"An atom consists of two kinds of particles: a nucleus, the atom's central core, which is positively charged and contains most of the atom's mass, and one or more electrons. An electron is a very light, negatively charged particle that exists in the region around the atom's positively charged nucleus" (Ebbing and Gammon 47).The basis of human life is the atom; everything living and breathing on Earth is constructed with atoms. They allow movement, thought, and feelings. Without atoms humanity would exist as puddles. What is interesting is that these tiny particles, which make up human bodies, exist on levels. Bohr's energy level postulate states "an electron can only have specific energy values in an atom, which are called its energy levels. Therefore, the atom itself can have only specific total energy values" (Ebbing and Gammon 287). Every electron has its own energy state so it has its own level. The electrons that exist in the cloud around the nucleus are arranged in shells, sublevels, and orbitals. In a specific shell there are sublevels and orbitals. The greater the shell the more sublevels and orbitals it includes. For example, there is a single sublevel in main level one. However, in main level two there are two sublevels and four possible orbitals in which the electrons can exist.
Everything that exists exists because of structure. More specifically, everything that exists exists in levels. The atom, the smallest part of matter that man has successfully been able to see, is made up of levels. Furthermore, every living being, animal, or plant is composed of atoms. The living species inhabit the Earth. The Earth has levels: the core, magma, and surface, on which humans live, and the Earth is apart of a vast solar system where planets orbit and have their own levels. Without levels, like the electrons in an atom, the solar system would destroy itself because all the planets would collide into each other. Without levels there would be chaos in the universe. In the brilliantly crafted and written tome Crime and Punishment by the mastermind Fyodor Dostoevsky the existence of levels unfolds. Dostoevsky cunningly presents the levels in life through the theory of nihilism and Raskolnikov's association with it and the economical circumstances of the characters surrounding Raskolnikov. Dostoevsky also shows levels in good and evil through the astonishingly well-developed characters. Crime and Punishment truly represents many levels of life.
The ultimate being, or übermensch, portrayed by Dostoevsky, through Raskolnikov, has the ability to violate certain rules that the "Common Man" cannot.
"I simply hinted that the extraordinary man has the right… that it is not an official, but an inner right to decide in his own conscience to overstep… certain obstacles, and only in case it is essential for the practical fulfillment of his idea (sometimes, perhaps, of benefit to the whole humanity)… In short, I maintain that all great men or even men a little out of the common, that is to say capable of giving some new word, must from their very nature be criminals-more or less, of course. Otherwise it's hard for them to get out of the common rut…" (242)Raskolnikov wrote a paper on the theory of an übermensch while he was still a student. In the document Raskolnikov gives the ordinary man the right to overstep boundaries in the attempt to become an extraordinary man. He also states that in certain cases it would be acceptable to overstep obstacles if it were to benefit numerous others. The ordinary man and the extraordinary man exist within different boundaries, or levels. The extraordinary man has the right to take advantage of the ordinary man. With levels, one is level is greater than another. In this circumstance the extraordinary man is at least a level above the ordinary man. Raskolnikov wanted to become the übermensch by stepping over boundaries, via assassinating the pawnbroker. He rationalized his actions by saying that he would use the profits of his measures to benefit others. Raskolnikov wanted to step up to another level by becoming an extraordinary man.
In Raskolnikov's mind Napoleon was the ultimate superman, or übermensch. Raskolnikov idolizes this French ruler and compares his murder and the resulting guilt to what Napoleon would have accomplished and experienced.
"It was like this: I asked myself one day this question- what if Napoleon, for instance, had happened to be in my place, and if he had not had Toulon nor Egypt nor the passage of Mont Blanc to begin his career with, but instead of all those picturesque and monumental things, there had simply been some ridiculous old hag, a pawnbroker, who had to be murdered too to get money from her trunk (for his career, you understand)… Wouldn't he have felt a pang at its being so far from monumental and… and sinful, too?…It would not have given him the least pang, that it would not even have struck him that it was not monumental…He would have strangled her in a minute without thinking about it!" (384)Raskolnikov believes that Napoleon would not have had a problem killing the pawnbroker and that the later would not be feeling any guilt over the matter. Raskolnikov worships Napoleon as the ultimate being, free of guilt, and able to accomplish a goal to further himself and benefit others. Napoleon had to begin somewhere, so Raskolnikov felt that he would establish the superman within by working with what was given to him and killing the pawnbroker.
Raskolnikov wanted to be the extraordinary man. However, he realizes that he cannot help but to be ordinary.
