In the novel Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, the protagonist Rashkolnikov faces a never-ending war between his passion and his responsibility. Because of Rashkolnikov's firm beliefs in the "extraordinary man", his physical and mental state-of-mind are profoundly effected. This battle within him is significant to the work, as it is the fundamental focus of the novel. .
The motif of Rashkolnikov's faith in the "extraordinary man" is repeated throughout Crime and Punishment. Rashkolnikov believes that there are two categories of man, the ordinary and the extraordinary. He believes the ordinary man to be inferior, and can do nothing but reproduce his own kind. The ordinary man has no right to transgress the law, because he has to live in submission, and is ordinary. However, extraordinary man such as Rashkolnikov believes himself to be, has the right to commit crime and transgress the law because they are extraordinary. Rashkolnikov says, "An extraordinary man has the right that's not an official right, but an inner right to decide in his own conscious to overstep certain obstacles, and it is essential for the practical fulfillment of his idea sometimes, perhaps, of benefit to the whole of humanity." (p226) As Rashkolnikov .
contemplates his plans to kill an old pawnbroker, he is debating .
whether or not he is an extraordinary man worthy of crime for the benefit of society. .
In the beginning of the novel, the protagonist is introduced as "exceptionally handsome, above the average height, well built with beautiful dark eyes." (p2) His character both physically and mentally are profoundly effected after Rashkolnikov commits his crime of murder. Afterwards he is deeply troubled as he battles to understand his own mind. His character begins to take a downward spin when he kills the pawnbroker. He is emotionally distraught as the narrator describes the scene directly after his crime: "Then a strange idea entered his head; that, perhaps all of his clothes were covered in blood, that, perhaps, there were a great many stains, but that he did not see them because his perceptions were falling going to pieces.
