In Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, the protagonist, Raskolnikov, murders an old woman and her sister because he believes himself to be an extraordinary man. Throughout the rest of the story, Raskolnikov deals with the repercussions of his actions, discovers the truths and lies of his theory, and realizes the extent of his own greatness. However, Dostoyevsky believes that Raskolnikov's great man theory is false, visible in the characters of Svidrigaylov and Sonya. Raskolnikov believes that there are two types of people: ordinary men and extraordinary men. Extraordinary people are called to take responsibility for revolutionizing the world and possess certain rights beyond those of ordinary people. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay When Porfiry questions Raskolnikov about his theory, Raskolnikov asserts certain criteria for being the great man. The first criterion for being an extraordinary man is that he must break all the rules necessary to promote his ideas, thereby advancing all of humanity. He says: “I am simply insinuating that the “extraordinary” man has the right… I am not talking about a formal, official right, but he himself has the right to allow his conscience to overcome… certain obstacles. , but only in the case where his ideas (which can sometimes be beneficial for all of humanity) require it to be realized. » (220). Extraordinary men can and do break the old rules in order to advance their new ideas. Since the great man only breaks the rules because it is absolutely necessary, he should not feel guilty or conscious of it. If he does, he has made a mistake and is not a great man at all. (224). However, the great man should still experience great suffering. Raskolnikov affirms this when he says: “Suffering and pain are always obligatory for those who have broad intelligence and deep feelings. Truly great men must, I think, experience great sadness on earth. (224). The grief of extraordinary people is greater than that of ordinary people, because they are able to understand the world on a deeper level. Raskolnikov also believes that the motivation of extraordinary men is power itself. He clarifies this when he tells Sonya what they should do. He said, “What should we do? Demolish what needs to be demolished, once and for all, that's all, and take the suffering upon ourselves! What? You don't understand? You will understand afterwards... Freedom and power, but above all power! The power is over all the trembling creatures, over the entire anthill!... It's a goal! (279). In summary, Raskolnikov's theory establishes that the great man has the authority and necessity to break the rules, experiences great sorrow, and is motivated by the desire for power. A practical example of Raskolnikov's great man theory is the character of Svidrigaylov. He often breaks the rules because of his personal ideas. He explains his actions to Raskolnikov when he says: “Tell me, why should I hold back? Why should I abandon women, if I have a liking for them? It's something to do, anyway... ...it's one thing for one person and something different for another. (397). Svidrigaylov adopted the idea that the rules do not apply to him. He also lacks conscience and guilt for all his actions. He declares: “My conscience is perfectly clear; there is no ulterior motive behind my offer. (247). As he has no remorse for his actions, Svidrigaylov is the extraordinary man that Raskolnikov speaks of. Despite itsgood conscience, Svidrigaylov experiences great sadness. After Dunya tells him that she will never love him, Dostoyevsky describes her overwhelming suffering. He writes: “Svidrigaylov remained near the window for three more minutes; finally he turned around, looked around him and slowly passed his hand over his forehead. There was a strange smile on his face, the weak, pitiful, sad smile of despair." (421). His grief is so great that Svidrigaylov ends his life. His motivation for breaking the rules, like Raskolnikov's theory, was power, especially over young women He describes how he wins their submission when he speaks of his deceased wife He tells Raskolnikov: “Despite Aidotia Romanovna's real dislike for me and my constantly dark and demeanor. Forbidding, she ended up feeling sorry for me, sorry for a lost soul. And when a girl's heart begins to feel pity for a man, then, of course, she is in the greatest danger. (401). Svidrigaylov meets all the criteria of Raskolnikov's great man theory: he systematically breaks the rules, he lacks conscience and suffers, and he is motivated by power. However, Raskolnikov completely despises himself. exclaims to Svidrigaylov: “Enough of your wicked and base stories, you vile, disgusting and salacious creature” (408). that Svidrigaylov is not an extraordinary man Therefore, Dostoyevsky believes that Raskolnikov's great man theory is false Sonya, another character from Crime and Punishment, does not meet all the criteria of Raskolnikov's great man, but. is the main example of a truly great man in the story However, she fulfills some of Raskolnikov's requirements For example, Sonya breaks the old rules, and Raskolnikov recognizes this when he says: "Didn't you. does the same? You too crossed the barrier… you were able to do it. You laid hands on yourself, you destroyed a life… yours (it makes no difference!). (278). Sonya, like Raskolnikov, committed murder; she committed suicide while prostituting herself for the benefit of her family. She also felt great sadness because of her actions. When Marmeladov tells Raskolnikov about Sonya's first night as a prostitute, he states: “She entered and went straight to Katerina Ivanovna and placed thirty silver rubles on the table in front of her without a word. She looked at her, but she did not say a single word, she only took our large green woolen shawl, wrapped it around her head and face and lay down on the bed, her face against the wall, her little shoulders and his whole body. the body trembled…” (15). Sonya doesn't think she made the wrong decision in prostituting herself to save her family, but that doesn't stop her from feeling great sadness. However, Sonya differs from the big man Raskolnikov in the motivation behind her actions. Unlike Svidrigaylov, Sonia is not motivated by power, but by freedom and resurrection through Christ. As she read the story of Lazarus to Raskolnikov, she read to him: “Jesus said unto him, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, shall live. » (276). Sonya ardently believes that her faith in God will raise her from the dead, and her freedom is the true motivation for her actions, the opposite of Raskolnikov's theory. Although she does not meet the criteria for his theory, Raskolnikov is strongly attracted to Sonya and falls in love with her after confessing to his crime. Dostoevsky describes Raskolnikov's devout feelings for Sonya. He wrote: “But right away, in that moment, she understood. Infinite happiness shone in.