The ideas present within the novel transcend not only the time it was written but lift themselves from the pages to manifest within pop culture. What Dostoevsky was focused on still resonates with audiences today. So, this week, pay attention to your world. Listen to your music, watch your television, see your movies, and read your books. Think about what point is being made and how it is connected to our novel, Crime and Punishment.
This is your opportunity to not only read our texts, but to read the world:)
Crime and Punishment can apply to almost anything in the media today, but one of the most striking resemblances I found to the popular novel was with Breaking Bad. As I recently finished the end of the TV series, I realized it almost directly resembles that of Crime and Punishment. I was extremely happy to have realized this because I thought, “Now, I can use this for language arts” and here I am. To begin with the most obvious detail, Walter White wants to provide for his family before he dies of lung cancer, but in doing so he has separated himself even further from his family and ends up killed by the last episode. This shows the crime followed by a punishment aspect, but another striking detail of Breaking Bad that is echoed in Crime and Punishment is the reliance on material things. Walter White believes to be providing for his family during these last months, but what his family really needs is for him to be there and to be a loving father. Instead, he turns into a money loving, murdering thief whom his own family despises. In Crime and Punishment this reliance on material goods is shown through Raskolnikov and is a reason for him to murder the old pawnbroker woman. Raskolnikov is shown to be a man struggling through life early on in the novel. Despite the fact that he has little to no money he is usually shown giving his own money away to benefit others that seem to need it more. In reality, Raskolnikov is making things harder on himself and his family as he suffers through mental and emotional distress after committing the murder. Raskolnikov also gives away all the money his family had sent to him to help him out with his problems, causing his mother and sister to not understand his position, causing resentment between the family members. Both creators of these works of fiction commented on the uncanny ability of humans to gravitate towards material items, although they will ultimately lead to the protagonist’s downfall.
ReplyDelete-Bolger, J. 2
I see a strong parallel between Crime and Punishment and the fourth season of the TV show American Horror Story. Raskolnikov’s Superman Theory is embodied in the character Dandy Mott, a privileged white psychopath who justifies murder on the grounds that he is superior to his victims.
ReplyDeleteRaskolnikov publishes an article that claims men are divided into two groups: the ordinary and the extraordinary. He argues that extraordinary men – or “Napoleons” – have the right to transgress the law because it does not apply to them. Dandy holds this same philosophy. When threatened by the police, he declares, “I am the law.” Raskolnikov would classify Dandy as a Superman because he exists above authority and even exerts authority over his fellow man.
What is especially terrifying about Dandy is his conviction in his crimes. He says, “I know why I was put here, Mother. My purpose is to bring death.” Raskolnikov believes that great men have a right – and even a duty – to kill other people. Dandy is convinced that he has this right. In one of his most famous lines, he proclaims, “I am living my destiny. You must have had a sense at least, that I was destined to be… this. I am a God. A God who was chosen to walk among men." While Raskolnikov experienced moral paralysis after murdering the pawn broker and therefore cannot be considered a Superman, Dandy meets all the criteria. He expresses no remorse over murdering anyone – not even his own mother. He is so detached from humanity the viewer has trouble considering him human. Through Dandy’s character, AHS: Freakshow makes the commentary that the real monsters of society are not those with physical abnormalities, but those with superiority complexes who believe murder and crime can be justified.
Keller N 7/8
After my presentation about Existentialism/Utilitarianism/Nihilism, Sam Harris decided to challenge me by asking me to connect Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment with Martel’s Life of Pi. I was unable to tell the class the connection, so my blog is meant to accept Harris’ challenge (I was probably going to connect to Life of Pi anyway, even if she never asked the question).
ReplyDeleteBoth Life of Pi and Crime and Punishment focus on the importance of religion, specifically the importance of an omnipotent figure. In Life of Pi, Pi Patel is stranded on a boat with only a tiger, Richard Parker. We travel with Pi as he survives Richard Parker, coexists with him, and by the end, overcomes Richard Parker. The ending of the book reveals the point of the story. The story with Richard Parker, the orangutan, the hyena, and other animals was made up. In actuality, all the animal figures were humans with Richard Parker being Pi. What the book does so simply is make a connection between a story of animals and a life with God. The story is more bearable if it is told with animals instead of humans. Likewise, our lives are more meaningful if it we accept the existence of God.
Crime and Punishment does not tell a story of animals, but it does follow characters that live in an animalistic society. St. Petersburg is a city of Nihilism, the belief in nothing. Nihilists, like Raskolnikov, believe that there is no purpose in life, and because of that, people are free to live without standards. However, throughout the entire book, we see how Raskolnikov suffers tremendously. His acceptance of “nothing” makes him extremely paranoid both before and after the murder of the pawnbroker. Raskolnikov finds no confidence in himself because he cannot confide his true feelings to others; however, later in the book, he does tell someone. Raskolnikov tells Sonia that he committed murder. Sonia tells him that he must entrust himself to God and confess his murder. Raskolnikov confesses, and he accepts the presence of God in his life. It is at this point that Raskolnikov loses his paranoia. When he is in the Siberian prison, a symbol of purgatory, Raskolnikov finally finds a peace of mind. He shows genuine emotion as he cries next to her. He is ready to live his life with God.
A summary of the connection between the two books is, live would be savage and brutal without God; with God, we are able to bear our suffering and find a way to overcome life’s difficulties.
Srivastava R, 2
Browsing my bookshelves I came across Looking for Alaska by John Green. I constantly remember the idea of The Great Perhaps; which is a theory or idea presented in the book by the narrator, Miles. Throughout the book while attending boarding school he constantly is looking or waiting for this grand, once in a life time experience that will change his life forever. It will fill his purpose within his life, leaving him satisfied. He believes that this new boarding school will help him along the way. When connecting the text to Crime and Punishment I look to the existential beliefs that emphasize the moral responsibilities of a person, and to find ones meaning to life. Raskolinkov is indeed a disturbed character yet throughout the novel his actions are all to be recognized. He published a well written article in the past and was quite intelligent. He murdered to be remembered as a Napoleon (and to free the world of the pawnbroker). His sincere actions with Sonya’s family and the random acts of kindness are good deeds. Two murders should not outweigh the good he has done. His actions were to find his purpose in life, his very own Great Perhaps.
ReplyDeleteRaskolinkov wants to be remembered for his actions, not only by Sonya but by everyone. His actions can be deemed historical. Relating to this is a song titled, Centuries by the band Fall out Boy. The lyrics center in on the idea of being remembered. The lyrics are told in a first person narrative, and I believe that makes the songs purpose more meaningful. Napoleon will be remembered for a certain number of ages and centuries and Raskolinkov wants to be given the title of a Napoleon, one who is superior over others as well. For the song Centuries the narrator wants to be remembered even when all the legends, “turn to dust or to gold”. This can relate to Raskolinkov because his story will live on forever, as long as the world does not turn out as George Orwell predicts in his novel 1984 (or Ray Bradbury’s). Napoleon’s legacy may live on forever but I believe someday when future generations read Crime and Punishment, they will come across the Napoleon reference and eventually look it up because they won’t understand the allusion.
Turnea, D 2nd Period
Crime and Punishment can be seen throughout our modern era today. I had not really thought about it but his ideas are seen in many places. One place that I specifically see a lot of connections is the TV series Revenge. Not only has it gone on forever and is adding never ending plot twists as in Crime and Punishment but it also has some legitimate connections as well. One of the ideas that stuck out to me immediately is the struggle with identity that is present within both pieces. Rodia, or Raskolnikov, depending on who is talking to him, struggles with his role as a brother, as a friend, and as a murder. This applies to Amanda Clark and Emily Thorne. She struggles as the daughter of an alleged terrorist, a person hiding her true identity, someone who is hell-bent on revenge, and many other roles because of all the confusing plot twists. Another connection that I noticed was that one idea or action was able to ruin the main characters whole lives. For Emily/ Amanda it was her idea of revenge, and how she wanted to take as many people down with her that she could. It turned her into a heartless monster. As for Raskolnikov the murder of the pawnbroker ruined him. That was all he could think about for the rest of the novel and it messed with his head, as in Revenge with Amanda. Family is also a very strong idea throughout both novels. Amanda who is determined to make things right and get revenge for her dad, and in Crime and Punishment it is seen with Raskolnikov and his mom and sister, and with Sonia’s family as well. Revenge shows that Dostoevsky’s ideas and points can still be seen today in the works of pop culture, not just this series.
