An Overview---Sonya visits Raskolnikov and invites him to her fathers' funeral
-A mysterious man follows Sonya
-Razumikhin takes Ras to see Porfiry, the detective in charge of the murder case, as Ras is trying to get back his pawned belongings. Zamyotov is there too, and Ras suspects they know something..
-Porfiry brings up 'On Crime', an article Ras has written for a newspaper. The en shewing conversation reveals a lot about Raskolnikov's motives, and how he views the murder.
-Ras arrives home to find a man inquiring after him. Ras follows him and questions him. He calls Ras 'muderer' and keeps walking, knocking Ras for six.
-Ras has a dream about the murder. He awakes to find Svidrigailov, his sister' former employer watching him.
The Ordinary and The Extraordinary--The discussion about Ras's newspaper article was fascinating, as we finally discover the thought process behind his thinking, and behind the murders. As Porfiry describes--
"The whole point of his article is that the human race is divided into the 'ordinary' and the 'extraordinary'. The ordinary must live in obedience and do not have the right to break the law, because, well, because they're ordinary, you see. The extraordinary, on the other hand, have the right to commit all sorts of crimes and break the law.."
We then come to realise that Raskolnikov either sees himself as 'extraordinary' or at least as inspiring to be. The murder seems to have been a test for himself, to see whether he was able to cross the line that the 'ordinary' apparently can't. It is also chilling to see how theoretical it all is to him, that he has no remorse about the old woman (and doesn't even seem to give thought to Lizaveta), and did not even have a particular hatred or vendetta towards her in the first place. It seems like she was just one necessary ingredient in an experiment.
The Artisan--
I am very intrigued about this mysterious man who seems to be the one person who knows definitely that Raskolnikov is a murderer. I gather that he is the same man who followed Sonya home earlier? It is good to see R recoiling so much, to see him suddenly scared and not feeling in control, as he seemed so smug and in control when being questioned by Porfiry.
So how do you think he knows? I can't figure it out. I guess he was somehow near the pawnbrokers apartment when it happened, and he saw or heard something? Why did he recognise Sonya, and why did he follow her?
Hmm. Curiouser and curiouser..
For Next Week- Read Pt 4, i-iii
4 comments:
interestingly, in the comic version, not only is Batman Raskolnikov, but Porfiry is apparently Colonel Sanders..
I'm keen to hear what people think (besides Ben), of the article Ras wrote, and the discussion with Porfiry about it...
And then there is Ras's ramblings afterwards, recognising himself as a louse, but also that he would only recognise this afterwards - what's that about?
My immediate thought on that discussion was: it's like Jack Bauer from 24! (Jack is so above the law, he is the law)
but seriously...I enjoyed these three chapters! Lots of stuff to mull over. Drew, I found the discussion and article interesting, the one about "ordinary people" vs "extraordinary" people. There are so many holes in this thesis (who is to determine who is extraordinary vs who isn't?), but it fits well with Ras's superman complex - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_complex
I thought he was Batman, not Superman... ;)
Yeah, lots of holes. But at the same time, not so stupid either. Modern cutlural theory sounds a lot like it - supposedly, states, like Australia are founded on an original violence (i.e colonialism), from which they instil their own law. That's why Ras mentions guys like Lycurgus (Lawmaker of Sparta), and Solon (Athens).
What gave them the right to create such states and laws, other than simple taking it upon themselves?
Funny how often with Dosty that there are meaty philosophical problems not far below the surface.
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