Crime and Punishment

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a seminal work of Russian literature that delves into the psychological anguish and moral dilemmas following an act of murder. The novel follows Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished ex-student in St. Petersburg who formulates a plan to kill and rob a despised pawnbroker, rationalizing it as a morally justifiable act that would benefit society. The narrative unfolds Raskolnikov's intense internal conflict and gradual unraveling as he grapples with guilt, justification, and paranoia. Through his interactions with other characters, including the virtuous prostitute Sonya, who becomes a redemptive figure, Dostoevsky examines themes of redemption, the nature of evil, and the search for atonement. The story is a deep psychological portrait of a troubled young man's struggle to come to terms with his own conscience and the punitive measures of the law, set against the backdrop of a grim 19th-century Russia plagued by poverty and despair.