ReplyDeleteThere is a strong connection between the ideas presented throughout Crime and Punishment and events that happen today. This is a really far idea and I hope no one is actually reading this because I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes but I can connect Dostoevsky’s superman theory to the Hernandez case.
ReplyDeleteThe superman theory in Crime and Punishment explains the idea of being a superior figure to those in society, which allows for the justification of cruel acts such as murder. Those who believe that they are held as this superior figure feel that they are above the any law that goes against their actions.
Aaron Hernandez was a talented tight end for the New England Patriots who murdered Odin L. Llyod. He was put on trial and later found guilty. He wrote a letter to his brother from jail that had said, “Everything happens for a reason in life in both our situations…God has a plan for all of us.” Aaron Hernandez never believed he did something wrong but put it in the hands of God and made it seem that what he did was for a greater reason just as in Crime and punishment, Raskolnikov believed that killing the pawnbroker was for the good of society.
Ramsumair 7/8
Honestly, I believe that the various points made in Crime and Punishment can be seen in various ways in contemporary society. . I do not watch much TV or movies nor do I really listen to music that isn’t by One Direction or 5SOS, so at first, I struggled a little bit to find outside world connections. But, when I analyzed various shows and song lyrics, I found there are hints of Crime and Punishment everywhere! We see it in our music, in our movies, and in our TV shows. A profound example of the idealities of Crime and Punishment is in the show House, M.D.
ReplyDeleteThe show House is about a genius doctor who has alienated himself from all except one friend. Dr. House is cold and rude to all, including his patients. The most interesting part of the show is House’s belief and conversations about religion and the purpose of life. Dr. House is an atheist and strongly believes in rationality. He finds individuals who do believe in religion to be irrational and incapable to except reality. In an episode of the show Dr. House stated, “Isn’t it interesting that religious behavior is so close to being crazy that we can’t tell it apart.” In the quote, House demeans religion and compares it to insanity. It is obvious that House does not have respect for religion. In another quote, House states, “Religion is a symptom of irrational belief and groundless hope.” House believes that religion is for the weak and for individuals to explain and give meaning to life. Throughout most of all eight seasons, House is a nihilist because he believes that there is no meaning to life whatsoever and life ends on Earth.
Dr. House mirrors Raskolnikov’s viewpoint of the world in the earlier parts of Crime and Punishment. Raskolnikov was nihilistic in the earlier parts of the novel, which in part lead to his murder of the pawnbroker. It was not till Raskolnikov met Sonya and developed a close bond with her that Raskolnikov was able to find meaning to life. A major theme of Crime and Punishment is that the meaning of life or goal of life is to find love. This is why Raskolnikov’s burden of the murder was decreased when he found Sonya; Sonya provided him with love so that he was not alone in the various perils that he faced in the novel. The theme of striving to find love in life is seen in House, M.D. Throughout the series, House is known to lack care for others and be incapable of accepting love from others. It was not till season 7 when Dr. House dated and had a relationship with Dr. Cuddy that he finally found love. In fact, it is explicitly stated in the show that the last time Dr. House was happy was when he was in a long relationship with one of his ex-girlfriends.
Through Raskolnikov and Dr. House finding meaning in life through love, the theme of existentialism is also shown in both Crime and Punishment and House, M.D. It isn’t till after both characters found love that they were able to appreciate life. By the end of Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov found that one develops his own meaning of life. This ideality is seen in House when after Dr. Cuddy breaks up with Dr. House, Dr. House goes back to being a Vicodin addict and leading a self-destructive lifestyle. Throughout the period of self-destruction after the breakup, House states many times that he chose this lifestyle for himself.
Both Crime and Punishment and House, emphasize the importance of finding love and meaning in life.
Crime and Punishment is a classic and well known novel. Because of its importance in literature, its ideals can often be found reflected in many other works. One area in which I see the impact of Crime and Punishment is in AMC’s The Walking Dead. In the series, a group of characters travels through towns filled with zombies (which they refer to as ‘walkers’). When I talk about the show with other people, they find it hard to understand how a show like this could be so interesting. What the characters find most difficult is not the threat that the walkers pose, but the dangers of other men around them.
ReplyDeleteIn Crime and Punishment, Raskolikov argues that an ordinary man can be killed in order to advance all of society. Of course this theory is met with much criticism. One of the main characters in the Walking Dead, Rick, has a similar mindset as Raskolnikov. He kills countless men in an effort to keep his group safe. While those in his group often do not agree with his decision, and sometimes turn away from his leadership as result of them, he continues to kill in order to keep his group safe. His mission of societal preservation outweighs all other consequences of his actions. Much as Raskolnikov believes that he sits on a pedestal above society, so does Rick.
However, Rick’s actions do not come without guilt. Just was Raskolnikov was subdued by the guilt he felt for killing the pawnbrokers sister, Rick often finds himself in a sort of mental trance. When he kills another man, viewers see the expression of his guilt and discontent. The end product of his actions, however, justifies all that he does.
Crime and Punishment and The Walking Dead are more similar than one might first believe. The central character in both works, Raskolnikov and Rick, will stop at nothing in order to better society. Both believe that killing another man is justifiable as long as a larger group is made better off. For both, these murders do not come without consequences- a constant guilt and a need to reconciliation with those around them.
-Ryan M. 2
The ideas and themes presented in Crime and Punishment can be seen in the popular BBCTV series Sherlock. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this series, it is a modern revamping of the Sherlock Holmes stories. It is also amazingly popular: 6 2-hour episodes and it is already the forth from the top on its respective fanfiction site list (meaning lots and lots of fan-written stories; this sucker’s up there with Doctor Who). If you’ve never heard of it before now, I would strongly advise a peek. It’s epic. Enough fangirling, though; on to the connections! I will attempt to show my findings without any major spoilers.
ReplyDeleteSherlock himself reminds me of a lot of Raskolnikov. Both have very pessimistic views on the world and often don’t see the point in living. They don’t get along with people very well, but have a close-knit group of friends that take care of them. They like to experiment, with often gruesome and disastrous results. The list goes on. Their basic philosophies are even similar, even if they have different ways of showing it. Raskolnikov believes that he is an extraordinary man; however, when he attempts to prove this, he ends up disproving his theory and realizing the basic good of simple human nature. Sherlock, on the other hand, already is a genius, and everyone he works with knows it. The trails he goes through prove not that he is wrong in this assumption, but that he is human as well as a genius. By the end of the second season of the show, Sherlock is forced to come to the same conclusion as Raskolnikov: it doesn’t matter if you are ordinary or extraordinary. If you don’t feel anything for your fellow humans nothing will ever have meaning to you. Love, friendship, and compassion are the things that make any life worth living.
We all know how Raskolnikov came to this conclusion, but how did Sherlock? The writers of the show leave it unclear if there is actually a love interest between any of the characters (don’t say that to any fan of the series, you’ll get an earful), but it is very clear Sherlock is “redeemed” by his close relationship with his partner/doctor/blogger John Watson. It is often said that John is Sherlock’s conscience and heart, while Sherlock is John’s analytical side. This is a perfect mirror of Raskolnikov’s relationship to Sonia. To my mind, it couldn’t be clearer that Sonia is Ras’s other half; he is the half that hates the world and attempts to take it into his own terms, and she is the half who knows there is good in every soul and a reason for everything. Together they are a perfect picture of peace: two ideals coming together in a compromise to share their way of life and hold each other accountable for their thoughts and actions. This is exactly how John and Sherlock act, and will most likely continued to act when Season 4 comes out. Both couples bring out each other’s inner strengths, and give each other the will to live. It’s simply beautiful to see.
As a quick comic relief, if any of you are as big a fan of Batman as I am, or just wish to have a laugh at the expense of CaP before the test, check out this link: http://www.againwiththecomics.com/2007/08/batman-by-dostoyevsky.h
Maslach, K 2
I think one of the very important aspects of the character Raskolnikov's development, as well as the story's, is his attachment and sympathy for Sonia. There was an episode of Law and Order: SVU that I watched about 100 years ago that focused in on a group of young immigrant girls prostituting themselves out to provide for their families back home. One of the main characters, Elliot, took on a very paternal role for the girls as they went through interrogations, the court system, IRS, etc. They were just trying to keep their younger siblings alive in impossible circumstances, much like Sonia does for her family. And much like Raskolnikov, Elliot saw the struggle of those people and felt bad for them.
ReplyDeleteAnother big connection for me was when Raskolnikov turned himself in. It reminded me of the Adele song, "Chasing Pavements." In the song she says: "I've made up my mind,
Don't need to think it over,
If I'm wrong I am right,
Don't need to look no further,"
This particular excerpt just reminded me of how final Raskolikov was about turning himself in, fully knowing that it was going to land him in prison. It speaks both to his character and his feeling that he isn't doing any good not in prison anyways.
