In chapter five of Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov finds himself flirting with the idea of committing murder. Looking at the events that lead to Raskolnikov making his final decision, might show us why he did what he did from a circumstantial point of view. However, on a deeper level, is there a culprit behind his actions? Examining Jesus’s teachings in the book of John might help to explain Raskolnikov and his choices.
Raskolnikov has a dream where a group of men beat a horse to death. The dream takes place in a setting where Raskolnikov is 7 years old, which shows a more vulnerable side him. After the horse is dead, he feels remorse and anger towards those that killed it. Waking up he says, “but can it be, can it be that I will really take an axe and hit her on the head and smash her skull”(Part: 1 chapter: 5). Perhaps the reason why he is now suddenly having second thoughts is because he was suddenly back in a world where his innocence was that of a child. This is similar to John 3:3 where Jesus talks about being born again, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”. Now Raskolnikov might not of been born again from a spiritual standpoint, however, he was able to feel a similar experience from a fundamental standpoint of “born again”. Being brought back to the innocence of a 7 year old was a representation of “born again” and seeing right from wrong from a innocent point of view could be equated to the “Kingdom of God”. This is why after a deep experience such as this, he has a sudden change of heart.
However, as we all know, Raskolnikov eventually ends up committing the murder. But why? Temptation, that’s why. “therefore, at exactly seven o’clock in the evening, the old woman would be left at home alone”(Part: 1 chapter:5). What are the chances that Raskolnikov heard this piece of information about the very woman he was planning to murder. In fact, before he even heard it, it says, “some strange sensation, akin to the deepest amazement, seized him” Perhaps it was more than just chance that he heard this. Perhaps he was destined to here it. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do”(John 8:44). Jesus is saying that serving Satan will destine you for evil. You can only serve one master, so if Raskolnikov isn’t serving God, then he is serving Satan. Pleasing the “Lusts” of the devil might include overhearing a conversation your not supposed to hear. However, being tempted by the conversation doesn’t show that Raskolnikov is going to follow through with satan’s desires. Even Jesus was tempted throughout scripture, so temptation isn’t the sin, its acting on the temptation that is the sin. Which is exactly what Raskolnikov ends up doing.
Chapter 5 paints a perfect picture of allowing temptation to fester within us. Raskolnikov sways back in forth on what to do, however, eventually Satan convinces him to commit the murder. I once heard a saying the goes like this, “If heaven and hell were divided by a fence and you happened to be sitting on it, you would go to hell because the devil owns the fence.” Raskolnikov spent to much time sitting on the fence, and eventually paid for it.
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