Crime and Punishment Group

Question:

livestoread
livestoread
Student
High School - 12th Grade

In "Crime and Punishment" the main character has weird sleeping patterns. What exactly is the significance of sleep in the story?

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Posted by livestoread on Monday December 1, 2008 at 10:05 AM and tagged with crime and punishment, dostoyevky, sleep, time.

Answers:

  1. morrol
    morrol Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Sleep is an important device in "Crime and Punishment" by Dostoyevsky. The most important theme in the novel is guilt, and how it effects the human conscience. Raskolnikov's lack of sleep is one way for Dostoyevsky to show the impact of guilt. Raskolnikov becomes physically ill because of his guilt. Sleep becomes a way to escape the consciousness of Rodya's physical and mental anguish.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/crime/character-analysis
    http://www.enotes.com/crime/summary
    http://www.enotes.com/crime/themes

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    Posted by morrol on Monday December 1, 2008 at 12:55 PM