"And you mustn't suppose that I didn't know, for instance, that if I began to question myself whether I had the right to gain power-I certainly hadn't the right- or that if I asked myself whether a human being is a louse it proved that it wasn't so for me, though it might be for a man who would go straight for his goal without asking questions… If I worried myself all those days, wondering whether Napoleon would have done it or not, I felt clearly of course that I wasn't Napoleon… I am just a louse like all the rest." (387-388)Raskolnikov wanted to be a Napoleon. Yet, after he murderer the pawnbroker he realized that although he felt he could be a Napoleon, he was just an ordinary louse. Dostoevsky illustrates Napoleon as the extraordinary man and Raskolnikov as the ordinary man striving to become an übermensch. The distinction between these two levels is evident. The extraordinary can step over boundaries to pursue his goal and feel no guilt because he has the right. The ordinary man can attempt to overstep boundaries, however he will feel remorse and eventually realize that he is not among the few extraordinary men. These two levels are palpable in the distinction between Napoleon and Raskolnikov. Therefore, Dostoevsky uses Raskolnikov and his theory to prove the two different levels of extraordinary and ordinary men.
The economics of our world are based around money and social status within the population. The economics of a country could cause its leaders to change, prices to skyrocket, and eventually its economic situation could affect the rest of the world. For example, Hitler came to power in Germany because the Germans were going through an economic crisis. Hitler promised them that he could get them out of that depression, and because the people of Germany believed him and gave him power, Hitler was able to start a mass assassination of people in other countries. However, the point isn't about world domination through economics, it is about the people involved in the economy and how they are affected. It is about the people who live their life based on moving up the economic ladder, making more money, and having a higher power in the economy. In Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoevsky presents different characters who represent diverse levels in the economics of the country in which they are living. He uses Katerina Ivanovna Marmeladov to show the group of people who are on the low level of society. Dostoevsky also uses Pyotr Petrovich Luzhin to show the class of people who use their money and status to control others; these are the people on the high level of society.
Katerina was the daughter of a man that had power and her first husband was rather wealthy. However, throughout the book she has little to no money, and she longs for the luxuries she used to have. She tries to teach her children to be "proper" and to learn French, which is the language of the noble and well mannered. When she does receive a little bit of money, she spends it quickly to entertain like a proper woman would.
"Know then that my wife was educated in a high-class school for the daughters of noblemen, and on leaving she danced the shawl dance before the governor and other personages, for which she was presented with a gold medal and a certificate of merit. The medal… well, the medal of course was sold-long ago, hm…but the certificate of merit is in her trunk still and not long ago she showed it to our landlady… she wanted to tell someone or other of her past honours and of the happy days that are gone… a woman of education and culture and distinguished family." (14)Katerina was brought up in good fortune. However, when she married she left all of that behind her. She had two husbands, both of which wasted the family's money. She ended up working "from morning till night" (13) and she is "scrubbing and cleaning and washing the children" (13). Katerina is an economic low. She has no money because her husband drinks it all away. She wears rags and is sick because of the conditions in which she is living. "Her mohair shawl I sold for drink, a present to her long ago, her own property, not mine; and we live in a cold room and she caught cold this winter and has begun coughing and spitting blood too" (13). Dostoevsky presents Katerina on one of the lowest levels of society in this quotation.
To the other extreme Dostoevsky uses Luzhin to show one of the higher levels of society. This level uses its power to control others. "He is a well-to-do man, to be depended upon, he has two posts in the government and has already made his fortune" (33). Luzhin is well off in society; he has already made his money and he has a secure financial position. Because of his success with money he would like to find someone to marry who he can benefit with his earnings.
"He declared that before making Dounia's acquaintance he had made up his mind to marry a girl of good reputation, without dowry and, above all, one who had experienced poverty, because as he explained, a man ought not to be indebted to his wife, but that it is better for a wife to look upon her husband as her benefactor." (34-35)Luzhin wants to marry someone who doesn't have any money. This way he can shower her with gifts to the point that she could never pay him back. If she cannot pay him back properly she would never have the fortitude to leave the relationship. In this way Luzhin would be able to control his wife with money. However, one cannot prove that these are truly his intentions until later in the novel.
"It was my mistake, too, not to have given them money…It was false economy! I meant to keep them without a penny so that they should turn to me as their providence, and look at them… They could not have refused me so easily! They are the sort of people that would feel bound to return money and presents if they broke it off; and they would find it hard to do it… H'm! I've made a blunder." (336)This quotation shows Luzhin's thoughts about the break up he had between Dounia and himself. He feels that if he had given her more gifts she would have been bound to him by money. Luzhin did not shower gifts upon Dounia to the point that she felt bound to him. Therefore, Luzhin feels like he made a mistake. Dostoevsky uses Luzhin and Katerina to illustrate two different economical situations in Crime and Punishment. These two levels are still apart of our very complicated economic structure in society today. Some people marry others just for the money; some people marry others because of love and as a result lose their financial status. Dostoevsky has captured these levels and showed us how they dictate lives through Katerina and Luzhin.
The age-old battle between good and evil has resurfaced. However, this time they are not battling; they are working together to prove that there are levels in morality. Dostoevsky uses Sofya Semyonova Marmeladov, "Sonya," to symbolize the Christ figure in Christianity. He then uses Arkady Ivanovich Svidrigaïlov to exemplify the other extreme of malevolence. Through these two characters the levels of good and evil are exposed in Crime and Punishment.
