Rodion is the only one in the room not feeling relief because of the deathly darkness that has taken over him—no wonder he must entirely retreat from his family and friend. What a horrible existence. How does one break out of such a prison?
Yes, Raskolnikov's entire plan didn't go as he thought. He didn't actually become some kind of superman, as he had imagined. Instead, he locked himself up with himself.
I was intently reading your comments of 4.3 while sitting at a coffee waiting for a friend. At the end, I looked up and she was sitting at the table with me! She said, “ I have been here for five minutes.” I told her I was absorbed in Dostoevsky and apologized. We both laughed. This is a great compliment to your essays!
I have been away again, so only now catching up. Thanks for the background on 19thC printing, and on Dostoevsky's inspiration for the Luzhin character; really very interesting.
In this chapter everything is going swimmingly; Dunya is saved from Luzhin; there are business possibilities...then Raskalnikov walks out. "Mercival Lord" says PA. No wonder; how shocking for everyone.
I think Raskalnikov is so filled with fear and self-loathing that he can't bear to be around these basically decent, everday, kind and loving people. He felt the same way when PA and Dunya arrived, avoided meeting them, and even felt he hated them. Joy and love have been quashed in his soul and he is well embarked on the road to self flagellation and punishment.
He more or less forecasts this in Book 3, Chapter 5. Having now committed these murders and, as you say, not become some sort of super hero, he is cast back with the ordinary, material folk, of whom he says, "They will whip themselves, because they are well behaved....they impose various sorts if public acts of penitence on themselves.." For instance, leaving in the way he now does.
As for the very gripping moment in the corridor: I think Raskalnikov is really trying to confess, without at the same time giving himself completely away; two contradictory desires leading to more mental torture. Perhaps his soul screams for confession and absolution, but his material being holds him prisoner. Rasumikhin intuits that there is some great terror, but he lacks the darkness of soul to really grasp the meaning.
Indeed, Raskolnikov's inability to be around decent people, stemming from his fear and self-loathing, is crucial to his character development. The stark contrast between his actions and the kindness of those around him intensifies his internal conflict.
Your interpretation of the corridor scene—highlighting Raskolnikov's conflicting desires to confess and conceal—is compelling. It perfectly captures the essence of his internal struggle and exemplifies the psychological complexity for which Dostoevsky is renowned. Your observation about Razumikhin's intuition, coupled with his inability to fully comprehend the situation, underscores the profound isolation of Raskolnikov's experience.
I was so engrossed in the first three pages of this chapter that the fact Rodion is a MURDERER never even entered my mind. Then, it all came rushing back at the end of the first section: “In short, much trouble lay ahead.” This and the comment that Razumikin would forever remember the looking into Rodion’s were my favorite parts. I, for one, would NOT want Rodion “penetrating” my soul with his gaze. (Although, I almost feel like he did through the pages of the novel.) What a moment!!
Now I finally understand what motivates Luzhin. Before I couldn't figure out why he was so committed to marrying an impoverished young woman - I thought maybe he knew about some inheritance that was coming to her. The bequest from Marfa seemed to fit with that but as you said, 3000 rubles isn't really a big enough for that. Now it makes sense - Luzhin isn't looking for a partner or for a gold mine, he's looking for a pet. He reminds me of those contemporary MRA guys who go looking for mail order brides from foreign countries hoping that they'll find someone who hasn't been contaminated by all this nasty woke feminism.
Rodion is the only one in the room not feeling relief because of the deathly darkness that has taken over him—no wonder he must entirely retreat from his family and friend. What a horrible existence. How does one break out of such a prison?
Yes, Raskolnikov's entire plan didn't go as he thought. He didn't actually become some kind of superman, as he had imagined. Instead, he locked himself up with himself.
I was intently reading your comments of 4.3 while sitting at a coffee waiting for a friend. At the end, I looked up and she was sitting at the table with me! She said, “ I have been here for five minutes.” I told her I was absorbed in Dostoevsky and apologized. We both laughed. This is a great compliment to your essays!
Wow, Paula, that's high praise for me! 😊 I think Gogol played a role here: he's mystical and amazing.
I have been away again, so only now catching up. Thanks for the background on 19thC printing, and on Dostoevsky's inspiration for the Luzhin character; really very interesting.
In this chapter everything is going swimmingly; Dunya is saved from Luzhin; there are business possibilities...then Raskalnikov walks out. "Mercival Lord" says PA. No wonder; how shocking for everyone.
I think Raskalnikov is so filled with fear and self-loathing that he can't bear to be around these basically decent, everday, kind and loving people. He felt the same way when PA and Dunya arrived, avoided meeting them, and even felt he hated them. Joy and love have been quashed in his soul and he is well embarked on the road to self flagellation and punishment.
He more or less forecasts this in Book 3, Chapter 5. Having now committed these murders and, as you say, not become some sort of super hero, he is cast back with the ordinary, material folk, of whom he says, "They will whip themselves, because they are well behaved....they impose various sorts if public acts of penitence on themselves.." For instance, leaving in the way he now does.
As for the very gripping moment in the corridor: I think Raskalnikov is really trying to confess, without at the same time giving himself completely away; two contradictory desires leading to more mental torture. Perhaps his soul screams for confession and absolution, but his material being holds him prisoner. Rasumikhin intuits that there is some great terror, but he lacks the darkness of soul to really grasp the meaning.
Indeed, Raskolnikov's inability to be around decent people, stemming from his fear and self-loathing, is crucial to his character development. The stark contrast between his actions and the kindness of those around him intensifies his internal conflict.
Your interpretation of the corridor scene—highlighting Raskolnikov's conflicting desires to confess and conceal—is compelling. It perfectly captures the essence of his internal struggle and exemplifies the psychological complexity for which Dostoevsky is renowned. Your observation about Razumikhin's intuition, coupled with his inability to fully comprehend the situation, underscores the profound isolation of Raskolnikov's experience.
I was so engrossed in the first three pages of this chapter that the fact Rodion is a MURDERER never even entered my mind. Then, it all came rushing back at the end of the first section: “In short, much trouble lay ahead.” This and the comment that Razumikin would forever remember the looking into Rodion’s were my favorite parts. I, for one, would NOT want Rodion “penetrating” my soul with his gaze. (Although, I almost feel like he did through the pages of the novel.) What a moment!!
Now I finally understand what motivates Luzhin. Before I couldn't figure out why he was so committed to marrying an impoverished young woman - I thought maybe he knew about some inheritance that was coming to her. The bequest from Marfa seemed to fit with that but as you said, 3000 rubles isn't really a big enough for that. Now it makes sense - Luzhin isn't looking for a partner or for a gold mine, he's looking for a pet. He reminds me of those contemporary MRA guys who go looking for mail order brides from foreign countries hoping that they'll find someone who hasn't been contaminated by all this nasty woke feminism.