My [Rachael] response to Alexia

I find it interesting that you found Raskolnikov (my gosh that is one hell of a name) to be arrogant. I actually did not find that as I read but I do intend to go back and look at him in that perspective. I agree fully with the rest of your assessment on his character. What I also find interesting is that you, along with many other people, are quick to assume that his desires are murderous ones. I will admit that I did know a bit about this book before I read it, and it does speak of this in the descriptions of the characters, but I would love to know if you came across that idea without prior knowledge. I am not sure how these words come across but I say this purely out of curiosity of hoping to see an aspect of a book through the mind of someone who does not know what will transpire. Finally, I found your concluding point to be very important. By saying "morality has a little role in his decision-making when it comes to considering committing the deed, ...... even though he is revolted by the idea of committing the crime, he would do it if he believed it could remove him from the extreme state of poverty that he is currently living in" I feel like you have summed up one of the most important concepts of this book. This seems to me, to be what we as the readers are supposed to understand through the story.