Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov The minor theme of Good vs. Evil is manifested in Raskolnikov's name; the Russian word "raskol" means "schism" or "divided." He is both cold hearted and warm hearted, aggressive and submissive. An example of this is when he commits the murders. When Raskolnikov kills Alyona, he uses the blunt side of the axe and hits her twice on the top of her skull, displaying his vicious side. However, when he kills Lizaveta, he does so in one swift hit of the sharp end of the axe. This shows his caring side. It can also be speculated that Raskolnikov worries mostly about the b...

• Word Count: 479
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... bad after." (Hemingway) Every person on earth follows a moral code that defines his or her actions. Mersault of Albert Camus" The Stranger and Raskolnikov of Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment follow similar [existentialist] moral codes that regulate their attitudes toward death and religion. Mersault seems to possess none of the usual conventions of morality. He feels no remorse toward either the death of his mother ... his lack of compassion for human existence, Mersault presents no sense of remorse for his crime. He clearly believes that his act of murder does not require the i...

• Word Count: 1130
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School