- Angie G. 2*
Crime and Punishment has found its way into our present day media. I am an avid listener to many genres of music. And with this blog, I have looked through my phone countless times to search for the songs that can connect to the novel. One song I chose was “Another Way Out” by Hollywood Undead. In the song, a verse that I found the connection in was “I wish there was another way out for you”. When I heard this, I immediately thought of Raskolnikov and how his suffering was put on a plate. Even though I do not necessarily believe he felt any guilt for the crimes he committed, but he did deal with the burden of it for quite some time. He has “no other way out” but to make the life decision to confess and turn himself into the authorities. The idea that Raskolnikov could not find another way to live in his life with his crimes due to Sonya was obvious to me while reading the book.
ReplyDeleteI also see a connection in the TV series “Dexter”. The main character, Dexter, is a serial killer who targets other murderers for evade the justice system. So, in simpler terms, he kills people who kill people. In some ways, the show emphasizes from of the ideals of Utilitarianism, which is used in Crime and Punishment. Utilitarianism is getting the most benefit with the least suffering. If you make more people happy than you do hurt, you did well. This is what Raskolnikov believed when killing the pawnbroker and her sister. He seemed to keep his mind on the fact that “it was going the town a favor” since most people hated the pawnbroker just as much as he had. And with Dexter, he is killing bad people who will not be able to harm people anymore. But still, he committed crimes too.
Reva 7/8
Crime and Punishment can still be seen in society today, within many forms of media--both real and fictional. Even the entertainment industry follows the themes of this book, almost to the point. Taking a look at the different crime shows, for example. As humans, we have an innate fascination with the inevitability of punishment for our crimes. To see if we can overcome this, and transcend the law. This is reflected in shows like CSI, Law and Order, and NCIS.
ReplyDeleteIn these crime shows, we start off, naturally, with some kind of offense being commited. This may be personal, it may be pre-planned, but it always has a common factor: the criminal is trying to transcend the law and get away with what is, oftentimes, murder. Like Raskolnikov's theory, most of these people are ordinary men, hoping to become extraordinary; however, they usually fail. Some shows will have a character that proves to be extraordinary at first, commiting multiple crimes over various seasons, but even these eventually come to an end. The "extraordinary" character is proven to be ordinary, and is then faced with punishment as is everyone else, whether this is by their own violition (like Raskolnikov) or not.
-Avery A. 2.
The Superman Theory and the philosophy of Utilitarianism employed by Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment can be seen often in modern entertainment. We are fascinated with the idea of being extraordinary enough to transcend moral and societal laws and become absorbed in the dilemma of the suffering of one for the benefit of many. We see examples of people committing what can be classified as a crime but justified by their motives all the time in our crime shows and thriller movies. I recently saw the movie American Sniper. This movie depicted the life of the most deadly sniper in American military history, Chris Kyle. As a US Navy Seal, Kyle was committed to protecting his country and his fellow service members at any cost. Kyle’s work is considered to be patriotic, noble, and even heroic by some, but essentially he killed people for a living. Chris Kyle had 160 confirmed kills during his time as a sniper. In the movie you see him shoot a child who is trying to blow up US soldiers. The scene is disturbing and heartbreaking, but you understand why it had to be done. Kyle murders 160 people for the benefit of millions of lives, as every person he killed was determined to hurt US citizens. He can be considered a “superman”, able to violate morals laws for the benefit of others. The murder of a few for the benefit of a whole nation is justified under the Utilitarian theory. This movie depicts Chris Kyle as a true hero for his country. I don’t disagree with this. Today’s media loves the idea of people who are special and able to break the rules for the right reasons, and that is clear through the message in American Sniper.
ReplyDeleteFlorek, E. 7/8
Our society is pretty obsessed with the idea of romance being the saving grace in many dire situations. In "Crime and Punishment", Raskolnikov found his peace and confessed his crimes because of Sonia alone. Without her, he would never have given in and he might have even gotten away with his murders. Sonia's love saved Raskolnikov and continued to heal him as she visited him in Siberia. Romance seems to be weaved through everything in Raskolnikov's society as well as our own. As someone who doesn't feel the desire or point for romance in my own life, it can be pretty annoying to have romance shoved in your face by way of every media form in existence. "Love is the answer," society says. "Find a partner, he or she will complete you."
ReplyDeleteAlmost every television series or movie that I've watched since I can remember involved romance somewhere. Let's take some recent Blockbuster hits that even I can admit were great movies. In "Guardians of the Galaxy", Peter Quill and Gamora's relationship worked perfectly well as a platonic partnership, but for some reason, the writers decided to throw in some tension, a kiss, and a confession of love that seemed very out-of-place. Both characters were totally independent without the other. Gamora was an outstanding, powerful female character, who has arguably never been in any type of romantic relationship before. Why throw that in at all? Well, I guess the hero has to "get the girl", right?
How about a few of my favorite television series? (Sherlock, Hannibal, Bates Motel, Supernatural, Shameless) All of these shows feature romantic plotlines relatively often. And what do people say when they talk about television? "Who's she going to get with next?", "Wow, they should hook up." It's an endless barage of romance and sex that has little to do with what these shows are actually about. That's all society cares about and it was the same way it was in Dostoyevsky's time.
- S. Bahr, 7/8*
PART ONE: I apologize, My comment is too large to put in one comment, so I am doing it in parts. Sorry for the inconvenience.
ReplyDeleteDostoyevsky’s ideals are indeed still prevalent within today’s society and pop culture. One of these ideals that could be seen in his book Crime and Punishment it the idea of gender roles. For the last two projects in class I have focused on this idea of gender roles in books that the class was required to read, one of which being Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment. Within the book one can see female characters gaining rather powerful roles of the one who people depend on. Characters such as Sonia and Dounia were given large empowering roles, which were rather strange for a woman to have been given in the time period of which the book was written. Sonia played the part of the caregiver for her family. She was the one that her stepmother, stepsiblings, and even her own father had to look to for the money that kept them fed and alive. Having so much power over the people in her life made her a strong female character. A similar situation of power played out for the character of Dounia, as she was the one who her brother depended on for her to marry an influential man that could help him move up in society. Strong female roles were almost unheard of during Dostoyevsky’s time period, yet he seemed to hint towards feminist beliefs by using characters in Crime and Punishment. This idea of sexism being a social issue is still seen, possibly even more so, in today’s society and pop culture, thus the reason that the book Crime and Punishment can be connected to Disney’s hit sensation: Frozen.
Similarly to Crime and Punishment, Frozen focuses around the idea of women being handed roles of higher power that are not usually awarded to women. Early in the movie, Elsa was to be crowned queen and made ruler of the kingdom of Arendelle. This is a position that is normally left to men to have as king. If there is a female ruler, she is usually forced to marry a man who is to become king and she just sits off to the side looking pretty. However, in Frozen Elsa was to have her coronation; there was no questioning of whether or not she was going to marry. She was handed a position of extreme power in which men usually were the ones in that position. In this case, one could say that her role as queen is equivalent to being the head of a large family that just so happens to be a county’s entire population. Such position mirrors the position of Sonia in Crime and Punishment as the one working for the family and acting as a caregiver to her family. In Dostoyevsky’s time it was usually the men that had to work and bring home the paychecks to care for the family, but in Sonia’s case it was her duty. Essentially Sonia and Elsa wear the metaphorical ‘pants’ in their respective families. Such mirroring of roles shows Dostoyevsky’s thoughts portrayed in Crime and Punishment on sexism are still prevalent in society and pop culture today.
PART TWO: Again I am sorry.
ReplyDeleteOne can also see the same ideals shared by Dostoyevsky in the character of Anna from Frozen. Anna played the part of the protagonist in the movie. She was the hero, not some man. This is a concept rather new to Disney princesses, who usually play the part of a damsel in distress. Even female characters that seem strong, like Megara from Disney’s Hercules, still needed saving in the end. Anna, however, was the movie’s hero and in the end she saved herself, rather than depending on a man to help her. Anna’s situation shows Dostoyevsky’s thoughts on sexism through her comparison to the character of Dounia. Dounia is the one that her brother depends on for help, which is similar to the way that Arendelle depends on Anna to help them find Elsa and stop the winter. Anna also saves herself by doing an act of true love towards her sister, rather than relying on a man to save her from her frozen heart. Similarly, in part four of Crime and Punishment Dounia decides that she will, in a sense, save herself. She decides that she is not going to depend on Pyotr to save her from poverty and take care of her, and she tells him to leave. She, like Anna, takes matters into her own hands and becomes a strong female character.
