Crime & Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky Part 1 of 2 (Patron-Only Early Access/Ad-Free)
A philosophical inquiry into the many consequences of murder through the depiction of an impoverished Russian student in St. Petersburg who goes off the deep end.
Thoughts on Chapters 1 - 3
Comments (6)
I first read this when I was 17 because I saw in Rolling Stone that Kat Bjelland of Babes in Toyland was reading it while on tour. So I did, and I loved it. I've reread it a couple of times since, so I think it's about time to reread it again.
I recently bought a copy for my third read of C&P, the translator is Michael R. Katz, so we'll see how it goes. I pronounce the character's name Svid-ree-GUY-lov.
I've read it three times, in two translations (to portuguese, my native language). I am certain that some translations kill the flow of the text for you, I felt that in your review of "The Trial". I feel that in some english translations, for example "Serotonin". I started to read it in english, but then the portuguese translation was released, and at the very beginning I thought that it couldn't possibly be right, it was too different. I checked with a friend who knows French and he said the portuguese (brazilian) translation in much more faithful to the original, although the english one makes the text "easier" (I can't confirm that as I don't know French). Anyway, I think the main point in Crime and Punishment is that Raskólnikov feels like life wasn't fair to him, that he is somehow entitled to a better fate as he feels himself as part of a breed of "superior men" (hence the proximity he feels to Napoleon), and the murder, in his mind, is justified. But if it is really justified, running away from responsibility is contradictory, and this contradiction is what causes his "brain fever" and his urge to spill out what he did.
Interesting book on the background of Dostoevsky and Crime and Punishment: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/nov/15/the-sinner-and-the-saint-review-the-story-behind-dostoevskys-and-punishment
I read this in my early 20's. The BBC did a superb adaptation of this back in 2002, with John Simm (Human Traffic) playing Raskolnikov. Well worth a watch.
Enjoyed part 1 of your review. It’s a cliffhanger. Looking forward to part 2. You look good Cliff. Florida seems to be agreeable to you! J