Link to a BBC drama of Crime and Punishment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW1HVJFNzv0

- Madie

I agree with both of my partner’s, Gabriel and Madie, on their opinions for chapters 4-6 of Crime and Punishment. All three of us felt that these chapters added an immense amount of suspense and thrill to the story. I enjoyed reading Gabriel’s analysis of Raskolnikov’s reaction to his mother’s letter. Gabe mentioned.that Raskolnikov reacted the way he did due to his exaggerated sense of pride. While I did not assume Raskolnikov to be the arrogant type as I read through this scene, this idea does make sense and it adds another quality to Raskolnikov’s complex character. I also agree with Gabe when he says that despite Raskolnikov’s tremendous amount of pride, he still showed positive characteristics by portraying his compassionate and selfless side. Moreover, I agree with Madie and her idea that Raskolnikov’s dream generated from subconscious thoughts telling him not the commit the murder. In addition, at the time of the dream, the reader was unaware of the details regarding Raskolnikov’s horrible crime. The dream foreshadows the horrific events that will soon take place and demonstrated how hesitant Raskolnikov was to follow through with the crime. Chapter 6 is the first time that Raskolnikov’s awful crime is described. The narrator states how Raskolnikov planned to kill and steal from Alyona Ivanova, the pawnbroker, after developing a strong hatred for her when they first met. Aside from explaining that a few rare coincidences convince Raskolnikov to commit the crime, Dostoevsky does not acknowledge the protagonist’s real motive for murdering Alyona. Raskolnikov accepts that nothing and no one can force him to kill the pawnbroker and therefore, tries to justify the crime he is about to commit by blaming it on a matter of circumstances. It almost felt as if Raskolnikov was trying to evade his responsibility for the crime by blaming it on external forces. At this point in the novel, I am highly convinced that Raskolnikov will follow through with the murder. However, he is a conflicting character who’s actions have surprised me before, so I am excited to see how the story will turn out.

-Alex 

Gabe's reaction to Madie's ch 4-6 response

I agree with Madie's response to chapters four through six. These chapters were very suspenseful and dramatic, as the author used several literary techniques to give the reader insight to Raskolnikov's thoughts. Although he showed protective traits when deciding to not allow the marriage to occur, it may also be argued that he has too much pride as he assumes that his sister is marrying solely to satisfy him. He does not consider the fact that she might be marrying this man in order to improve her own life along with their mother's. Despite this, I do still agree that it was a mostly selfless and noble act of him to do, and this displays positive characteristics by showing his compassionate side; regardless of the crime he is about to commit. I think Madie's dream interpretation was completely accurate: his dream was a result of hidden material in his subconscious. Deep down he knew this murder was not the right thing to do. No matter how much he and the others hated her, a murder is a murder and just as he felt watching the mare get brutally killed in his dream, he knew it would be traumatizing to do the same, especially to a human being. The quote that Madie used is very interesting and paradoxical. The fact that he felt like he was condemned to death when he was the one who was going to commit the murder shows how conflicted he was with his rationality and emotions.

-Gabriel

Response to Gabe's reaction.

I agree with Gabe's initial response to chapters 4-6. I believe that Raskolnikov is only angry because he does not want his sister to sacrifice her own happiness for his welfare. Raskolnikov is continuing his battle with himself on wether he should or should not kill Aliona and I liked Gabe's insight into the trauma he may suffer if he follows through with it. Raskolnikov is definitely having big conflicting thoughts in regards to wether or not he should commit the murder, and this is seen through the dream. However, I think that the dream also might have conveyed how frightened he feels by it, and how confused he is. In the dream Raskolnikov is a child and he had no idea why someone wold kill the horse, and realizes it is a terrible, ghastly thing to do. I think that since he is a child in the dream it represents his inescapable fear and confusion as to why someone would commit this crime, and that he knows he should not go through with it. However, like Gabe said, the events leading up to the murder drive the dream from his mind, and compel him to carry on with the murder thus making everything more suspenseful.