Through this mirroring of character roles, one can see the ideas and thoughts of Dostoyevsky on the need for some strong female characters in today’s pop culture. Frozen is not the only example of such ideals, however, it is one that clearly shows the need for female characters that are strong, important characters. Frozen also shows their ability to transcend the normal gender roles in which men dominate women and are the ones with power. Such is also seen by Dostoyevsky in his characters of Sonia and Dounia.
~C. Lenhoff 2nd period
I see the theme of money present in our world today and in Crime and Punishment. Though this theme is very vague, a distinct aspect is present in Wolf of Wallstreet and Crime and Punishment. Money controlling actions is the connection I made between these two pieces of work. In Wolf of Wallstreet, the main character has a job, giving him significant amounts of money and takes him into a trap filled with bad things such as drugs and sex outside of his marriage. The power money possesses in the movie carries over into Crime and Punishment as well. That power money has in controlling the actions of Raskolnikov is present when he takes the power and pushes it away. He gives money away as if it has little value, so he shuts down the power more so than in Wolf of Wallstreet. These two books showing a connection with money also comes with the wealth in the movie, versus the poverty in the book. Each piece gives money a drive in the story line but in different ways. Money can have power and wealth, or its light can be dimmed by poverty.
ReplyDeleteSomething that stuck out to me in Crime and Punishment is the feeling of superiority that people feel, in this case Raskolnikov, among other people. Raskolnikov believed he was so much better than the average person and thus this caused him to avoid society. Never the less, this feeling of superiority caused him to commit crimes and feel guilty. at the very end is when we see him come down of that cloud he was on and set his feet on earth. I see this theme in movies all the time. The most recent movie I saw this in was in the movie The Book of Life. Basically the movie is about two childhood friends fight over the girl they like, also a childhood friend of theirs. One of the guys is very humble and full of love, while the other one is cocky and believes he is better than the rest because he is invincible. That was his downfall and in the end the humble and loving guy ended up with marrying the girl. What I get from this is that many people don't understand the difference between being confident and knowing what you are doing than believing you are superior and can get away with a lot of things because of it. That is the reason Raskolnikov committed the crime but it was the guilt he felt afterwards that brought him down to earth and accept that he wasn't superior and above all others.
ReplyDeleteGalvan. E 2nd
The main point I would like to touch on in my blog entry is the feeling of knowing something is damaging, but doing it anyway. Though I am not a religious viewer of TV programs or movies, I can easily compare the themes portrayed in Crime and Punishment to something my life has been built upon, and that is music.
ReplyDeleteThe modern song I have chosen to compare Raskolnikov to would be “Twice” by Little Dragon. Before touching on this, I would like to describe a category that I have seemed to notice Raskolinikov fit into, this being narcissism. A narcissist is one who has unstable and intense emotions; emotions that may distort the thought process, or cause someone to consciously involve themselves in wrongdoing.
In terms of C and P, Raskolnikov actively killed the pawnbroker with no reason, followed by no empathy. He knew that his actions would land him in jail, but he made the internal decision to pursue them anyway.
In this song, the lyrics discuss someone who has left a lover two times at this point. Something about this other person keeps drawing them in and they know that the aspects of this relationship will ultimately lead to their downfall but they love them anyway.
Another comparison to the same situation in C and P would be the song “Take me to Church” by Hozier. This song describes the sin of sexuality in the Catholic Church, as the songwriter choses to pursue sexual relations regardless of his poor reputation with the church.
Themes relative to the text can be seen in many ways in many aspects of the ways humans constantly live to date. Getting sick thrills or other various feelings about harmful instances is a common aspect to human nature, and some figures of society and seemingly fill the “mold” of Raskolnikov effortlessly.
Mewhinney M, 2
Dostoevsky’s novel, Crime and Punishment has several themes throughout. One prominent idea that is spread throughout each part is Utilitarianism, or the idea that committing some act that is usually unjustifiable is done for the good of all, and the idea that some people are ‘Extraordinary’. These points that Dostoevsky makes are timeless and resonate much within our pop culture today. Utilitarianism and extraordinary people are seen very often in our television industry, specifically The Vampire Diaries, which airs on the CW. (For any of you that want to get hooked, I recommend this show immensely). This show is full of action, romance and death.
ReplyDeleteThe Vampires has a vast cast containing those who mostly play vampires. However, there are two characters that do not share this common trait and act just the opposite. Jeremy, the brother of a vampire, and Alaric, the friend of a vampire, have met there destined calling as a vampire hunter. Their duty is to kill off vampires and end the trouble they cause in the town they live in. These two characters commit murder for the citizens in their society. This is punishable by law, but they do it for the good of all the people. They want to keep their friends and family out of harm’s way. Ironically, however the sheriff of the town is the mother of a vampire. Sheriff Forbes puts both of these characters as well as all the other vampires above the law. These characters are ‘extraordinary’.
Dostoevsky portrays Raskolnikov to think he is above the law as well, or extraordinary. Although it does not end this way. Raskolnikov believes that he kills both the Paw Broker and Lizaveta for the good of his society. If the pawn broker is dead, she can no longer hustle anyone out of money. If Lizaveta is dead, she cannot tell on him for the crimes. He feels he has his plan all figured out.
These ideas are not limited to just fictional television shows. Our society can see these ideas within our music, movies, and real life. Constantly our world is evolving by putting more people such as celebrities above the law. Dostoevsky was from a different era, but his views have lived long past his time and are in place every day.
Cika, M 2
I recently just watched the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, and it's sequel 2010. The movies both surround this monolith that seems to be a representation of rebirth. The music used as the baby is shown at the end is called Also Sprach Zarathustra, by Strauss. Also the title of Nietzsche's book on the subject of the übermensch; the superman theory. This has a huge connection between the two. At the end of the series, the big realization is that they should create a peace between themselves. The Russians and the americans, in the movie, but also between all people of earth. The monoliths are sending the message to humans to create a peace and improve the world they live in. Which is earth. The monoliths advise against ever coming back to the planet Io. According to Nietzsche's superman theory, an unsatisfactory feeling with life is what causes us to seek other worlds. Both the movie and the theory prompt us to avoid other world's and work towards the creation of the superman. In the book Crime and Punishment, there is the idea that some men are of a higher status than others and can do whatever they wish. These men are the übermensch. In the book, Raskolnikov tries to prove this theory on himself by killing the old woman and her sister. He constantly believes that there are no other world's so he does as he pleases. However, he proves that he is not a superman, and it looks as if the theory is disproved. By Nietzsche's theory though, Raskolnikov becomes a weak man who comes to believe in other world's and believes his soul will ascend or descend into another world. The movie is quite different because it tries to present the idea that the body is all that there is and it must be taken care of. A higher being must be created and taken care of.
ReplyDeleteSomething that I have noticed more recently in my entertainment choices is the evidence of existentialism that we have explored within Crime and Punishment. I was seeing it more and more in the music I listen to. In the song A Car, a Torch, a Death by Twenty One Pilots, the singer talks about another person who desperately needs help because she is plagued by demons that exist within her own head because of mental illness. The more he thinks about this girl, the more he realizes he needs to help her because she cannot fight the demons alone. The singer then says the words, “I began to understand why God died.” He shows that he must take responsibility and help through his own actions instead of leaving her fate to an outside source, like God, and he is determining his own fate by changing his own path. By helping the girl he changes his own life and his own development, seeing this act as his individual responsibility in his life.
ReplyDeleteI also find the superman theory in many shows and movies, where someone thinks that they are above the law. In the television show Dexter, the main character is a serial killer who only murders people that are guilty. Because of this, he believes his murders are justified. This superman theory can also be seen with many comic book characters. The Punisher, Elektra, V from V for Vendetta, Deadpool, Wolverine, and others are all considered heroes in their worlds, yet they kill their enemies with their own motives. The audience still enjoys their stories and cheers them on when they kill the bad guy. This places these people in rolls of higher beings, ones that have the ability and the right to kill.
Hornung, A. 7/8
For me, one of the main themes that stands out in the novel is the concept of love. Although the novel is abundant in violence and cruelty, and often times love is seen with this same coating of power plays and harshness; I firmly believe that Dostoevsky’s depiction and commentary on love is a resigning concept still found in today’s world.
