Questions

Gustavo Gallegos

1,5- Raskolnikov’s personality helps create suspense since he is the main character Dostoyevsky’s objective should be (well achieved) to make the reader identity itself with Raskolnikov and since Raskolnikov lives a deep fear and regret within itself then those emotions are transmitted to the reader and thus creates suspense and explains Dostoyevsky’s decision for the way Raskolnikov’s personality is presented.

2- some events in the story depend on probability since we don't really see any character in absolute control of the situations around them. They are completely dependent of either the actions of other characters or pure luck. One big example is Dunya’s marriage, since these event can be affected by the future actions of Raskolnikov, Luzhin and recently Razumikhin neither of these characters are able to have absolute control (or understanding) over the situation around them. Having chance as a big factor makes some events seem forced in as if Dostoyevsky couldn't figure out a way to make some parts of the puzzle fit by themselves. One clear example is the moment Raskolnikov thinks of suicide Marmeladov is hit by a horse thus gaining the attention of Raskolnikov and making him forget the idea of suicide (for that moment)