

Dostoyevsky - Crime and Punishment
Oct 13, 2021
In this discussion, guests Serena Mammon-Weber, a fourth-year psychiatry resident, George Genikakos, a child and adolescent psychiatry fellow, and Wakar Zabari, a PGY-3 psychiatry resident, delve into the psychological themes of Dostoevsky's *Crime and Punishment*. They explore Raskolnikov's moral torment and his 'Superman' theory, the impact of 19th-century Russian sociology, and the novel's profound portrayal of suffering and redemption through characters like Sonia. The conversation also touches on the nature of evil and the therapeutic implications of Dostoevsky's insights.
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Dostoevsky's Psychological Multiplicity
- Dostoevsky's writing layered psychology and philosophy to reveal the human condition in multiple viewpoints.
- His novels prefigure later thinkers like Freud and Nietzsche and require careful reading to grasp their depth.
Suffering As The Real Punishment
- Crime and Punishment centers on Raskolnikov's idea of extraordinary men who can transgress moral law.
- The novel shows that the true punishment is internal torment rather than legal consequences.
Context: Russian Nihilism And Its Critique
- Russian 19th-century nihilism arose from extreme poverty and social injustice.
- Dostoevsky critiques nihilism and shows its failure through Raskolnikov's collapse.