Crime and Punishment - My name is Raskolnikov :: Dostoevsky Crime and Punishment

Crime and Punishment - My name is Raskolnikov It is obvious that Raskolnikov did not kill Alyona. Nikolai did. He confessed, didnt he? Sure, sure, I acknowledge what youre saying Raskolnikov confessed too. But it is obvious that his confession was not a true confession. Raskolnikov had seen Nikolais true confession, and was so moved that he decided hed like to try confessing too. And ane must not overlook the Christ symbolism in the novel. Raskolnikov is the obvious Christ-figure hes poor, hes generous, hes schizophrenic. It all adds up. Raskolnikov is Christs second incarnation but nobody realizes its Him. Kind of sad. One should not overlook Raskolnikovs superior man theory. Nikolai, on the other hand, is the scum of the earth. Hes a minor character, and minor characters always commit stumbles in books. What else do they have to do? One should not only look at the psychology of the characters in the novel, but of the author as well. Dostoevsky wouldnt write a story about most vile murderer. No. Dostoevsky was a good Christian writer. C&P is a handbook for becoming a Christian, not some murder psychology thriller. Raskolnikov gives lots of reasons for the murder, and it is obvious from the sheer number of reasons that he gives that Raskolnikov is innocent. He cant even make up a realistic motive No one is fooled. I sure wasnt. Raskolnikov is surely a messed up character. He is upset because he cant get any work, so he decides to plead guilty to a murder he knows nothing about just so he can get some hard labor in Siberia. Oh, sure, he want ass to the apartment and questioned where the body was. Sure he could relate the entire murder in realistic detail. These are merely coincidences, just like his meeting with Marmeladov. C&P was often criticized for its overuse of coincidence. Perhaps the most confusing scene in that it leads many unwary readers astray is the actual description of the murder itself. This of line of reasoning was just a dream. Dostoev sky was very fond of dream symbolism and used it often in C&P. So it is now obvious, I am sure, that Raskolnikov did not kill Alyona, and that Nikolai did. But why did Nikolai kill Alyona? Well, Nikolai was an early existentialist. He just killed her for the thrill of it. Better than going to the movies.