Madie's Response to Alex and Gabe

I think that we all are having the same ideas about this chapter. Obviously Raskolnikov is trying to suppress his guilt about the murder. I agree with Gabe that the contradiction with Marmeladov and his wife Katerina Ivanova is interesting. Even though he I dying, she is still very upset, weeping and crying over him. However she also yells at him and tells him he is useless. I liked Gabes idea that Marmeladov had some good character flaws before he became a drunkard. I never thought about that. Maybe this could be true of Raskolnikov as well..? Maybe he had some good character traits to start, but in the end will cause his own fate. I also agree with Alex that Raskolnikov will not be able to stay like this for long. He will not be able to mend his guilt enough to be functional. Sooner or later, no matter what he tries to do, the guilt of the murder will never leave him. That is going to be his punishment. I think that the story will bring interesting turns in regards to him attempting to fix his guilt, because he does believe he can rid himself of it. However this will not work, his punishment is the guilt.




- Madie

Raskolnikov

I love this picture of Raskolnikov because it does a great job of accentuating his mental instability and deranged thoughts. The subtle faces that the artist creates around Raskolnikov's face remind me of his guilt and how he feels as if everyone is watching him and suspects him for murdering the Ivanova sisters.

- Alex

Gabe's response to Alex and Madie's reaction part 2 chapter 7

I believe that both Madie and Alex brought up valid points, and we all seem to mostly be in agreement with each other on the events that occurred in this chapter. I think that Madie brought up an interesting point by stating how Katerina is only so depressed at Marmeladov's death because she is used to having him around, since even during his last moments she keeps criticizing him. It is true that Marmeladov brings barely any income to his family as he wastes it all on alcohol, which is why i agree that Katerina is just so used to the lifestyle and doesn't want to lose him. I also agree that Marmeladov assists them emotionally and financially in order to redeem his sins. However, he did help this family out before he had anything to feel guilty about which shows that he is, in fact, a compassionate character. This is all very contradictory because he demonstrates several characteristics that a good-natured, caring man would have, but his mistake in committing the murders over powers all of his good deeds, and he knows it. I agree that he will continue to attempt to clear his conscience with good deeds, but in the end nothing will be able to make up for his crime. I agree with Alex when she stated how she believes that no matter what he does, he will be unable to feel completely guilt free and will eventually pay for his actions even after he confesses.

-Gabriel Magalhaes

Gabe's reaction to part 2 chapter 7

I found the concluding chapter of part two to be very exciting and an appropriate way to finish this part of the book. Marmeladov is a character that was introduced earlier in the novel that the author made seem as if he was of no importance later on in the novel. However, he was coincidentally reintroduced when Raskolnikov sees him lying drunken and injured on the floor after being run over by a carriage. I found this to be somewhat predictable as it was suggested in their earlier encounter that Marmeladov's life would end in a drunken state, while not being of much use to his family. Raskolnikov takes this opportunity to make a good deed by assisting Marmeladov and taking him to his home. It is evident that this family has not changed at all. His wife, Katerina, still puts Marmeladov down and insults him even when the doctor announces that he is dying. Despite this, the family still takes care of him and shows affection, emphasizing the dramatic and contradicting lifestyle they live in. They are clearly a weak and broken down family, which makes them easy targets for Raskolnikov to help out in order to redeem himself. After assisting this family emotionally, he leaves them some money, which he regretted doing last time they met. However, he feels the need to do this in order to relieve some of his guilt. I feel that although he may seem like a compassionate person, he is really doing this out of selfishness in order to feel redeemed for his murders. I am curious to see how long this temporary happiness continues for and how he will turn out in the following chapters. 

