Customer center

We are a boutique essay service, not a mass production custom writing factory. Let us create a perfect paper for you today!

Example research essay topic: Salvation In Crime And Punishment - 1,631 words

NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote

The promise of eternal life has been the driving force behind mans quest for salvation. Religion and the understanding of God and implicit faith in divine justice are the keys to salvation. This is the message conveyed by Dostoyevsky's character Sonia, a redemptive figure for Raskolnikov in the novel Crime and Punishment. Written in 1865 and set in Russia, this story is about Raskolnikov, an impoverished young man. He kills an old pawnbroker to prove his theory that superior men are above the law and are free to determine their own destiny. However, he realizes that he cannot exist without being a part of the human community.

Unable to resolve the conflict between his conscience and theory, Raskolnikov confesses his crime to Sonia and faces his punishment. This begins his journey to redemption. Sonia's function in the novel Crime and Punishment, is to inspire Raskolnikov to the recognition that spiritual rebirth and salvation are possible only by suffering and believing that everything exists through the grace of God. Raskolnikov meets Sonia through her father, Marmeladov, a simple government clerk who lives with his family in the slums.

After losing his job because of a drinking problem his family becomes destitute without any means of financial support. Sonia, a gentle girl who is the daughter from his previous marriage, becomes a prostitute to earn money to support the family. She does this because of her compassionate and loving nature. Even though Sonia is intelligent, attractive, caring, and sensitive, society will not permit her a better life because of the circumstances of her birth that place her in the working class. Sonia lives in poverty and misery, and is deeply ashamed of her profession as a prostitute.

But, through it all, Sonia remains childlike and innocent. Her faith in God is her strength. She believes because God is the dispenser of divine justice, He will provide for her family. Sonia believes that God will not allow her and the family to live in their present circumstances forever, and has hope for a better future through Divine Providence. When Raskolnikov questions her faith and says: But perhaps there is no God at all, (pg 299, line 17). She answers, What should I be without God?

And what does God do for you? he asked, probing her further. Sonia was silent a long while, as though she could not answer. Her weak chest kept heaving with emotion. Be silent!

Dont ask! You dont deserve! she cried suddenly, looking sternly and wrathfully at him. Thats it, thats it, he repeated to himself. He does everything, she whispered quickly, looking down again. Thats the way out!

Thats the explanation, he decided... Shes a religious maniac! he repeated to himself. (pg 301, lines 32 - 41 pg 302, lines 1 - 11) Raskolnikov does not understand this type of faith because such faith would mean acting according to Gods will and giving up ones own free will. At this point in his life Raskolnikov is unwilling to make such a commitment.

Raskolnikov is attracted to Sonia because he sees her as one of the suffering human masses and an eternal victim. All at once he bent down quickly and dropping to the ground, kissed her foot. Sonia drew back from him as from a madman. And certainly he looked like a madman. What are you doing to me? she muttered, turning pale, and a sudden anguish clutched at her heart.

He stood up at once. I did not bow down to you, I bowed down to all the suffering of humanity, he said wildly and walked away to the window. (pg 299, lines 21 - 30) Raskolnikov finds it difficult to understand Sonia's implicit faith in God. Raskolnikov asks Sonia to read the story of Lazarus from the Bible. Knowing how little faith he has, at first she is reluctant to read to him because she considers the Bible to be her secret treasure.

The Bible has seen her through many years of pain and suffering. She doesnt wish to share her innermost secret by reading from the Bible to Raskolnikov. At the same time, she realizes the depth of hopelessness in Raskolnikov and his desperate need for help. So she reads the story to him.

Lazarus death is comparable to Raskolnikov's spiritual death and like Lazarus, who was raised from the dead by Christ; Raskolnikov can join the living and be reborn by his faith in God. Sonia reads the story of the miracle performed by Christ with great emotion and in a clear and powerful voice. However, Raskolnikov does not see the miracle of rebirth in the story. Despite the fact that Raskolnikov tells her that there is no hope for either of them, in heaven or on earth, he is deeply affected by the intensity of Sonia's suffering. He feels attracted to her because he identifies with her. In becoming a prostitute, Sonia has cut herself off from humanity, just as Raskolnikov has by committing a murder.

He asks her to join him so that we may go our way together. Symbolically, Raskolnikov has come out of his isolation by asking Sonia to join him. She has inspired him to look beyond his theory that an extraordinary man must stand alone, and outside of society. Raskolnikov questions his theory of the extraordinary man, and finds himself disillusioned. He wants to confess his crime to Sonia. He become aware of his desperate need to believe in something that will give meaning and direction to his life.

