Sonia and Raskolnikov in Crime and PunishmentSonia and Raskolnikov are two characters who interact with each other in the novel Crime and Punishment. They interact on several levels, sharing several similarities. Both of these characters display self-sacrifice at times, both struggle to find meaning in a dreary existence, and both are generally unhappy people, but light up and seem to appreciate the other's presence - even when Raskolnikov berates his religion. What is self-sacrifice, to which these characters and so many people around the world are committed? It is a desire to help those around us more than we wish to help ourselves. This is not a normal human state, although it can be easily brought about by societal pressures, and sometimes even political societies can coerce this attitude. Sonia, however, practices a form of altruism towards her family. She receives a yellow card and takes his body to moral slaughter by sacrificing it to others for money – money that will go to her poor and starving family. Although it is not his predominant state of mind or action, Raskolnikov has temporal tendencies toward self-sacrifice. It seems that part of his mindset when contemplating the pawnbroker's murder is that it will help society as a whole - a motive that certainly comes from outside of himself. Sonia and Raskolnikov share many characteristics that make them an interesting match for each other. A tendency toward self-sacrifice for one and a life of sacrifice for the other provides an amalgamation of psychological similarities that help the characters identify with each other. Partly because of their lives of self-sacrifice, both characters also attempt to search for meaning in their lives. the dreary existence to which they are subjected. Sonia finds this meaning in the Bible, in belief in God. Raskolnikov writes a theory. He finds comfort in thinking that he himself is a creature similar to God, he believes himself to be extraordinary. Believing that he is a subject of the Divine and thinking that there are two divisions among men are extremely close. These two characters also have their meaning attacked. Porfiry Petrovich attacks and looks for holes in Raskolnikov's theory. Perhaps in response to this, Raskolnikov discovers flaws in the support of the meaning of Sonia's life: God, the Bible, and her faith. The final connection that continually draws these two characters together is the fact that all of their morbid similarities bring them together so that they actually enjoy each other's presence..