The Social Background and the Impact of Poverty on Characters' Actions in Crime and Punishment
Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment is a profound exploration of morality, guilt, and human suffering, set against the backdrop of 19th-century St. Petersburg, Russia. One of the key themes in the novel is how social conditions, particularly poverty, influence the actions and psyche of the characters. In the case of the protagonist, Rodion Raskolnikov, poverty plays a central role in shaping his philosophy and driving his criminal behavior.