Comparative characteristics of Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov

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Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky wrote the work “Crime and Punishment” in which there are many different characters. All the characters are interesting, unique, each with a different character. Rodion Raskolnikov is one of the brightest and main characters. This is a rather difficult person. He has an ambiguous character. Svidrigailov is also one of the heroes of the work. At first glance, it seems that these characters are completely different and have nothing in common. But, if you take a closer look at them, you can see more than one similarity. In fact, they have a lot in common.

Svidrigailov and Raskolnikov crossed the moral line and disregarded human laws. Rodion was driven to crime by an inquisitive mind. In fact, he did not want to cause harm, it happened by accident. Svidrigailov intentionally committed an illegal act. He wanted to satisfy his own carnal desires. Svidrigailov is actually a very cunning and intelligent person. He's just trying to seem like a simpleton. He welcomes a wild lifestyle and is easily given to passions.

Both characters, having committed a crime, begin to sincerely regret what they did. Their conscience gnaws at them. They repent. Svidrigailov could not come to terms with what he had done and committed suicide himself. Raskolnikov continues to live with his burden.

Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov occupy different positions in society. The first is a student who has difficulty making ends meet. The second character is a landowner. The two heroes have completely different values ​​and outlooks on life. Svidrigailov is ready to do anything to satisfy his desires. In this he is like an animal. For him, only his needs are important; he does not think at all about the people around him. Raskolnikov cares about his family, he treats people kindly. He wants to learn and become one of the people through his work. He looks down on Svidrigailov.

Despite the fact that Raskolnikov committed a terrible crime, Dostoevsky endowed him with a lot of positive qualities. But the author described Svidrigailov from the bad side. Perhaps this was done in order to highlight Raskolnikov’s act and show readers that he has a chance to improve.

Essay No. 2

Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky in his works very often described a large number of images, through which he created his entire unique atmosphere in the work, showed things as they really are, without censorship and falsehood, for which he was appreciated by many of his contemporaries and readers. He very often turned to the themes of human personality, to what a person is ready to do in order to achieve his goal, and if he is ready to do something terrifying, then there will definitely be a person whose opinion and philosophy are very similar to the person who is ready to go to something scary. An excellent example is the work “Crime and Punishment.”

In it, the author describes our real world, in which real, albeit terrifying, events take place, which build the entire narrative in their own way, forcing the reader to indulge the author’s idea and read every word written in this wonderful work. He shows us human characters exactly as they exist in our real world. No literary prism or softening of the facts. The author talks about people as greedy, disgusting creatures who, although they strive to do something good, still do only bad things, only things that harm all the people around them, and create a disgusting picture of everything that happens. In this work, these images are represented by Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov.

Raskolnikov is the main character of the work, who committed a terrible crime, the consequences of which haunt him throughout the entire work. Svidrigailov, as it is not difficult to guess, is also a criminal, and, moreover, much worse than Raskolnikov himself. If Raskolnikov repents that he did something terrible for his own benefit, saying that he must be punished, then Svidrigailov, on the contrary, is proud of what he did, and therefore does not want to receive any punishment, considering his actions truly faithful. The author shows us the images of these two characters as almost identical images, so that the reader can understand the idea that the author is trying to convey to us. Every criminal has similar traits to others. In these images, it is the desire for material wealth, for the sake of which these young people took truly terrible actions. They are also similar in their philosophy, according to which sacrifices are necessary, but each one needs them for different needs.

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Uniqueness of heroes

Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov (comparative characteristics of heroes always mark this point) consider themselves unique, inimitable. Raskolnikov tried to confirm the theory that he himself developed, and Svidrigailov was simply convinced of his uniqueness.

However, no matter what terrible act Rodion committed, the reader involuntarily becomes imbued with sympathy for him. Perhaps this is due to the fact that Dostoevsky very well introduces us to the inner world of the main character, immerses us in his thoughts and feelings.

Svidrigailov is more mercantile in his actions; he remains repulsive and mysterious for the reader.

A comparative description of Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov should contain a point that indicates the similarity of the heroes, namely, their conviction that the actions of extraordinary people can go unpunished.

The theory that Raskolnikov developed abolishes moral principles and justifies not only Rodion’s crime, but also Svidrigailov’s immorality.

Nevertheless, both heroes come to repentance, Rodion admits his crime and suffers punishment, Arkady takes his own life.

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Antithesis in the work

Dostoevsky actively uses the technique of antithesis, comparing his main character with other people from his world. In practice, we can say that Raskolnikov is compared with all the characters in the work, both positive and negative, or is opposed to them, but not everyone becomes his double. Comparison with scoundrels and immoral criminals shows to what depths the main character could sink if he remained true to his theory. On the contrary, when comparing him with positive characters, Dostoevsky shows a pure and bright soul.

Poor people

Among Raskolnikov's doubles there are not only negative characters, the embodiment of immorality, wickedness and extreme selfishness. These include good people who, according to the absurd theory of the protagonist, are “trembling creatures.” But they are the ones who are endowed with qualities that cannot be found in those “with the right.” Such, for example, is the unfortunate dyer Mikolka, who is ready to take on someone else’s guilt and suffer undeserved punishment in order to cleanse his soul.

This is Sonya, a deeply religious girl, forced to step over herself, to sell her body, which is more than disgusting to her, but this is the only way she can support her family. These people are also included in the system of Raskolnikov’s doubles; they illustrate the best sides of his soul, unaffected by the corrupting influence of an absurd and inhuman theory. Some researchers of Dostoevsky’s work call Sonya a “divine double”, since she is shown as a strong-willed and strong personality, sacrifices herself, does not wait for help, but is ready to provide it. However, there is a significant difference in the heroes - if the unfortunate girl lives exclusively with her heart, then Rodion is moved forward by reason and the power of thought.

