Suffering can take place in any environment, but what triggers one to do something to cause personal suffering, is their attempt to find salvation. Their suffering is self inflicted. For example, suffering surrounds Raskolinkov. His mother suffers, his sister suffers, his neighbors suffer, his land lady suffers, and even the old crone suffers. First he gives out his money to people in need, then Raskolinkov does the unimaginable, he tries to purge everyone’s’ suffering. “The extraordinary have the right to transgress the law, because in point of fact they are extraordinary” (259). Hinting that he is an extra ordinary man, Rakolinkov takes the task of killing Alyona. Raskolinkov is lead to believe that he can carry that suffering. “Sometimes the perhaps salutary for the whole mankind- calls for it” (259). The reason for Svidigailov’s suffering is love. “Imagine, that terrible man seems to be the cause of her death. They say he gave her a terrible beating” (228). He kills his own wife in order to get his what his heart desires. “Your dear sister possesses so many advantages that I could not help succumbing” (291). He suffers for her, but when finding out that she does not love her, his plans begin to diminish. “You’re right she does not love me; but never swear yourself to what has gone on between husband and wife, or between two lovers. There’s always a little corner here that’s always unknown to the whole world…” (478). Finally there is Mikolka, he is an honest man who has literally done nothing. He killed no one, yet his faith prompts him to choose to bring the wrong doings of others upon himself. Do you know what suffering means to some of them… not for the sake of someone, but simply the need for suffering; to embrace suffering” (455).
The spectrum of how individuals cope with suffering is immense. After being rejected by Dunya, “‘So you don’t love me.’ He asked softly/ ‘Never!’ Whispered Dunya” (497). Svidigailov chooses the most extreme way to cope with his suffering, suicide. His effort in trying to reach salvation was unsuccessful. Raskolinkov lives with his suffering, he grits his teeth and faces things as they come, but Raskolinkov fails to complete what initially brought him suffering. “Dunya dear! If I am guilty, forgive me… I can not be forgiven. Good bye! It’s time, it really is. Don’t follow me, I beg you…” (519). As a result, his emotional insides are constantly stirred, leaving him no better off than insane. Everyone knew the Mikolka was not responsible for the murderer, his suffering was artificial, and it was only time before he would tell the truth. “He aimed it on purpose to miss by a yard…Wait he will deny it [the crime]… I am expecting him to come any time now and deny his evidence” (455). All characters fail to reach their salvation, leaving them crippled on a path of suffering.
Characters suffer in order to reach salvation. They live in environments of every social status. They bring suffering upon themselves because they believe that they can carry that cross. They believe that in suffering they will achieve something greater. They endure suffering for as long as they can, but in the end their efforts are futile. The conclusion is drawn that no one can live with suffering regardless of their motive or class.
Writing this piece was a challenge for me. It is harder for me to work with bigger pieces of literature, where there are so many examples to choose from. But I believe that I chose a pretty solid topic to talk about, and working with three characters and three themes was challenged me to stay clear and concise in my writing. I know that I did not put my thesis in the beginning of my paper, but I did that in order for it to flow better. I believe I could have amended my introduction a bit better in order to flow with the rest of the paper. But overall I am proud of what I submitted.
You said he was of class already. And if you’d like to put it again, don’t repeat by saying he doesn’t worry about money.
Half of this paragraph is a quote l ol remember to write the quote exactly how it is in the book and format the quotation correctly.