Dostoevsky wants to save Raskolnikov, his greatest literary creation. By "save", I mean both literally save his life (Raskolnikov does not follow the path to suicide of Svidrigailov), and redeem his soul in a religious sense.
Whether you buy into these ideas or not, the final chapters and epilogue are a jarring shift from the psychological drama of the rest of the book. I do sympathize with and understand Raskolnikov's redemption through his contemplation of nature and his relationship with Sonia. Perhaps my dissatisfaction with the abrupt shift in tone at the end of the novel comes from its sudden compression of time. In St. Petersburg, we see the minute details of Raskolnikov's thoughts and actions, whereas in prison, we are left to believe that these profound changes could happen over a longer span of time.
Maybe it's my own lack of faith that makes me skeptical about Raskolnikov's complete redemption. To me, nothing in life is that simple. Rodion's and Sonia's lives will not get any easier upon his release from prison. They will, however, probably be better able to cope with life's miseries because of their religion and their mutual devotion.
No comments:
Post a Comment