Crime and Punishment

“What a deed I’m planning, and yet I’m letting pointless little things terrify me!” 

Raskolnikov’s fervent mumbling reveals how he divides the world. He considers himself an extraordinary person, who should see moral constraints or laws as “pointless little things” (38). However, breaking these “little things” terrifies him because at heart he is an ethical and humane man. His efforts to prove himself a great man will do their best to burn away this part of him.

“We humans can get used to anything, villains that we are!”

For all of Raskolnikov’s alienation, he still considers himself part of society here, using the pronoun “we” (55) to emphasize his involvement in and complicity with its crimes. Raskolnikov’s framing of humanity suggests that he is not irredeemably alienated.

“Am I really, really going to take an axe and start beating her on the head, and split her skill open…and slip on her warm, sticky blood.” 

Raskolnikov’s narration finally explicitly states his plan to commit a grisly murder for the first time. While, he is fully aware of the violence that he intends to inflict, he seems to almost be watching from the outside, unable to stop himself. His reluctance to actually describe his plan reveals a trepidation and worry that leave open the possibility of redemption.