Literary critic Michael Salerni has asserted that Raskolnikov and Hamlet "should get a room." Surely it is ridiculous to suggest that these two disparate characters are cut from the same cloth, just as it is ludicrous to suggest that there are correlations between Shakespeare's tragedy and Dostoevsky's novel.
Please, prove me wrong. (For the sake of involving as many people as possible, please limit your response to ONE specific point of connection and please refer specifically to Crime and Punishment, preferably citing a passage from the novel.)
9 comments:
I agree that there are some similarities between Hamlet and Raskolnikov. They are such indecisive characters. Hamlet couldn’t decide when, or if, he was going to murder his uncle. He abided his time contemplating one could say the pros and cons of the situation. He was going to murder Claudius in the church, but then he didn’t want to because the king had just been praying. Raskolnikov after reading his mother’s letter sees a young girl in distress. He takes it upon himself to “protect” her from the man that was following her, and even pleads the case to a police officer who agrees to keep an eye on the situation. Then afterwards he said “Let them be!” (48)..much like Hamlet turning things over to fate. Then Raskolnikov questions his own motives, “And why did I want to interfere? Is it for me to help? “ (48). They both aren’t sure of how to react in situations that are upon them.
There are deffinitely similarities between Hamlet and Raskolnikov. Not only are they indecisive as Toni said, but they are also men who act upon emotions. Hamlet wanted to kill Claudius because he believed he must avenge his father. Yes, yes, it took him a while to do it, but when he finally did it, it was all done out of emotion, he didn't have a plan really. And as for Raskolnikove he gives his money to Marmeladov out of pity and sorrow. "They've wept over it and grown used to it" (25). He feels sorry for them, especially the family so he acts immediately, unlike Hamlet who takes months to avenge his father.
I totally have to go on the indecision point, thinking on what we've read so far. Raskolnikov has gone from planning the murder to believing there's no way he could commit the act back to feeling as if he must commit the murder. In his case he is not doing it out of revenge so his choice is more difficult, but still. That quote from the quiz today-- the feeling that Raskol was feeling like he had to act, not out of will but because the opportunity had presented itself: his victim would be alone that very night. Hmmm...sounds like a certain friend of ours from Denmark coming across his Uncle alone, praying, and deciding to act just because Claud was there...
Shakespeare's Hamlet and Dostoevsky's Raskolnikov are alike in that they both battle physical and mental entrapment. Hamlet calls Denmark a "prison," "A goodly one, in which there are many confines, wards, and dungeons" (2.2.240-244). Then, the prince's thoughts of murder consume his soul. Hamlet assesses and reassesses the killing of King Claudius so frequently that he is unable to actually carry out his intentions until the final act of the play. Raskolnikov experiences similar limitations in St. Petersburg. His flat is described as a " closet of a room" that better resembles "a cupboard than a place in which to live" (Sect. 1, Chap. 1). Raskolnikov's mind is dangerously focused on murder as well: "He was in the condition that overtakes some monomaniacs excessively concentrated upon one thing" (Sect. 1, Chap. 3). Overall, Hamlet and Raskolnikov suffer from entrapment on a few different levels.
Rereading my comment... I dunno but it doesn't sound as original as I thought when I wrote it. So I'm writing a new one cause I thought of a new idea anyway.
Kind of general, but since I just finished ch. 5 I can't help comparing Rodya (I love that name) with Hamlet and now that I've met Pyotr...he sounds a lot like Polonius. Rodya lying in bed, helpless and sick during this chapter reminds me of Hamlet's mourning in the early-ness of the play. Hamlet is the same temperamental victim when his mom and Claud scorn him for mourning his dad's death. He, like Rodya, sees right through Pyotr/Polonius' fancy speeches and awful attempts at sounding more intelligent than they are. Rodya says "he's learnt it by heart to show off" and not long after, his friend Raz says "I've grown so sick, during the last three years of this chattering to amuse oneself, of this incessant flow of commonplaces..." Both sound a lot like the queen when she said "More Matter with less art."
okay well yeah mike's right, they really do need to get a rom. its sad how many times ive had to recall hamlet thrughout reading crme and punishment. maybe dostoevsky is shakespeare reincarnated? im really tired so im sorry if i cant realy spell right . they both had their little to be or not ot be sccene. rodya's (yeah i love that name tooo) waqs with the whole "rehearsal' of the murder scenec, because he kept being all "i dont know if i can do IT" and blah blach blah. and yes im still convienced that the to be or not to be soliloqie was about suicide
I think that in addition to being indecisive, both characters question the amount of power that they posess. Hamlet doesn't know if he has the power to commit a murder to avenge his father's death. Raskolnikov questions whether or not he has the strength to commit his crime and then subsequently, he questions if he has the power of an extraordinary man or if he is simply an ordinary one. Both characters even question if they have the power to live and then end up loathing the idea of suicide as they realize they never want to be that weak. Overall, the two characters definately are in similar states of mind and both have meek understandings of themselves and what they are capable of.
Although indecision would be the most striking similarity between Hamlet and Raskonikov, particularly in the early stages of the novel, the two are also alike in the sense that they are both actors. Throughout the play, Hamlet takes on the appearance of a madman several times. And there are places where it is unclear whether he is acting or is really mad. The same can be said of Raskolnikov, especially after he commits the murder. When he talks to Porfiry is the perfect example. He acts desperate and distressed, causing him to question whether he was natural in doing so. But at other times he acts the same way but it isn't an act as far as we can tell as readers. In that respect, he is the same as Hamlet.
Other than their indecisiveness, Hamlet and Raskolnikov are known to "ponder" over things that seem, on the whole, trivial and too over-think situations. For example, when Raskolnikov goes on for 2 or 3 pages after he gets that letter from his mother. Similarly, Hamlet does the same--pondering and over-thinking situations through his soliloquies (to be or not be, for example).
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