Arriving at Sonia's door to confess his crime, Raskolnikov realizes that he is at a turning point in his life. For the first time, Raskolnikov reacts according to the feeling in his heart. He has decided to confess to Sonia because he feels that she is the image of Christian love, as described in the Bible. He feels Sonia knows what is right and what is wrong.

Once Raskolnikov tells Sonia that he is the murderer of the two women, Sonia's reaction is within her character. Even though Raskolnikov killed Lizaveta, who was Sonia's friend, Sonia is not upset. Sonia is compassionate towards Raskolnikov because of the pain she sees in Raskolnikov's face. She sees him as the real victim of the crime.

She asks Raskolnikov: ... What have you done to yourself? (pg 380, line 40) It is the goodness of Sonia's character that compels Raskolnikov to look at himself. Raskolnikov faces the reality of what he has done and finally admits the truth of why he committed the murders and why he confesses to Sonia... And it is was not the money I wanted, Sonia, when I did it...

but something else... I know it all now... I wanted to find out something else... I wanted to find out then and quickly, whether I was a louse like everyone else or a man. Whether I can step over barriers or not... whether I am a trembling creature or whether I have the right.

To kill? Have the right to kill? Sonia clasped her hands. (pg 388, lines 3 - 13) Sonia points the way to salvation for Raskolnikov. When he asks her: Well, what am I to do now? he asked, suddenly raising his head, and looking at her with a face hideously distorted by despair. What are you to do?

she cried, jumping up... and her eyes that were full of tears suddenly began to shine. Stand up! Go at once, this very minute, stand at the crossroads, bow down, first kiss the earth which you have defiled and then bow down to all the world and say to all men aloud, I am a murderer! Then God will send you life again... Suffer and expiate your sin by it, that is what you must do. (pg 388, lines 34 - 42 pg 389, lines 1 - 9) Sonia gives him her cross to wear, telling him we will go to suffer together, and together we will bear our cross. (pg 391, lines 2 - 3) By taking on Raskolnikov's suffering upon herself and helping him to bear his own cross, Sonia proves to him that she is capable of hearing his confession.

This is why Raskolnikov chooses her to confess to. He follows her advice and kneels at the crossroads to kiss the ground and is immediately met with the loud roar of laughter from people around him. This makes him unsure about going to the police station to report his crime. As he enters the police station, Raskolnikov hears that Svidrigailov has committed suicide.

He decides to leave without talking to the police, but sees Sonia standing in the distance. Seeing her reminds him of humanity's suffering. He tells the official: It was I who killed the old pawnbroker woman and her sister Lizaveta with an ax and robbed them. (pg 490, lines 30 - 31) Sonia has again inspired him to seek the truth and face the consequences of his actions. She has guided him to the road to salvation. Dostoyevsky's idea that salvation and spiritual rebirth are possible only by faith in God, and that mans sins are expiated through suffering is conveyed through Sonia. She is the symbol of all the suffering of humanity.

Even the name Sonia is a short form for the real name Sophia, which means wisdom. In Russian religious thought, wisdom also means universal love. This love is a communion of God, man, and nature. Sonia's faith and unfailing belief in Gods love are her source of strength and redemption. It is her suffering and strong faith that make Sonia a savior figure which inspires Raskolnikov to face his crime and punishment and seek redemption in order to rejoin the human community. (1987 edition, translated by Constance Garnett)


Free research essays on topics related to: faith in god, crime and punishment, wanted to find, police station, divine justice

Research essay sample on Salvation In Crime And Punishment

Writing service prices per page

  • $18.85 - in 14 days
  • $19.95 - in 3 days
  • $23.95 - within 48 hours
  • $26.95 - within 24 hours
  • $29.95 - within 12 hours
  • $34.95 - within 6 hours
  • $39.95 - within 3 hours
  • Calculate total price

Our guarantee

  • 100% money back guarantee
  • plagiarism-free authentic works
  • completely confidential service
  • timely revisions until completely satisfied
  • 24/7 customer support
  • payments protected by PayPal

Secure payment

With EssayChief you get

  • Strict plagiarism detection regulations
  • 300+ words per page
  • Times New Roman font 12 pts, double-spaced
  • FREE abstract, outline, bibliography
  • Money back guarantee for missed deadline
  • Round-the-clock customer support
  • Complete anonymity of all our clients
  • Custom essays
  • Writing service

EssayChief can handle your

  • essays, term papers
  • book and movie reports
  • Power Point presentations
  • annotated bibliographies
  • theses, dissertations
  • exam preparations
  • editing and proofreading of your texts
  • academic ghostwriting of any kind

Free essay samples

Browse essays by topic:

Stay with EssayChief! We offer 10% discount to all our return customers. Once you place your order you will receive an email with the password. You can use this password for unlimited period and you can share it with your friends!

Academic ghostwriting

About us

© 2002-2024 EssayChief.com