Duality Essay Research Paper DualityThe theory of
Duality Essay, Research Paper
Dichotomy
The theory of dichotomy of personality is exhibited clearly in Dostoevsky? s Crime and Punishment by the character Raskolnikov: Svidrigailov represents the cold, rational side of his personality and Sonia is a clear illustration of his humane, compassionate side. Let us analyze these separate constituents of Raskolnikov? s societal traits.
Svidrigailov is the distinguishable representation of Raskolnikov? s rational side which emphasizes stubbornness. He besides represents a type of Nihilist demigod. He feels that the universe is basically an evil topographic point ; hence, in order to conform with the existence, he must be basically evil. The existence, under this theory, is besides nonmeaningful and adrift, or adult male? s chief coarse is for the satisfaction of appetency. Every act that Svidrigailov performs is for his ain pleasance and to put him above common morality. Svidrigailov is non a true rational ; but he does non let minor human actions or morality or jurisprudence to forestall him from holding his manner. Therefore, Raskolnikov can perpetrate slayings because of his theories, and Svidrigailov can transport out amoral Acts of the Apostless for his ain satisfaction. A perfect illustration of this would be that he rapes a 13 twelvemonth old miss and upon hearing that she hanged herself, he has no feelings of compunction. He besides has no feelings of guilt for poisoning his married woman and doing the decease of his servant Petya. Raskolnikov? s rational side is immersed in his theory of the extraordinary adult male. Therefore, he must stand entirely or have self will and non necessitate human company merely as Svidrigailov.
The opposing side of Raskolnikov? s character is Sonia Marmeladov. Her map is to redee
m Raskolnikov. She represents Raskolnikov? s warm, compassionate, humanist side. This part of his character operates without idea. His initial idea and actions in a state of affairs are representations of this facet of his personality. Raskolnikov frequently carries out Acts of the Apostless of charity or humanity and so, when he has intellectualized his actions ; he regrets them. An illustration of this is when he gives the Marmeladovs his last spot of money, and so shortly after declinations holding given the money off. If left to his immediate reactions, Raskolnikov would ever move in a charitable and humanist mode and forfeit himself for his fellow adult male. No 1 is less fit for a life of harlotry than Sonia, but this was the lone manner that she could back up her household. She is a sufferer for her cause, or a Christ-figure. She represents the agony of all humanity and Raskolnikov turns to her in order to assist him with his agony. She feels intense debasement and shame for her profession but she ne’er had lost touch with God. Her simple religion in God is portion of her strength. As Raskolnikov would give his money or his ain ego to profit others, so does Sonia travel into harlotry in order to profit her household.
Raskolnikov? s actions in the novel seem unusual and contradictory because of his dichotomy. A perfect show of such incompatibilities in his character is his initial opposition to his sister? s battle to Luzhin and so subsequently experiencing that she should get married? whom she pleases. ? His first reaction was with his humane side ( Sonia ) non desiring his sister to come in an unwanted matrimony and so his rational side ( Svidrigailov ) contending that he must non concern himself with the undistinguished jobs of others.
