Resenhas - Crime and Punishment

Cílio Lindemberg 16/12/2020

My discovery of Dostoyevsky’s masterpiece
DOSTOYEVSKY, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment. Translation: David McDuff. London: Penguin Popular Classics, 1994. 448 p.

Written by Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment is a novel that depicts and follows the life of a 23-year-old Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikoff who, unable to continue his academic career in Law and owning many debts, decides to commit robbery to ease his situation, but ends up clinging to murder as well. First published in the form of episodes on The Russian Messenger, in 1866, the novel received a full version the following year, and has since become one of the most widely-known novels of the author and worldwide.

Told by an omniscient narrator, who does not take part in the plot, the novel is divided into 6 parts, each of which (except for the 5th part) includes from six to seven chapters that vary from ten to fourteen or even sixteen pages at the most, and a final Epilogue with two chapters, being _ chapters in total. The 1st part sets the narrative, its main characters and circumstances that lead to the murder. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th parts account for most of the emotional, physical, and psychological distress to which Raskolnikoff is exposed regarding the consequences of his actions and the interference of other characters’ perspectives on his deed. The 5th part covers Raskolnikoff’s first confession to Sonia, whom he believes fit to listen to his suffering. The 6th part reveals the murderer’s decision to confess his actions to the police after he quits his family, and in the very end he ends up declaring himself guilty to the commissary. The Epilogue that follows informs what happens to the murderer’s family after he is imprisoned in Siberia, and how Sonia and he share mutual feelings now that Raskolnikoff is going to regenerate as a new human being.

Employing a thoroughly detailed narration of the facts, Dostoyevsky makes use of the 3rd person perspective (omniscient narrator) as a narrative device in order to better reveal to the reader not only every scene’s descriptions, but also the true nature of each character throughout the story, in addition to the evolutions each of their personalities go through along the chapters. This way, the reader has access to a not only formal, but also elegant use of the language. Yet, it should be pointed out that this review derives from the translation by David McDuff, so there are a few features in this version that reminds the reader that they are reading a translation. One of these features is the usage of Russian words into the English text, such as batuchka (used to express affection towards somebody), paddiovka (similar to a leather clothing, known as jerkin, in English), chtchi (cabbage soup) among others. The Russian names of the characters (e.g.: Dmitri, Nikola, Razoumikhin, Zosimoff etc.) are also some of the foreign features left in the translation. Curiously, despite the extensive presence of the characters’ names throughout the novel, a list of their full names is given before the first chapter, entitled Dramatis Personæ.

Because Raskolnikoff isolates himself from society and grows impoverished, the major motif is considered as poverty, which leads him to commit the murders. This first issue brings about the other themes of the novel, such as the psychology of crime and punishment (explored both from a criminal and a psychological point of views), the relevance of family, the religious redemption, the idea of being superior to other people, and nihilism. These are the reasons why the novel is considered as belonging to the psychological drama genre, and some indications of foreshadowing, as a literary device, appear when Raskolnikoff rehearses the murder, as well as when he considers confessing his crimes, a psychological consequence observed throughout the novel. These are the narrative structures that modify the novel tones from emotional, tragic, despairing, and critical, to melodramatic, confessional etc., and vice-versa. The result of such a set of issues, themes, and tones reflects the consequences of committing a crime and having to deal with its respective punishment, be that through social or psychological means.

Being the first psychological drama that I read, Crime and Punishment is also the first Dostoyevsky literary work that I read. Before reading, I was conscious of his using a criminal as a main character, but the whole idea of redemption and how the own-self of the protagonist works as to causing feels of guilt not only reflects the psychological concept that we human beings want to leave what causes us pain, but also establishes a revolutionary step concerning the central character of a novel and his importance to the world, after all this novel also works as an example of how we could regenerate and, actually, reach a higher level of knowledge and humanity out of the experiences we live. I went through no difficulties when reading, in spite of the intricacy of the plot; on the contrary: the more I read and absorbed/interpreted all those details, I would just feel like craving for more and more, and I am inclined to believe that this is what makes Dostoyevsky so great a writer, the way in which he transcribes the psychology of his characters.

Jillymara 12/11/2024

Que perda de tempo
Um chamado clássico... Aclamado pelos experts...
Eu não sou expert, mas eu leio por prazer, pra me divertir, não pra morrer de ódio com um livro e ver o personagem virar esquizofrênico diante dos meus olhos de leitora que se envolve com a leitura.
Li porque estava participando de um processo de seleção. Se pudesse, pegaria de volta todas as horas que passei lendo.
Horrível!

sara 14/07/2021

após 7 meses... enfim terminei
isso é pra eu aprender a não inventar de pegar como o PRIMEIRO livro do ano um p*** de um calhamaço. misericórdia. 7 meses sofrendo num livro só. dei 3 estrelas porque esperava uma profundidade maior no tormento/sentimento de culpa do o raskolnikov, apesar de entender o real motivo de ele ter feito o que fez, explicado nos últimos capítulos. de resto, achei interessante, mas acabei vendo o livro mais como uma cápsula do tempo de uma rússia do século 19 do que qualquer outra coisa

sohfpio 22/10/2023

Obviamente, consigo ver o porquê é um livro clássico. Muito bem escrito, tocando temas interessantes.

