Q. What motivates Raskolnikov to murder the pawnbroker, and how does he justify his actions to himself?
Introduction
Raskolnikov, the main character in Crime and Punishment, is driven by both internal and external motivations to murder the pawnbroker. These motivations include his theory about extraordinary individuals, his situation, and his disdain for the pawnbroker.
Raskolnikov believes that some people, like him, have the right to break laws for a greater purpose. He sees the pawnbroker as a cruel person who takes advantage of the others and thinks her death would be justified.
He also hopes the money he takes from her will solve his financial problems. Raskolnikov convinces himself that by doing this, he is proving his own theory that extraordinary people can act above normal moral standards.
Theory of Extraordinary Individuals
Raskolnikov believes that specific individuals have the right to break moral and legal rules. He thinks that history has shown that significant figures like Napoleon have done terrible things, but their actions were justified because they changed the world for the better.
Raskolnikov sees himself as one of these “extraordinary” people. He believes that by killing the pawnbroker, he can prove that he belongs to this special class of individuals who are above the law and can act for a higher purpose.
The Pawnbroker as a Target
Raskolnikov sees the pawnbroker as a cruel, greedy woman who takes advantage of others. She charges high interest on loans and keeps people in poverty.
Raskolnikov views her as a parasite, living off the misery of others. In his mind, killing her would not only stop her from harming others but also provide him with the money she hoards, which he believes could be used for good. By targeting someone he sees as harmful, Raskolnikov tries to justify his violent actions.
Poverty and Desperation
Raskolnikov’s financial situation also plays a significant role in his decision to commit the murder. He is a poor student who cannot afford to continue his studies or support himself. His family, especially his mother and sister, also face financial struggles, and he feels guilty for burdening them.
The money he could steal from the pawnbroker after killing her represents a way to solve these problems. He thinks that by taking her money, he can not only help himself but also his family and others in need.
The Idea of Sacrifice
Another way Raskolnikov justifies the murder is by viewing the pawnbroker’s life as a small price to pay for the potential good that could come from her death. He imagines all the good he could do with her money, from continuing his studies to helping low-income people.
In his mind, killing one harmful person to help many others seems like a logical and justified decision. This idea of sacrifice plays a vital role in how he convinces himself that the murder is morally acceptable.
Internal Struggles
Despite his attempts to justify the murder, Raskolnikov is filled with doubt and confusion. Even before the crime, he was unsure he could go through it. His thoughts are often scattered, and he struggles with the idea of committing such a violent act.
While he tells himself that the murder is for the greater good, his conscience and sense of guilt weigh heavily on him. This internal conflict shows that, deep down, he is not entirely convinced by his reasoning.
The Role of Pride
Raskolnikov’s pride is another crucial factor in his motivation. He sees himself as superior to others, both intellectually and morally. He believes that his intelligence and vision of the world put him above ordinary people, and this sense of superiority fuels his desire to prove that he is an “extraordinary” person.
Killing the pawnbroker becomes a test of his strength and willpower, a way to prove that he can do something most people would never consider. His pride drives him to see the murder as a personal challenge.
The Influence of Nihilism
Raskolnikov is influenced by the philosophical ideas of nihilism, which suggest that life has no inherent meaning and that traditional moral values are meaningless.
This belief leads him to question whether right and wrong truly matter. If life has no real meaning, he reasons, then the murder of the pawnbroker is just another act in a world without absolute morals.
This way of thinking allows him to dismiss the moral consequences of his actions and convinces him that the murder is justified.
Desire for Control
Another reason behind Raskolnikov’s decision to kill the pawnbroker is his desire for control. Throughout the novel, he feels powerless and trapped by his financial and social circumstances.
The act of murder gives him a sense of control over his life and the world around him. By taking the life of another person, he asserts his power in a world where he often feels weak and helpless. This desire for control becomes essential to his motivation for the crime.
Justifying the Act After the Murder
At first, he tries to convince himself that it is the right thing to do. He believes that her death will benefit society, as she was greedy and took advantage of people with low incomes.
He also tells himself that the money he could have taken from her could help him and others. However, even though he tries to justify the act, he feels guilt and fear almost immediately.
Raskolnikov had imagined that he would feel powerful after committing the murder, but instead, he feels weak and anxious. He becomes unreasonable, constantly worrying that he will be caught. He also starts questioning whether his theory about “extraordinary people” was correct.
He had thought that certain people, like himself, had the right to break the law if it was for a greater purpose. But after the murder, he begins to doubt whether anyone truly has that right.
His guilt begins to take over his thoughts. He has trouble sleeping, becomes isolated, and avoids people who care about him.
He tries to push away his feelings of shame, but they keep coming back. Even though he justified the murder before committing it, he realizes that the act itself has changed him in ways he did not expect.
Conclusion
Philosophical beliefs, personal circumstances, and psychological struggles drive Raskolnikov’s decision to murder the pawnbroker. His theory about extraordinary individuals, his hatred for the pawnbroker, and his desperate financial situation all play a role in his decision.
At the same time, his pride, nihilism, and desire for control also motivate him. However, despite all his justifications, the murder leaves him overwhelmed by guilt, showing that his reasoning was flawed from the start.
