or just to tell an interesting story, for this work is nothing if not entertaining. It is also interesting to note that, at the end of the novel, and be warned this is something of a spoiler, the protagonist reaps inadvertent benefits that otherwise would not have come to pass...as beauty from ugliness, light from darkness, ect. This is a very good novel, and Dostoyevesky is adept at obscuring his point, so much so that the novel lends itself to a wide variety of interpretations (some of which are cited at the end of the Pocket Books edition.) As far as the translation and notes go, they serve their purpose and the narrative remains clear to the English reader. There are however, a few phrases in German and French that receive no notes, but you can ascertain their meaning from the context.
Summary of Crime and Punishment (Enriched Classics (Pocket))
BY PRACTICAL SCHOLARSHIP
Dostoyevsky's penetrating study of a man for whom the distinction between right and wrong disappears, and a riveting portrait of guilt and retribution.
? A concise introduction that gives readers important background information
? A chronology of the author's life and work
? A timeline of significant events that provides the book's historical context
? An outline of key themes and plot points to help readers form their own interpretations
? Detailed explanatory notes
? Critical analysis, including contemporary and modern perspectives on the work
? Discussion questions to promote lively classroom and book group interaction
? A list of recommended related books and films to broaden the reader's experience
SERIES EDITED BY CYNTHIA BRANTLEY JOHNSON
Mired in poverty, the student Raskolnikov nevertheless thinks well of himself. Of his pawnbroker he takes a different view, and in deciding to do away with her he sets in motion his own tragic downfall. Dostoyevsky's penetrating novel of an intellectual whose moral compass goes haywire, and the detective who hunts him down for his terrible crime, is a stunning psychological portrait, a thriller and a profound meditation on guilt and retribution.
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