Need help [again]..... this time its for school!

[the100thballoon]

What is this?
I have to write a paper on Crime and Punishment. I am writing a biography, in essence, and at each major event in his life I am analyzing how that is shown in the book. (my outline is attached to this post)

Why did I start this thread?
I started this thread for help. I need some help connecting each event to the novel. For instance: How does his father's murder appear in the novel?

So what are you putting in your paper? Do you have a starting place?
Here is my rough thesis statement:
Throughout Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoevsky attacks radical leftist ideas and supports right wing, conservative and religious principles.

Here are my paragraphs:

• Intro
• Father was murdered
  • How affected novel (my own thoughts with quotes from C&P)
• Joins The Petrashevsky Circle, a literary discussion group organized by Mikhail Vasilevich Petrashevsky whose purpose was to discuss Western philosophy (specifically Hegel and others) and literature which was officially banned by the government of Nicholas I
  • how affected novel (my own thoughts with quotes from C&P)
• Arrested and imprisoned and then faces mock-execution
  • how affected novel (my own thoughts with quotes from C&P)
• Hard labor in Siberia where epileptic seizures worsened
  • how affected novel (my own thoughts with quotes from C&P)
• Forced to join Siberian Regiment and serve at a fort in Kazakhstan where meets and marries Maria Dmitrievna Isaeva and becomes extremely conservative and very religious and pro-Orthodox
  • How affected novel (my own thoughts with quotes from C&P and quotes/paraphrases from critics)
  • Uses Luzhin to mock the radical teachings of N. G. Chernyshevsky. (-first highlight- p. 4 of Julian Connolly)
  • Uses Raskolnikov to shows the error in/dangers of believing that society’s ills could be cured through rationalistic schemes without regard for human spiritual and emotional complexity (-second highlight- p. 4 of Julian Connolly)
  • Uses C&P to attack rationalism
  • Uses “reason and will” in Raskolnikov’s theories and Raskolnikov’s dream of the plague to attack dialectics, self-seeking and exclusive reliance on reason. FD held that dialectics lead to death-in-life. (-second highlight- p. 2 of George Gibian) By showing what happens to Raskolnikov, he shows how destructive the idea was for individuals, nations, and mankind in general. (-third highlight- p. 2 of George Gibian)
  • New Jerusalem, the passion of Christ, and Lazarus are important concepts throughout his work. (-first highlight- p. 5 of George Gibian)
  • Porfiry asks Raskolnikov…
  • (-first highlight- p. 3 of David McDuff)
  • (-second highlight- p. 3 of David McDuff)
  • (-second highlight- p. 2 of Faith Wigzell)
  • (-first highlight- p. 2 of Chris Pike)
• Moves to Petersburg where wife dies and then brother dies shortly after. Becomes depressed and goes into extreme debt because of attempts to support brother’s family and because of excessive, unsuccesful gambling.
  • how affected novel (my own thoughts with quotes from C&P)
• Goes to W Europe to escape creditors, remarries, and writes most important works including his piece of crap, Crime and Punishment (doesn’t deserve italics). Starts an enormously succesful monthly journal: the Writer's Diary
  • how affected novel (my own thoughts with quotes from C&P)
• Conclusion
  

References in parentheses are references to sources I have.

Please help me if you can! Thanks!

 

[Yom]

Why is there no "No, but I plan to" option?

Edit: Your thesis is not very good, though. I even haven't read the book, and I know that the thesis you are trying to prove is way too simplistic. There's no doubt to anyone who read the book that he attacks leftism and promotes conservative and religious viewpoints. Try something a little more difficult to prove but that you're still sure is true.

 

[punkbass2000]

Nor "No, and I have no particular intention either way" or "My radioactive monkey has read it" options?

 

[the100thballoon]

Nor "No, and I have no particular intention either way" or "My radioactive monkey has read it" options?

haha sorry for forgetting the logical options. I usually stay clear of random options like "my radioactive monkey has read it".

I am not going to change my thesis because it is easy and my teacher liked it (she actually liked my thesis this time and this is one of my worst..... go figure)

 

[TrailblazingScot]

Yep I read it, Raskolnikov was a fool not to have taken the money having done the choppy up business, eventually he'd find that really nice submissive girl and settle down.

I would have.

Will I help you with your work? No, that would steal the feeling of accomplishment and self-worth you will get for doing this and doing it well.

A good book, not a patch on something like Catch-22

 

[Hirachi Dinavo]

I'm reading Crime and Punishment in English right now. I find it interesting compared to the other stuff we read in there. I'm not very far into it, so I can't help you though. (Just got passed the part where he kills the women)

 

[The Fjonis]

I've read it, and I wrote an essay on his motifs for the murders. Didn't look into the political aspects of it, though, so I don't really think I can help you too much on this one. But here are some thoughts:

For some, the pawn shop owner appears as a representative of capitalism (greedy, doesn't care about people or their feelings, only money). When Raskolnikov hears those guys talking at the café before the murders, and they talk about how killing her would be justifiable when considering how many people could benefit from spending her money on helping the poor, Raskolnikov agrees. I believe it even says that he was just thinking the same thing himself. This appears to be a quite communist way of thinking, as opposed to right-wing ideas, as you argue.

On the other hand, Raskolnikov's idea of the super human and the "Napoleon theory" appears to be contrary to communist ideas of everyone being equal. However, I believe that as Raskolnikov finally realises that he cannot escape punishment, the Napoleon theory is proven invalid, and Raskolnikov realises that there is no such thing as super humans. Can be tied to politics, I guess.

Good luck on your essay!