Redemption

re·demp·tion

noun /riˈdempSHən/  redemptions, plural The action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil - God's plans for the redemption of his world A thing that saves someone from error or evil - his marginalization from the Hollywood jungle proved to be his redemption The action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt The action of buying one's freedom

According to the above definitions of redemption, we notice how Raskolnikov (R) lives a life based solely around that one thing. 

It is his belief that if a man is strong enough or extraordinary then he needs not be saved from anything or be indebted to anyone. His whole life in this story is based on that fact. 

He is prideful, arrogant, compassionate at times (when it serves a purpose for his own ego), egocentric, etc... He is many things, but what do all of these things have in common? All together they assert a man of control, a man of power, and a man of attention.

Through out the novel we notice how he constantly says that he is a student, a man of education. One who creates theories, creates experiments, and studies them to see the outcome. To see whether or not they were correct in their theoretical analysis of a situation.

R theorises that an extrordinary mans feels no redemption.

He plans out a murder, of someone who would not be missed much by society. He commits crime. Then he waits for punishment. His punishment begins with fever, mental illness. Physical incapabilities. 

He constantly sought to confess and redeem himself after the murder, to submit to his failure. This would prove his theory of being the extraordinary man wrong. He must be able to overcome redemption. 

Another addition to that is the feeling of wanting to act alone and stand alone in superiority above others. One is superior when one is not in debt but indebted too by others. R shows this characteristic of his when he gives a 15yr old singer 15 kopecks, and again when he saves Marmeladov's life (sort of, he still dies later...) and takes him home, after which he leaves 20 roubles for the family. In a way R believes that this is his redemption, compassion. 

I think that people can be redeemed, if and only if their redemption is equal to their actions. One must serve their consequences, whether they be good or bad. If someone does something that is just utterly repulsive, gruesome, evil, then they must redeem themselves in just such a way that is repulsive, grueseome, and evil to the extent of redemption. The reason i feel the way i do on this issue if because i faintly believe in karma. I believe that what goes around comes back around. If you commit a crime then you are eventually going to have to redeem yourself one way or another. However everyone is different. Everyone perceives things differently. Some might not agree with me, and some might. In the end, in the circle of crime, there follows punishment, and hidden behind the shadows of punishment, is redemption.


P.S. Can i still take the quiz if everyone posts???...i need the grade... :)