The book Crime and Punishment was written in 1866. Since then, there have been many variations of he book. Overtime, this book became a literary treasure. In the beginning of this book, the main character, Raskolnikov, is talked about. The book gives the reader n idea of what he is like. The author uses both direct and indirect characterization to describ him. For example, the quote "It was not that he was a cowed or naturally timorous person, far fom it; but he had been for some time in an almost morbid state of irritability and terison" shows the reader that he is deaing with something stressful, which is why he is in such an odd state. In this book, it is clear that the character Raskolnikov is of the lower class. In the beginning, Raskolnikov meets a middle aged man at a bar named Marmaladov. Although Raskolnikov usually tries not to interact with people, he sat and listened to Maramaladov as he told him about his life. Marmaladov was drunk at the time, and revaled to Raskolnikov things about his personal life, like how he's a drunk and spent his family's money on alcohol, causing his eldest daughter to give in to prostitution in order to supply for the family. In this part of the book, the author writes "On the bar were sliced cucumbers, rusks of black bread, and fish cut into small peices, all very evil smelling". I think that this quote is important because the setting is in a bar, where alcohol is served. At this time, heavy drinking was looked at as an evil thing. This quote holds symbolism and adds to the setting.
Later on, Raskolnikov leaves the bar and goes home to rest. The next morning, a woman by the name of Nastasya, who serves as a maid in his apartment complex, brings him a letter from his mother. In the letter, his mother tells him about how his sister is going to be married off to a wealthy man. This also adds to the setting because during this time period, arranged marriages happened a lot. The news that his mother broke to him in the letter upset Raskolnikov a lot. Rasklnikov takes a long walk after finding this out, where he has a run in with a man who seemed to be trying to take advantage of an already drunken and abusive teenage girl. In this part, Raskolnikov pays an officer to find her a cab so that she can get home safely. However, the officer does not use the money to do so.
Another significant character in this story is Raskolnikov's only friend, Razumikhin. Razumikhin used to attend the same university as Raskolnikov, which is where they met. Raskolnikov rarely ever speaks to him, but based off the quote "Two months or so previously, they had on one occasion nearly come face to face in the street, but Raskolnikov turned aside and crossed to the other side to avoid beeing seen, and Razumikhin, although he had in fact seen him, walked past, not wanting to worry his friend", Razumikhin understands Raskolnikov's withdrawal from the world. Although Razumikhin is hardly mentioned, he seems to hold importance in this story, as if he will appear again later on.
Later on, Raskolnikov leaves the bar and goes home to rest. The next morning, a woman by the name of Nastasya, who serves as a maid in his apartment complex, brings him a letter from his mother. In the letter, his mother tells him about how his sister is going to be married off to a wealthy man. This also adds to the setting because during this time period, arranged marriages happened a lot. The news that his mother broke to him in the letter upset Raskolnikov a lot. Rasklnikov takes a long walk after finding this out, where he has a run in with a man who seemed to be trying to take advantage of an already drunken and abusive teenage girl. In this part, Raskolnikov pays an officer to find her a cab so that she can get home safely. However, the officer does not use the money to do so.
Another significant character in this story is Raskolnikov's only friend, Razumikhin. Razumikhin used to attend the same university as Raskolnikov, which is where they met. Raskolnikov rarely ever speaks to him, but based off the quote "Two months or so previously, they had on one occasion nearly come face to face in the street, but Raskolnikov turned aside and crossed to the other side to avoid beeing seen, and Razumikhin, although he had in fact seen him, walked past, not wanting to worry his friend", Razumikhin understands Raskolnikov's withdrawal from the world. Although Razumikhin is hardly mentioned, he seems to hold importance in this story, as if he will appear again later on.
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