Não sou a maior fã de livros muito grandes, mas suportei o suficiente essas quase 600 páginas, porque alguns capítulos eram realmente muito bons. Os embates entre os personagens, e a dificuldade de ler o Rodia foram pontos importantes para me manter presa na narrativa.

Num geral, tiveram muitos altos e alguns capítulos mais chatinhos, mas no geral foi uma leitura completíssima.

Tata 20/06/2010

Eu não sei se a culpa é minha, se me falta maturidade ou paciência pra entender algo que passou despercebido, mas... Esse livro foi uma verdadeira LUTA. Praticamente um mês lendo e relendo, me forçando a continuar e acho que só terminei porque virou questão de honra =P

Rodion Raskolnikov, personagem principal, comete assassinato. A maior parte da história foca o que esse crime causou no psicológico do pobre Rodia e tenho de dizer que não é fácil acompanhar os pensamentos do cara - há partes em que ele não faz sentido algum, passando da histeria ao torpor em tempo recorde. Além disso, o autor analisa outros grandes problemas sociais da época e termina tudo de um jeito extremamente tosco. De verdade, é impossível ler o epílogo e ficar satisfeito! Depois de criar um personagem tão complexo que beirava o maníaco, tenho a impressão de que, assim como eu, Dostoyevsky tb termina o livro exausto.

tessacarstairs 30/04/2021

I personally think it makes a good analysis of the human psyque throught its main character, whom suffers directly from a pain inflicted by his own brain. Not only are some scenes insanely powerful, the way they are displayed to the reader guarantees that the intended message is achieved. I don't really like the way christianism was introduced in this very work but knowing the author I didn't actually expect anything different, just wish there was more of a direct opposing force to the main character's actions than what God would think of him. Also, some scenes are made way longer than they should and told in such explicit detail that makes reading them difficult and boring (and I can't really tell if it contributes in anything to the overall story because when you reach the end of the exhausting narrative you don't even remember a thing that was written) In general it's a good book and expresses well the deep ends of the human mind.

Let_almeida 15/05/2022

Eu estava adiando bastante o término desse livro? confesso q esperava q fosse mais um designado ?clássico? lento e difícil, mas oq recebi foi uma narrativa exciting, unapologetic e refletiva.

Essa obra coloca todas as características negativas do ser humano em destaque, expondo-as em um confronto individual e social. É uma violência verbal e física tão intensa que vc fica chocado a cada página. Ele é tudo menos chato, ninguém tenta fingir empatia com ninguém, falam TD oq querem e pensam com a maior confiança q existe de acordo c os características negativas de cada um. Os personagens são tão inteligentes que cada discussão é muito argumentada e rígida, cada tapa na cara q vc n acredita. Gosto muito de como o narrador distorce o mundo ao mesmo tempo q o leitor sabe desde o início q essa própria visão é twisted por uma percepção de loucura e desprezo. Você tbm fica chocado qnt um livro antigo não tenta eufemizar NADA, jogando casualmente o desejo de fantasias sexuais frente a noção de submissão por contrato.

Agora pra parte mais final do livro?ele trouxe uma reviravolta no q evocou em mim, a sensação de vulnerabilidade quase q explosiva levou a uma nota emocional tão grande q você começa a revisar TD q pensava e TD a atitude q tinha em relação à narrativa? trouxe pela primeira vez uma quantidade overwhelming de compreensão e sentimentalismo/proteção dos envolvidos. Me doeu terminar um livro q vai pra minha lista dos melhores q já tive o prazer de ler.

Página&Projetor 03/02/2014

O crime em poucos segundos, o castigo em anos
São aproximadamente 114 páginas até que o crime aconteça. E o castigo é subsequente e imediato. Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikoff é um homem comum, como eu e você, que acaba cometendo um assassinato por motivos que, posteriormente, ele passa a questionar de forma constante. Crime e Castigo foi publicado pela primeira vez em 1866 e já falava dos mais obscuros anseios do ser humano, de seus sentimentos mais profundos, da consequência de seus atos, tanto para os que o rodeiam quanto para ele mesmo, e da forma como lida com a destruidora culpa [...] Leia a resenha completa no blog (link abaixo)

site: http://paginaeprojetor.wordpress.com/2014/01/11/resenha-classicos-da-literatura-crime-e-castigo/

NelM4n 27/03/2021

Mais do que aparenta
Poucos livros conseguem jogar o leitor para a mente dos personagens, este é um desses. Você passa a se questionar junto e realmente se sente participando da história.

