The role of estrangement in Dostoevsky’s "Crime and Punishment"

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the function of the estrangement in Crime and Punishment. The main goal is to examine the way Dostoevsky shapes his voice by instilling in the reader such a sense of confusion, which is construed as a mechanism for prioritizing certain intended interpretation. We focus on the. Special attention is given to Raskolnikov’s dreams and theory, on his psychological state during murders, and to some loci in the novel, e.g. Raskolnikov’s (coffin) room, Marmeladov’s house, tavern, and Sennaya square. This analysis reveals that estrangement is a cognitive effect of the characteristic strategies used by Dostoevsky to manage the flow of information that reaches the reader.