Big Question: Crime and Punishment

Nature vs. nurture is an interesting topic to discuss when considering Crime and Punishment. In terms of the influence of personal actions, as opposed to external environment, it seems that personal actions, according to Raskolnikov, supersede the setting that he is around. By murdering the pawnbroker, the main character conveys his rational of being a "superman" that is justified to go above humanity and kill for utilitarianism. In this sense, he demonstrates his flippancy for humanity's limitations, and his belief that his personal actions have shaped his character. On the other hand, however, Raskolnikov reveals his complexity as a character by vacillating between this belief that he surpasses humanity's morals, and the belief that he is a benefactor that is integral to humanity's solidification and survival. For example, by graciously giving all of his money to Marmeladov's family, he shows the contrasting idea that his external environment has impacted him to a greater extent than his personal actions, by showing him the prevalence of destitution and poverty, and enabling him to use this exposure as a motivation to give to others. His charity to the Marmeladov's and his murder of Alyona, therefore, assert two starkly contrasting ideas: the former emphasizes that Raskolnikov's external environment have had a greater impact on his true character, while the latter demonstrates that his personal choices have determined who he was as a person. It would be naive, as I've learned, to precariously assume that Raskolnikov is an "evil person." In fact, he is not. The culmination of the novel at the epilogue demonstrates his realization of his wrongdoings, and his desire to seek renewal and rebirth. This realization, too, stems from the impact of his external environment on Raskolnikov. Sonya, in particular, is the person that provides the catalyst for the main character's firmness and dogged persistence in confessing his murder and seeking repentance. She is that "external environment" that ultimately enables him to make the "personal choices" that he is able to. Sonya, therefore, motivates him to move in a direction away from his criminal guilt and to recognize the need for refining his "personal choice" to go beyond mankind and murder an old, haggard woman. Although his "personal choice" to murder Alyona initially shape his character and his person, the book itself is a 450 page work of transition to a life where Raskolnikov is able to move away from the extreme of "personal choice" and more into the moderate perspective that is influenced more by "external environment" that by selfishness of "personal choice." With this idea, Raskolnikov is a dynamic character because his character and true-self become more shaped by the people around him than by the immoral choice he makes at the end of the novel. In other words, the novel is a discovery of this character's, "external environment" that has the potential to change him for the better. At the same time, it is a realization of this character's, "personal choices" that have the potential to create self-guilt and trepidation. Although it goes without saying that a person cannot be perfectly shaped by surroudings or by actions he or she takes, Raskolnikov learns that spiritual fortification and happiness are achieved by relinquishing "personal choices" and learning from "external environment." In this sense, Raskolnikov is initially influenced by his egocentric desires and actions, but he comes to discover himself through renewal and rejuvenation by absorbing the wisdom, courage, and resolution from the people around him.