Crime and Punishment Versions of Reality Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph). We used Constance Garnett's translation.

Quote #1

But of thatof that he [Raskolnikov] had no recollection, and yet every minute he felt that he had forgotten something he ought to remember. He worried and tormented himself trying to remember. (2.3.1)

When Raskolnikov wakes up from his illness, his reality is extremely confused. He's forgotten what we might assume he'd rather forget. But here we see that forgetting is actually causing him pain. Raskolnikov really wants to see life clearly. It's just that everything is so confusing that he can't sort it out.

Quote #2

He [Razumihin] brought his fist down heavily on the kitchen stove, hurt his hand and sent one of the bricks flying. (3.2.1)

This is Razumihin's "morning after" moment. Even though we didn't see him do anything so awful, he beats himself up for talking too much and too crudely while drunk. He's also embarrassed about being drunk in front of Dounia. His reality while drunk conflicts with his reality while sober.

Quote #3

He [Raskolnikov] lost consciousness; it seemed strange to him that he didn't remember how he got into the street. It was late evening. The twilight had fallen and the full moon was shining more and more brightly; but there was a peculiar breathlessness in the air. (3.6.62)

This is right before Raskolnikov relives the murder in his nightmares. Dostoevsky's dream sequences seem both realistic and totally exaggerated. He's really good at scary dreams.