Crime and Punishment

Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky is a gripping novel about guilt, morality, and redemption. The story follows Raskolnikov, a poor and tormented young man who believes that some people have the right to commit crimes if it leads to a greater good. With this idea in mind, he murders an old pawnbroker to prove his theory and escape poverty.

But instead of feeling powerful or justified, he starts sinking into guilt and paranoia. He becomes erratic, falls ill, and isolates himself, while the police—especially the clever Porfiry Petrovich—begin to suspect him. In the midst of his turmoil, he meets Sonia, a young woman who has been forced into prostitution to support her family. She becomes his only source of comfort and encourages him to confess.

In the end, completely consumed by his own mind, Raskolnikov decides to turn himself in and is sentenced to forced labor in Siberia. Sonia follows him, and little by little, he begins to change, leaving open the possibility of redemption.

The book explores themes like guilt, inner punishment, and the struggle between good and evil. It’s an intense, psychological story that pulls you deep into the mind of a criminal and the consequences of his actions.