Crime and Punishment: More Than Just a Story

What Does the Book Teach Us?

This book is much more than just a crime story. It explores big questions like:

• Guilt and Conscience: Can you ever truly escape your conscience after doing something wrong? Raskolnikov learns that the punishment for his crime isn't just jail; it's the terrible feeling inside him.

• Good vs. Evil: What makes an action good or bad? Can a bad act ever be justified for a "good" reason? The book shows us that even if you think you're doing something for a good cause, a terrible act often leads to suffering.

• Suffering and Redemption: Raskolnikov suffers a lot. But through this suffering, and with the help of a kind woman named Sonya, he slowly starts to understand his mistakes. The book suggests that even after great sin, there might be a path to forgiveness and a better life (redemption).

• Society and Poverty: Dostoevsky also shows us how hard life was for poor people in Russia at that time. Raskolnikov's poverty is part of why he makes his terrible choice.