Crime & Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

"Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth."

- Crime & Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)

A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE!

My rate: 9/10

This isn't only a book, its a life-changing, manipulating manuscript. It depicts the psychological situation of a character's mind (Rodion Raskolnikov) before and after committing a crime, a murder.

This novel proves that even though if we escape law and order, there is one thing we can never escape, our own conscience, our guilty mind. Dostoyevsky goes into depths describing the mental and physical toll it takes upon the character (Raskolnikov), which can be seen through his brain-sickness, fever, unwillingness to do not only something, but anything at all, and his rude behavior towards others. Raskolnikov suffers hell on Earth due to his own guilt.

The novel portrays different variety of characters with different ideas and characteristics.

For example, there's Razumikhin, Raskolnikov's best friend, who is so caring, loving and somehow a responsible stand-up guy. There's Avdotya (Dounya), Raskolnikov's sister, who portrays sacrifice and selflessness. There's Pulcheria Alexandrovna, Raskolnikov's mother, who portrays care and motherly love, who keeps on clinging to her son, to Raskolnikov's utter disgust (that's how the situation did him).

Then there's Sonya, who portrays love and compassion and within whom Raakolnikov finds salvation. The portrayal of Raskolnikov bowing his head and kissing Sonya's feet and saying "I bow not to you, but to human suffering" (not the exact words), was one of the greatest scene.

There's a few scenes with Porfiry, the investigator which are just as bomb. Raskolnikov's paper upon Justice really is thought worthy. And the crime scene portrayed by Dostoyevsky is still so vivid in my mind, its a masterpiece! I still feel the goosebumps remembering the enigmatic crime scene. It literally got me epileptic.

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