Good morning scholars!
Here are some more thoughts regarding CRIME AND PUNISHMENT.
Part Three, Chapter Five:
Raskolnikov meets with Porfiry Petrovitch, who is related to Raskolnilov's friend, Razumihkin. Porfiry is in charge of the investigation into the murder of Alyona Ivanovna, the pawnbroker. Porfiry is a brilliant, cynical man who is a worthy match for Raskolnikov. It appears that Porfiry has read an article written by Raskolnikov in which he expounds further on his ideas concerning "the extraordinary man. Porfiry questions him at length about his ideas during which Raskolnikov states that the ordinary laws do not apply to extraordinary men who may murder with impunity if it is for a higher good (the ends justify the means - another tenet of Hegelian theory). There are ordinary men who take themselves to be extraordinary but when they seek to break the law then they must suffer for their transgressions. When Porfiry asks him if he believes that he is an extraordinary man, Raskolnikov lies and says he does not - although secretly he clearly does believe he is. Finally Porfiry asks him about the presence of painters in the apartment on the day he went to Alyona's to pawn some objects. Raskolnikov senses that it is a trap and quickly answers no. Porfiry knows that the painters were there only on the day Alyona was killed, not the three days before when Raskolnilov legitimately went to Alyona's for business. Porfiry asks him if he believes in the story of Lazarus - a man who was raised from the dead by Christ. This question piques an interest in Raskolnikov and it will become central later on to Raskolnikov's redemption. It is clear that as brilliant as Raskolnikov is, he has not escaped the shrewd, discerning eye of Porfiry. Porfiry knows or strongly suspects that Raskolnikov is the murderer.
Here are some more thoughts regarding CRIME AND PUNISHMENT.
Part Three, Chapter Five:
Raskolnikov meets with Porfiry Petrovitch, who is related to Raskolnilov's friend, Razumihkin. Porfiry is in charge of the investigation into the murder of Alyona Ivanovna, the pawnbroker. Porfiry is a brilliant, cynical man who is a worthy match for Raskolnikov. It appears that Porfiry has read an article written by Raskolnikov in which he expounds further on his ideas concerning "the extraordinary man. Porfiry questions him at length about his ideas during which Raskolnikov states that the ordinary laws do not apply to extraordinary men who may murder with impunity if it is for a higher good (the ends justify the means - another tenet of Hegelian theory). There are ordinary men who take themselves to be extraordinary but when they seek to break the law then they must suffer for their transgressions. When Porfiry asks him if he believes that he is an extraordinary man, Raskolnikov lies and says he does not - although secretly he clearly does believe he is. Finally Porfiry asks him about the presence of painters in the apartment on the day he went to Alyona's to pawn some objects. Raskolnikov senses that it is a trap and quickly answers no. Porfiry knows that the painters were there only on the day Alyona was killed, not the three days before when Raskolnilov legitimately went to Alyona's for business. Porfiry asks him if he believes in the story of Lazarus - a man who was raised from the dead by Christ. This question piques an interest in Raskolnikov and it will become central later on to Raskolnikov's redemption. It is clear that as brilliant as Raskolnikov is, he has not escaped the shrewd, discerning eye of Porfiry. Porfiry knows or strongly suspects that Raskolnikov is the murderer.
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