Symbolism & Theme in Crime & Punishment
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Symbolism & Theme in Crime & Punishment
SYMBOLISM
THEMES
Examples of Themes
Love & Friendship
Examples of Symbolism
Love and friendship are frequently occurring themes in literature. They generate emotional ups and downs in a narrative and can lead to different types of endings such as happy, sad or bittersweet.
What exactly are themes?
What exactly is symbolism?
Revenge
Symbols such as a heart corresponds to love, in some occasions black represents darkness and death, and white represents life and purity. In
Themes are a unifying idea, image, or motif, repeated or developed throughout a work.
Revenge is another recurrent theme found in many popular literary works. A character comes across certain circumstances that make him aware of his need for revenge. The outcome of his action is often bitter but sometimes they may end up being satisfied.
A figure of speech where an object, person, or situation has another meaning other than its literal meaning. The actions of a character, word, action, or event that have a deeper meaning in the context of the whole story.
Examples of Themes in Crime & Punishment
What are Symbolism and Themes?
Examples of Symbolism in Crime & Punishment
Alienation from Society
'The Cross'
At first, Raskolnikov’s pride separates him from society. He sees himself as superior to all other people and cannot relate to anyone. He see's people as things that can just help him get whatever he wants. After killing the women, he begins to isolate himself because of his guilt. Raskolnikov starts to push away the people who are trying to help him, like Sonya, Dunya, Pulcheria Alexandrovna, Razumikhin, and even Porfiry Petrovich. In the end, he starts to realize that he cannot bear being isolated from the world. Once he finally realizes that he loves Sonya, Raskolnikov gets rid of his pride and selfishness that separated him from society.
The cross that Sonya gave to Raskolnikov is a symbol of redemption (the act of saving or being saved from sin). Raskolnikopv is going to the police station to redeem himself after the sin he committed. Sonya consiously plays the role of Jesus in Raskolnikovs life. She loves him and is worries about him and she wants to bring him back to humanity just as Jesus Christ would have done.
Symbolism and themes are both literary elements that writers use to deliver the message of their story.
Examples of Themes in Crime and Punishment cont.
Examples of Symbolism in Crime & Punishment cont.
Madness and Intoxication
Examples of Themes in Crime and Punishment cont.
Napoleon
Money & Poverty
Examples of Symbolism in Crime & Punishment cont.
Lazarus
Raskolnikov is shown as a character on the brink of mental collapse. He talks to himself in public, lies in bed all day in his apartment, and barely eats. He walks around in Petersburg aimlessly, and he really does not remember where he goes or what he does.
Other characters like Marmeladov’s suffer from alcoholism which keeps him from holding down a job and supporting his family. He is eventually crushed by a wagon. Katerina, his wife, becomes mad because her grief over her husband’s death and the weight of their family’s poverty.
Many people during this time in the book were in hard financial times. Raskolnikov’s financial situation at the start of the novel is dire. He stops attending law school because he cannot afford tuition. He barely has food to eat and lives in a small dingy apartment. He wears rags as clothes. He seems to not really care about money because when he does receive it he often gives it away: to help people.
If Napolean can kill someone and still have respect, Raskolnikov feels the same way beacuse he considers himself a "Napoleon". "Yes, that's what it was! I wanted to become a Napoleon, that is why I killed her.... Do you understand now?" Raskolnikov in a way symbolizes Napolean.
Lazarus is a man who was dead for four days and placed in a tomb. When Jesus arrives in town and is told of Lazarus’ death, he asks God for the ability to raise Lazarus in order to demonstrate his and God’s power, and to convince those in the surrounding area that he is the Messiah.
Examples of Symbolism in Crime & Punishment cont.
Lazarus cont.
Raskolnikov asks Sonya to read this passage to him. He feels that if he comes forward he will be raised from the dead such as Lazarus was because his guilt was eating him alive. He begins to show sorrow and regret and realizes that his remaining years in the camp are not so long, and that he will be sustained by the power of Sonya’s love and going into a new life.