While reading Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, the notion that it is a novel about Christianity seems absurd at first. Its central story focuses on revenge, murder and punishment ideals contrary to Christian beliefs. Although the book may appear to be non-Christian, there were many instances where faith, suffering and redemption were present. These occasions show that the underlying theme of Crime and Punishment is one of Christianity. The references to icons, Lazarus, New Jerusalem and the constant presence of suffering prove that the novel has biblical connotation.In the beginning of the novel, when Raskolnikov goes to the pawnbroker to pawn his fathers watch, Dostoevsky describes Alyonas apartment. The furniture, all very old an of yellow wood, consisted of a sofa In the corner a light was burning before a small icon. Even from the very first chapter, Dostoevsky made a reference to a Christian image. An icon is a picture or representation of a saint or other Christian figures. I believe that the author did this to make it evident right from the start that Crime and Punishment is irrevocably a novel about God. An icon reappears every now and then in the rest of the book to reiterate that God will always be around, watching and guiding over everyone.Also near the beginning of the story, the man Raskolnikov met at the bar, Marmeledov, declared the first primary Christian message in the novel. Ironic as it was, being that he was drunk, he cried out, Crucify me oh judge He is the One... He will forgive my Sonya. The idea that God could forgive is a very strong belief throughout the novel and this concept is one that is vital to the transformation of Raskolnikov in the later chapters. Dostoevsky also uses reoccurring symbols to show that the novel is Christian. One of these symbols is the whip. According to the Bible, Jesus Christ was thrashed with a whip many times just before his crucifixion. They did this ...
