Literary Comparisons: Crime and Punishment The Scarlet Letter
You've all intrigued and impressed me with your argument regarding the similarities between Raskolnikov & Dimmesdale, Sonya & Hester. Develop your ideas in this post using evidence (examples will suffice, though direct quotes are always encouraged). What similarities, if any, do Hawthorne & Dostoevsky share?
I agree that Dimmesdale and Raskolnikov share some common characteristics, but I wouldn't dare place Raskolnikov on the same level as Dimmesdale. Despite the fact that he is QUITE mental, he isn't a spineless, pitiful excuse for a man. Dimmesdale, on the other hand, is! As for their similarities, both characters are eaten up with guilt. It is literally driving them both insane. Dimmesdale, rather than admit to his sin and provide relief to both himself and Hester, begins to physically deteriorate and cut an a into his chest! Whenever Raskolnikov hears someone mention the pawnbroker's murder, he goes into an extremely nervous state. When he went discuss his IOU, he had an impulse to tell Nikodim "everything that had happened yesterday, and then go with him to his lodgings and to show him the things in the hole in the corner." (pg. 103) His mind is in a constant tumultuous state. The only time he finds relief is with Sonia!
Now, as for Sonia and Hester, I do not place them in the same category as characters. Yes, both are extremely selfless and bear the weight of those they vastly love, but their origins are different. Hester could have prevented her circumstances. I understand she was incredibly lonely and believed her husband was dead. But she knew what she was doing was morally wrong. She could have found relief in another fashion. However, since I consider Dimmesdale to be the scum of the earth, I will not condemn her to the h word! As for Sonia, she was without complete control of her circumstances. She took the "yellow ticket" entirely selflessly and in order to provide whatever she could for her family. With her innocence, such a task must be excruciating for a girl "completely overwhelmed with shyness, like a little child." (pg. 226) And for that, she has my sincere respect!
Dostoevsky and Hawthorne definitely share the same taste for tone. I have never encountered more morose and dark novels than Crime and Punishment and The Scarlet Letter. Some parts of The Scarlet Letter are vague but, correct me if I'm wrong, but I do remember Hawthorne having the ability to unveil a scene through setting like Dostoevsky. Remember the rose bush at the prison and Dimmesdale's and Hester's walk in the forest?
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Hulsey
4/7/2013 05:44:27 am
Tell us how you REALLY feel about Dimmesdale, Laurel. :)
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Angela Hatchel
4/5/2013 10:39:21 am
Dimmesdale and Raskolnikov share some similar qualities. Both Raskolnikov and Dimmesdale are overcome with guilt dealing with events that they have both partaken in. Though the events were very different, the guilt overwhelms both of them psychologically and physically. I feel that the guilt overwhelms both of them equally as Dimmesdale grows to have a heart condition and Raskolnikov's "head grows dizzy, a sort of savage energy gleams suddenly in his feverish eyes and in his wasted, pale yellow face." (pg. 150) Another thing that both Dimmesdale and Raskolnikov share is that you would not expect either of these characters to commit the crime that they did. As Dimmesdale being a Puritan minister and for him to commit in sexual relations with a married woman is unheard of. And as for Raskolnikov for him being a scholar and a very intelligent man, readers would assume that someone like him would be smart enough to not commit a murder.
I don't see Sonia and Hester as being much similar as I do Raskolnikov and Dimmesdale. But I do see some qualities. Hester and Sonia are both impure. Hester commits adultery and Sonia is a prostitute. I know that was really blunt, but that is what Sonia and Hester were during the novels. Although, I do agree with Laurel as Hester could have helped herself from committing adultery but Sonia was basically forced to choose the life of prostitution as she needed to provide for her family.
I see both Dostoevksy and Hawthorne share similarities as well. Both take to heart the subject of repentance and sin by including both of these subjects into their novels.