ReplyDeleteTo begin, I think it is necessary to identify Dostoevsky’s stance on love. There are four main “couple” relationships in the novel, these being between Sonia and Raskolnikov, Razmuhin and Dunya, Marmeladov and Katerina, and Dunya and Luzhin. The latter two are examples of unorthodox love relationships. These relationships depict the shallowness and manipulative qualities of love. Katerina and Marmeladov depict a relationship where the woman is in control and despises her husband for his petty alcohol addiction. Their relationship is filled with hatred, the exact opposite of love, and shows the trapping feeling of love through marriage.
Continuing, Luzhin and Dunya also depict this shallow level of love. We see Dunya being used as a “trophy wife” and Luzhin being used as solely a form of income. Again, this couple is about to enter the confines of marriage and enter the same trap and hateful love that Marmeladov and Katerina face.
With these characters, Dostoevsky comments on the hypocrisy of love within the bounds of married relationships. He comments that often times love does not have to be a part of marriage and that when we settle or decide to marry for the wrong reasons, we live in eternal damnation and never find true happiness.
However, then we transcend to the former two relationships, these being the more positive of the four. With Razmuhin and Dunya, Dostoevsky shows that true love can be found in the world, no matter how dirty and disgusting that may be. Their relationship, aside from being a pivotal point in the novel, is a depiction of love being a form of salvation, making our life better, and making we, as people, better.
This is even more prominent in the relationship between Raskolnikov and Sonia. There relationship is pretty much the exact definition of love being a way of salvation. We see Sonia changing Raskolnikov and admitting to his sin, finding clarity and fixation in the world around him. And for Sonia, Raskolnikov’s love and compassion for not only her, but also her family, exemplifies how love is saving and changes the world around us.
So, with all these aspects of the book in mind, I believe Dostoevsky teaches about the various levels of love there are in the world, and how in love, it is important to think with our hearts, and not our heads. I think this is a relevant concept in the modern world as well. For instance, look at our music that speaks to homosexuality. Although it may be disputed as right or wrong, the concept of these songs is falling in love with the person, not the ideal that society projects for us. For instance, in the Hoosier song “Take Me to Church”, it states: “In the madness and soil of that earthly scene/Only then I am human/Only then I am clean” (12). This song, along with many other forms of contemporary art, appeal to the reasoning that it is not the gender or the image, it is the person that we should have the right to fall in love with. Just like the words Dostoevsky spoke so confidently 200 years ago, love is not about the fallacies and what society wants. Love is found in weird places, in odd people, but that is what true love is. It comes to us in the least of expected forms.
Megan Lear 2nd
When relating “Crime and Punishment” to today’s world, I noted that the novel had a very great relation to the CW’s hit T.V. show, “Gossip Girl.” Though this series may not be of high stature or considered merit, the idea of the Superman Theory presents itself throughout the entirety of the show. The majority of the main characters, including Blair Waldorf, Serena van der Woodsen, Nathaniel Archibald, and Chuck Bass all come from privileged families and obtain a lot of riches and authority. Despite their high standings in society, these highly rebellious teens carry out a lot of questionable acts: unsupervised, crazy drinking, sex, and even drugs. Acts such as these are ones that would be very harshly punished for the average person. Due to their social class and their parents’ stature, however, they do not suffer any consequences. Practically all of the characters in this show believe that they are extraordinary because of their parents’ fortunes. Each one of them continuously breaks the law, yet they are never punished because they and their parents are “above the law.” This idea is very similar to the way that Raskolnikov acts in Dostoevsky’s novel: he commits murders because he believes he is above the law and believes that he is doing other people a favor.
ReplyDeleteThis idea of the Superman Theory is also presented in the hit Showtime series “Dexter.” In this series, the protagonist, Dexter is a murderous psychopath who gets pleasure out of killing other people. In the show, his father found out about this “issue” with his son, so he got him psychiatric help, where Dexter was trained to only kill those who “deserve” it: serial killers, mass rapists, child abductors, and child molesters. Basically, the show revolves around Dexter killing these people who commit awful crimes. Dexter believes that he is higher up than those awful people and uses their crimes of murder and rape as a justification for his murders. This is also very similar to Dostoevsky’s protagonist. After completing this blog and reading my classmates’ responses, it is very evident that the ideas in “Crime and Punishment” can be seen in modern day artwork all over the place.
Shaniuk, B 7/8
I have to admit, coming up with a connection to Crime and Punishment was tough for me. After a long time, I finally came up with one. The connection I found is a TV show called The Fugitive. In this movie, the main character Richard Kimble is charged with the murdering of his wife. He is innocent, but he came to believe that a one armed man was the culprit of the killing. This one arm man was on the move, and until Richard Kimble found the man, he was the one to blame for the killing.
ReplyDeleteThis relates to Crime and Punishment perfectly. Raskolnikov was the actual murderer of the pawnbroker and her sister, but gets away with the crime at first. After the crime, the painter is the one person who is accused of the murder. Although the painter did not openly look for the actually culprit, there was a special dynamic between the different side of Raskolnikov life. The main reason Raskolnikov confessed was because of love, and that is the same reason why Richard Kimble chased after the one armed man. Kimble loved his wife, and felt that finding the person who committed the crime was a good way to demonstrate respect towards her.
Lastly, both pieces don’t have the confession process through authority, but actually through the different characters. Locating and confronting the actual thief was between Raskolnikov and Sonia, and in The Fugitive, Richard Kimble. Overall, both pieces show similarities amongst each other and help display a message of love and confession.
Wasylko, G 7/8th
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky presents ideas and themes that can still resonate with modern audiences. There are certain themes of love, violence, and sacrifice that transcend thorough time. Although questionable and surprising at first, there are some strong parallels between Crime and Punishment and the video game “God of War.”
ReplyDeleteIn both Crime and Punishment and God of War, the protagonist experiences a dramatic change after murdering someone who was important to them. To Raskolnikov, the old woman symbolized everything he hated about society: selfishness, greed, cruelty, and disrespect towards others. After Raskolnikov kills the old pawnbroker and her sister, he begins to become both physically and mentally sick. All he can think about is the murders he has committed and how flawlessly he executed his idea. He becomes arrogant and believes that no one will ever discover that he was the murderer, especially after the painter gave the police a false confession. Similarly Kratos, the main Spartan Hero in God of War, becomes sick with anger after murdering his final two victims, his wife and daughter. He becomes far more violent and he is unable to truly trust anyone ever again. The image of Kratos’s final two victims stayed with him for all his days; no matter where he went he could never stop thinking about what he did. Both Raskolnikov and Kratos rejected their society’s main religion. Raskolnikov mocked people like Sonja who were devout Christians and he constantly questioned religious teachings, until his final confession. After the death of his wife and daughter, which he blamed on Ares the god of war, Kratos made it his mission to destroy the gods and everything they stood for. He blamed the gods for the atrocities he had committed. Kratos and Raskolnikov both considered themselves to be extraordinary men whose violent actions were justified because they would be improving society as a whole.
Judele C, 2nd
A theme that is present in Crime and Punishment is the concept of suffering. It is either in the literal form where a character is undergoing physical or emotional pain, or in the form of causing suffering to others. Many cases of suffering in the novel are tied in with poverty. Relating to modern day society, poverty is causing many to suffer in Africa, and even here in America with families who cannot support themselves and their children. It is all over the news, and around us with people standing outside on the streets with cardboard signs asking for help from others. Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment was charitable to those crying out for help, because he knew what it was like to be in their shoes.
ReplyDeleteThe pain that he inflicts on the pawnbroker by smashing her head with an axe, is for the reason of him wanting to obtain her fortune. Money rates. That is why Luzhin and Dounia planned to get married, so that Raskolnikov could pick himself up from the ground. A song that related to this is "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" by Whitney Houston. Not all the lyrics and of course the uplifting theme that is consisted in it connects to Raskolnikov's situation. But some of the verses such as "Lost touch with my soul/I had no where to turn/I had no where to go/Lost sight of my dream" and "I was not built to break" tied in. Raskolnikov continuely questioned himself on whether he should commit the murder or not, and one day he just did it. For the money. To try and make his suffering end.
Asturi V 7/8
Crime and Punishment can apply to many aspects of media today. Until now I have never really thought of this but now I see that many shows/books today parallel different aspects of it. First, I think it relates to the Raskolnikov’s superman theory. Many criminal shows such as NCIS, Law and Order: SVU, and other shows contain criminals who think that they transcend the law. People who think that they shouldn’t be punished for their crimes because they are better than the people they killed, stole from, etc. just like Raskolnikov. Also like Raskolnikov these men are often ordinary men, hoping to become extraordinary and believing themselves to be superior. Just like these men in the end, Raskolnikov inevitably fails at this task.
