Crime and Punishment

Crime and Punishment
By: Fyodor Dostoevsky

1. Would you Recommend this Book?

Constantly, this book had a significant impact on me and put me on reading fiction again largely because of how this book impacted me. This is the first example that I give of how fiction/narrative, like all good art, is able to say things that non-fiction is able to say even when directly attempting to.


2. What is the Main Point?

What a question this is; here is my effort: The Moral Law written on the heart of man is real, and is stronger and deeper in us than any intellectual argumentation and our reason is actually impotent to war against it. In Raskolnikov, we see what Adam only glimpsed; the result and absolute pervasiveness of the poison that is sin.

 
3. Which Parts should I read if I’m short on Time?

Sorry, read it all, it may be the greatest book ever written.


4. Why does this book Matter?

In an age still pervaded by naturalism, that attempts to place our reasoning capacity transcendent above all other human faculties, even to the point of denying the objective existence of morality or an internal moral law, this book is needed again. This book is the best moral argument you can read.
 
Spoiler alert (it’s early in the book): Raskolnikov is a brilliant but poor student who convinces himself through seemingly sound logic that he can and even should murder an old woman who was hated by those around her and made their lives more difficult than they had to be. He reasons that since this useless woman has lots of money, and he could take that money and use it to his extraordinary advantage, he can do that and even should do that for even the good of humanity. What happens throughout the book is that we see that even though he had reasoned his way to this murder’s justification, something deeper in him than his reason knew that what he had done was Wrong and Evil and that he deserved punishment. We see this not through the legal ramifications of such sin, but the internal, psychological, moral law written on the heart that progressively twists and crushes him individually.

Raskolnikov hears and tells himself the lie that we all tell ourselves, some sin is worth it or is justifiable; the devil still tells the same lie.

5. Is this Book an “Easy-Read?” (Include Length)

Eh, probably not; but it also is still fiction so not particularly difficult either.
 
Depending on version, it is around 600 pages, and while during reading there will be plenty of those pages that feel superfluous; they are not.


6. Who is this Author and what did you think of their writing?

Potentially the greatest author ever; that is all. Dostoevsky was a Russian author in the 19th century, and a Christian. He wrote many works that are very well known; this one and Brothers Karamazov being the most well known.


7. What is One Key Take-Away or Application for my life?

Sin is heavier than we think, the pathway to redemption is real confession, justifying your self and your sin only leads to more misery and to increased lostness, self-sacrifice is the better path than self-service, being right with God has nothing to do with intellectual superiority and everything to do with a humble repentant heart.


8. What was One point of Disagreement?

Nope.


9. What are any other things that stood out to You?

As the reader you struggle with whether or not you want Raskolnikov to get caught, seeing in yourself your own temptation to keep sin hidden in the dark, while also knowing the only pathway to real redemption and justice is for it to be brought to the light.


10. Have you read any books similar to this one that you would recommend one to read first to help with this one?

Nope.