It's All About Raskolnikov (Alexia Barrios)

In my first post about Crime and Punishment I discussed how the main character, Raskolnikov, in my opinion is arrogant and it was further supported in this weeks reading. In the third chapter, we are introduced to Raskolnikov’s mother, Pulcheria Alexandrovna, through a letter. She is obviously someone who loves her son very much and all she seems to want to do is what any mother would want; do whatever they can to make the life of their children better. But it is obvious here that Raskolnikov is the favorite child since she allows her daughter to make sacrifices for him. In the letter she describes his sister’s uncomfortable work situation where her former employer, Svidrigailov, made uncomfortable advances towards her even though he was married. The mother insists that his sister went through this and embarrassment that followed due to the discovery of these advances, in order to help him which possibly fosters his arrogant attitude.The mother’s attitude throughout the letter makes it seem like everything revolves around him, that everything that both she and his sister have chosen to do with their lives have been in an attempt to benefit him.  When he finds out about her engagement he believes that his sister is marrying Luzhin, who is wealthy, in order to improve his lifestyle by possibly providing him with a job. He doesn't really consider the possibility that she might be marrying him because she sees marrying him as an opportunity to better her own life. Instead he jumps to the conclusion that it must be only to benefit him and no one else.