Sonya is portrayed as a Christ symbol many times. For instance, when Raskolnikov comes to a breaking point in the book where he confesses everything about his murder of Alyona Ivanovna to Sonya. He seeks her out particularly because he sees her as Christ, or someone who can cleanse him. "Be silent! Don't ask! You don't deserve" (301). Sonya told Raskolnikov that he didn't deserve to know about God and his salvation, however she still reluctantly told him. As sinners in this world God says that no one deserves the gift of his forgiveness and salvation through our works, but he continues to share it with us because he wants to see us benefit from his gift. "For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2.8-9). We cannot earn the gift of salvation and forgiveness through our works as humans according to the Bible. We are given the gift only because of God's grace. Sonya knew that Raskolnikov didn't deserve to know about God's forgiveness, however, she still told him because she knew it would benefit him in the long run. There were times when Raskolnikov resented Sonya because of her Christ-likeness. Yet, she still loved him.
"And suddenly a strange surprising sensation of a sort of bitter hatred for Sonia passed through his heart. As it were wondering and frightened of this sensation, he raised his head and looked intently at her; but he met her uneasy and painfully anxious eyes fixed on him; there was love in them; his hatred vanished like a phantom." (378)At first Raskolnikov resents Sonya. However, when he sees her, she shows him love and compassion. Therefore, all of his resentment melts away. Many people resent God because they know that they will have to change their sinful ways, however God loves everybody with unconditional love. He hates the sin, but he loves the sinner. "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4.10). This verse explains that God is true love, because even if man doesn't love God, God loves man unconditionally. Sonya loves Raskolnikov even though he may be resenting her. This shows Sonya as Christ-like. Also, Sonya said that she would never leave Raskolnikov. " 'Then you won't leave me,' Sonia?'… 'No, no, never, nowhere!' cried Sonia 'I will follow you, I will follow you everywhere'" (381). When Raskolnikov asks Sonia if she will always be there for him she says that she will always be with him. Christ says that he will never leave us nor forsake us if we believe in him. "For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'" (Hebrews 13.5) When Christ says that he will never forsake man He means that He will never abandon us, Sonya says that she will not abandon Raskolnikov if he goes to jail. She says that she will follow him wherever he goes. In Christianity Christ does not sin; he does no wrong. He is the ultimate good. "The Lord is righteous in all his ways" (Psalm 145.17). To be righteous means to be honorable, good, virtuous, and blameless. If Christ is righteous in all of his ways then he is never unrighteous. Therefore, he truly is the ultimate good, and if Sonya personifies Christ, then she is the ultimate good in Crime and Punishment.
To the other extreme, Svidrigaïlov represents evil. " 'To think that I could for one instant have looked for help from that coarse brute, that depraved sensualist and black-guard!' he cried" (449) This quotation is Raskolnikov thinking about Svidrigaïlov. When he describes Svidrigaïlov, Raskolnikov describes him as a crude, brutal or violent person, like an animal, a morally corrupt human with sexual desires, a villain, and a scoundrel. These traits all describe the opposite of a good person. They describe someone evil. "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5.8). Raskolnikov describes Svidrigaïlov like an animal, and in the Bible, Satan, the ultimate devil or sinful being, is also described as an animal looking to destroy. The Bible also describes good and evil like light and darkness. "Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed" (John 3.20). In Crime and Punishment there are many instances where Dostoevsky depicts Svidrigaïlov with dark language or Dostoevsky has him around darkness. "The room was dark" (467). "When suddenly in a dark corner between an old cupboard and the door he caught sight of a strange object" (469). These two quotations are about Svidrigaïlov. The first one illustrated his room when he woke from one of his dreams while he was at the hotel. The second quotation was taken from a dream Svidrigaïlov had while he was at the hotel. The hotel in both of these quotations was the hotel he stayed at right before he ended his life. Therefore, if Svidrigaïlov is portrayed in darkness, and darkness symbolizes evil, then Svidrigaïlov is evil.
Dostoevsky does an awesome job of illustrating both good and evil in his novel. These two levels of life are depicted through Sonya and Svidrigaïlov. In society today, if we are going by the standards of good and evil in Christianity, these two levels exist. But these two levels are not only relevant in Christianity. These levels exist in every religion. Each religion portrays a "right" way and a "wrong" way. Without these guidelines in life regarding the two levels of good and evil our world would be in chaos, not knowing how to act and what to do.
Dostoevsky masterfully pieces together proof of different levels of society in Crime and Punishment. He uses Raskolnikov to show the different levels of extraordinary and ordinary. Dosteovsky uses Luzhin and Katerina to portray the different levels of economics, and Dostoevsky also uses Sonya and Svidrigaïlov to depict the levels of good and evil. The different levels of life present today are depicted through these characters. The levels that are depicted still exist in society today, and without these levels the world would be in chaos.