ReplyDeleteI can also see Raskolnikov relating to the character Sherlock Holmes in the show “Sherlock”. In this modern take on the series Sherlock is very pessimistic and also narcissistic at times. He believes he is smarter than everyone and that the world is filled with idiots. At times he even finds life tedious. I think that this relates to Raskolnikov because like Sherlock he has very few friends and very few people who can even get along with him.
Lots of aspects of the media relate to Crime and Punishment. Not only the characters in the book but also the ideals the book contains. Dostoyevsky’s ideals have lived well passed when his book was published.
Gall, A 2
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn Dostoyevsky's work "Crime and Punishment", the point is made that life is purposeless without meaning; specifically, meaning derived from a deity. Raskolnikov's actions and their results can be taken as bashing Utilitarianism, Nihilism, and existentialism. Whereas Raskolnikov ends his journey in religious renewal.
ReplyDeleteWe see the same importance of meaning in life stressed in modern pop culture. In the television series "The Walking Dead", members of the "group" need to hold on to hope, they must hold on to some shred of meaning to survive in a world filled with seemingly endless hordes of flesh-eating corpses. Now, it is important to note that the meaning characters hold onto isn't religious, in this case. In fact, the god the characters worshiped before the end of society seems to fall to the wayside. The once minister-like Hershel even looses his religion and focuses more on the survival of humanity. The meaning that keeps the group going is the hope that humanity will
survive, and the acceptance of the fact they might as well be dead when facing the challenges of life after the collapse of society: they are "The walking dead". This acceptance allows them to fight, to struggle, to push on to that day when the scales might tip in humanity's favor. This is the same point Dostoyevaky makes, some meaning, some hope must be held otherwise ruin is all that awaits in the future.
Bruggeman, J 7/8th
One of the major themes in Crime and Punishment is the idea of being above the law. In the beginning of the novel, Raskolnikov believes himself to be above the rest of the human population. He is an "extraordinary" person and therefore he can commit a crime and get away with it scot free. This connects to the Netflix series "Orange is the New Black". The main character, Piper, is locked away for drug trafficking. She struggles at the start of the novel with her imprisonment as she reasons that what she did really isn't all that bad, that she's an innocent, young girl who made a mistake a long time ago. This is much like Raskolnikov in the idea that he doesn't initially take responsibility for his actions as he believes he is an "extraordinary" individual. He thinks he is above the law and above morals.
ReplyDeleteWhile Piper doesn't necessarily possess such an egoistical outlook, she still views herself as being above the crimes she's been charged with. Because she is an elite member of society, she doesn't think that she can be held responsible much as Raskolnikov believes he is an intellectual elite, therefore he cannot be held responsible.
-Harris, S 2*
When we look at modern art and literature former works are always seen from former famous works such as Romeo and Juliet. This sort of intertextuality can be seen from the novel Crime and Punishment and a modern day TV show called “The Following”. The plot of the series is a psychopath serial killer that forms a network of killers to follow him while the FBI try to hunt him down. The similarity between the novel and series is Raskolnikov’s extraordinary man theory.
ReplyDeleteBeing that all men are divided into ordinary and extraordinary, the extraordinary men have the gift or talent to overcome common laws. The man character of “The Following” holds these ideas. Joe Caroll’s narcissism makes him believe he can do anything and that he is above the law, especially murder. With his intelligence and cult following of killers, they carry out his calculated plans whether it be escaping prison or using his murderous acts to send powerful messages to the FBI. His manipulative ways further his superiority and help pursue his hopes of making and mark on history, whether good or bad. He believes that with his choices and actions he cannot be stopped. He can surpass common laws to better himself and to further his power that he possesses over his followers. Just as Raskolnikov kills the Pawn Broker to further his own plans and as Napoleon committed various actions to complete his plans. They all come together to over power the ordinary.
S. Güt 7/8
Dostoevsky put a heavy focus on the ideals that one great man can over come the basic laws set out by humanity in order to achieve not only greatness for themselves but all of humanity. This ideal was not created by Dostoevsky but is one that has been around long before him and has succeeded long after him. Raskolnikov entire journey was based off this theory that men are either ordinary or extraordinary. The extraordinary men can excide the law in order to further themselves in their career. The greatest example and one Raskolinkov refers to the most is Napoleon. I don’t feel that it is necessary to rehash the Napoleon theory again as we have talked so much about it. The basic concept is simple and one that pops up quite often in society and not just today but has been a topic of conversation for many centuries.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read this week’s blog I struggled with what to write about as there are so many parts of Crime and Punishment that still hold relevant today. What gave me the idea of what to talk about in this blog was a conversation I saw on twitter a few weeks ago. The debate was on American Sniper; the two people were arguing to as whether it was right to paint Chris Kyle as a hero. Chris Kyle was a decorated sniper with 160 confirmed kills the most in United States history. Kyle was killed tragically when shot by a fellow veteran on U.S. soil His story was quickly made into a book and most recently a movie. He is looked on by most of the country as a hero who protected his country to a great extent. However, some people did not view him as worthy of choosing to take the lives of so many.
I quickly was able to connect the idea of extraordinary men to Chris Kyle he was a man that had to kill in order to help the rest of his country. I firmly believe that Chris Kyle was indeed an extraordinary man. However, the debate did make me think of war a whole and the idea that why some act may seem necessary to some they may not to all. I believe that the idea of extraordinary men exceeding the law is subjective while I may think a man was completely in the right others may not agree. I think this is why Crime and Punishment remains a book that is still talked about today. It still sparks a debate as we still see these ideas in today’s society.
Sansone A. 2nd
Crime and Punishment certainly shares common themes with pop culture, even today. Raskolnikov, our protagonist, and traces of his personality can be found throughout many different mediums. While it might at first seem to be a stretch, I can definitely identify Raskolnikov in the character Pennsatucky on Orange is the New Black.
ReplyDeleteAt the surface, the two have nothing in common. Pennsatucky is a bible-thumping prison inmate who was imprisoned for killing an abortion clinic worker. Raskolnikov is a nihilistic Russian man who runs into a serious internal conflict upon killing a pawnbroker. Immediately, we find that there is a connection of them both having murdered someone. Pennsatucky murders the abortion clinic worker because the worker insulted her on having abortions of her own. Quite simply, because Pennsatucky’s pride was on the line, she killed the worker. Similarly, Raskolnikov kills Alyona because he feels that he is superior to her and he has the right to control whether or not she lives. Both kill with the purpose of proving themselves.
Even though Pennsatucky and Raskolnikov appear to have contrasting personalities, these two actually have complimentary personalities. Pennsatucky is a religious maniac who preaches to everyone and anyone. She does this to hide her insecurities about herself that lie deep within her. Raskolnikov does the same by putting on a utilitarian mask. He pretends that he murdered Alyona for the sake of everyone else, when in reality he felt no remorse. He felt empowered from the murder. Both Raskolnikov and Pennsatucky hide behind crutches: Pennsatucky’s religious beliefs and Raskolnikov’s fake utilitarian ideologies.
-Kett J 2
Crime and Punishment’s ideas can be seen seeping into our current society, because they are very well know and unchanging. We often see the ideas of mystery, thinking one’s self as superior, and punishment for ones actions in popular television shows like, CSI, NCIS, and Law and Order. These shows portray basic ideals of reality in an exaggerated fashion, just like what happened in Crime and Punishment. Dostoevsky had taken had taken his ideas to an extreme through Raskolnikov, who committed a crime, thinking he was above the law, but eventually he surrendered and was given a punishment for his crime. Just like in the television shows someone usually commits a crime and a lot happens, whether it be searching for the criminal or being on the run, turning themselves in, something happens the will eventually result in the criminal repenting for their crime. Both Dostoevsky and the television shows take the ideas or reality to the extreme to advance their point, and make sure that their audience receives the message they are sending or representing.
ReplyDeleteLoDolce, A 7/8
There are many places in the modern world where the book Crime and Punishment can be applied to. One major place where the themes in Crime and Punishment are portrayed is in the show Criminal Minds. Watching a serial killer and learning the psychology behind him/her captivates audiences. Dostoevsky must have known this when he wrote his book. People pay money to watch or read about certain acts that they would never be able to commit themselves—better just witness it than risk being caught. I really like Criminal Minds because it applies to a wide range of literature and fictional characters, as well as real life people. There are many episodes of Criminal Minds where the serial killer has some sort of mental illness. Often, his mental illness forces him to seek out certain types of people to kill. In Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov kills the old woman because he feels that people like her deserve to be eradicated from the world. He did not feel like what he did is wrong. Another similarity between the two is they both show the whole stage of the killing. In Criminal Minds, the serial killer is shown from his first kill to the moment he is caught. At the beginning of Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov kills the old woman and escapes. At the end, he is thrown into jail. Throughout a major part of the book, Raskolnikov is struggling with his mental illness. He is trying to run and hide from his demons, and they end of catching him. I feel like there are many sources today that try to tell the world that if you commit a crime, you will be caught.