These are the doubles of the main character in the novel “Crime and Punishment”; they help to penetrate more deeply into the author’s intention and become convinced of the cruelty, senselessness and inhumanity of Raskolnikov’s theory.

Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov are the heroes of one of Dostoevsky’s best novels, Crime and Punishment. This novel is distinguished by its deepest psychologism and abundance of sharp contrasts. At first glance, there is nothing in common in the characters of Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov; moreover, they seem to be antipodes. However, if you take a closer look at the images of these heroes, you can find a certain similarity. First of all, this similarity is manifested in the fact that both heroes commit crimes. True, they do this for different purposes: Raskolnikov kills the old woman and Lizaveta in order to test his theory, with the noble goal of helping the poor, disadvantaged, humiliated and insulted. And Svidrigailov directs all his base energy to obtain dubious pleasures, trying to achieve what he wants at any cost.

Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov appear before readers as “strong” personalities. And indeed it is. Only people with exceptional willpower and equanimity can force themselves to cross the bloody line and deliberately commit a crime. Both of these heroes understand perfectly well that in essence they are extremely close. And it is not without reason that at the very first meeting Svidrigailov says to Raskolnikov: “We are birds of a feather.”

Subsequently, Raskolnikov comes to understand this. Crime follows punishment. For both heroes it is approximately the same. Both Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov experience severe pangs of conscience, they repent of what they did and try to correct the situation. And, it would seem, they are on the right path. But the mental anguish soon becomes unbearable. Svidrigailov's nerves give out and he commits suicide.

Raskolnikov realizes with horror that the same thing could happen to him, and eventually admits to what he has done. Unlike Raskolnikov, Svidrigailov has a somewhat dual character. On the one hand, it seems that he is an ordinary, normal, sober-minded person, as Raskolnikov seems to be, but this side of his character is drowned out by his eternal and irresistible attraction to pleasure. Raskolnikov, in my opinion, is a much more firm person in his intentions. He is even somewhat similar to Turgenev’s Bazarov, who strictly adheres to his theory and tests it in practice.

For the sake of his theory, Raskolnikov even breaks off relations with his mother and sister; he wants to impress others thanks to his theory and places himself much higher than those around him. The considerations presented above contain, in my opinion, the differences and similarities between Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov, who can be called two sides of the same coin.

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Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov are the heroes of the psychological novel by F. M. Dostoevsky. They are called spiritual doubles. There really are similarities between these characters. Comparative characteristics of Svidrigailov and Raskolnikov are the topic of many critical articles. What did the author of the famous novel see as the similarities between these seemingly completely different personalities?

Guidelines and ideals of heroes

Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov take completely different paths in life. A comparative description (every schoolchild’s essay necessarily contains this point) is impossible without assessing the kind of life the characters lead. Raskolnikov is a very intelligent young man; he once studied. Arkady Svidrigailov leads a riotous life and drinks heavily.

They are undoubtedly united by the fact that both characters do not accept the reality around them, although they show this rejection in different ways. Rodion is immersed in the development of a theory, and Arkady is looking for truth in wine and is debauched.

Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov: comparative characteristics of heroes

The main character of one of the most psychological works of Russian literature, the novel Crime and Punishment, is named Rodion Raskolnikov. He is not like others, the troubles of ordinary people are alien to him.

Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, on the pages of his work, introduces us to a kind of double of Rodion Romanovich - Arkady Ivanovich Svidrigailov. This hero declares his resemblance to Raskolnikov.

Are Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov really similar? Comparative characteristics will help answer this question.

Why are Luzhin and Svidrigailov called Raskolnikov’s “doubles”?

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Introduction:

The main character of Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment had a theory according to which all people are divided into two types. The first (trembling creatures) are needed only for procreation. And second (those who have the right) are special people. They can step over blood, sacrifice another person for their idea if necessary. After all, all this is for the sake of a higher goal, higher justice. Rodion attributed himself to the latter type.

Luzhin and Svidrigailov are Raskolnikov’s “doubles” because they also allow themselves to sacrifice someone for their own purposes. The only difference is that Raskolnikov believes in the existence of supreme justice, for the sake of which he tests the theory, and Luzhin and Svidrigailov do everything for personal gain.

Svidrigailov immediately understands the essence of Raskolnikov’s theory and therefore says: “We are birds of a feather.” This hero lives by the principle of permissiveness, believes that the end justifies any means.

He calmly oversteps moral standards. It was because of him that the deaf-mute girl committed suicide. Svidrigailov does terrible things, but not to help anyone, he just likes to feel his power over people. He is not tormented by remorse. This is confirmed by his dismissive statement about morality in a conversation with Raskolnikov.

Luzhin is also a “double” Raskolnikov. Despite being disgusted by the main character, Rodion still admits that they have something in common. Luzhin, like Svidrigailov, oversteps moral principles in his favor. He wants to marry Duna in order to feel power over what should always be grateful to him for his condescension and favor. The essence of Luzhin's theory is that you first need to love yourself, because “everything in the world is based on personal interests.” It turns out that you can kill people for your own benefit. Raskolnikov does not agree with this.

Thus, Luzhin and Svidrigailov, being Raskolnikov’s “doubles,” help him look at his theory from the outside and understand where he was wrong.

Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov: comparative characteristics (table)

So, drawing a conclusion from all of the above, we can say that Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov have different characters, they differ from each other in temperament and lifestyle. However, the internal beliefs of the heroes are very similar. Raskolnikov develops a theory that everything is allowed to a unique individual, and Svidrigailov leads a lifestyle that confirms this theory.