In a Jail Cell

To think that a man convicted of manslaughter could possibly be capable of salvation from God may seem impossible to some; Dostoesky's Crime and Punishment strives to break that common assumption. Raskolnikov, the protagonist, proves to be a man of selfish and egotistical ways with the murder of two innocent women. He also believes that there is no God, and worships nothings except his own pride. By the end of the novel, however, the plot takes a different path than one would expect. From the title of the novel, we assume that the character involved in the Crime will eventually experience the Punishment. Raskolnikov doesn't run from the crime; he even turns himself in and accepts his time in prison peacefully. In his jail cell, he picks up the New Testament that his love Sonia had brought his on his own accord. Though Raskolnikov has committed two terrible crimes, he still has the capacity to change his ways and accept a higher power. Sonia is also an important part of Raskolnikov's conversion. Without her presence and deep love for her religion, Raskolnikov would never have seen God at all through her. However, it was Raskolnikov's ultimate decision change his ways and convert. Through this entire plot, I believe Dostoevsky's ultimate purpose was to illustrate that it is never too late for anyone to change their ways and accept a belief into their lives for the greater good. Better late than never.