My thoughts on the book

Upon reading the book Crime and Punishment, my initial reaction was that it would be akin to another russian book I also read, War and Peace, which was for lack of a better phrase was very boring. Once I got into this book however, I saw how intricate and differently structured it is to most other stories of the same time period. Unlike those books, this one has a realism that can apply to any time where poverty and lack of everything essential occurs. This book doesn't have many of the romantic tones that most western books of the time had and it really showed in its rather descriptive murder scene and in the way Raskolnikov deals with that guilt. Overall, this book was one of the best books I've read and would highly recommend it to anyone who likes realistic and psychological type readings.

Dostoevsky's life in comparison to Crime and Punishment

Dostoevsky, in writing Crime and Punishment, used many aspects of his personal life as inspiration for many of the main ideas and concepts presented in the novel. His time in prison and in Siberia coupled with the murder of his father at a young age deeply entrenched the idea that suffering leads to salvation. He expresses this in his book by having Rasolnikov continually suffer after his murders and only reaches a sane and guilt free existence only after he confesses his crime and is sent to prison.
Current events of the time also affected the way he wrote many of the pivotal moments in the story. His obsession with death lead Dostoevsky to bring the descriptions of a real life murder into his book through the near exact telling of the murder in Crime and Punishment. The psychological movement also appears in the book as Raskolnikov's sister reacts to his confession by asking him to go to France for help, the epicenter of most of the psychological studies at the time.

Quotes & Scenes regarding Raskolnikov's thoughts before & after murder

Contemplating murder of the pawnbroker - Part 1 Chapter 1

• "Am i capable of that? is this serious? It is not serious at all. It's simply a fantasy to amuse myself...."

After his dream of the horse being beat to death - Part 1 Chapter 5

• "Good God!" he cried, "can it be, can it be, that I shall really take an axe, that I shall strike her on the head, split her skull open...that I shall tread in the sticky warm blood, blood...with the axe...Good God, can it be? He was shaking like a leaf as he said this.

Moments before he murders Alyona Ivanovna (the pawnbroker) - Part 1 Chapter 7

• "But how pale you are, to be sure.... and your hands are trembling too. Have you been bathing, or what?" "Fever," he answered abruptly. You can't help getting pale.... if you've nothing to eat," he added with trouble articulating the words. His strength was failing him again.

After returning to his room, Raskolnikov searches his clothes frantically and becomes obsessive to hide any and all evidence. - Part 2 Chapter 1

• "Surely it isn't beginning already! Surely it isn't my punishment coming upon me? It is!"

Raskolinikov's answer to Porfiry Petrovich's question of the person who commits a crime with the justification that extraordinary men have the right to be above law and morality.- Part 3 Chapter 5

• "If he has a conscience he will suffer for his mistake. That will be punishment - as well as prison."

Raskolnikov confesses to his love interest, Sonya - Part 5 Chapter 4 

• "I said as I went away that perhaps I was saying good-bye for ever, but if that I came to-day I would tell you who... who killed Lizaveta."..... "Well I've come to tell you."

Raskolnikov thinking about his future compared to his life - Part 5 Chapter 5

• "Perhaps it really would be better in Siberia".," he thought suddenly.

Quotes & Scenes regarding Raskolnikov's thoughts before & after murder-Quotes & Scenes Explained

Contemplating murder of the pawnbroker - Part 1 Chapter 1

• This shows that Raskolinikov is no where close to being mentally prepared to do this when first thought up.

After his dream of the horse being beat to death - Part 1 Chapter 5

• At this point there is still heavy doubt and fear in his mind, but also shows he's thought of a way to kill her in a brutal manner.

Moments before he murders Alyona Ivanovna (the pawnbroker) - Part 1 Chapter 7

• At this part of the murder he is still trying to collect his nerves for the kill.

After returning to his room, Raskolnikov searches his clothes frantically and becomes obsessive to hide any and all evidence. - Part 2 Chapter 1

• This is evidence that he not want to feel the moral punishment that he would implement upon himself. 

Raskolinikov's answer to Porfiry Petrovich's question of the person who commits a crime with the justification that extraordinary men have the right to be above law and morality.- Part 3 Chapter 5

• Obviously he says this out of his own experiences with his murders and by saying this he feels somewhat better. 
• This is foreshadowing to what will happen to him later on.

Raskolnikov confesses to his love interest, Sonya - Part 5 Chapter 4 

• This allows Raskolnikov a way to sever any ties that may come back later on, and to preserve Sonya's innocence as he was a suspect at the time.

Raskolnikov thinking about his future compared to his life - Part 5 Chapter 5

• He feels that Siberia, a cold and harsh place, would be far easier to be in with a clear conscience than be living free with a guilty conscience.

Facts About Crime and Punishment

•  He was inspired by the French poet and murderer Pierre Francois Lacenaire for the crime Raskolnikov does in the novel and most of the crime was exactly like the Pierre murder.
• Unlike most of the western literature of the time, Dostoevsky put in many real world locations and descriptions of places, adding realism that most western novels lacked.
• Crime and Punishment was a stark contrast to the romantic novels currently being published at the time.
• Many aspects of the novel reflected Dostoevsky's experiences with death in his life.
• Crime and Punishment was initially not going to be a full length novel, merely a short story or novella