Lara.Martins 10/05/2022

Sick
I was tempted to give it a 5/5 but the book is so big and a few times boring to read, cause it sometimes described things that didn't matter much to the story. It feels like he just wanted to write more words
But I loved the book, of course, it is Dostoevsky. Maybe I'm just not used to huge books like that.
I loved the ending as well, and the fact that he speaks directly to the reader telling that the future of the characters was a story for another book.
I loved how I felt weird about the main character, Rodion. Sometimes I was like: ?man, this guy is so weird, crazy as [*****]?
but at other parts, I was like ?they cannot catch him, he should run away. Why he's not running away from this town??
You see, at one point I kinda felt pity for him, and that's weird (and interesting)
I couldn't understand how Fyodor wanted to show Sonia, but for me, she looked just like a broken naive girl. I don't know how I feel about the love story between her and Rodion. ?Cause I found it bad many times but I guess I wanted a happy little story in the end. Not. I'm sure I wanted it. That's funny.
I loved the writing, I loved the narration. I didn't read the book with a list of the characters with me, but I confess it was very confusing sometimes. So many people to recognize haha At one point, I just give up to understand who's the other person speaking, and just continued reading without knowing.
I'm very excited to read more books by Dostoevsky. That was a great great experience.

gustavonld 21/07/2022

O livro é muito bom, mas tem alguns capítulos completamente desnecessários, o que pode tornar a leitura maçante. Porém, sempre após um capítulo chato vêm um capítulo incrível para recompensar o leitor. O livro realmente merece todo o prestígio que tem, já que Dostoiévski trás uma história muito bem escrita e com muitos detalhes.

cecília 12/12/2023

Dostoievski é mestre na escrita relacionada à psique humana e crime e castigo demonstra isso tão bem. sendo um clássico, eu não me espantei com a quantidade de várias informações atribuídas em alguns capítulos, e achei uma leitura muito rápida e instigante, na verdade.
todo teor reflexivo cumpre sua missão e nos deixa imersos em ideias sobre o que a humanidade representa.

Roxie 30/05/2024

Crime and punishment
Eu já queria ler esse livro esse ano mas tava enrolando até que vi uma olimpiada de literatura e resolvi participar. eu tava com muito medo de não entender ou achar chato, mas achei muito interessante e até bem engraçado. acho que é um clássico bem legal pra ler.

nenos 05/06/2024

“If you ran away, you’d come back to yourself.”
The study of law is a science to interpret law and its applications for seeking fullness in our social contract, among other meanings. Criminal law (or Penal law), for instance, has a very unique nature regarding its motives, pure conceptions, and sentencing practices. There’s a very interesting article written in 2001 by Mr. Doris Mackenzie, which, among many contents, summarizes how our philosophy of sentencing and correcting shifted throughout time. The goals, he characterizes as four major ones: Retribution, rehabilitation, deterrence, and incapacitation.
Having that in mind, we can say that we have achieved so much as a society, and precedents are fundamentally important for our progress. But due to fragmented memory and sometimes cultural, educational, or other aspects of being human, it can be very difficult to point out various aspects from one distant point of time. By reading this translation, it becomes clear how the barrier of language scales up the challenge of capturing Russian syntax and sense of humor. For honorable purposes and in order to try to get more about this piece of work, try to understand what the author has been through and how the world turned at that point in spacetime.
Allow me to paint a picture: 1800’s in Russia was, to say the least, a very revealing period under Alexander I, Nicholas I reign, and Napoleon slaughter witnessed first-hand by Russians. Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s work has been widely disseminated until it found its way upon my hands, but what is so intriguing about? Dostoyevsky had been through many traumatic events throughout his life. The most notable was the labor camp imprisonment, a gift from the tsarist era, which had a profound effect on him. By dedicating his life to writing, he made many contributions to Russian literature, nurtured the vernacular tradition, and turned a bygone era, marked by pain and suffering, into words.
The main story focuses on Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov, a young law student in Saint Petersburg who murders an old pawnbroker, leading to unexpected consequences. It starts with a very mild and monotone prose, bringing back to life the underbelly society of 19th-century in St. Petersburg (Russia) and making contrast to depraved, lecherous, and addicted characters, which Raskolnikov lived with. Suddenly, what once appears to be a predictive and bleak tale, turns into magnanimous and visual takeouts about sentencing, morality, and the psychological burdens.
The tale is very sensitive to the protagonist's psychological turmoil and how the investigation unravels. We are guided throughout Raskolnikov’s slavish search for arguments, his casuistry becoming keen as a razor and the downfall of a guilty consciousness. His bad temper, hypochondriac condition, unbearable icy shivering over memories, delirious states, lacking will and rationality, all of it became more than he could deal with. The narrative becomes even colder with a vagueness on whether he feels remorse, lying between his mental derangement and explicitly despising any sign of righteous deontology with his words.
Halfway through the novel, it seems almost intentional to make us think the apex has passed, but it hasn't. As suspicion flourishes from a not so perfect crime, the reader gets introduced to a flattering character which elegantly masters due form. “He’ll come forward of his own accord, or maybe do something which will make it worse,” says Porfiry Petrovich. The investigative job in search for the truth makes the pinnacle and cherry on top by terrorizing, driving contradictions, and sentencing a Napoleon’s figure, raising the question of man’s right to take human life.

Freedom of knowledge. Link to my highlights: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u1FGhCnLTywvMGNdPETq97MwVtneVFvn/view?usp=sharing