"What happens if ..?" - an invariable formula that permeates all the work of F. M. Dostoevsky. The work "Crime and Punishment" is no exception. It is based on the so-called theory of “blood of conscience”, in other words: “the end justifies the means”. Another theory, not so large-scale, but still a theory that belonged to Luzhin — exaltation of oneself due to the weakness of others, is also being implicitly manifested. Ideas are not new, but only with Fyodor Mikhailovich “these moral dilemmas” leave the boundaries of the abstract and are already solved in practice. So, what will happen if you put one “tiny crime”, vanity and pride on one side of the scales, and a thousand good deeds on the other? What will outweigh? Or maybe the imbalance will go away, and both bowls will rise to the same level? We argue in an article on the theme "Luzhin (" Crime and Punishment "): characterization of the character."
The idea
In September 1865, a certain Mikhail Katkov, the publisher of Russky Vestnik, receives a letter from Wiesbaden. The fact, perhaps, is not particularly remarkable, if not for one or even two but ... The first - he writes to him Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, and the second - he writes to him about the plan of his new novel. The idea of the work, according to the author, is a “psychological report of one crime”. In other words, there lived a young man, the most ordinary, tradesman by origin, who, due to unfortunate circumstances, is in extreme poverty. What to do? Whether by frivolity or by internal precariousness, but he succumbs to “unfinished” ideas floating in the air at that time and decides to kill one old woman-interest-bearer. The old woman is angry, vile, stupid and indecently greedy. Why should she live? Can she benefit anyone? The unequivocal answer “no” confuses the former student. He kills her and then robs her, so that with the “proceeds” money he can make himself and all the afflicted happy and thereby fulfill the “humane duty to humanity”. Well, the title of the subsequent book, Crime and Punishment, and the name of the protagonist, Rodion Raskolnikov, are quite guessed here. And now more about the novel itself, as well as about a character who has a very speaking surname - Luzhin Petr Petrovich.
First mention
So, Luzhin Pyotr Petrovich ... Who is he? What role did he play in the immortal novel of F. M. Dostoevsky? Answers to these and other questions will be given in this article on the topic: "Roman F. M. Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment: The Image of Luzhin."
Mr. Luzhin is one of the most unpleasant, but famous heroes of the novel. Only one last name is worth it! For the first time the reader gets to know him in absentia from a letter from Pulcheria Alexandrovna Raskolnikova to her son. She characterizes him positively: after all, he embraced Duna, Raskolnikov’s younger sister — a beautiful, strong, self-confident, intelligent, noble girl, but without any dowry. Like it or not, but a “feat” was made by a person. And here is a recent unpleasant incident: a bad rumor went about the Dune, but, thank God, everything was settled. So his sincere intervention in the fate of the poor girl is now doubly a feat, the most noble deed and deserving of all praises. How did she see him? We continue the theme: “Luzhin,“ Crime and Punishment ”: characterization of the character”
Portrait
It looks very "beautiful and solid physiognomy." Posture is "exaggeratedly strict", dapper clothes, mostly colors of "bright and youthful", despite the fact that its owner was hit by as many as 45 years. However, he looked younger: his face was fresh, his hair was only a little gray, always carefully combed and curled by a hairdresser. On the whole, he made an impression of a man of little education, but smart, trustworthy, well-to-do, after all, he served in two places and was going to open his own business - a public law office in St. Petersburg. But this is only outwardly. And each coin has a downside. Luzhin also had it - mean, conceited, vile, petty, cunning. It was just that the discerning Raskolnikov saw her, despite the simple-minded words of her mother.
Luzhin, “Crime and Punishment”: Characteristic Character
Upon arrival in St. Petersburg, Luzhin went to visit Raskolnikov as a groom. He crossed the threshold with a sense of benefactor and with an undisguised desire to listen to as many sweet compliments addressed to him. Immeasurable vanity, an extreme degree of self-confidence or, rather, narcissism, played a bad joke with him. Having made his way "into people", having risen from insignificance, he was used to admiring his appearance, his mind, abilities, and it even dawned on that sometimes, in private, he looked at his face in the mirror. And he was extremely fond of money. Own, strangers, obtained in labor or in other ways - it does not matter, the main thing is their very presence. After all, they helped him to rise above their own kind and equated him with those who were higher than him. Well, the ground for matchmaking on the Danube is the most “fertile”. But there was something else ...
Crime and Punishment: Luzhin's Theory
This is Luzhin's theory. For a long time already, he dreamed of getting married, he saved all the money and waited. I did not expect love, not my soulmate, but a well-behaved girl, beautiful, educated and ... poor. The word “poor” was especially emphasized in the deepest secret, since such a girl must have experienced many misfortunes and misfortunes in her lifetime, she was intimidated, and hence subsequently infinitely grateful to her deliverer. She will certainly “stare” before him, will be reverent, obey in everything and be surprised only to him. And then came the moment when everything coincided. There is a state, grandiose plans are being outlined for conquering the high society of St. Petersburg, and here Dunya is an ideal contender for the role of a beautiful, smart, but poor bride, and later on, the humble and even obsequious wife of a successful husband. In his dreams, he already ruled over her soul and body, and suddenly! No! .. He received a "resignation." And from whom? From a poor student, an arrogant milkman - Rodion, who put him out of the doorway. He could not bear it. Wounded, he gathered all his indignation and immense anger and squeezed him into a revenge ball. And he threw it not somewhere, but in the desired direction: Sonya Marmeladova was falsely accused of stealing money, which he had thrown into her pocket.
F. M. Dostoevsky about Luzhin
This is how Luzhin sees readers. “Crime and Punishment” (the characterization of the character is presented in our review very briefly) is a complex work. Its characters, theme and problems are not as simple as it might seem at first glance. To understand the essence, it’s not enough just to read a book. It will be useful to get acquainted with the works of critics and look through the notes of the author himself. In draft materials for the novel by F. M. Dostoevsky, a lot has been said about Luzhin. Here is how the author describes the future character: he is incredibly conceited, in love with himself until coquetry, extremely petty and has an irresistible passion for gossip. Among other things, it’s also greedy, and in this it has a certain resemblance to the hero of Pushkin - the Mean Baron. Attitude toward money is akin to idolatry, for everything is perishable, except for means. When a person has money, he is at the very top, he is a master! To him, no one will ever show disrespect, disrespect or neglect. So, money must be respected and praised ... Well, as the writer saw him from the very beginning, he appeared before the readers.