ReplyDeletePatel 2
In today’s society, Crime and Punishment has certainly made its mark. The very idea of extraordinary people is something that we have taken to telling stories about. We see things like Dexter where a murderer is seen as the protagonist. Though I haven’t watched the show, what I have been told is that Dexter only kills the bad guys. I apologize if this is incorrect but know that my response is going off of this. We sympathize with the murderer just like we sympathized with Raskolnikov. This idea of taking someone who should be a villain and giving them hero-like qualities has peaked again in recent years. Even take vampire romances. The figure of a vampire in Dracula was dark, evil, and grotesque whereas now they are the handsome men who are brooding and save the girl. What was once a villain is now what people want to see as the hero.
ReplyDeleteDame E 2
In Crime and Punishment, the idea of superhuman or superiority in a character over others is evident in Raskolnikov. A character who feels they know better than the others and what they are doing, even if it is wrong, is for the betterment of the whole. In the Oscar nominated (because I’m watching them as I’m typing this) film Birdman, Edward Norton’s character is an overdramatic, self righteous method broadway actor. He comes to perform in Michael Keaton’s character’s play out of his desperation for a new actor, and his character takes over the show during the preview show, drinking real alcohol on stage to make the performance authentic. His character says he does it for the better of the show, though he goes against the directors wishes. I know this is a very small example but the superhuman complex is clear in Edward Norton’s character in the film. He feels he knows best and he does things that are rash with the justification that he is bettering the whole, much like Raskolnikov’s justification for killing the pawnbroker.
ReplyDeleteCali Parey 7/8
A movie that I saw lately that contains parallels with Crime and Punishment is the Disney film: "The Emperor's New Groove". The main similarity I notice is between the two main characters-- Raskolnikov and Emperor Kuzco. Both face a duality in their personality that frequently fluctuates between what is good for themselves and what is morally good.
ReplyDeleteRaskolnikov-- whose name literally means "schism" -- displays this duality when he expresses remorse for committing the murders yet is conflicted with accepting the punishment or saving his own skin. A similar theme appears with Emperor Kuzco as he is conflicted with tearing down a village for his own personal wants or to preserve it for their sake. In the end, both parties do what they believed to be morally correct. However, this is not done without some what of a moral guardian. For Rodya, this is Sonya, as she convinced him to turn himself in. For Kuzco, this is Patcha, the local village leader who pushed Kuzco to make a decision for the preservation of his people's homes. As both characters from each work are conflicted between right and wrong, they ultimately choose what is morally right.
Javorsky R 2*
One of the most prominent features of Raskolnikov’s character in Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment was his intense paranoia after committing the murder of the old pawnbroker. I have the words “paranoia” or “paranoid” scrawled in my margins countless times, and it reminds me of the song “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell. The song’s chorus says, “I always feel like somebody’s watching me, and I have no privacy.” Similarly, Raskolnikov always feels as if someone is watching him, as if someone knows his secret. He is constantly worried and he, when questioned about the crime, becomes immediately paranoid and frantic.
ReplyDeleteThere is also a specific part of Crime and Punishment that is relatable to a line from the song XO by Fall Out Boy. On page 257, Raskolnikov is with Sonia in her apartment, and it reads, “There was a book lying on the chest of drawers. He had noticed it every time he paced up and down the room. Now he took it up and looked at it. It was the New Testament in the Russian translation. It was bound in leather, old and worn,” and earlier on that page, Raskolnikov stated, “’And what does God do for you?’” These passages remind me of the line in XO that says, “To the love, I left my conscious pressed between the pages of the bible in the drawer, what did it every do for me I say?” This relates to Raskolnikov because he put away his conscious when he committed the murder and decides once and for all to confess to Sonia after she reads to him from the bible, after his conscious was released from the pages.
Despite any feelings I have towards the novel, I will admit that it is still extremely relatable to our society today and can be seen in several aspects of popular culture.
-Dushek, K 2˚
A TV show that connects to Crime and Punishment is Supernatural. The two protagonists find that they have been destined for an extraordinary lifestyle, that the older brother Dean is to be the archangel Michael's Vessel while the younger brother Sam is destined to be lucifer's vessel in the upcoming apocalypse. AS it has been prophesied since the beginning of the world, the two brothers find themselves continually moving closer towards the goal that has been unknowingly placed on them.Eventually their heart wins over, just as Raskolnikov's does, and they fight back against the driving force that is causing them to act. At the end of the ordeal, both separate and take a time of solitude, allowing them to focus on the acts they committed while believing that they were acting for the greater good. Though Sam and Dean did not travel to Siberia, their alone time mirrored Raskolnikov's in that their relationship grew stronger because of each's pilgrimage. Through love, brotherly in this case, they are able to find repentance and a belief in their purpose of living, just as Raskolnikov did with Sonya. The series focuses on family, explicitly stating that love is what gives humans hope and the ability to live, which was a theme Dostoevsky wrote into his novel.
ReplyDeleteSupina R 2
I see many connections between Crime and Punishment and our real life society today- yes. But to find a TV show, or a movie, or a book, yeah I'm not really up to date with the hottest new forms of entertainment. I do listen to music and maybe my connection is a stretch, but it's a connection nonetheless:
ReplyDeleteIn Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov justifies his crime to be what's best for society. In this justification, he puts himself above the law. He sees himself, essentially, as being better than the norm of society; i.e. a "superman". This is analogous to Fall Out Boy's song "Centuries." In the chorus, the lyrics state "Some legends are told, Some turn to dust or to gold, But you will remember me, Remember me for centuries." Essentially, they are also putting themselves above the norm of society, claiming they will be remembered for- something. Not necessarily for the best of society, but they will come out on top, they will live up to the superman standards.
In the novel “Crime and Punishment,” Raskolnikov is a very conflicted character. His actions contradict his needs, his character basks in indecision, and he tends to cower away from his problems. In the very beginning of the novel, Raskolnikov plans to murder the old pawnbroker whom he completely despises. Soon after, he’s repulsed by this plan and is in utter disbelief that he would have ever thought of it. Shortly following this change of heart, however, he again argues with himself until he changes his mind once more and decides that he will commit murder. The continued alternation between plans in this instance reflects Raskolnikov’s confliction and indecision with himself. Additionally, Raskolnikov’s plan to murder the pawnbroker is easily classified as an act of cowardice. Raskolnikov was in dire need of money since he was indebted to his landlady, and murdered the pawnbroker so he could steal her money without the risk of getting caught and without suffering the consequences of owing money. He tried to justify the homicide in his own mind by telling himself that the old woman was a nuisance to all human existence and didn’t deserve to live. His irresponsibility in these situations illustrates how much of a coward he is, seeing as he would take a life before he would owe someone money and then make up excuses for why it was okay. Finally, Raskolnikov knows his current situation better than anybody else, but refuses to take help from anybody. Rather than accepting money that was given to him, he ripped it to shreds and tossed it in a fountain, regardless of how much he needed the money. This shows that Raskolnikov hides behind his pride and forces away good opportunities.
ReplyDeleteAfter having analyzed Raskolnikov, I was able to connect his personality to Chandler Bing from the TV series “Friends.” Chandler is very similar to Raskolnikov in many aspects. Chandler’s actions contradict his needs, is indecisive, and is very cowardly, just like Raskolnikov. Near the middle of the series, Chandler becomes unemployed and quickly becomes in need of money. When his friends offer him money he turns them down and when his wife borrows money from a friend, he grows upset with her and tells her she shouldn’t have done so. Although Chandler is in desperate need of money, he refuses to accept it from anyone. This shows how closely he relates to Raskolnikov. Also, Chandler has a hard time coping with the idea of commitment. He spends an entire season of the show fluctuating between being ready to get married and being nowhere near it. This indecision mirrors that of Raskolnikov. Finally, Chandler is just as much of a coward as Raskolnikov is. In awkward situations, Chandler hides behind humor, just as Raskolnikov does with his pride. Whenever Chandler disappoints his wife, he cracks jokes about the situation instead of owning up to his mistakes, and utilizes his sense of humor to lighten the graveness of the moment. The way Chandler uses humor as a shield is intensely similar to the way Raskolnikov refuses to swallow his pride.