- Madie

Chapters 4-6

I enjoyed chapter’s 4-6 of Crime and Punishment much more than the beginning of the novel, which I also found to be quite entertaining. These chapters were extremely suspenseful and captured my attention quickly. I like how Dostoevsky continues to elaborate on Raskolnikov’s character as the novel progresses. He explains in detail the thoughts and motives of Raskolnikov to the reader, making it easy to feel more in touch with the story’s protagonist. I also enjoyed how each of the specific qualities of Raskolnikov’s character that were demonstrated in chapters 4-6 conflict with each other. For example, Raskolnikov’s reaction to his mother’s letter in chapter 4 was very similar to that of any older brother who wants the best for their sister. Raskolnikov was angered by the thought of his sister making sacrifices for his benefit and his thoughts expressed how protective he is over his family. Moreover, Dostoevsky also showed the caring, helpful side of Raskolnikov when his thoughts towards his sister’s marriage are interrupted by the sight of an intoxicated man pursuing a young woman. Raskolnikov approaches the drunken man, gets the police involved and gives his money to the young girl for a cab ride home. However, these helpful and sincere qualities of Raskolnikov’s character are not compatible with the idea of Raskolnikov being a gruesome murderer. I found it thought-provoking and interesting how Dostoevsky created such a contradictory character. I also enjoyed how the author foreshadowed Raskolnikov’s crime through his violent dream. After awakening from this dream, Raskolnikov chooses not to go through with the murder of Alyona Ivanova. The fact that Raskolnikov continues to struggle with the decision of whether or not he should commit the crime generates great suspense and I am excited to see what his decision will be.

- Alex 

Reaction to Ch.4-6

I thought these chapters were extremely suspenseful and thrilling. As they progressed I realized the full extent and the nature of his crime as well as his conflicting emotions on wether or not he could go through with it. I liked how he was protective of his sister, not wanting her to waste her life or sacrifice herself for him or his mother. He realized that she would only sacrifice herself if it meant he would benefit, and he won't have any of it. Also, I thought that the graphic and violent dream he had was an extreme foreshadow onto what he was thinking about. It was almost as if his sub-conscious was trying to tell him not to go through with the murder because its exactly the same as the horse being killed. However, the coincidental events leading up to his murder of Aliona Ivanova provide him with more opportunities and support his ideas that he is justified in committing the murder. There was a line that struck me as almost a paradox, "he entered his room like a man condemned to death." (pg.60) He was about to murder an innocent woman for her money, and yet he felt like he was condemned to death? It shed light on how he did not truly want to go through with the crime, however, he does it anyways, though I'm not sure why. He has moments when he convinces himself that he could never go through with it, and other moments when he feels so pressured it is the only way to continue. He has a great amount conflict occurring inside him, and I'm anxious to see what happens next. 

- Madie

Gabe: Ch 4-6

While on a walk, Raskolnikov ponders on the dilemma of his sister's marriage. He comes to the conclusion that he will not allow the marriage to occur. This shows how protective he is of his family as he does not want them to sacrifice anything for his sake. Although it may be argued that he is doing this out of pride, I believe his overall intentions are selfless and his primary motivation is that he wants the best for his sister and family. Raskolnikov's criminal intentions reappear as he decides to not meet with his friend until after he commits his crime, which he appears to be more willing to follow through with it. However, after awakening from a powerful dream involving an old mare being brutally killed, he once again decides against his crime. This dream foreshadows Raskolnikov's intentions on killing Alyona, while also showing the regret and trauma he may face if the crime is committed. It is evident that Raskolnikov struggles with this stressful internal conflict between right and wrong. While one part of him believes he should commit this crime due to his intense hatred of her, the other presents his moral beliefs and his repulsion to such an evil act. The author creates suspense by delaying the description of the actual crime until chapter six, where it is revealed that Raskolnikov wants to kill Alyona Ivanovna. The author also uses coincidental incidents, such as Raskolnikov overhearing someone talking hatefully about Alyona, to further influence his final decision. Drama and tension are greatly heightened as all signs point to him committing the murder. 

-Gabriel