Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment is the story of a poor man living in Russia named Rodion Raskolnikov. There are two different sides to his personality he is both kind and generous, and cold and unemotional at the same time. The movie centers mainly on his conflicting personality which he possesses. .
Raskolnikov's cold side leads him to develop his theory, that there are super men and these men have a right to commit any crime if they have something of worth to offer humanity. This side of him bases all decisions on reason and rationalization (although it is sometimes incorrect), rather than on feeling. It is purely impassive, without any show of emotion. .
In the novel Raskolnikov engages in random acts of kindness. He saves a child from a burning house, gives money to the Marmeladov family, and he attempts to aid Marmeladov when he dies. All of these deeds were done without premeditation. This side of his character is kind and compassionate. Without this side being present at times he talks himself into believing it is okay to murder the pawn broker. I truly believe that this side is the real Rodion.
These shifts between two distinct personalities give Raskolnikov two separate points of view. The movie is founded on the distinctions between the two points of view, and the viewer gets both angles. Both Raskolnikov's generous, and evil actions are essential to his character because they allow the viewer to identify with these two points of view and the two facets of his personality.