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Molly Williams
4/7/2013 11:02:44 am
I really see the Sonia and Hester comparison, because although Sonia is forced to be a prostitute because of family issues, Hester was tempted by a Pastor, and knew what she did was wrong, but it didn’t stop her from being a respectable women and raising her child as well as taking responsibility for her actions, like her wearing the scarlet letter. Both women are impure but don’t let others opinions get the best of them, because both of them know where they stand in their life and that is all that matters. They know what they are doing, and both were ready for consequences. Both of the women’s strong personalities made what they did bearable, even if it was only in their eyes, because to them that’s all that really matters, is their families.
I also see how Dimmesdale and Raskolnikov compare to eachother. They both do terrible things in the eyes of their social classes/society, and are faced with unbearable guilt which takes over their being. And both of their crimes come to the reader as a surprise because of where the character stands. That is how Dostoevsky and Hawthorne are similar. They both basically prove that who you are isn’t what makes you, such as just because Dimmesdale is a puritan pastor, doesn’t mean he doesn’t have desires, and just because a man has a brilliant mind and the capability to go far, doesn’t mean his mind is actually using his brilliance for good.
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Clara Grace
4/8/2013 02:20:52 pm
I really wish I could just make a crazy Hulsey chart for this one.
Raskolnikov and Dimmesdale have many things in common, yet are strikingly different at face value. Raskolnikov is a murderer and Dimmesdale is a preacher. They are so opposite; what could they possibly have in common? Actually, they are both murderers. While Raskolnikov’s crime is more obvious, Dimmesdale shares the same sin. He, in essence, kills Hester’s spirit and then himself. Guilt overcomes and consumes Raskolnikov and Dimmesdale, causing them both to confess their sins and have repentance for their actions. With this guilt, the subtle pressure from their women to become good also causes them to confess. Both characters have a nervous disposition, act strangely, and talk to themselves and not one else, and are quite sickly: Dimmesdale with his heart conditions and Raskolnikov with his fever and delirium. Equally, they have to put on a façade and lie to everyone about their whole existence, even lying to themselves. Their positions in society are the ultimate contradictions to their sins, Dimmesdale being the preacher and Raskolnikov a student of law.
Sonia and Hester are signs of purity and innocence, yet are ironically portrayed with their sins of sexual immorality. Both women are strong, showing that there is a life after sin and repentance can bestow grace back upon them. A unifying quality comes from the women’s disposition in the sunlight. Their true radiance shows in the light, where there sin can vanish and not be looked on.
Hawthorne and Dostoevsky use many of the same literary techniques to convey their stories. Each greatly utilizes setting to parallel to the situation and tone of the passages. They also heavily rely on characterization and the use of multiple dynamic characters to develop multiple plot lines. Both authors make excellent use of color symbolism. Hawthorne focuses red as lust, black as evil, and white as purity. Dostoevsky employs yellow throughout the novel which symbolizes suffering. Also, foreshadowing is used heavily, but with more ironic outcomes in Crime and Punishment.
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Zachary Howard
4/8/2013 03:06:19 pm
You've all intrigued and impressed me with your argument regarding the similarities between Raskolnikov & Dimmesdale, Sonya & Hester. Develop your ideas in this post using evidence (examples will suffice, though direct quotes are always encouraged). What similarities, if any, do Hawthorne & Dostoevsky share?
First Mr. Ras. and Mr. Dimmesdale.
These men are so much a like to me that I just feel like this comparison was meant to be made. That the literary genius just laughs at people who don't draw a little comparison. Anyways They both do something that they know that they shouldn't of never done. Not like Grendel who don't know left from right. These two men knew not to kill and commit adultery. Then they question themselves and get scared of their consequences for doing such crimes. Then they happen to have these Women who just adds on to there sorrow (to them) and just cause them to just tell on themselves.
Sonya and Hester
These Sweet little warriors can also be compared to each other. Scarlet letter = yellow ticket, prostitute = looked down on, these women just decides to take on the burden of others and they do it proudly.
Hawthorne & Dostoevsky
These to authors are amazing with painting that picture. Hawthorne who paints the picture with the door and the red rose at the beginning of The Scarlet Letter. He also gives the reader the pain that dimmesdale was casting on him self. Dostoevsky also paints a good picture with the entering of sonya and the killing of the women. He gives the reader the sacredness of Ras. That is one thing I see in these two Authors that is so similar.