Imperfect Conscience in Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoyevsky, frustrated by his immoral actions, suffers a sudden physical and mental breakdown after brutally mutilating a wicked pawnbroker. After this harrowing incident, initial feelings of success in accomplishing his mission quickly change once he realizes possible flaws in his otherwise considered perfect murder. Raskolnikov's imperfect conscience finally experiences an emotional awakening when his saint, Sonya, an unintelligent prostitute, brings him love, sensitivity and inner serenity to help him confess to the murder he so coldly commits. After ruminating on the pessimistic consequences of this crude and selfish murder, a change of consciousness occurs in Raskolnikov. Once he understands the reality of the matter, he actually suffers from depression. Although he commits a very serious crime, Raskolnikov still refuses to believe what happens next....

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