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Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

by Areesha Rais
(Lucknow, India)



The Human Mind in Conflict: A Freudian Look at Crime and Punishment


In the novel "Crime and Punishment," Fyodor Dostoevsky masterfully explores the depths of the human psyche through the character of Raskolnikov, a young man haunted by inner turmoil. Using Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, especially the concepts of the id, ego, and superego, we gain insight into the intense psychological conflict that drives his actions. Raskolnikov’s id represents his darkest desires, such as the urge for power, superiority, and freedom from moral boundaries. These impulses lead him to commit murder, believing he can rise above the rules that govern ordinary people. However, his superego, the moral voice shaped by conscience and societal values, refuses to stay silent. After the crime, Raskolnikov is plagued by guilt, anxiety, and hallucinations, revealing a mind in deep distress. His ego, caught between these two forces, tries to justify the murder but ultimately fails to maintain balance. The result is a slow unravelling of his mental state, leading to confession and emotional collapse.

Through Freud’s perspective, Raskolnikov becomes more than just a criminal. He represents a man torn apart by conflicting desires and moral struggle. Dostoevsky’s novel powerfully illustrates how unresolved inner conflict can lead to self-destruction and the painful path toward redemption. Raskolnikov’s journey is not just one of crime and punishment in the legal sense, but of psychological collapse and spiritual awakening. His descent into guilt and confusion reflects the devastating impact of a fractured mind, where opposing forces such as his ambition and his conscience are constantly at war. The more he tries to silence his guilt, the louder it echoes within him, showing that the mind cannot suppress its moral center without consequence.

Dostoevsky uses this inner conflict to explore a larger philosophical question. Can human beings live outside the boundaries of morality and still remain human? Through Raskolnikov’s suffering, the novel suggests that true redemption is not found through intellectual reasoning but through emotional honesty, humility, and human connection.

His eventual confession and acceptance of punishment mark the beginning of healing, not only in the legal sense but also in a psychological and spiritual one. Freud’s theory helps readers understand that Raskolnikov’s punishment begins long before his arrest. It lies in the unbearable mental tension he experiences as the id and superego pull him in opposite directions. The novel, through its raw psychological depth, reminds us that the most painful prisons are the ones we carry within ourselves. This psychological prison that Raskolnikov endures is a reflection of the universal human struggle between desire and conscience. Although his crime is extreme, the internal conflict he experiences is something that many people face in different forms. Whether it is through guilt, regret, suppressed emotions, or moral dilemmas, the human mind is often divided between what it wants and what it knows is right.

Dostoevsky captures this inner division with stunning clarity, revealing how denial and justification can only delay, not erase, the consequences of our actions. Raskolnikov’s eventual transformation is not sudden, but gradual and painful. It is Sonia, a symbol of compassion and moral strength, who becomes the guiding force in his journey toward self-awareness. Her quiet endurance and forgiveness challenge Raskolnikov to confront the truth within himself. In Freudian terms, this moment can be seen as the beginning of balance within his psyche, where the ego starts to integrate both the id’s impulses and the superego’s demands into a healthier sense of self.

By the end of the novel, Raskolnikov begins to
embrace suffering not as a punishment, but as a path to redemption. Dostoevsky suggests that true psychological healing is not found in escaping guilt, but in facing it and accepting responsibility.

From a psychological standpoint, "Crime and Punishment" offers a profound exploration of mental conflict, guilt, and the human capacity for self-deception. Raskolnikov’s experience reflects what many psychological theories have since emphasized: that unresolved inner conflict can lead to emotional instability, anxiety, and even physical symptoms. His fever, confusion, and paranoia are not caused by any external punishment, but by the overwhelming weight of his own conscience. This aligns with current understandings of psychosomatic illness, where emotional distress expresses itself through the body.

Although Freud’s theory was developed in the nineteenth century, it remains useful in understanding Raskolnikov’s psychological state. His guilt is not just a surface-level emotion but something deeply buried in the unconscious mind. It appears through hallucinations, nightmares, and irrational behavior. In modern psychological terms, this can also be seen as cognitive dissonance, where a person’s beliefs and actions are in conflict, causing inner turmoil.

Raskolnikov claims to believe in his theory of the extraordinary man, yet his actions do not sit comfortably with his moral instincts. The novel also shows that healing begins through emotional connection and self-awareness. Raskolnikov only begins to recover when he opens himself to others and accepts his guilt as part of his identity rather than something to escape.


In conclusion, "Crime and Punishment" is not just a story about a crime or its legal consequences, but a powerful psychological study of a mind in conflict. Through Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, we can see how Raskolnikov’s inner struggle between desire, morality, and reason reflects a universal human experience. His journey from pride and denial to guilt and eventual acceptance shows how deeply the unconscious mind influences behavior.

Dostoevsky presents guilt not as a weakness, but as a necessary step toward self-understanding and transformation. From a psychological perspective, Raskolnikov’s suffering becomes a path to redemption, suggesting that true healing begins when a person stops running from their conscience and begins to face it honestly. In exploring the complexity of the human mind, "Crime and Punishment" remains a timeless reminder that our greatest battles often take place within ourselves.

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