-Gabriel

Alex's response to Madie

Madie and I share a similar opinion in regard to Raskolnikov’s behavior in Part II, Chapter 7. We both doubt the nobility and compassion behind Raskolnikov’s selfless acts when he helps the Marmeladov family by giving them money and promising to help them in the future. In this scene, Madie and I similarly believe that rather than acting out of his sympathy for the family, Raskolnikov’s generosity serves as the result of his attempt to salvage some of his conscience. In accordance to Madie’s statement that Raskolnikov tries to mend his guilt by “patching it up again with selfless tasks,” I too believe that Raskolnikov considers his newfound altruism as a method of compensating for the murders. Thus, lessening his overbearing sense of guilt. Madie and I have corresponding thoughts that Raskolnikov will never be able to fully rid himself of guilt and regret. Due to his mentally unstable nature, I do not think Raskolnikov will ever be able to find a mental balance and come to grips with his emotions. I believe that Raskolnikov’s psychological downfall will continue throughout the remainder of Crime and Punishment and his mental suffering serves as the central conflict in the novel. In my opinion, Dostoyevsky crafted Raskolnikov’s delirious personality this way for a reason. I think he was trying to illustrate the underlying theme in the novel that a crime’s true punishment occurs within the mind of the criminal. As Crime and Punishment progresses, I suspect that Raskolnikov’s mental capacity for guilt and remorse will continue to diminish, and his suffering will ultimately drive his character to complete destruction.

Alex Balogh

Madie's Reaction to part 2 chapter 7.

In this chapter, Raskolnikov finds Marmeladov in a bad situation. In a drunken state, he has been run over by a carriage and is slowly dying. Raskolnikov takes Marmeladov home to his wife where, in my opinion, something interesting occurs. Here Katerina Ivanova begins to care for him, crying and weeping for him, all the while continuing to call him worthless. I thought this was slightly odd that she would feel so upset at his leaving, since she still thinks him to be worthless and good-for-nothing. I think that she has lived so long on his meager support that although it was never enough, she is terrified at the thought of surviving without him. It is also in this scene where Raskolnikov tries to salvage some of his conscience, by providing the family with money and pledging that he will help them. He doesn't say that because he wants really and truly to help the family. Moreover, he does it to mend his own guilt by patching it up again with "selfless" tasks. I do not believe that Raskolnikov will ever be able to fully escape the guilt he feels from the murder. At the moment, he thinks that he is almost free of it, a few more good things and all will be well. However I do not think that this will be the case, I am almost sure he will fall back into the guilt at some point, or he will confess. I am intrigued to know what his fate will be, and what he will do next.




- Madie

Alex's Reaction to Ch. 7, Part 2

Dostoyevsky continues to elaborate on Raskolnikov’s inner conflicts and how they impact his character in Chapter 7, Part II of Crime and Punishment. In this chapter, Raskolnikov finds Marmeladov in quite a fatal condition due to an accident that occurred while Marmeladov was drunk. Raskolnikov assists the nearly dead, intoxicated man back to his nearby home and family so that he can die in peace. In addition to leaving a portion of his remaining money for the family, Raskolnikov vows to provide them with his support in the future. In my opinion, Raskolnikov still feels an overwhelming sense of guilt on behalf of the murders. Rather than believing that Raskolnikov helps Marmeladov’s family because he is a good-natured man with a genuine sense for humanity, I think Raskolnikov’s “compassionate” behavior stems from his belief that helping others will lessen his feelings of guilt because he feels that he is atoning for the murders. This is evident in the context of the novel, given that Raskolnikov leaves the Marmeladov home in good spirits, which illustrates the idea that Raskolnikov feels like he has somewhat redeemed himself. However, I think that Raskolnikov’s feelings of redemption are only temporary. Due to the severity of his crimes, I find it hard to believe that Raskolnikov can feel at peace for an extended period of time. I think Raskolnikov will soon realize that his feelings of guilt are unavoidable and he cannot repent for his crimes, nor will his guilty conscience feel at ease once again. Although I do suspect that Raskolnikov will eventually confess for the murders, I do not think that this confession will completely extinguish Raskolnikov’s regret because even though he will have confessed, the Ivanova sisters will still be dead and the murder’s cannot be undone.

Alex