In Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, no one’s identity comes into more question than the main character, Raskolnikov. Not only does Raskolnikov question who he is, but the reader is confused on the merit of Raskolnikov. I found it difficult to characterize Raskolnikov. His identity was neither good nor evil.

Even though Raskolnikov murders two people, I found myself sympathizing with him; I wanted him to succeed in getting away with the murder. Why does this happen? Why does Raskolnikov’s thoughts and actions throughout the novel prevent the a characterization of him as evil? Don’t people’s actions determine their identities?

Dostoevsky’s character seems to show that the thoughts of a person have much more of an effect on a person’s identity than their actions. It seems that thoughts can betray someone’s true identity. Raskolnikov never seems to be a bad person, however, his extreme rationalism forced him to commit a terrible act? Was this the result of Raskonikov’s poverty or some flaw within his being?

Raskolnikov’s transformation to salvation at the end of the novel seems to denote that a transformation of identity has occurred. Did Raskolnikov’s thoughts cause this transformation? Or was it the result of values that had always been present within Raskonikov, but masked by his rationalism? Or can one’s identity be changed by another person? Does Sonia’s influence on Raskolnikov within the novel cause the transformation of identity?