Best Person For Raskolnikov's Mother example essay topic

547 words
Life is what you make of it. This one simple phrase can be applied throughout life, and throughout literature, which aims to mimic the first of the two. The human mind can theorize something time after time, until even the most horrible thing makes sense to take action on. This holds true for Raskolnikov and his mother and sister. Throughout the lives of these three, even within the first part of the novel, it can be seen how they convince themselves of things that do not seem the most appealing. The first person that we fall upon in this book is Raskolnikov.

Although for some time we don't quite understand why he is plotting his moves out, we soon learn that it is because he is planning to kill Alyona Ivanova, the pawnbroker. After the horse dream, we think that maybe he has changed his mind, but his mind is swayed by the theorizing mind that wants to justify the murder. He convinces himself that he is doing the right thing, particularly after he overhears a student claiming that killing her would be a favor to humanity. Raskolnikov decides for himself that this is true, and that, combined with the fact that he learns Alyona's sister will not be home, the murder becomes once again a good idea. Raskolnikov is not the only one that has used thought to justify his actions. The letter that Raskolnikov receives from his mother reveals messages about things that she has convinced herself of.

She has seemingly convinced herself that the marriage will be the best thing for her and her daughter. She thinks that her daughter's husband will surely offer for her to move in, but she will live on her own and that everything is going to be wonderful. We hear hints in the letter that indicate he this new guy is perhaps not the best person, for Raskolnikov's mother warns him not to judge Luz hin. If this man is not so kind nor perfect, his mother would have had to convince herself of such, in order to make the situation bearable. Although we really do not hear from her indirectly, we can infer the Dunia has as well convinced herself that this marriage will be the best thing for her and the family.

Obviously, we are given hints that this man is perhaps not to be desired, and he is rushing things along quite a bit. However, Dunia, knowing full well that this is probably her only option, would have gone to some length at convincing herself this is a good thing. Her brother has failed in what he was supposed to do, in finding her a husband and providing for his mother. Thus, this is the only option she perceives at this time that can replace those two things. One can only infer that she, like her mother has convinced herself that this is a good thing, seeing that it is the only feasible path to take. The events that Raskolnikov, his mother and his sister are going through foreshadow problems for the future, the three of them have convinced themselves they are good.