Cruse S, 2
“Crime and Punishment” by Dostoyevsky incorporates many broad elements making its messages applicable to a variety of mediums. These mediums include social media, television, and other technological forms of communication. As an avid reader, I expose myself to a wide variety of genres. When considering the books I have recently read, I draw parallels between Christian Grey in E.L. James’ “Fifty Shades of Grey” and Raskolnikov. Christian Grey is an enigmatic billionaire with “singular tastes” while he is also a control freak. He plans out every action and the actions of others, and even possesses a sense of self-entitlement when doing so. A similar sense of self-entitlement is evident in Raskolnikov when he murders Alyona and Lizaveta. Raskolnikov feels that it is justifiable to murder them through the logic provided by the “Superman theory,” which implies that there are ordinary and extraordinary individuals in the world, and the extraordinary are allowed to do things that are above the law in order to better society. Christian Grey gains his sense of self-entitlement through overcoming his harsh upbringing and becoming a successful business tycoon, and gaining exposure to a lifestyle that glorifies controlling behavior. Although Christian had bad life experiences in his childhood, this does not give him the right to feel/act as if he is entitled to everything (including people), just as the “Superman theory” does not give Raskolnikov the right to murder. In conclusion, neither Raskolnikov’s nor Christian Grey’s actions are justifiable through their self-entitlement.
ReplyDeleteAguinaga, C 7/8*
Though not many people admit to it, or are comfortable stating it, I relate to a a character that is a murderer in a novel. Not in his actions but in the way he thinks, and I believe that through many different aspects of the world Raskolnikov's voice echoes in similarities.
ReplyDeleteTowards the end of the novel I really thought about the poem "Chops" from the novel, Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Once on a yellow piece of paper with green lines
he wrote a poem
And he called it "Chops"
because that was the name of his dog
And that's what it was all about
And his teacher gave him an A
and a gold star
And his mother hung it on the kitchen door
and read it to his aunts
That was the year Father Tracy
took all the kids to the zoo
And he let them sing on the bus
And his little sister was born
with tiny toenails and no hair
And his mother and father kissed a lot
And the girl around the corner sent him a
Valentine signed with a row of X's
and he had to ask his father what the X's meant
And his father always tucked him in bed at night
And was always there to do it
Once on a piece of white paper with blue lines
he wrote a poem
And he called it "Autumn"
because that was the name of the season
And that's what it was all about
And his teacher gave him an A
and asked him to write more clearly
And his mother never hung it on the kitchen door
because of its new paint
And the kids told him
that Father Tracy smoked cigars
And left butts on the pews
And sometimes they would burn holes
That was the year his sister got glasses
with thick lenses and black frames
And the girl around the corner laughed
when he asked her to go see Santa Claus
And the kids told him why
his mother and father kissed a lot
And his father never tucked him in bed at night
And his father got mad
when he cried for him to do it.
Once on a paper torn from his notebook
he wrote a poem
And he called it "Innocence: A Question"
because that was the question about his girl
And that's what it was all about
And his professor gave him an A
and a strange steady look
And his mother never hung it on the kitchen door
because he never showed her
That was the year that Father Tracy died
And he forgot how the end
of the Apostle's Creed went
And he caught his sister
making out on the back porch
And his mother and father never kissed
or even talked
And the girl around the corner
wore too much makeup
That made him cough when he kissed her
but he kissed her anyway
because that was the thing to do
And at three a.m. he tucked himself into bed
his father snoring soundly
That's why on the back of a brown paper bag
he tried another poem
And he called it "Absolutely Nothing"
Because that's what it was really all about
And he gave himself an A
and a slash on each damned wrist
And he hung it on the bathroom door
because this time he didn't think
he could reach the kitchen.
Though it's stretching it far interpretation-wise this poem rang throughout my head with the suicide of Szijjfnsdnfdksjfn (I can't spell his name sorry) and Raskolnikov's contemplation but failure of suicide as well. As if the coming of age and realization there wasn't a way out of his predicament of not confessing was too much to handle. I just strongly felt the speaker of this poem and Raskolnikov were very, very similar.
Westphal 2nd
"Masks"
ReplyDeleteShe had blue skin,
And so did he.
He kept it hid
And so did she.
They searched for blue
Their whole life through,
Then passed right by-
And never knew.
-Shel Silverstein
Today's society sends mixed messages on whether to be true to who you are, or to try to fit the mold of the perfect man or woman. Crime and Punishment offers an interesting point of view on the subject, as does Shel Silverstein's poem "Masks." They both speak to the necessity of being true to yourself, as it is the only way to find true happiness.
Dostoyevsky uses Raskolnikov as a model for what can happen if one suppresses something of themselves. After murdering Alonya, Raskolnikov hides that portion of his life from everyone in fear of what might happen to him if anyone caught wind of what he had done. In "Masks," the girl and the boy both hide their true "colors" from the world, so while searching for someone like themselves, they were never able to find each other even if they were standing right in front of each other. He writes, "They searched for blue...then passed right by-/And never knew" (5.7-8). Their search was never ending because each was afraid of what another would say, even though each desired the other's insecurity. They hid out of fear, therefore dismissing any hope of happiness. As Raskolnikov fought to keep his secret, he became more and more miserable, both physically and mentally. Each author is highlighting how detrimental masks and facades can be and that it is more important to live without fear of what others think. By casting out fear, true happiness can be found, even if the road is rocky.
Woods, L 2
I think that Crime and Punishment is particularly comparable to the modern fascination of the American television industry with the idea of crime. Have you ever noticed how half of the shows on the big American television networks are about some investigator and their job bringing murderers to justice? We just have some type of fascination with the whole popular idea of what is moral and what is wrong. In the end, the bad guy always seems to end up conforming in some form to the expected end for evil people. They are incarcerated or killed or brought down in some way.
ReplyDeleteCrime and Punishment, similarly deals with the idea of justice and what is moral and right. It is interesting to compare the ideas in the book and in modern American investigation shows not because they come to similar conclusion- with the incarceration of the bad guy, but because of the wildly different paths that the plots take to get to this similar conclusion. Dostoyevsky uses the motif in Crime and Punishment of the illness of the criminal. This illness, defined by Raskolnikov himself, is the tendency of perpetrators to ruin themselves. Raskolnikov demonstrates this illness in his emotional turmoil throughout the book that ultimately culminates in his confession. He ruins himself. In American television, the motif is usually the fulfillment of the investigator. The cop, through the course of the chase, digs into their being to find the strength to make themselves successful. This is quite the opposite.
I think that this contrast in focus is very interesting. While Dostoyevsky choses to look deep into the heart of the criminal, Americans, in true accordance with the general American ideal, choose to look into the more positive side of the investigator.
A. Jankovsky 7-8
The only connection that can come to my mind is that of Rorschach from Watchmen - or rather Watchmen in general. The Superman Theory obviously takes full personification in comic books, actually showing us these people who are physically, emotionally, and most likely morally better and above the rest of the world. This is taken to a further point in a setting where superheroes are outlawed, yet extremists like Rorschach continue to fight crime (in often violent, brutal ways) and excuse their actions by means of bettering themselves and the community - much like Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment.
ReplyDelete- Daugherty, 7/8.
I personally love the way he gives the animals such power in this excerpt, but that just might be the passion for animals speaking. He describes the animals with such peaceful elegance. When paying close attention to his diction, a few phrases stuck out to me. An example would be when referring to the animals, the speaker calls them “highly mannered”, which backs up my statement about the reference to elegance. It can be observed that the speaker has a fine-tune respect and love for animals. This love can be noticed by the imagery he gives us to work with. An example of this is at the very beginning, when the speaker says “in zoos, as in nature, the best time to visit is sunrise and sunset”. Typically, sunrise/sunsets are associated with romance and beauty. So, by recognizing that the best time to visit animals is during these periods of the day, its showing that he has noticed them have grace and beauty.
ReplyDeleteJust by reading this passage, I need to get off my butt and read this book. When the speaker said “I have heard nearly as much nonsense about zoos as I have about God and religion”, I was instantly hooked. By putting together all the speakers’ imagery and diction, a very romantic and blissful tone arises. Now noting that type of tone, it is appropriate to come to the assumption that the speaker’s point was to show the reader the natural beauty of this earth. Also, referring to the previous quote, he believes there are a lot of misconceptions of the purpose of zoos. Sure, the wild is where these creatures belong, but just like art, they are here to influence the people. They are treated with the upmost care all in order to spread their natural beauty to those who cannot see them without it.
Reva 7/8