Reality TV shows and C&P

There is something magical about watching someone change right before your eyes. Unfortunately, I never had the privilege of having a younger sibling to watch grow up. My only comparison is those reality makeover shows, like The Swan or America’s Next Top Model. However, those shows care mostly about the changes made on the outside. Dostoevsky chose to monitor the inward changes of the human mind after committing a murder.
Even before the murder took place, I found Raskolnikov to be paranoid and suspicious. My thoughts were further strengthened after reading the letter from his mother about the engagement. I thought there was nothing wrong with it, however, Raskolnikov found lines expressing despair and doubt. He lived in his own little world of monologues and prejudices towards others. Impulsiveness was one of his greatest vices, since he was constantly handing off money to others without much thought of himself (until he realizes he needs that money and wants it back). His worst trait had to be his ‘holier than thou’ views. Raskolnikov believed that he didn’t need to mingle with people since they were of a lower class. By criticizing others flaws he was able to put himself on a pedestal. Only after the murder did these little idiosyncrasies intensify.
Raskolnikov’s justification for murder was that he was removing a woman who had no place in the land of the living. As the holder of a higher truth he believed that he had a right to kill someone evil. However, plans rarely go as intended. Escaping the crime site, the guilt begins to bubble within him since he killed an innocent woman, the pawnbroker’s sister. Nearly getting caught raises his paranoia that people suspect him as the murderer. He seeks assistance for his guilt but then shuns the idea of getting help from others. Switching back and forth from confessing and denying makes Raskolnikov agitated very quickly. Continuing his impulsive behavior, Raskolnikov has no filters when he speaks to people, choosing to be as blunt as possible about his desires. The most prominent emotion is paranoia that people might discover he is the killer, which leads to distress when the murder case is mentioned. However, in the end, Raskolnikov cannot deny how the guilt is eating his soul and confesses to the police about his sin (or ‘error’ as he calls it). He chooses to take full responsibility, losing all his fear and returns to his normal character.
posted by Kayla H.